Hits and Misses from the Detroit Auto Show [NAIAS]

The first couple of days from the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit are winding down so we thought we’d take a minute to reflect on the good, the bad, and the in-between.

The Good:

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2017 Ford Raptor SuperCrew

The Raptor SuperCrew has a track that’s six inches wider than a standard F-150 and BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrains, giving it an aggressive stance that makes it look the part of a serious off-roader (it is, by the way). To make room for those tires, Ford fitted the Raptor with FOX Racing off-road shocks and a suspension with 11.2 inches of travel up front and 12 inches of travel at the rear. Power for the new Raptor will come from an all-new high-output twin-turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6 paired to a 10-speed transmisson. Exact power figures haven’t been announced but expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 450 hp and roughly the same (or more!) torque.

Nissan Titan Warrior Concept

Nissan Titan Warrior Concept

It’s just a concept, but this truck has generated a lot of positive buzz around what a Titan XD could be with some massaging. The Warrior sits three inches higher than the Titan XD on 37-inch off-road tires. Power comes from the same 5.0L Cummins V8 turbo-diesel that we’ve spent so much time with in the standard XD. The Titan Warrior concept is over six inches wider than the already large XD and comes with more than a handful of custom suspension components.

The Bad:

There wasn’t much going on, truck-wise, at this year’s show… and that’s our biggest complaint. Many of us would’ve put money on seeing something from Ford regarding a Ranger or Bronco. Our dreams were slowly crushed as the Ford press conference came to an end without even a concept for either vehicle. The same can be said for the much-anticipated Jeep Wrangler-based pickup, although a story broke last night that some unofficial statements may have been made by Jeep CEO Michael Manly that give us hope for next year. This would make sense since that’s when the next generation of Wrangler will appear. Read the story on Manly’s “statement” here.

The In-Between

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Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline may take the title of “tweener” truck away from the Nissan Titan XD… but that’s because the new Honda pickup has a lot of car attributes that diehard truckers would consider sacrilegious. For example, it utilizes unibody construction, comes standard with front-wheel-drive (AWD is optional), and although Honda promises a payload “approaching” 1600 lbs, it neglected to give any sort of estimate for towing capacity (see: don’t expect much). Fans of the pickup, however, were quick to point out the positives: decent fuel economy and acceleration, good ride quality versus a body-on-frame setup, and the ability of weekend haulers to fit a four-foot-wide piece of lumber or drywall between the rear wheel wells. With the Ridgeline, Honda has decided not to go head-to-head with the big boys but instead to provide a vehicle that will satisfy the needs of many people who think they need a truck. The Ridgeline comes with the same 3.5L V6 as the Pilot and a 6-speed transmission. Learn more about the Ridgeline in the video below.