The North American International Auto Show returned for the first time since 2019 and this year’s event was significantly different from the past.
Besides moving from January to September, the show expanded beyond the doors of Huntington Place and spilled into nearby Hart Plaza. While some of the changes were welcome, the show didn’t exactly go off without a hitch.
Hit: 2024 Ford Mustang
Without a doubt, the star of the show was the 2024 Ford Mustang, which celebrated its debut in the heart of the Motor City. Countless fans and owners poured into Hart Plaza to take part in the unveiling, and they weren’t disappointed as the automaker unveiled the seventh-generation pony car as well as a Dark Horse variant with around 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS).
Miss: A Number Of Mainstream Automakers Were No-Shows
While auto shows have been losing their importance to the media, they’re still relevant to consumers as they enable them to easily check out and compare an assortment of different vehicles. However, that was virtually impossible in Detroit as a number of mainstream automakers skipped the show.
Big names such as Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Volkswagen were absent as were premium automakers such as Audi, Porsche, and Jaguar Land Rover. That being said, Toyota had a huge exhibit while Subaru also had a strong showing. BMW and Mercedes were also represented, but just barely.
Hit: A Giant Inflatable Duck
While cars are supposed to be the stars, they got overshadowed by an inflatable duck. Measuring six-stories tall, the duck was the talk of the show and people flocked to get their picture taken with it.
Miss: President Biden’s Visit
Afternoon security line
Organizers smartly limited the show to one main media day, but it quickly turned into a disaster thanks to President Biden’s visit. The troubles started long before he arrived as the People Mover was prevented from stopping at Huntington Place and this made for an annoying start to the day.
Things quickly went downhill from there as security at Huntington Place was tight and attendees were subjected to long lines and manual bag searches. Later, the show effectively came to a halt as people were prevented from entering the main floor for roughly two and a half hours. I was unfortunately stuck outside with countless others, which effectively wasted a large portion of our afternoon. Some exhibitors were also less than thrilled as the lockdown limited their access to the media.
Hit: Ride And Drives
As we’ve mentioned above, a number of automakers were no-shows. Thankfully, the lack of attendance wasn’t as apparent as it has been in previous years as there were numerous ride and drive events inside Huntington Place. This enabled the show to feel ‘fuller,’ while also allowing attendees to experience products such as the Ford Bronco and F-150 Lightning as well as Jeep and Ram vehicles.
Miss: Things Are Looking Bleak For Fiat
Jammed between Jeep Wagoneers and Ram pickups, there was a single, sad Fiat 500X. It was dwarfed by the other members of the Stellantis lineup and served as a reminder that the company has somehow managed to survived this long.
Needless to say, Fiat is hanging on by a thread in America as its lineup has been slashed to a single model following the deaths of the 500, 500C, 500L, and 124 Spider. Making matters worse, the 500X is barely a blip on the radar as the company only moved 1,181 units in the United States last year. 2022 is shaping up to be even worse as the brand has only sold 578 units in the first six months of the year.
Hit: Trucks And EVs
While new debuts were few and far between, trucks and EVs were front and center. This was largely due to General Motors, which displayed the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Equinox EV, and Blazer EV as well as the GMC Hummer EV in both pickup and SUV form.
The GM presence didn’t end there as the company also showcased the redesigned Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon as well as the Buick Wildcat concept. They were joined by rugged versions of the Silverado and Sierra as well as the impressive Corvette Z06.
Besides GM, Stellantis showed the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept and said farewell to the Chrysler 300 with a 485 hp (362 kW / 492 PS) special edition.
Attending The Show
For those looking to attend, the doors open to the public on September 17th and tickets range from $10 for children to $20 for adults. However, there’s a family pass that costs $50 and provides access for two adults and three children.
