Taking place in Motor City, the North American International Auto Show (or Detroit Auto Show, for short) is arguably the most influential car showcase in North America, if not the world. It’s also the first auto show each calendar year, which helps it to set the tone for what’s to come in the world of cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles for the next 12 months. This year is proving to be no exception. The Detroit Auto Show is proving itself to be jam packed with a number of surprises and newsworthy announcements. Here are 10 of the biggest surprises coming out of this year’s showcase, along with a few mentions of things we hope get announced as the week progresses.
10. Kia Takes on BMW and Audi
If you don’t immediately think of Kia as a company that produces luxury vehicles, you are not alone. The Kia brand, to date, has mostly been known for making affordable branded vehicles such as the Sportage and Sorento SUVs, or the Sedona minivan. But in Detroit this week, Kia is announcing plans to go upscale and begin producing a luxury car designed to compete directly against the vaunted BMW and Audi nameplates. Called the Stinger, Kia’s new vehicle is a rear wheel drive sedan that has a four cylinder engine capable of producing 255 horsepower and 260 pounds of torque. It’s also available with a V6 engine. The Stinger also boasts a tricked out interior and stylish body. Whether it will succeed in taking business away from BMW and Audi remains to be seen, but we are intrigued by Kia’s lofty ambitions.
http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/photos/12128/2018-stinger13 Via KiaMedia.com