With the apparent demise of the subcompact Fiesta after 2018, the Sleuth鈥檚 eyes were glued to the totally new Ford Focus that was recently unveiled to the press. To the point, this car鈥檚 a total stunner, with knife-edge lines practically everywhere you look. In Europe, the car will be vailable with a choice of a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, a turbo 1.5-litre four-cylinder and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel, but the latter isn鈥檛 likely to make it to North America. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard. Ford appears to be doing away with the paddle-shift six-speed automatic transmission and will instead offer an eight-speed automatic option. An array of dynamic safety and driver-assist technologies will be available for both the sedan and hatchback body styles.
Makeover madness at Chevrolet
It鈥檚 normal for an automaker to update one or two of its models each year. The so-called mid-cycle refresh mostly involves minor body changes, new wheels and paint schemes, and possibly powertrain changes. Mild stuff, really. However, the Sleuth notes that GM鈥檚 Chevrolet division has chosen to update a whole slew of passenger cars at the same time. For the 2019 model year, the Malibu, Camaro, Spark and Cruze sedan and hatchback will receive modest revisions. Noticeably absent from the list is the Sonic subcompact and the full-size Impala, the latter of which will be retired either at the end of this year or part way into 2019. Changes to the Camaro and Spark won鈥檛 be too obvious, but the Malibu and Cruze grilles will appear similar to what鈥檚 found on the new-for-2018 Equinox utility vehicle.
The 2019 Jetta appears to be right on the money
Volkswagen is a major player among automakers in Europe, but has struggled to move up from its second-tier status in North America. The Spymaster believes, however, that the 2019 Jetta small sedan might just be a major game-changer. The new model is bigger, so it comfortably seats four adults (five in a pinch). The conservative-chic body panels that attach to a more rigid platform represent a major design improvement, too. The carryover turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine 鈥� rated at 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque 鈥� is a punchy little number and can be had with a six-speed manual transmission, or optional eight-speed automatic.
Buick鈥檚 next new model could be 鈥淓nspire-ing鈥�
No, that鈥檚 not a typo. The Sleuthy One鈥檚 intel claims that the Enspire name will be attached to an electric vehicle that this General Motors division will take to the production stage some time in 2019. The hatchback/wagon Enspire is being revealed in China and is the first of what Buick says will be a total of 20 all-electric and plug-in gasoline-electric vehicles that it plans to make available by 2023. Buick鈥檚 largest customer base is in China, however, so it鈥檚 likely that most of the brand鈥檚 electrified vehicles will be available only in that nation.
In case the Colorado ZR2 isn鈥檛 quite offroady enough鈥�
The Spymaster鈥檚 sources have heard that Chevrolet will unveil an even more off-road-capable version of the Colorado ZR2 pickup. Named the Bison, the model is based on a concept that was recently displayed at a dealership in Las Vegas. Apparently, the Bison鈥檚 suspension will be stouter than the ZR2鈥檚, while the fender flares will be widened to enclose meatier off-road tires. There will also be more underbody protection for the suspension and powertrain. Other available equipment is said to include a built-in refrigerator as well as an air compressor. The Bison is expected to arrive by the fourth quarter of 2018.
Changing the timing of the North American International Auto Show
There have been rumours floating around that the Detroit auto show could move to October from its current January slot. However, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association is apparently in no hurry to do so. So far, an analysis of the show鈥檚 media attendance and reporting coverage indicates that a change of seasons might not be all that beneficial, despite the fact it would displace the L.A. auto show as the season-opening event. And then there鈥檚 the weather: January in Detroit is both unpredictable and, well, horrible.
