2014 Detroit: Six most significant production debuts

Story and photos by John LeBlanc DETROIT – Another January, another Detroit auto show. But while this year’s annual event in the Motor City was notable for the plethora of high-performance reveals, in what is arguably the most competitive new vehicle market in history, these are my six most significant production debuts: Acura TLX Prototype Like the VW Passat BlueMotion below, the Acura TLX Prototype is a few a trim prices away from being a car that will go into production — this one expected to be in showrooms this fall. Replacing the compact European Accord-based Acura TSX and the outgoing mid-size TL, the TLX is yet another Japanese-branded sports/luxury sedan trying to chip away at the class leaders from Germany. Acura didn’t reveal performance figures. But it did say the TLX would come with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder gas engine with a new eight-speed automatic transmission and a 3.5L V6 with a new autobox with one more gear. Front-drive is standard, while traction at all four wheels will be available with the 3.5. SIGNIFICANCE: Will buyers see all the TLX’s high-tech hardware underneath its bland bodywork? 2015 Chrysler 200 You could argue any replacement for the slow-selling Chrysler 200 premium compact sedan would be an improvement. But the new 2015 model — based heavily on the same, Alfa Romeo-derived compact chassis as the front-wheel-drive Dodge Dart compact sedan — looks like it could be a real contender with the likes of the Acura ILX and Buick Verano. In addition to a 184 horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder gas engine and an optional 295 hp 3.6L V6, the 2015 200 will offer a unique nine-speed automatic as well an available all-wheel-drive system its maker says is the first to deliver an “automatic fully disconnecting rear axle” to improve fuel economy. SIGNIFICANCE: Chrysler’s new owners at Italy’s Fiat need to prove they can do a better job than the old owners at Germany’s Daimler. The new 200 is one of those first tests. 2015 Ford F 150 With the desire to saves its customers more fuel, Canada’s perennially best-selling new vehicle gets a revolutionary redesign for 2015. It starts with the new F-150’s aluminum cab and bed (bolted to a fully-boxed steel frame) that allegedly saves up to 318 kilograms, wrapped in a new body fashioned from last year’s Atlas concept truck. Under its aggressive bodywork, the 2015 F 150’s engine lineup incudes a smaller, 3.5-litre (down from 3.7) six-cylinder gas engine, 2.7L and 3.5L turbocharged V6s and the dropping of the 6.2L V8 in favour of the 5.0L V8 alone. While a six-speed automatic transmission has been carried over, expect a fuel-saving, ten-speed version (shared with GM) to arrive in a few years. SIGNIFICANCE: The F 150 is Ford’s golden goose. Will traditional truck buyers go for the pop-can body and funky new styling? 2015 GMC Canyon While Ford lightened and added downsized engines to its full-size 2015 F Series pickup to achieve better fuel economy, General Motors’ strategy is too offer truck buyers a completely smaller package, as in the new 2015 GMC Canyon, the sister model to the already released Chevrolet Colorado mid-size pickup. Just like its Chevy platform-mate, the 2015 GMC Canyon is nearly identical in size to the Toyota Tacoma and will be available with extended- and crew-cab body styles. A 193 horsepower, 2.5-litre four-cylinder gas engine and a 302 hp 3.6L V6 are on tap. Rear-wheel-drive is standard, with four-wheel-drive optional. SIGNIFICANCE: GM is counting on truck buyers to do something they haven’t done since the 1980s: buy small trucks. 2015 Honda Fit Honda unveiled its new generation four-door hatchback for the first time in North America here in Detroit. Quite fitting, actually. Joined by a future small sedan and crossover (as previewed by the foreign-market Honda Velez), the 2015 Honda Fit will be built in a new facility in Mexico. While its styling has more character lines than its outgoing predecessor, the 2015 Fit also gets a new, 1.5-litre four-cylinder gas engine, making 130 horsepower —13 more than the older mill. Along with a six-speed manual transmission, a new CVT automatic will also help the new Fit be more fuel efficient than ever before. SIGNIFICANCE: Honda is planning on the new Fit family of small cars to become its best-selling vehicle worldwide. Will it be good enough? Volkswagen Passat Blue Motion Concept You can drop the “concept” tag — the new Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Concept will go on-sale sooner than later. For non-hybrid and non-diesel fans, VW claims the Passat BlueMotion scores a highway fuel economy estimate of 42 miles per U.S. gallon (5.6 L/100 kms) — best in class among non-hybrid, gasoline-engined mid-size sedans. The Passat BlueMotion’s fuel sipping ways come mainly by using a relatively tiny engine; a 1.4-litre four-cylinder gas unit that makes 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Cylinder deactivation (as per the European VW gas and Golf models), a coasting function also used on the VW Jetta Hybrid and a stop/start system all combine for the big VW sedan’s amazing fuel economy ratings.   SIGNIFICANCE: Can buyers get over the Passat BlueMotion’s wee engine size to take advantage of its awesome fuel economy?

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