2019 North American International Auto Show
Jan 25, 2019
With another Christmas past and the new year into full swing, it's time for the first big auto show of the year here in the northeast. The 2019 Detroit Auto Show.
As we brave the cold frozen roads of the Michigan winter, I reflect on Detroit auto shows gone by and how the industry and this particular show has changed since I was a kid attending with my father over 40 years ago.
Shapes and colors have changed drastically.
Use of lightweight materials and production techniques have been innovated and refined, with aluminum trucks and carbon composites being the going trend.
Speeds and performance have increased dramatically. 600 or 700 horsepower is not out of the norm these days and the 200 MPH barrier has long been broken. Now we question who will make the first production car to break 300 MPH?
Safety has improved quite a bit with energy absorbing crash zones and airbags but the best practice of safety will always be the knowledge stored between your ears. Skilled and alert, defensive drivers are the primary components that make the roads safer for everyone.
Detroit was once the center of automotive production, innovation and technology but things have changed and over the last 40 years Detroit has been reduced to a fraction of what it had been.
We look forward to the day Detroit reclaims it's greatness as the motor city capital of the world.
The NAIAS gets smaller and smaller every year, with more manufacturers opting out than in. If you like Ford, GM and Chrysler then there is a lot to see. In years past you could kick the tires of the latest BMW or Mercedes Benz. Sit in and get a feel for the new Audi, Porsche or Italian exotics. In 2019 these makers were not there.
Now they bring in cars from private collections just to fill the space in the huge Cobo Hall exhibit area.
We still enjoy the auto show and the drive into historic Detroit. It always has some interesting attractions and amazing displays that are fun for the whole family.
Ford had a rope tunnel elevated 10 or 12 feet in the air for adventurous people to climb through and was using Virtual Reality gear while giving rides on an indoor track to show off their new Explorer.
The 2020 Mustang GT500 makes it's debut.
Chevrolet made a life size Silverado entirely out of Lego building blocks and it's new 755 HP Corvette ZR1 is bold and beautiful.
Chrysler/Jeep have some of the best displays in the business.
Jeep finally gets back into the growing truck market with it's new Jeep Gladiator. Looks pretty nice.
Be sure and check out the GAC TrumpChi line.
The Detroit Auto Show has always been held in January for as long as I have been going but in another bid to change it's persona NAIAS has announced that starting next year in 2020 the show would be scheduled for the week of June 8th.
In my humble opinion, the January venue was one of the best things the NAIAS had going for it.
Maybe the change to summer will be a great thing for NAIAS, time will tell.
Enjoy the photos.
-Show Times-
-The Gallery Event January 12, 2019
-Press Preview January 14-15, 2019
-Industry Preview January 16-17, 2019
-Charity Preview January 18, 2019
-Public Show January 19 - January 27, 2019
- Adults $14
- Seniors: $7
- Children: $7 (7-12 years old)
Cobo Center
One Washington Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48226
USA
Public Show dates for 2020
-The Gallery Saturday, June 6
-Press Preview June 9-10
-Industry Preview June 10-11
-AutoMobili-D June 9-11
-Charity Preview Friday, June 12
-Public Show Saturday-Saturday, June 13-20
2019 World Motor Media