Once again, Detroit’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) appeals to the heart of American car lovers: greatness, muscle, and horsepower. And even though we missed the big entries from firms like Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini, we like the fact that the luxury segment has been fairly distributed among several brands. But will start by highlighting the excellent performance of the cars produced in the Motor City.
Ford GT.
Ford, for example, surprised everyone with the presentation of the Ford GT, which returns to the spirit of the legendary GT40, which in the 1960s, was able to stand up to even the wildest Ferraris. Its design inevitably recalls the original, but it surpasses it in technology and beauty with the inclusion of exciting elements such as ‘gullwing’ doors and carbon fiber in its body. Indeed, the latter allows the vehicle an exceptional weight / power ratio, backed by the 600 hp from its Ecoboost V6 3.5L engine, supercharged with two turbos.
Cadillac CTS-V.
At another level, General Motors didn’t want to go unnoticed in Detroit. The most striking vehicle they presented this year is the Cadillac CTS-V, a version of the quintessential American sedan that—thanks to the 6.2-liter V8 engine from the Corvette Z06—becomes the most powerful model in the history of GM’s premium cars. Incidentally, the same operation has been reproduced by Lexus with its GS-F 2015, to rival the CTS–V and other sports sedans with the ‘kick’ of the 477 hp from its 5.0-liter V8 engine. Who said Lexus sedans could only be hybrid and ‘boring’?
Acura NSX.
Beyond the American cars, the big novelty of the exhibition, and surely one of the most important of the year, is the new Acura NSX 2015. This is the revived version of a sports car that captivated an entire generation in the 1990s and whose retirement ten years ago had left an irreplaceable void in Honda’s luxury range. But the Honda NSX (as it is known outside North America) has been ‘forced’ to accommodate to changing times and client preferences. Now, it comes as a hybrid, with a biturbo V6 engine and three additional circuits; in return, it doubles the power of the original NSX to 550 hp.
1. 4C Spider Alfa Romeo // 2. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.
And there’s more: the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, the rear-drive roadster that, along with the coupe, wants to pave the way for the Italian firm in its return to the US market. Also the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, with 570 hp from its renovated 4.8-liter V8 engine can accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 4.1 seconds and has even been able complete the Nürburgring reacetrack in less than eight minutes. ■
