TRANSPORT
The 2016 North American International Auto Show
The 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) took over Detroit between January 9-24, bringing together the world's biggest names in cars with industry leaders, journalists, and the general public to unveil the newest generation of automobiles and generate international headlines.
2 February, 2016
While the 2015 edition of the auto show saw 55 vehicles introduced and 5,000 journalists from 60 countries in attendance, NAIAS 2016 hosted 750 vehicles and 35,000 professionals and analysts from 2,000 American and foreign companies.
With the aluminium revolution currently sweeping the auto industry, many of the biggest names at NAIAS took advantage of the show to unveil their newest aluminium vehicles. Two among them stand out in particular: Ford's new F-150 Raptor and the Lexus LC 500.
Ford chose NAIAS as the stage for its announcement that the newest F-150 Raptor, designed for off-road use, would be joining the company's group of aluminium-bodied trucks. As a result, all Ford pickup trucks made in North America use steel frames housed within aluminium bodies, a design reserved for sports cars up until just two years ago. Ford is setting itself apart from its main American competitors, General Motors (GM) and Dodge, by making the aluminium switch—the other companies are holding on to their steel bodies for now. With the Raptor joining the rest of Ford's stable, the company will be making 800,000 aluminium F-150s for years to come.
Ford chose NAIAS as the stage for its announcement that the newest F-150 Raptor, designed for off-road use, would be joining the company's group of aluminium-bodied trucks. As a result, all Ford pickup trucks made in North America use steel frames housed within aluminium bodies, a design reserved for sports cars up until just two years ago. Ford is setting itself apart from its main American competitors, General Motors (GM) and Dodge, by making the aluminium switch—the other companies are holding on to their steel bodies for now. With the Raptor joining the rest of Ford's stable, the company will be making 800,000 aluminium F-150s for years to come.
With fuel efficiency standards constantly increasing, lighter aluminium parts have become essential for making sure Ford's trucks pass the mark. By switching from steel to aluminium, the Raptor will drop about 350 kg (770 pounds) of weight.
The newest generation of the F-150 Raptor (and the stage it was introduced on) is the next step in what has become a tradition for Ford, with the first aluminium F-150 making its own premiere at the 2015 edition of NAIAS. At the time, switching from a steel to an aluminium body made the truck 315 kg (694 pounds) lighter than its immediate predecessor, with 454 kg (1,000 pounds) of total aluminium going into the production of the car.
Photo by AutoBlog
The newest generation of the F-150 Raptor (and the stage it was introduced on) is the next step in what has become a tradition for Ford, with the first aluminium F-150 making its own premiere at the 2015 edition of NAIAS. At the time, switching from a steel to an aluminium body made the truck 315 kg (694 pounds) lighter than its immediate predecessor, with 454 kg (1,000 pounds) of total aluminium going into the production of the car.
Photo by AutoBlog
We asked people what they would sacrifice for getting better fuel economy and they told us they'd give up nothing for that. It's about more than aluminum, it's about being the strongest, toughest, most capable truck. Aluminum made us lighter and more durable without sacrificing anything
Jerry Farrell
Engineer at the head of the F-150 program
Lexus's new LC 500 is another standard-bearer for aluminium at NAIAS 2016, with aluminium wheels (options include 20 in. machined cast aluminium of 21 in. forged aluminium), aluminium door skins mounted to a carbon fiber structure, aluminium front suspension towers, and an all-aluminium V8 engine that can generate up to 467 horsepower. As with the F-150 Raptor, the LC 500 made its global debut at NAIAS.
According to Akio Toyoda, Chief Branding Officer for Lexus: "The LC 500 has been an important product for Lexus and me personally. A few years ago, we decided to guide the future of the brand with products that had more passion and distinction in the luxury market. This flagship luxury coupe's proportions, stunning design and performance make a strong statement about our brand's emotional direction and will grow the Lexus luxury appeal globally."
According to Akio Toyoda, Chief Branding Officer for Lexus: "The LC 500 has been an important product for Lexus and me personally. A few years ago, we decided to guide the future of the brand with products that had more passion and distinction in the luxury market. This flagship luxury coupe's proportions, stunning design and performance make a strong statement about our brand's emotional direction and will grow the Lexus luxury appeal globally."
While the NAIAS plays host to many of the biggest names in mass-market autos, quite a few of the smaller and more exotic luxury brands did not appear (officially) at the 2016 edition of the auto show. Instead, carmakers including Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Rolls Royce were showcased at The Gallery event at MGM Grand Detroit on January 9, 2016. Billed as an "ultra-luxury" start to the wider event, these high-end names still feature plenty of aluminium between them. Aston Martin, for one, is getting ready to premier its new DB11 at the Geneva motor show in March 2016 (the closest car buyers can get to James Bond's ride from Spectre), while Rolls Royce recently announced that all of its vehicles would be switching over to a new aluminium space frame (ASF) from 2018 on.
This recurring luxury component of the wider car show has high standards for entry: cars must be worth at least $100,000 USD to be shown, and prices can go up to $1.4 million dollars. In 2015, sales at the event totaled $3 million in just one night.