Ten Hot Trucks and Muscle Cars at the 2023 Detroit Auto Show

09/18/2023

Ten Hot Trucks and Muscle Cars at the 2023 Detroit Auto Show

09/18/2023

The 2023 North American International Auto Show โ€“ popularly known as the Detroit Auto Show โ€“ is underway and runs through September 24. Itโ€™s moved away from its traditional January date following a decline in manufacturer interest, but itโ€™s still hugely popular with consumers. Alongside the new-car displays in the hall are EV ride-along opportunities and off-road rides with Ford, Jeep, and Ram.


The world debuts this year come from the Detroit Three, whose products dominate the Huntington Place show hall. Ford is showing the refreshed F-150 and wild new Mustang GTD. Jeep revealed the updated Gladiator on press day, while GMC has the upcoming Acadia and Sierra EV.


Many other models from the 35 represented brands will be new to showgoers, however. With so many new vehicle presentations now happening online, Detroit is a great opportunity to see some cool new cars and trucks in person.


Enjoy this roundup of highlights from the show!

The 2024 Ford F-150 gets a mid-cycle refresh and equipment upgrades. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost turbo is now the base engine, while the PowerBoost hybrid is now priced equally with the 3.5 turbo. Thereโ€™s no diesel. New to this model year will be the Pro Access Tailgate, which is designed to ease access to the bed by swinging open horizontally.

Another updated pickup revealed in Detroit is the 2024 Jeep Gladiator. Two new luxury models, Mojave X and Rubicon X, have an integrated off-road camera, steel bumpers, and Nappa leather-trimmed power front seats. All trims get a new instrument panel with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen. The new Gladiator will be in dealerships by the end of the year.

Cadillacโ€™s CT5 sedan is in good hands. Chief engineer Alex MacDonald was formerly Chevyโ€™s vehicle performance manager, working on Corvette and Camaro. The 2025 CT5 facelift brings a revised front end, a 33-inch wraparound instrument panel and infotainment screen, and updated safety technologies. MacDonald reports that the revised CT5-V and Blackwing will be announced at a later date.

Detroit is the first public display of the Ford Mustang GTD. At an evening event during the show, CEOs Jim Farley (Ford) and Larry Holt (Multimatic) revealed that this GT3 racer-derived road car almost didnโ€™t make it to production when the project encountered problems during development. Weโ€™re happy that they got this 800-horsepower, active-aero-equipped beast over the line.

Also making its public debut is the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally. It has an extra inch of ride height over the regular EV, MagneRide shocks and underbody skid plates. An updated two-motor powertrain โ€“ which will appear in other 2024 Mach-Es โ€“ should propel the rallycross-inspired model from rest to 60mph in less than 3.5 seconds. Bailey Campbell will drive it in next monthโ€™s Rebelle Rally.

Production has started for the Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2, which joins the Colorado and Silverado to complete a trio of off-road-ready Chevy ZR2 trucks. It comes with Multimatic DSSV shocks, a 1.5-inch factory lift, beefed-up control arms, skid plates, a rear e-locker, and 35-inch Goodyear MT tires.

Alongside the new Acadia SUV, GMC put its upcoming Sierra EV on its Detroit show stand. Itโ€™ll have 754 horsepower, a 400-mile range, and the Hummer EVโ€™s crab-walk rear-steer system. This close relation of the Silverado EV arrives as the Denali Edition 1 in early-2024, with a sticker price north of $100k.

The new Ford Ranger Raptor has just gone on sale. Under the hood of the 2024 model is a 3-liter EcoBoost V6 with 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The off-road-focused truck also boasts long-travel suspension with a Watts link at the rear and Fox 2.5-inch Live Valve internal bypass shocks.

The 2024 Tacoma will go head-to-head with the new Ranger when it arrives at the end of the year. Itโ€™ll have a choice of two engines: a 278 horsepower, 317 lb-ft turbocharged I4, or a hybridized i-Force Max version that makes 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft.

And finallyโ€ฆwe love this 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept thatโ€™s on display in Camp Jeep. Under the hood of the SJ restomod is a 2022 Wrangler 4xe powertrain driving the 17-inch slot-mags on 37-in rubber. Inside are leather bucket seats, a four-point cage and a full-size spare tire.

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