No, we’re not talking about Christmas. Chances are you don’t have a hope in hell of getting what you really want under the ol’ tree this year. We’re talking about 2018.
A year of splashy new vehicle unveilings (or unauthorized leaks) awaits, starting just three weeks from now in Detroit. Are you as excited about the 2019 Avalon as the TTAC crew is? It’s all anyone can mention in our Slack chatroom. And what about the electric crossover promise from that automaker you’ve already forgotten about? Or was it that other automaker?
Jokes aside, what we’re getting at is this: are you looking forward to a reveal that’s not the 2019 Ram 1500?
There’s plenty still to come, though recently we’ve seen the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and its questionable face, the uncomfortably named Nissan Kicks, the completely necessary BMW X2, and a next-generation Infiniti QX50 with a potential revolution beneath its hood, just to name a few.
There’s still plenty more cloaked mystery vehicles to get excited over. Like the, um, next-generation Volkswagen Jetta. Or … hmm … the next-gen Honda Clarity.
Maybe those aren’t good examples.
We can expect Ford to finally pull the wraps off its midsize Ranger in short order, though everyone knows it’ll just be an evolution of the overseas T6 Ranger that’s been around for years. Maybe Dearborn has a tease of the long-awaited Bronco for us in the New Year. There’s an Infiniti flagship concept sedan on its way, arriving just in time to witness the death of flagship sedans. Cadillac has its XT4 compact crossover spooling up, and if there’s one thing we know you love, it’s crossovers. Speaking of which, Lexus has a luxurious soccermobile ready for a Motor City closeup.
Or maybe the looming mid-engined Corvette has you wistfully swirling your eggnog this holiday season. The Jeep Wrangler pickup? We’ll surely get a peek this year. (Finally, no more camo-clad spy shots and artist renderings.) And that’s just a taste of the non-exotic.
So tell us, besides knowing that a certain relative is showing up at the dinner table this Christmas, what’s got you squirming?
I’m hoping that the 2019 Toyota Sienna will be shown soon. Honda has dropped the ball with initial quality on the ’18 Odyssey so if Toyota reveals a great van design this will put some pressure on Honda. Should be fun to watch.
Really hoping for something….anything, about the new Bronco.
How great would a new Bronco be? One can only hope that it is a success and forces GM to dust off the K5 moniker and come out with a 2 door PLSUV, why not? We had the Personal Luxury Coupe in the 70’s seems like the Personal Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle could reign supreme in 20’s.
Let GMC do it. Exclusively.
A Wrangler/Bronco rival *and* a full-size 2 door.
Lol, the next Blazer is going to a smaller Traverse. GM gonna GM.
Yes, let Chevy chase the Edge/Murano and fail miserably by stuffing in a cramped third row and $#¡ГГ¡ng all over a once-respected nameplate.
Let GMC do the other stuff, the BOF stuff, the good stuff, the interesting stuff.
I’m keeping my hopes humble:
I hope somebody will come to my garage and swap out my release bearing for less than a case of beer.
I’m hoping the Jeep JL drives better than my JK so I’ll consider upgrading, but I’d also love to see a Bronco that competes with a Jeep more than a CUV. Also, wasn’t a large Grand Wagoneer supposed to be in the pipeline?
Re: Grand Wagoneer. Whenever FCA gets around to it. They got stuff goin’ on, dontcha know.
The pace of new and upgraded vehicle release at FCA in the last 1.5 years has actually been pretty stout. To wit:
Pacifica (new)
Compass (new)
Wrangler (new)
Ram 1500 (new)
Giulia (new)
Stelvio (new)
Levante (new)
Demon (significant upgrade)
Trackhawk (significant upgrade)
Durango SRT (upgrade)
Cherokee (facelift)
As to whether or not they’ll get around to a Grand Wagoneer? I just make the wheels on the bus go round and round, I don’t decide where it goes.
You call renaming the Town and Country mini van Pacifica (which was already a failing supposed sporty wagon) a new car?
Compass, Wrangled, Ram, are only upgraded, not new models.
*TRIGGERED*
The Pacifica is an all new platform, not to mention the new powertrain (Atkinson-cycle V6 and plug-in.) And it wasn’t a failing supposed sporty wagon, it was a FAILED, not-sporty wagon. Get your facts straight. Though to be fair, the 4.0L and autostick were kind of entertaining if you didn’t have all three rows filled.
The Compass rides on the same basic platform as the Renegade, 500X, and 500L and is very much a new vehicle, it shares only a name with the outgoing model. Only time will tell if it shares the reputation…
The new Ram 1500 is far more extensive than an upgrade, though I’ll offer you the benefit of the doubt in that the basic formula for the full size pickup hasn’t really changed in a few decades. But as far as trucks go, it’s no less “new” than the 2014 K2XX Silverado/Sierra or 2015 Ford F150 were.
Ditto the Wrangler, which also includes brand new powertrain options and a forthcoming pickup variant, which is clearly new as well and necessarily rides on a derivative of the new Wrangler architecture.
I’ve mentioned powertrain a few times above, because I don’t think people realize how much work goes into developing a new powertrain and integrating it into a vehicle, it’s like transplanting someone’s entire chest cavity. Oh, but the body’s the same!
Trump would call it uuuge.
@sgtjmack
I’m afraid I have to agree with noid on his response to you, the Pacifica is not a renamed T & C, it was an all new model, as with the Compass, Ram and Wrangler, it is not a rehashed version of the same old car. As he said: Get your facts straight.
@noid, I don’t argue with your response to me, either, I was only referring to the rate at which FCA promises all-new products and how long it takes until it makes good on those promises. And, the fact that they tend to allow old models to remain on lots well past their best-by date. I don’t argue that the LX platform cars or the current Grand Cherokee are not good vehicles, they’re just getting a bit stale.
(Don’t get me wrong, Ford has had a D3-based sedan since 2005, so don’t mistake me for saying FCA is unique in this regard.)
Yes, the Pacifica, Compass, Wrangler and Ram are genuinely all new. The CUSW platform has been around for a while, now, but I’m not saying the Pacifica and Compass don’t qualify as new even though they use an existing platform (that didn’t exist on their predecessors, of course).
I think the Grand Wagoneer is supposed to be based off of the new RAM 1500, so it will probably come within the next year or so?
Something called: Nissan Intelligent Mobility.. @CES 2018. Can hardly wait.
Probably too early yet, but I’m curious about whether Volkswagen will really be making a BEV bug and/or microbus, and if so, how the final versions will look like.
Ranger Raptor!
I would love to see Toyota put a Yamaha influenced/designed/built whatever engine in the new Supra.
The Toyobaru is such a great car in so many ways but for me that stupid boxer engine is so un-enjoyable. I fear Toyota making the same mistake with the new Supra.
Seconded.
Any Supra news would be welcome but I too am bracing for disappointment. I have feeling its going to positioned way upmarket cost wise especially with BMW involved in the development. Engine wise who knows, just assumed one of BMW’s recent turbos would go in as Toyota doesn’t really have anything with 6 cylinders (assuming it even gets a traditional Supra 6) that is impressive in their parts bin. A whole new engine would be interesting but then that would push the price up even more. My real worry – no manual transmission.
I assumed the Supra would get the same biturbo V6 as the new Lexus LS.
The Jeep pickup. The mid size pick up market has seen an uptick with the Colorado/Canyon coming to market, which helped Toyota move more Tacos. The Jeep could turn this segment on its head with a solid offering.
Automotively speaking, I am most hopeful of the work that Tesla is doing on an electric semi. Though I can’t or don’t know for sure, I would bet that Paccar, International, Isuzu etc. are working on similar. There are millions of diesel douching tired dump trucks, box trucks, garbage trucks, and more that retiring from service and replaced with an electric offering would be a boon to local air quality. In my mind, this is the segment that wants a lower cost to operate and maintain product and is in fact willing to pay more up front for the product as tax law, even the new one, favors capital investment.
Yes, the Jeep Pickup.
The Jeep pickup and new Ford Ranger are on my radar.
Just released in Europe…Hoping for an Elantra GT Fastback at least in Canada.
We need more fastback 5 door cars!
The return of the inline 6 for Jaguars is exciting.
Now they need to bring the wood back.
I want to see if Chrysler is serious about their Portal concept. Also, I’d love to see them continue Hellcatting All The Things. Maybe throwing a blower on the PentaStar and HellKittening the rest of them.
As for companies that don’t butter my bread, I’m eager to see what Cadillac’s little CUVs turn out to be and if they can sell well enough to finance their fabulous cars.
Also, a return of the Mazdaspeed brand.
How about FCA just make a reasonably reliable vehicle.
I’ll put it in the suggestion box. I think you’re on to something there.
Looking forward to the Regal TourX, and the Niro plug-in.
Maybe the CX-5 diesel will appear in 2018, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
As someone commented above: Wake me if Ford shows the North American Bronco and Ranger.
Otherwise: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Honda URV. It is what the wife and I are looking for. We are Honda fans and don’t care for the Murano or the Edge but have been thinking about the new Terrain.
I’ve been driving the same CRV for 11 years now and though a new CRV wouldn’t be a bad choice I’m hoping for something bigger. Since it is usually just the 2 of us I don’t want to consider 3 rows.
Seconded on this one. Ideally a hybrid with Honda the 2-motor system. A 2-row vehicle good for road tripping with 4 adults.
Byton and Faraday Future @CES. Gonna huff some future mobility straight from the tailpipe.
Civic sized 4 door luxury sedan with Toyota reliability (thus no German builds). As someone said in another thread American sedan buyers equate luxury with large.
Lexus comes to mind…
Which one is Civic-sized? What are you, 13?
The luxury Lexus (LS) is 200 inches long and 74 wide.
Non luxury Lexus (IS) is 184 inches long and 71 wide
Camry with Lexus Badge (ES) is 193 inches long and 72 wide
Civic 4 door sedan is 176 inches long and 71 wide
Confirmation for the Bullitt and GT500. Especially the latter. Be interesting to see the final specs and also capture all those salty tears for my soup when whatever ZL1 fighter comes out and it doesn’t have TTV8 and AWD although DCT might be possibility. Also the inevitable ” I was gonna trade my EB Mustang in on a GT500 but supercharged V8s are old school and with that much power you need AWD and a DCT probably just go with a GT-R now “.
Mostly I want to get my Elan back on the road by spring time, but it’s awfully cold down in the garage. Oh you meant new cars….can’t think of thing.
I wanted a Bentley for Christmas. It just got here a few mionths earlier than I expected.
Maybe I’ll put the Christmas tree in the garage/
In 1:18 or 1:32?
The Bentley is full-size. The Christmas tree might be half scale.
A true hardtop anything.
I’d like to see Toyota add a diesel option to their trucks/4Runner and beef up the suspension and towing capacity.
So, Toyota just needs to build better trucks. Got it.
How about an auto maker devise something to stop idiots from texting or watching their cell phone while driving. You know, something that detects your eyes not looking ahead and then shocks you either through the steering wheel or the seat, or maybe it hits the brakes and makes the car stop and holds the horn down until you put the cell phone down and pay attention to the road.
Yes… a devise that block incoming and outgoing cell phone reception until car is placed in PARK
****it won’t happen because the SNOWFLAKES will have a hissy fit*****
You know you can turn off your phone or silence it, maybe just let it go to voicemail? How about bluetooth? Even us dumb snowflakes understand this.
Lol, so passengers (who, of course, aren’t driving) are denied the use of their devices because the driver can’t be trusted to put his/hers down?
You’ve never made a call while someone else was driving? If so, did it end in a horrible tragic crash?
Cadillac has a pretty neat system for its Super Cruise system that detects when the driver’s eyes are off the road and goes nuts until the driver returns their eyes to the road. Additionally, I’ve driven several FCA vehicles with adaptive cruise, and if it determines you’ve spent too much time not interacting with the wheel or brakes it likewise gets all hot and bothered for you to reengage with the driving experience.
So they could do what you want. They just have to want it equally as bad. Or rather, the government has to want it equally as bad.
Easy enough, all vehicle and cell phone manufacturers have to do is agree upon an uninterruptible signal to the phone indicating it is in a moving vehicle and enter a sort or airplane mode while the vehicle is in motion or transfer function to the vehicle’s onboard infotainment as they do now through android or Apple auto.
A Chevy pillarless hardtop coupe.
Thank goodness dreaming is free, because only in my dreams will I ever see that happen again!
Any new truck.
The new Chevy looks interesting. I’d like to know what that “Trail Boss” costs. I’d like to see a factory winch option on the ZR2 Colorado.
I’m curious about the Ram even though what I’ve seen is ugly.
The Ranger especially in Raptor trim really has my hopes up. A diesel F150 also has my attention.
Jeep truck. Especially with a diesel.
If I’m honest, the GMC Sierra. I hope it continues its tradition of being the Chevy’s better (looking) half.
Now more than ever.
Indictments…
of all the corrupt politicians, in both parties, that have been running this country for the last twenty eight years.
Mid-engined Corvette. Seems likely GM will try to pull off the same kind of show-stealing reveal that Ford did with the new GT.
– New Defender
– New Bronco
That’s about it. Toyota keeps hinting that they’re working on expanding their SUV lineup, but it’s pretty unlikely they’ll come up with anything not ugly.