--- title: "The 5 Hottest Cars of the 2019 Detroit Auto Show: Day 1" description: "Here are the highlights from this year's Detroit show, including a healthy dose of American muscle and a certain Japanese sports car." date: "2019-01-14" modified: "2019-01-14" authors: - name: "Chris Tsui" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/25946/the-5-hottest-cars-of-the-2019-detroit-auto-show-day-1" categories: - "News" tags: - "2020 Toyota Supra" - "detroit auto show" - "Lexus LC" - "passat" - "Subaru WRX STi" --- # The 5 Hottest Cars of the 2019 Detroit Auto Show: Day 1 ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* With a large handful of major manufacturers choosing to sit out of Detroit, this year's premier auto show in Michigan was a significantly smaller affair than years past. Despite this, the Cobo Center saw a decent number of spicy reveals ranging from German family sedans, special edition Subarus, and ludicrously powerful muscle cars to a certain hotly anticipated Toyota. In no particular order, here are five of the hottest cars from the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. ## 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 ![message-editor%2F1547497106466-dsc09152\_2\_c1.jpg]() **Ford Motor Company** Kicking off the list is what might possibly be the most Detroit car ever, the 700-plus-horsepower [GT500 Mustang](). Its 5.2-liter, supercharged V8 revs to 7,500 rpm, completes the quarter mile in under 11 Mississippi, and was designed to scare [Hellcats]() into submission. If cars are merely a casual interest, all you need to know is this: it's the most powerful factory Ford ever made. ## Lexus LC Convertible Concept ![message-editor%2F1547498041470-lexus\_lc\_convertible\_concept\_f34\_1\_daf528c9f13545332d57ca27804ffb757e52879b2.jpg]() **Toyota** Lexus sawed the roof off of its LC grand tourer and while the [LC Convertible]() is technically still a concept car, it looks 95 percent ready for the showroom and we have a hunch it'll be hitting the streets sooner rather than later. Open air, a big, naturally-aspirated V8, and Lexus build quality. What's not to like? Curiously, this was only the second coolest Toyota product at Detroit this year. ## 2020 Volkswagen Passat ![message-editor%2F1547499057896-2020\_passat-small-9246.jpg]() **Volkswagen of America** Despite the sedan's rapid decline in popularity, Volkswagen is marching on with its restyled 2020 Passat. Still riding on the last Passat's underpinnings, the updated model gets a whole new appearance and provides a Teutonic alternative to stuff like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. In the words of *The Drive*'s own Will Sabel Courtney after he drove [a camouflaged prototype at VW's secret Arizona facility]() last month, the 2020 Passat "is unlikely to shock anyone who's grown used to the current Tennessee-built NMS model." ## 2020 Subaru WRX STI S209 ![message-editor%2F1547499701566-\_f8a1274.jpg]() **Subaru of America** Rocking 341 horsepower and a large array of handling and aerodynamic upgrades, the special edition [S209 STI from Subaru]() is the first of its kind to make it to the U.S. Actually owning one requires a special kind of privilege as well since only 200 examples will ever be made. That makes this four-door Subie more than twice as rare as a Ferrari LaFerrari hypercar. ## 2020 Toyota Supra ![message-editor%2F1547500648824-2020\_supra\_exterior\_021\_acee3313d8560a432ada4a10938a704e66651e0f.jpg]() **Toyota** You knew it was coming. We knew it was coming. Everybody and their mother knew it was coming. After leaks upon leaks, Toyota finally, officially showed us the [2020 rebirth of its legendary Supra sports car]() with the help of one [Fernando Alonso](). Made in collaboration with BMW, the new Supra makes 335 horsepower, gets to 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds, and is the quickest accelerating Toyota ever. That's not a "leak" or a rumor. That's official Toyota intel. Thank God. Oh, and how do we know the new Supra is hot and deserves to be on this list? Because Toyota freakin' said so. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1084865248568528903 ## Author Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto. ### Author social links [Instagram]()