DETROIT, Jan 20 — At one time motor shows were largely about futuristic concepts that would never get anywhere near a production line and exotic, usually Italian, supercars. Those all still have their place at today’s shows, but there’s no getting away from the fact that its SUVs that now dominate as they appear to be most in demand these days. So, let’s have a look at the five most exciting SUVs that were on display at this year’s Detroit Auto Show.

The 2019 Acura RDX Prototype may not do well at disguising the fact that it’s pretty much the new generation of the RDX, but there’s no getting away from what a stunning-looking SUV it truly is. It seems it’s going to spearhead the luxury arm of Honda’s attempts to make the brand more sporty, youthful and exciting, and if this is going to be in showrooms soon the company definitely looks to be going in the right direction.

Even though the BMW X2 was widely publicised ahead of making its global debut in Detroit, it’s impossible to overstate the model’s importance. Anyone who’s been looking longingly at the X6 for the last few years but doesn’t have the budget for one could see the X2 as the next-best thing. It has a similar rakish, coupe-like roofline to the X6, but in a smaller and more affordable package. Expect to see them everywhere soon.

Ok, the Nissan Xmotion definitely is a concept in the truest form of the term, but anyone with a liking for SUVs who sees it is sure to be impressed. Even though it looks like something straight off the set of a science-fiction movie, the Japanese auto giant insists it’s actually a preview of the company’s new design language and technology that we’ll start seeing from 2020 onwards.

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While others are going all futuristic on us, Mercedes-Benz was busy showing off its new version of one of the most retro SUVs in the world, the G-Class. An original G-Wagen was encased in amber resin to draw attention to the new model, but anyone worried the new generation would see a real step-change would have been reassured by the styling updates being modest, to say the least.

When a lot of people around the world think of SUV, Jeep is inevitably one of the first names that come to mind. Or at least it used to be. The boss of parent company FCA, Carlos Ghosn, has admitted the brand’s sales figures in Europe were clearly disappointing in 2017, so the unveiling of the refreshed Cherokee will have the company hoping for better this year. It’s perhaps not as unique-looking as the current model, but the more conservative styling could lead to it having wider appeal.

The North American International Auto Show is open to the public January 20-28. — AFP-Relaxnews

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