It’s a good time to be in the market for a new truck—not long after the refreshed 2018 Ford F-150 became the 2018 Motor Trend Truck of the Year, the 2018 Detroit auto show hosted the debuts of the new 2019 Ram 1500 and 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. But what made this year’s Detroit show so entertaining to cover from the auto show floor were the surprises beyond the expected truck debuts. From a concept with an interior design described by one editor as “pure fantasy” to an asymmetrical hot hatch variant tuned on the Nurburgring, keep reading to see all our favorites.
Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept
Akio Toyoda needs positive market reaction to this concept before hitting the “go” button for production. Consider us among those saying, “Go!” This evolution of the SUV shape into something more akin to a tall wagon makes all those flagship SUV coupes look dowdy. Sure, the spindle grille is over-the-top, but the exterior design is crisp and flowing all at once. Oh, and please keep the split spoiler off the back of the roof. Cool. —Mark Rechtin
Nissan Xmotion Concept
With tighter budgets, many concepts these days end up looking all too practical and production-feasible. Not the Xmotion. Especially inside, this is pure fantasy. It features a real cedar wood structure in the dash and a full-length center structure that smells heavenly but would explode into zillions of toothpicks and splinters in a crash. Crazy perforated wood shoulder supports in the seats look hideously uncomfortable but unspeakably cool. My favorite element: The holographic taillights that are supposed to resemble “kumiko woodwork and puzzles.” I love it. —Frank Markus
Shiro Nakamura might have retired as Nissan’s design boss, but you could see this as a paean to his early days when he was at Isuzu cranking out a stream of VehiCross concepts. This survivalist’s fantasy is equal parts Xterra and Range Rover Velar. The dashboard-wide infotainment screen panel looks ready for Lt. Pavel Chekov to take command. —Mark Rechtin
2019 Ram 1500
In the battle of the trucks, I took a hard look at the Ram 1500 and Silverado 1500 (Ford kept Ranger behind stanchions and wouldn’t allow entry into the cabin). Although there are many things to like about the Chevy, including its sharply creased sheetmetal, the squint of its Clint Eastwood “well, do you, punk?” face, and clever, new packaging solutions, I have to go with the Ram as the truck of the 2018 show. Ram’s exterior design team managed quite a tricky feat by making the new 1500 look more modern and sophisticated yet still masculine and ready for business. And then there is the interior; stylish, but not over-styled, and simply oozing with tech. The 12.0-inch vertical screen looks straight out of a Tesla, and thus more flashy and tech-focused than Silverado. Only the Ford F-150’s numerous menu-driven screens and readouts comes close in the truck space. —Ed Loh
When we compared the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, I closed the story with a quote from fellow reviewer Collin Woodard, who wrote: “Toyota built a better Camry. Honda built a better car.” Granted, we haven’t driven the all-new Chevrolet Silverado or Ram 1500 yet, but in person and on paper, it’s déjà vu writ extra-large. Chevrolet built a better Silverado, but Ram stole the show with a forward-thinking truck. From the mild-hybrid powertrains to the two-mode shocks, the heated/cooled/reclining rear seats to the Tesla-aping 12.0-inch touchscreen, the Ram 1500 is clearly looking ahead to future trends, demands, and regulations and taking them head-on now rather than later, all while maintaining top-of-the-class capability. Meanwhile, Ford won’t have a hybrid F-150 until 2020, Chevrolet hasn’t said a peep about bringing back the Silverado hybrid, and Toyota and Nissan have said even less. —Scott Evans
Who says trucks have to be clunky and simplistic? The interior has all sorts of smart touches—the perfectly sized and placed rotary shifter, the array of knobs and buttons that make perfect sense, the giant optional infotainment screen that rivals Tesla’s, and the array of clever storage options. Following Ford’s lead, there’s a grille for every personality. I thought I would miss the Freightliner-style fascia, but in person, the sleek new front gives it a Ram-of-the-future appearance. Best running boards in the segment, too. —Mark Rechtin
It’s the Ram’s inner space that wins me over. Fancy models are said to have more authentic leather, wood, and metal trim than any competing truck, and that all looks great. But it’s that Tesla-esque, big-screen user interface that really grabs me. Fun fact: it was originally developed for police use in Charger Interceptor models to eliminate the need to mount a laptop in the cabin. As Elwood Blues might have said, “It’s got a cop motor, cop shocks, and a cop screen. What do you say? Is it the new Bluesmobile?” —Frank Markus
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Although we saw it in Texas about a month ago, Chevy hadn’t revealed the entire lineup of the Silverado. The Detroit auto show was the place for that, and the Bow Tie brand surprised us with eight different trims that go from a work truck to a sportier RST to the top trim High Country. Its wide design, improvements in aerodynamics, and bigger cabin space have current Silverado owners excited about the new truck. Ride quality has improved, and that’s something we’re looking forward to when we drive it later this year. —Miguel Cortina
Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept
This is a design study and I like where Infiniti is going. In a world of in-your-face grilles, this tasteful, inverted face built around the three-dimensional logo is a welcome breath of elegant air. Designers also managed to make a short hood elegant with dramatic vents. The huge four-passenger interior is clean and simple with innovative flairs such as how the wood and leather on the door meld into one artistic piece, some crazy threads in the door pockets act as sensors to turn on a light, and a birch dash has built-in backlit controls. –Alisa Priddle
2019 Ford Edge ST
Props to Ford for introducing this performance-focused Edge that’s due this summer and available in “performance blue.” The Ford Performance team took the all-new Edge and added horsepower to the 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine, taking it to 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque with a new eight-speed automatic and paddles to go manual. Hit sport mode on the rotary dial e-shifter to change the throttle response and shift patterns, and open up that exhaust note.
2019 Hyundai Veloster N
It’s an asymmetrical three-door hatchback that was developed by the former head of BMW’s M division, tuned on the Nurburgring, and will be sold alongside more practical Hyundais like the Sonata and the Tucson. Sure, it’s weird, but it’s also one of the most interesting vehicles to go on sale in the U.S. in a long time. Considering how fun the closely related i30 N was to drive, it’s also a safe bet that the Veloster N will be a blast to drive. There were some really cool cars at the show this year, but this one is definitely the coolest. —Collin Woodard
The Veloster lineup: The Veloster has long been an unfulfilled promise, a sporty-looking car writing checks its powertrains and suspension couldn’t cash. The new Veloster promises to be fun to drive at every trim level and take it to the extreme on America’s first-ever N performance model. Hyundai’s new head of fun, Albert Biermann, espouses a philosophy of lively, engaging handling over raw performance numbers. It’s thinking like that that made cars such as the Fiesta ST and Civic Si perennial enthusiast favorites, and now more than ever we need fun cars at an affordable price point. The cherry on top is the styling, which finally just looks good rather than just unique. —Scott Evans
2019 Ford Ranger
Excuses aside about how long it took Ford to bring the Ranger back to North America, I am just glad it will be on sale again later this year. There is a market for a supercab or supercrew pickup that is easier than a full-sizer to drive and park, fits in your driveway, and costs less to buy and fill up. The North American styling of the Ranger sold in other markets is about what we expected: a nice combo of world truck and big brother F-150 elements. Steel body and frame as well as terrain management and off-road capability round out the package. The only engine offered is the second-generation 2.3-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a forged steel crankshaft and a new 10-speed automatic transmission—no manual. –Alisa Priddle
2019 Volkswagen Jetta
The thing that has me very excited about the Jetta is the switch to the MQB platform. The Golf won 2015 Motor Trend’s Car of the Year when it made its debut on the same platform, and I have high hopes that the Jetta will improve its ride quality, NVH, and performance. Interior space is something that new buyers will be very happy about, and the addition of Volkswagen Digital Cockpit is something we’re looking forward to. Of course, the compact sedan segment is extremely competitive, but VW is looking to gain a bigger piece of the pie of what it currently has. —Miguel Cortina
Aramco/Achates-Powered Ford F-150
I’ve written multiple future-tech features covering oddball better-mousetrap engines, almost none of which ever amounts to anything. So it is with great joy that I can finally point to one that has been rendered functional and installed in an actual pickup truck. The claims made by Achates Power for its 2.7-liter three-cylinder, opposed-piston, gasoline compression-ignition engine are impressive: 270 hp, 480 lb-ft, and 37-mpg highway fuel economy. Wow. Last year we reported one manufacturer had committed to produce it. Keep an eye on this radical engine rethink. —Frank Markus
2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
There’s nothing harder than updating an icon, respecting heritage while advancing both the look and the tech, but Benz has pulled it off. The G-Wagen still looks and sounds like the G-Wagen, but it’s roomier, techier, and according to Benz, somehow even more capable. It’s longer, but the breakover angle has improved, and it fords deeper water. It’s wider and has a longer wheelbase, but you can’t tell unless you park an old one next to it. The interior is thoroughly modern, but you still have to slam the doors, and they still have the loudest locks in the world. We’ll miss the eccentricities, from the sloppy steering to the total lack of elbow room, but there’s no arguing it isn’t a better all-around vehicle. Plus, I now have a promising business opportunity in retrofitting basket cupholders to the new truck. —Scott Evans
I’ve heard some grumbling about how incredibly lazy Mercedes-Benz must be to release an all-new Gelandewagen that looks exactly like the old one. Actually, the opposite is true. The G-Wagen is an icon, with legions of rabid followers, so kudos to Mercedes for staying true to the straight-sided, no-nonsense design. It is quite a feat of engineering that the G did not puff up and smooth out, as all vehicle lines seem to do over time in the name of increasingly stringent safety standards. And what of aerodynamic efficiency? Surely precious of drops of benzin could have been saved by reducing the frontal area and eliminating all those boxy bends? But nope—Benz made the smart call to stick with its iconic design. Do you think the guys at Land Rover will do the same with the next-generation Defender? Let’s hope they’re taking notes. —Ed Loh
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