11 Must See Cars at the 2016 Miami Auto Show

2016 Miami Auto Show by Jason Fogelson

Now in its 46th year, the Miami International Auto Show kicks off the season with a tidy collection of new cars. This year, Nissan chose the show as the place for the world premiere of an important new vehicle, and several other manufacturers staged North American debuts at an exciting press day, just ahead of the public show days, which go through September 10 – 18.

If the idea of an auto show in September in Miami sounds hot to you – you’d be right. But the Miami Convention Center, which is about to undergo a major renovation, has good air conditioning.

What was the result of this trip to the tropics? We bring you the 11 Must-See Cars of the 2016 Miami International Auto Show.

2017 Nissan Rogue

Nissan stirred up the most excitement at the Miami Auto Show this year with the world debut of the 2017 Nissan Rogue. With a new front fascia and new rear taillight design, the Rogue adds another level of sophistication to its compact crossover credentials. New standard and available systems improve safety, including Intelligent Cruise Control, Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Land Departure Warning and Prevention, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and High-beam assist headlights. The interior got some attention, too, with a redesigned front center console, new cloth seat materials and more.

2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid

Probably the biggest news of the Miami International Auto Show was the world debut of the 2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid. Benefitting from all of the exterior, interior and safety enhancements as the gasoline-only Rogue, the first-ever Rogue Hybrid comes with a new gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. The system works with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 30 kW electric motor coordinated via the Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch system. Net horsepower for the hybrid system will be 176 hp. The Rogue Hybrid will be available later in the 2017 model year. Pricing was not announced at the reveal.

2017 Nissan Sentra SR Turbo

More excitement came with the North American premiere of the 2017 Nissan Sentra SR Turbo. It will come with the 1.6-liter turbocharged direct gasoline injection 4-cylinder engine that also powers the Nissan Juke. The SR Turbo doesn’t show off with big wings or a body kit like the hot compacts of the past. It’s a sleeper, an 188-hp wolf in Sentra sheep clothing. Prices will start under $22,000, so expect to see packs of these SR Turbos roaming your streets soon.

2017 Genesis G90

Miami is the first US auto show for the new Genesis brand, an offshoot of South Korean automaker Hyundai. Much in the way that Honda begat Acura, Nissan begat Infiniti and Toyota begat Lexus, Hyundai has now established Genesis as its own unique marque. The company’s first products are the G90 and G80 luxury sedans. Genesis President Irwin Raphael was on hand to talk about the new brand’s ethos, even more than its products.

2017 Genesis G90 (continued)

Building on the Hyundai promise of “America’s Best Warranty,” Genesis will offer “The premium car market’s best warranty” of 10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain. Along with that promise, Genesis will also offer 3-year/36,000-mile free scheduled maintenance, roadside assistance and SiriusXM service. Perhaps most luxurious will be the 3-year/36,000-mile valet service. Genesis will pick up your car at your convenience, leave you a loaner vehicle while your car is being serviced, and then return your car to you when service is complete. Genesis puts that in the category of “respect for time,” and it will certainly appeal to busy owners.

2018 Lexus LC500H

Looking like a toned-down version of the Lexus LFA supercar, the 2018 Lexus LC500H stood on display for admiring eyes. A sleek coupe with modern proportions, the LC500H advances the promise of the LFA in a much more accessible, yet still striking package. A 3.6-liter V6 engine will work with an electric motor to form a multi-stage hybrid system, Lexus’ first. The LC500 will also be offered with a conventional gas-only 5.0-liter 471-hp V8 engine.

2017 Volkswagen Pink Beetle

Volkswagen can’t help themselves. They try to pound the cute out of the Beetle with a more masculine design and the Dune special edition. Then someone gets the idea to create a custom color to raise funds for a worthy cause, and the Pink Beetle is born. And guess what? It’s cute. So cute, in fact, that after vehicle number one gets auctioned off to benefit Giuliana Rancic’s FAB-U-WISH and The Pink Agenda, the Fresh Fuchsia Metallic-painted Pink Beetle will be available to order in limited quantities at dealerships – no bidding required.

Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is cool, but someone must have been asking for more capability and a little bit of off-road ability, something along the lines of corporate sibling Audi’s A4-based allroad. And so, the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack debuts in Miami. The wagon is an endangered form, with just a few examples available right now. The closer the Alltrack tracks as a crossover, the greater its success will be. The wagon looks great, with an assertive stance that’s just a little higher than the SportWagen’s, but not so high that it sacrifices much stability. Full-time 4motion all-wheel drive is a standard defining feature on the Alltrack, and will soon be available on the SportWagen as well.

2017 Fiat 124 Abarth

When is a Miata not a Miata? When it’s a Fiat 124. That’s not entirely fair. Fiat brought out the latest version of the 124 roadster, the Fiat 124 Abarth, for its North American debut in Miami, and pointed out that though the Mazda MX-5 and Fiat 124 share a platform, every body panel on the 124 is unique and of Italian design. The interior is similarly unique, with Italian touches on the door panels, seating, and other surfaces. The 124 Abarth has “an Italian engine,” a turbocharged 1.4-liter Abarth powerplant, and the body features a “heritage handcrafted stripe” that sets it off from the crowd. The 124 Abarth will start at $28,195.

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

In a town full of beautiful, buff people, the F-150 Raptor. Looking like it just emerged from the gym after an invigorating set, the Raptor positively bristles with energy. Long-travel off-road suspension gives the pickup truck a great, athletic stance, and bold body graphics with factory fender flares and a unique fascia make Raptor look like the toughest truck on- or off-road. And it’s not just about looks – Raptor has the goods to back up its promise.