Lexus, Honda and Kia reveal teasers for 2014 Detroit auto show

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

19 December 2013 17:00

Ahead of the Detroit motor show in January 2014, Lexus, Honda and Kia have all received teaser shots of their new offerings. We’ve rounded the up into one bite-size story to cut to the heart of what we’re really looking at.

After previously flashing us a shot of wheel and vent, Lexus has now unveiled a shot on what’s all-but-confirmed to be the new RC-F coupe’s vented bonnet. What resides beneath it remains unspecified, but it’s expected the BMW M4-rivalling coupe will use an updated version of the IS-F’s 5.0-litre V8, developing around 450bhp.

With this protracted teaser campaign, Lexus is clearly hoping to deflect as much attention as possible away from the hotly-anticipated BMW M3 saloon and BMW M4 coupe, which both make their debut in production form at the Detroit show.

It beats us why Honda is teasing the new Jazz (christened ‘Fit’ for the US market) in anticipation of the Detroit show. Honda Japan has already revealed the Japanese-market version in hybrid form, and with almost identical styling to the teaser image car. D’oh!

The new Jazz really is just that: it’s got a fresh platform, new body, and totally changed engine range; while Honda claims its longer wheelbase makes for superior cabin roominess. An engine range of 1.3- and 1.5-litre four-pot petrols, plus a 1.5-litre petrol hybrid and a diesel, is expected to be offered in the UK when the Jazz arrives on these shores late in 2014. Don’t bet on a faster version to compliment the new Civic Type R, though…

Kia is previewing a 2+2-seater sports car designed for road and track use – and that’s all we know so far. The arty images give away no more clues than a set of blistered wide-track arches and a front-engined, cab-back stance.

After a year of exciting, well-received concepts from Kia in 2013 (note the Provo, Niro, Cub and Cross GT design studies) isn’t it about time the Koreans put one of them into production? Your move, Kia…

By Ollie Kew