Luxury, Performance Reign at Washington Auto Show
Whatever flavor of performance and luxury you enjoy, we have it all for you from our visit to the nation’s capital.
The major auto show schedule experienced a major shift for 2020, when the Detroit Auto Show moved from early January to early June. It makes sense, as both journalists and customers alike would love to enjoy all Detroit has to offer, preferably without turning into popsicles.
Of course, that means waiting until February for the Chicago Auto Show for the first of the year’s big debuts. Yet, we at Team Speed wanted to get our new-car show fix sooner. Thus, we flew off to Washington, D.C., home of the Washington Auto Show, which runs through February 2.
Upon entering the ground floor of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown D.C., we happened upon the Genovation GXE.
Hidden behind the big Ram pickup, the electric sports car is based on the C7-era Corvette. Instead of the big V8s, though, this electric ‘Vette comes with two motors. Both push the GXE to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, with a top speed above 220 mph. Output is over 800 horses, 750 lb-ft of torque. The tri-coat red paint is just icing on the cake.
Up on the second floor, the 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT took center-stage at the Ford display. The electric crossover pony is a new path for the storied name, which arrives at the start of major electrification of the industry in the 2020s.
While hanging out with the new Mustang, we learned from Ford that the First Edition models are all spoken for, and that the GT makes 459 horsepower to the corners. The big power means a zero-to-60 time of around 3.5 seconds. If only we could get ours in Grabber Blue.
On the day we visited, this blue Porsche Taycan Turbo was at the Washington Auto Show to represent Stuttgart at the 2020 Green Car Awards, hosted by Green Car Journal. The Taycan is one of a handful of EVs combining high-performance with green cred, taking hold of the flame lit by Tesla 12 years ago.
The winner of the 2020 Green Car Awards, though, was the 2020 Karma Revero GT. The big grand tourer took home the “Luxury Green Car Award” over the Taycan, BMW 745e, and Range Rover Evoque. The hybrid makes the most of its electric power, travelling 80 miles without the need to kick-on its BMW TwinPower Turbo inline-three.
One of the big draws at the Washington Auto Show was the 2020 Corvette Stingray Convertible. It may be odd at first glance to bring a convertible to D.C. in winter. Yet, the retractable hard top — a first for Corvette convertibles — will keep both the cold, and thieves, at bay.
Near the Corvette, a double-dose of the Toyota GR Supra greeted one and all. We couldn’t tell which shade was more popular — Absolute Zero or Renaissance Red 2.0 — but the fifth-gen sports car commanded attention sitting still.
New cars weren’t the only game in town at the Washington Auto Show. The basement and top floor both had displays of classic and future classic rides, like this Ferrari 512 BB. The clear signal lights pop against the red paint. You certainly can’t beat the two-tone red-and-black scheme, either.
Next to the Ferrari was this Ford GT40 in the famed Gulf Oil colors. We wonder who’d win between the two. Then again, we’re all winners for seeing this beauty on the floor.
The Acura display brought a race car of its own. The NSX GT3 Evo’s polished carbon fiber looked stunning in the light. For $525,000, you, too, can take on the world at tracks like Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta.
Before we called it a night, we made it up to the top. There, this white Lamborghini Urus chilled in the all-red room with a host of new and classic machines. Sant’Agata nailed the execution of this SUV.
The Washington Auto Show may not have big debuts, but it’s perfect for exposing car fans to the latest and greatest now available, and to come. We can’t wait until 2021.
Photos for Team Speed by Cameron Aubernon
Join the Team Speed forums now!
