Chrysler revealed the new 2017 Pacifica; Honda unveiled the new 2017 Ridgeline; and Jeep's CEO confirmed the new Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee. It's the Week in Reverse, right here on Motor Authority.
Chrysler surprised the industry and dropped the Town & Country nameplate this week as it introduced its new minivan, the 2017 Pacifica. Replacing both the Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, the Pacifica features all the latest safety, connectivity and entertainment features, and there's even going to be a plug-in hybrid version.
Buick shocked everyone in Detroit when it rolled out the Avista Concept, a two-door coupe based on the same architecture as the Cadillac ATS-V and Chevrolet Camaro. Featuring a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive, the Avista could help bring younger buyers to the Buick nameplate.
Honda finally took the wraps off the new 2017 Ridgeline. Looking more like a traditional pickup truck without the rear flying buttresses, the new Ridgeline has what one might call conservative styling. Still a unibody vehicle, the new Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 and is offered with front- or all-wheel drive, both with a six-speed automatic transmission.
In what might be one of the industry's worst kept secrets, Jeep CEO Mike Manley admitted the Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will be on sale by the end of the 2017. Whether it will have the full 707-horsepower or not is yet to be seen.
Being a supercar, one assumed the new Ford GT would have a race mode for added downforce and improved handling. This week we not only saw a production-intent model, but confirmed it will indeed have race mode. In fact, we were able to witness the car transform into race mode at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.
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