With the New Year comes new cars. Having grown up in the car business for most of my life, I always looked forward to January and the North American International Automobile show in Detroit. Having worked as Vice President / Director for General Motors and eventually Volkswagen of America, we worked all year to prepare for this moment when we could impress the world with our latest models and hottest concept cars. In fact, I was there when we rolled out the 1997 All New Beetle to amazing fanfare having driven the concept car much earlier under tight wraps.
We’ve come a long way and buzz words like hydrogen fuel cells, lithium ion, all-electric, hybrids and even driverless are now part of our automotive vernacular. If I told you there would be driverless cars on the road in 2018 just a few years ago you would have given me the stink-eye. Well here we are and yes, thanks to virtually every manufacturer (especially Elon Musk of Tesla and Google) your next UBER may be driverless soon than you think. Will we be saying goodbye to fossil fueled cars? Not just yet, but as we gain more and more confidence in alternative powered vehicles and technology forges ahead at lightning speed, stopping at the pump will slowly become a thing of the past.
So, what’s all the hype coming out of Detroit? We can honestly say, the future is unfolding right before us as auto manufactures from all over the world put their best foot (or peddle) forward introducing some stunning new cars, SUVs, trucks and concept vehicles. So, let’s get started on what we think will be the hottest cars and truck that appeal to our LGBT community!
Let’s Start with this Year’s Detroit International Auto Show Winners:
The awards are among the most prestigious in the industry because they are chosen by a panel of more than 60 jurors from print, online and broadcast media across the United States and Canada. Here are three categories:
2018 North American Car of the Year:
Honda Accord
Honda rolled out a completely new car for the 2018 model year. It’s powered by a choice of two different four-cylinder turbocharged engines. Hybrid and high-performance versions are offered. It’s also the biggest Accord ever, in terms of interior space.
“Honda seems to have executed some sort of magic trick — not only is this 10th-generation Accord far sleeker and more decisively styled than its predecessor, it’s somehow roomier inside, too,” said CNET’s Chris Paukert, a juror who voted on the award.
This is the third year in a row that Honda has won one of these awards. The Honda Civic won Car of the Year in 2016, and the Honda Ridgeline pickup won Truck of the Year last year according CNNMoney’s Chris Isidore.
2018 North American SUV of the Year:
Volvo XC60
Completely redesigned for 2018 the XC60 is an SUV not designed to look down on others, but to drive. The exterior has an athletic stance thanks to Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture platform (SPA) with exquisite details including signature Thor’s Hammer headlights.
The interior is a masterful composition of well-resolved architecture, beautiful materials and the very latest technology – all perfectly blended together. The XC60 provides a true Scandinavian experience which will make Volvo customers feel special.
2018 North American Truck of the Year:
Lincoln Navigator
Navigator is Lincoln’s flagship SUV, combining modern luxury with advanced technology to elevate family travel to first-class. A modern design turns heads, while Navigator’s smooth power helps families move confidently along the road. A luxurious, spacious interior allows first-class seating for everyone aboard, with 10 power outlets to keep all passengers charged and connected.
The 2018 Navigator offers all-new Lincoln drive mode technology, an advanced system that allows owners to adjust the vehicle to make driving easier and more enjoyable in any weather or terrain with the twist of a knob. An all-new head-up display is customizable to complement the 12.3-inch digital cluster – incorporating the same groundbreaking digital light processing technology used in movie theaters.
