It seems like CES just ended on Friday and now it’s time for automotive tech to got back to Detroit for NAIAS. Although the Detroit Auto Show traditionally is best known for introductions of family vehicles and trucks, we do see some some very technological advanced announcements coming.
Starting on Monday, January 15 there will be many news conferences, including news from North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY), VDA, Schaeffler, Lexus, Ram, BMW Group, Volkswagen, Nissan, Acura, Kia, Hyundai, Infiniti, Toyota, GAC, BlackBerry, John Chen, CEO, Keynote and Product Debut, Magna, Techstars Mobility, Jeep, IndyCar, Michelin, ZF, Roadshow by CNET, Aramco, Politico, Hitachi, Steel Market Development Institute, Techstars Mobility Pitch Competition, Röchling, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), eCharge, Reviver Auto, EyesOn Design Awards and PlanetM Awards. There will also be off site events from Chevrolet and Lamborghini.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao<> will keynote the kickoff of AutoMobili-D, an exposition showcasing a global ecosystem of mobility-focused companies and organizations.
BlackBerry Executive Chairman & CEO, John Chen, will deliver a keynote at AutoMobili-D.As vehicles become increasingly connected and the future of self-driving cars becomes a reality, the importance of automotive security is the number one priority for manufacturers, suppliers, policy makers and customers.
Chen’s keynote will address BlackBerry’s transformation into a world leader in cybersecurity solutions and why the company is one of the most trusted partners in the automotive industry. Chen will also unveil a BlackBerry product that will help to shape and secure the future of connected and self-driving cars.
Here are some highlights of what to expect:
Mercedes-Benz Amber Resin-Ates
With the world’s biggest installation of synthetic resin Mercedes‑Benz is putting the world premiere of the new G-Class on 14 January 2018 in the spotlight at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. As of today a gigantic amber-coloued cube made of 44.4 tonnes of synthetic resin is adorning the entrance to Cobo Hall, the NAIAS exhibition hall. Encased in it is a G-Class from the first production year, 1979. The installation symbolises the timelessness of the off-road legend and makes a conscious reference to the natural phenomenon of insects preserved in amber. Like their genetic material the DNA of the first G-Class has also been preserved and is handed down from generation to generation. These genes are also in the new G-Class and they are carrying through the characteristic properties of the longest-lived model series from Mercedes-Benz into modern times: an iconic design, indestructible superiority off the beaten track and exceptional ride comfort on the road.
Audi 7
The all-new 2019 Audi A7 will make its U.S. debut at the North American International Auto Show. Building on the success of the first generation, the A7 exemplifies the prologue design language, featuring a more precise, modern exterior and interior, as well as the next generation of lighting innovations from Audi.
Amid the biggest product rollout in the brand’s U.S. history, the second-generation A7 represents design progressed, offering a more refined driving experience combined with exceptional functionality. The award-winning Sportback body style offers customers coupe-like design and performance along with the five-door layout that helps improve usability by enabling easier access to cargo space.
VW
Volkswagen of America, Inc., debuted the 2018 Passat GT special model at the North American International Auto Show. The production model, previewed by a concept at Automobility LA in 2016, was designed by the company’s North American engineering hub in Chattanooga, Tennessee, based on extensive feedback from U.S. customers and dealers.
The Passat GT joins the Passat lineup for model year 2018 as a limited-run special model based off the R-Line® trim. It will be available in four exterior colors—Pure White, Reflex Silver, Platinum Grey, and Deep Black.
US Workers Tech Talent Gap?
IS the American workforce adequately prepared to meet the needs of the world’s largest leader in automotive production? The United States. That question will be addressed during the North American International Auto Show, which opens to global automotive media and industry leaders today in Detroit.
Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be needed to sustain leadership, and 2 million positions are expected to go unfilled due to a lack of adequately educated and prepared young people. The U.S. is facing a manufacturing talent crisis — one that requires urgent attention, thoughtful solutions and collaborative strategies.
Forward Together: Developing Next-Gen Talent for the Automotive Sector, a recent SME study that finds that the U.S. is facing an automotive talent crisis—one that requires urgent attention, thoughtful solutions, and collaborative strategies. The report examines that talent gap in detail and explore ways our nation can quickly act to reverse current trends and retain its leadership in the auto sector.
Training
Washtenaw Community College is playing a key role to create the talent pipeline necessary for southeast Michigan to be the epicenter of the autonomous and connected vehicle world and mobility revolution. For the second consecutive year, the college will exhibit its expertise, capabilities, classroom programs and the workforce training it has developed to pursue that goal at the North American International Auto Show.
Mercedes-Benz Amber Res-inates
With the world’s biggest installation of synthetic resin Mercedes‑Benz is putting the world premiere of the new G-Class in the spotlight at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. A gigantic amber-colored cube made of 44.4 tonnes of synthetic resin is adorning the entrance to Cobo Hall, the NAIAS exhibition hall. Encased in it is a G-Class from the first production year, 1979. The installation symbolizes the timelessness of the off-road legend and makes a conscious reference to the natural phenomenon of insects preserved in amber. Like their genetic material the DNA of the first G-Class has also been preserved and is handed down from generation to generation. These genes are also in the new G-Class and they are carrying through the characteristic properties of the longest-lived model series from Mercedes-Benz into modern times: an iconic design, indestructible superiority off the beaten track and exceptional ride comfort on the road.
VR Sting of Stinger from Kia – New Kia Forte
Visitors can be stung by the Kia 4D Stinger Experience thatvirtually puts consumers behind the wheel and allows them to feel the speed, agility, responsiveness and handling of the highest-performance production model in Kia’s history through visual, audio and sensory cues.
At NAIAS, participants will enter the Kia 4D Stinger Experience and, after a brief introduction which details the Stinger’s six-year journey from concept car to reality, travel through the provincial towns of Southern France, up and down the iconic Pacific Coast Highway along California’s Big Sur, and visit the Cadwell Park motor racing circuit in England.
Kia will reveal the all-new 2019 Kia Forte sedan. The third-generation Forte retains its sporty and youthful image, it has graduated with a more sophisticated appearance thanks to a number of sleek and dynamic styling cues inspired by the Stinger fastback sport sedan. What is most noticeable is that the Forte has evolved from a cab-forward design to one that is decidedly swept-back.
Schaeffler Demos
Schaeffler will demonstrate propulsion systems for the entire energy hhain at the 2018 NAIAS. The company notes that sustainable mobility can only be successful when propulsion concepts are measured against the entire energy chain. ecause there is no single solution for tomorrow’s mobility needs, Schaeffler, as a global technology company, offers a wide variety of propulsion systems to help drive the mobility of tomorrow.
Hyundai
Hyundai will reveal the 2019 Veloster .
New Honda Insight Prototype
The all-new Honda Insight Prototype will make its world debut on Jan. 15 at the North American International Auto Show, giving consumers a first glimpse of the latest model in Honda’s growing lineup of electrified vehicles. It’s premium compact above Civic in the Honda passenger car lineup, Insight elevates itself above other compact hybrid models with its sleek sedan design, roomy five-passenger cabin, and refined driving performance, along with high fuel efficiency.
The Insight will deliver class-leading power while still receiving an anticipated EPA fuel economy combined rating in excess of 50 mpg, competitive with other compact hybrid offerings. Powering the model will be a version of the third generation of Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, featuring a highly efficient 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine, a powerful electric propulsion motor and lithium-ion battery pack. In most conditions, Insight operates on electric power only, drawing energy from the engine (operating as a generator) or battery pack. The hybrid batteries located under the rear seats provides for a full-size trunk with the flexibility of available 60/40 split and folding rear seats.
The 2019 Honda Insight will include Honda LaneWatch™ on EX and above and Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment, including Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and new Traffic Sign Recognition.
The Insight will be manufactured at Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana plant, alongside Civic and CR-V using domestic and globally sourced parts. Arriving later in 2018 as the fifth electrified vehicle launched by Honda over the past year, Insight will join the Clarity series (Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid) and the all-new 2018 Accord Hybrid, arriving at dealerships nationwide early this year.
Acura RDX
The third-generation Acura RDX Prototype will make its world debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Designed and developed for the first time in America, the new RDX will be built on a new, Acura-exclusive platform and incorporates key design elements of two recent concepts – the Acura Precision Concept and Acura Precision Cockpit. The exterior styling adapts the low, wide and sleek presence of the Precision Concept to an SUV, and features strong character lines that run along the entire profile of the vehicle. From the Precision Cockpit, the third-generation RDX features an all-new interior design, user interface and operating system designed from a clean sheet.
The Acura RDX is a perennial best-seller in the premium-entry SUV segment, which is on pace to unseat entry-premium sedans as the highest volume segment of the luxury market. The RDX has recorded five consecutive years of record sales and seven straight years of year-over-year sales growth
VOXX EVO Rear Seat Entertainment
VOXX Automotive, a global designer, manufacturer and supplier of electronic products for the world’s automakers, and a wholly owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX), today announced its Evolution Series (EVO) Rear Seat Infotainment Solution is the winner of the Connected Car category of the 2018 Planet M Awards, a program that recognizes innovations in mobility platforms and technologies.
The Evolution Series Rear Seat Infotainment Solution will be honored at AutoMobili-D, a showcase of technologies that are driving the future of mobility, which includes the connected car.
EVO brings a smart home television experience into the car, requiring only power/ground connections. EVO includes media inputs such as USB and SD, HDMI for all digital devices, gaming consoles, and streaming sticks. The solution is complemented by a mobile app allowing users to send video wirelessly to the displays from mobile devices. The EVO app also allows passengers to watch the same video content on their phones or tablets while it is being played on rear seat displays. Through an exclusive arrangement with Sling Media, a built-in SlingPlayer allows users of the Slingbox service to watch live home TV in their cars by leveraging the vehicles’ 4G-LTE hotspot.
DENSO
DENSO’s booth will introduce participants to the current and future state of connected, autonomous drive, shared mobility and electrification (CASE) technologies. These key technologies will influence how society gets around for years to come. DENSO brings them to life through several interactive displays:
Oculus Rift VR Connected Driving Demo: Connectivity will reduce accidents, improve vehicle efficiency, and make driving easier and more enjoyable. Participants can jump into the cockpit of a future connected car through a virtual reality headset.
Oculus Rift VR Autonomous Driving Demo: Self-driving and autonomous vehicles will take over the tasks of seeing, thinking and doing from drivers. Screens and displays throughout will explain how DENSO sensors enable vehicles to safely navigate the roads, as well as showcase next-generation V2X, human machine interface (HMI) and driver status monitoring technology.
Powering Future Electric Vehicles & Shared Mobility: Vehicles will soon be largely powered by renewable energy, electric batteries and fuel cells. Participants can see how DENSO inverters and other technologies will make electric vehicles more viable. DENSO will also showcase an example of what shared mobility could look like in the future.
BHTC
Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbH (BHTC), a global leader in air conditioning controls and HMI components for the automotive industry, is introducing a number of new products to improve autonomous-vehicle interior comfort and safety.
Palm and fingerprint recognition systems will be among the technologies the automotive supplier displays (Booth AD08) at AutoMobili-D on January 14-21 during the North American International Auto Show.
In addition to touch-sensitive solutions, BHTC customers also will be shown a 3D gesture control system integrated into a roof control unit that not only provides increased driving safety, but also allows user identification for security purposes and personalization. The system’s individual gesture algorithms utilize an automotive time-of-flight camera to interpret static and dynamic 3D gestures, including palm recognition.
HBPO
HBPO, the auto industry’s leading supplier of modular front-end systems, is showcasing front-end modules focused on innovation and cost savings at this year’s North American International Auto Show.
The company, which is exhibiting with HELLA and BHTC at Automobili-D (Booth AD08), will be showing an expanded-view front-end module and a stripped down “technical” module, as well as several active grille shutters.
In the area of aerodynamics and CO2 reduction, for example, HBPO is showing three different active grille shutters to demonstrate how tailor-made solutions can improve a vehicle’s drag coefficient with a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The shutters are being shown in a traditional horizontal orientation, as well as in a vertical application.
Aisin Group
In response to rapid structural changes in the global auto industry, the Aisin Group exhibit will focus on three next-generation growth areas: Zero Emissions, Automated Driving, and Connected Cars.
Zero Emissions
Expansion of Aisin’s powertrain lineup will be presented in response to the shift toward vehicle electrification, including a FWD 1-Motor Hybrid transmission utilizing existing technology and eAxle.
Automated Driving
Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control, including a Driver Emergency Response System, as well as Automated Valet Parking, will be displayed.
Connected Cars
An introduction to Aisin Group’s Location Based Services will be presented and explained, as well as Hospitality Services in which the vehicle interprets users’ feelings and continuously provides a comfortable ride.
GAC
GAC Motor, China’s fastest-growing automaker, will present its elite vehicle lineup featuring its existing sedan, SUV, minivan and NEV. AC Motor’s exhibition at 2018 NAIAS will feature high-end models including the GA8, GS8 and GM8, which provided safe and reliable service for attendees at the Fortune Global Forum 2017 as the event’s official service vehicles. Most notably, GAC Motor will debut the GA4, an all-new signature sedan at 2018 NAIAS.
Ouster
Ouster, a San Francisco-based developer of high performance LIDAR technology is demonstrating OS-1 sensors, hghlighting its anti-interference technology with multiple sensors operating simultaneously throughout the demonstrations. Ouster’s anti-interference technology is included in every OS-1 sensor, and it is applicable to both intra- and inter-vehicle sensor noise.