Monday is undoubtedly the biggest and most important day at the Detroit auto show for many automakers as they unveil their exhibits and let the world see the cool stuff they’ve been working on. We’re expecting to see 750-plus cars on the showroom floor this week. So let’s get down to it.
The Schedule
Public show: Jan.19-27.
Media preview, drawing 5,000 journalists from around the country: Jan. 14-15
Future Automotive Career Exposition, which can offer guidance for those interested in a job in the automotive industry: Jan. 17.
The Charity Preview, a black-tie fundraiser for nonprofits that help children, featuring Our Generation in concert, is set for Jan. 18.
Tickets
Tickets to all Detroit auto show events are available at naias.com/tickets.
Public show: $14 for adults, $7 for people 65 and older and from 7-12 years old. Younger children get free admission with a parent or guardian.
Charity Preview: $400.
What to watch for
Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Autotrader, said that because of the transitional nature of this year’s auto show, the list of new vehicles is “rather skimpy” but not insignificant.
Thirty vehicle unveilings are expected, including for the Cadillac XT6 luxury SUV, Toyota Supra sport coupe, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, a Lexus RC F luxury performance coupe and a Lexus LC Convertible concep, as well as a concept vehicle from Infiniti.
In addition to those brands, Ram, Volkswagen, Nissan, Kia, Hyundai, Subaru and GAC are planning news conferences.
Although the public show promises fewer vehicle unveilings than in past years, the lights and sounds still promise a splashy break from the winter blahs.
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End of an era
This year’s show marks the end of an era and a major anniversary as Detroiters prepare to say their farewells to winter treks for auto shows at Cobo Center ahead of the switch to a June auto show in 2020, which has been promised as a one-of-a-kind auto experience. The Detroit auto show has been around in some form — with a break during World War II — since 1907, but this marks the 30th anniversary of the show’s international focus so expect a bit of a celebration from the two luxury Japanese brands — Lexus and Infiniti — that made their debuts at the 1989 show.
The fun at Cobo is about to get started. We’ll keep you up to date as the week goes on.
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