The North American International Auto Show 2016 in Detroit - Production Models to Start Saving for

Everybody loves a concept car and there are a whole myriad of these beauties to be drooled over at NAIAS in Detroit. Then there are some radical new production models that will be making their way to South African shores as well, such as Volvo’s sleek new signature sedan, the S90, which launches with IntelliSafe Assist as standard. This includes the advanced semi-autonomous drive feature, Pilot Assist. Pilot Assist’s job is to keep the Volvo properly aligned within lane markings up to highway speeds of 130 km/h by giving subtle steering input, and will no longer need to follow another car for it to function. 

The Volvo S90 also introduces another world-first function to its City Safety – Large Animal Detection, capable of identifying (and avoiding collisions with) large animals such as horses, deer, moose etc. 

The S90 comes with an eco-friendly T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain, delivering up to 298 kW of power and three different driving modes, namely Pure, Hybrid and Power. The all-new Volvo S90 is due for South African launch towards the end of 2016.

Another drop-dead gorgeous piece of metal is Lexus’s LC 500 Coupe, which is ready for production. And yes, it is headed for SA! We can hardly contain ourselves, because the LC 500 is not very far from the dramatically styled LF-LC concept we saw in 2012. Sidestepping hybrid and turbo technology, Lexus decided to go for an old-school naturally aspirated V8 engine with 351 kW and 530 Nm of torque (preliminary specifications), which will sound every bit as mean and imposing as the LC 500 Coupe looks. It will have a lightning fast 10-speed automatic transmission and will reach a 100 km/h in under 4.5 seconds.

The LC 500 Coupe is also Lexus’s first use of a rear-wheel luxury platform that isn’t shared with other models yet. The underpinnings of this coupe will become the blueprint for the company’s future front-engine/rear-wheel-drive vehicles, which are designed to  have a lower centre of gravity. Expect to see them in SA around the end of this year or early 2017.

Mercedes-Benz is impressing the media at the NAIAS with its revolutionary E-Class, the first car to be given a test license for autonomous driving, thanks to its DRIVE PILOT driver assistance system. It can autonomously follow a vehicle travelling in front at speeds of up to 210 km/h, and at up to 130 km/h even without clear lane markings. If the indicator is activated for at least two seconds, the system can also steer the car into the lane next to it, having first identified the lane is clear. Further intelligent assistance systems are Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist and Remote Parking Pilot, which, for the first time, enables remote parking using a smartphone app.

Another safety highlight is Car-to-X communication. It is the first production model to exchange information with other vehicles and accordingly equipped infrastructure.  Potential dangers such as broken-down vehicles or surface ice can therefore be identified even earlier. (We wonder if it will be able to detect potholes in SA!)

Other new Mercedes-Benz models showcased, include the new SLC, which replaces the SLK. Topping the model range is the Mercedes-AMG SLC 43, combining a 270 kW 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine with re-engineered AMG sports suspension. It will complete the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. But if you’re after something a little more flashy, why not try the Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet? With 463 kW and torque of up to 100 Nm, the 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine will make the S 65 leap to a 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.

Another little crowd pleaser is the Smart Cabrio, which can drop its top before you can say “Sunscreen”. It claims to be the world’s most inexpensive cabriolet. I think it would suit our sunny climate perfectly, but will it ever make it to SA? We can only hope.