Ford wowed the auto show crowds with its exotic new GT supercar. The Ford GT will go into production next year, CEO Mark Fields said. Source: Ford Motor Company.
Who "won" Day 1 of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit?
Many folks here on the show floor will tell you that Ford (F 0.73%) won it in a big way with its jaw-dropping GT supercar. But there's a case for another supercar, Honda's (HMC -2.19%) stupendous new Acura NSX -- and for General Motors' (GM 1.28%) surprise electric crossover, the Chevy Bolt concept.
It may seem strange that we're lumping in two outrageous (and almost certainly outrageously priced, though prices weren't announced) super sports cars with an electric crossover SUV that GM's CEO promises will be delivered for under $30,000 (after the $7,500 Federal tax credit) -- with 200 miles of range.
The long-awaited Acura NSX features a twin-turbo V6 along with three electric motors. Source: Acura.
But these three entries have more in common than you might think. While the Ford GT and the NSX are both extremely powerful, they're both also loaded with high-tech fuel-saving (and performance-enhancing) features. The Ford is an advanced lightweight design built mostly from carbon fiber, and it will be powered by an extreme version of the company's EcoBoost V6.
Acura's NSX, which is built from a mix of carbon fiber, aluminum, and steel, is a hybrid, adding three -- yes, three -- electric motors to its own potent twin-turbo V6 for what should be truly outrageous performance (and all-wheel drive, to boot).
The Chevy Bolt is an early preview of a future 200-mile mass-market electric car from GM. Source: General Motors.
Meanwhile, the eventual production version of Chevy's Bolt may have much lower performance aspirations than these two exotics, but it'll sell in much higher volumes when it comes to market -- likely in 2017.
Which is the champ? We'll let you decide. Check out our video report from the show floor, and then scroll down to let us know who you think made the biggest splash on the first day of North America's biggest auto show.
