All the production vehicle and concept world debuts at the 2019 North American International Auto Show are listed below.
Information on the majority of the following models can be found by searching PLDB, just-auto’s global vehicle database. Simply click on the link at the end of this list.
Cadillac XT6: a three-row crossover powered by a 3.6-litre V6 linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Will be built alongside the closely related XT5 in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Ford Explorer: new unibody rear- and all-wheel drive platform, longitudinally-mounted turbocharged 2.3- and 3.0-litre engines. The ST and Hybrid, neither of which was detailed at the preview earlier in January at Ford Field, were world debuts at the NAIAS.
GAC Entranze concept: a large and futuristic looking electric crossover with seating in a 3+2+2 format.
Infiniti QX Inspiration concept: a production model with some similarities to this 4.7m long electric SUV is due in 2021.
Kia Telluride: project code of this big FWD/AWD SUV is VM. Production will be at Kia Motors America’s West Point plant in Georgia. Shares much with the Hyundai Palisade although that vehicle is instead manufactured in South Korea.
Lexus LC Convertible concept: three years on from the coupe’s world debut at the same city’s annual auto show, an open-top version appears as a prototype.
Lexus RC F facelift & RC F Track Edition: weight loss, retuned suspension and outputs rise to 472 horsepower (+5hp) and 395 pound feet of torque (+6 lb ft). TE has carbon fibre panels.
Lincoln Continental 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition: the 80 high-priced cars which will be built for the 2019 model year have a stretched wheelbase and back doors which are hinged on the C-pillars. The B-pillar remains in place. A further batch of cars will be part of the 2020 model year Continental line-up, which should include a facelift.
Nissan IMs Sports Sedan concept: tall electric sedan with 2+1+2 seating, two motors, AWD, air suspension, 483 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque and a 115kWh battery. The rear seating can be configured as either two conventional seats or one wide armchair.
Ram Heavy Duty pick-ups: the new 2500 and 3500 replace models which date to 2002. These big trucks should be with dealers at almost the same time as GM’s new HD pick-ups.
Shelby GT500: 700hp+ supercharged 5.2-litre V8 drives the rear wheels of this, the fastest Ford Mustang of the 2020 model year line-up, through a seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch gearbox.
Subaru STI S209: only 200 units of this 341 horsepower 2.5-litre WRX will be made, all for the USA. As the car is in the final year of its life cycle this is a good way to retain buyer interest in the model.
Toyota Supra: project A90 finally appears in production form. The 2.0-litre four- and 3.0-litre six-cylinder BMW engines have the same outputs as they do in the Z4. Magna Steyr will manufacture both models in Austria.
Volkswagen *Passat: same six-speed Aisan auto gearbox as the 2019MY car but 2.0-litre engine gains torque, all panels are new for the 2020 model year with the exception of the roof.
*This means that Volkswagen continues to offer three Passats: the 4,767mm long sedan and wagon built in Germany since 2014 which uses MQB A/B; North America’s 4,869mm long car which dates to 2011 and is based on the far older NMS architecture; and SAIC Volkswagen’s latest MQB A/B-based 4,933mm long sedan which has been built at the Anting plant in Shanghai since August 2018.
The decision not to spend what would have been a substantial amount of money to twin the 2020 Passat with SVW’s New Passat likely means that Volkswagen of America won’t be building the newly rebodied but decidedly old-tech car for too many years. VoA may withdraw from what is a rapidly shrinking segment, probably in the early 2020s while at the same time steadily expand its range of US-made SUVs.
Future product program intelligence
Additional data on vehicle lifetime and future product plans, such as code names, production plants and expected annual build, are available in PLDB from QUBE.
