The pure electric conversation has been buzzing around the industry with greater intensity, even taking centre stage at last year’s Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS). But for the 2020 event, hybrids took on equal importance, if not more, along with luxury/ sports cars.
That is not to say fully electric vehicles weren’t a focus, as an entire floor at the Palais des congrès de Montréal was dedicated to these vehicles. But hybrids, and more luxurious models were hot topics during Media Day on January 16.
“It always depends on the need you have. What it says, in a way, is that the different types of models are there to meet the various consumer needs,” said Robert Poëti, President and CEO of the Corporation des concessionnaires d’automobiles du Québec (CCAQ).
In an interview with Canadian auto dealer at the show, Poëti said hybrid plug-in vehicles are a compromise for consumers. These types of vehicles “are currently very interesting for a certain group of the population who want to take a step towards being more environmentally-friendly, but at the same time they don’t want to buy a car and worry about the battery running low.”
Range anxiety is actually one of the three roadblocks to EV ownership that consumers struggle with, according to an Ipsos Global Mobility Navigator Syndicated Study. But then, space, comfort, style, safety, location and demographics also play a part in why hybrids have received more attention this year.
Media Day started with Ford, who touched on its F-Series gas and hybrid variants, made mention of its EV truck prototype, and ultimately unveiled its long-awaited Mustang Mach-E — an all-electric SUV. The automaker claims the vehicle has a “targeted EPA-estimated range” of at least 480 kilometres — when fully charged and with Ford’s optional extended range battery and rear-wheel drive. But it also showcased its Ford Escape PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), a more intriguing option for many consumers in terms of price and practicality.
Hyundai put its 2020 Venue and Sonata on display, but the real intrigue was its new electric 45 Concept. It draws inspiration from the automaker’s Pony Coupe Concept, which it said was a 45 year-old icon. “As an homage to its heritage and reimagined for the future, 45 foreshadows a new era of Hyundai’s automotive design focused on electrification, autonomous technologies and intelligent design,” the OEM said in a 2019 news release.
The design is reminiscent of Tesla’s new Cybertruck, something that President and CEO Don Romano was quick to note, jokingly offering to throw a rock at the windshield. (According to Motor Trend, Elon Musk urged Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen to throw a metal ball at his “bulletproof” truck last year, which cracked the side window.)
Subaru revealed its 2020 Crosstrek plug-in hybrid, a much-anticipated arrival to the lineup. And Toyota unveiled its 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, the brand’s first North American plug-in-hybrid variant of the model. The 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid made its Canadian debut.
The Genesis Mint Concept, an all-electric luxury city car, and the Mini Cooper SE 3 Door, the brand’s first all-EV set to arrive in Canada in March 2020, were also among the new models unveiled. The 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo (Taycan being the brand’s first EV) was unveiled with the 2020 Cayenne Coupe.
Other automakers that presented at the show include Lexus (GX Overland Concept and LC Convertible Concept), Nissan (2020 Sentra and Titan), Kia, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Buick and BMW. In the high-end luxury/ sports category, McLaren, Lamborghini, Lotus, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Maserati unveiled new models to a crowd of journalists.
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