The Motor City is revving up for the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, but Ford Motor Company couldn’t resist hitting the accelerator early with a special Detroit Proud event, headlined by none other than Detroit Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff. In what could be characterized as a strategic play of branding and horsepower, Goff made quite the entrance, chauffeured onstage in a Lions-themed, special edition F-150—a clear nod to Ford’s hometown pride. The event, held at Huntington Place, was Ford’s reminder that it’s still a heavyweight in the auto game and that Detroit—”Motor City”—remains the perfect backdrop for such showmanship, even as automotive shows pivot towards being more community-centric gatherings.
The “Detroit Proud” presentation, which predates Detroit Auto Show’s Media Day and Charity Preview, dazzled attendees with a slate of special edition models, like the Mustang GTD ‘Spirit of America’ and a sneak peek at the Mustang RTR, a car design that’s intended to silence any critics suggesting a four-cylinder Mustang couldn’t carry the legendary name with drift-centric modifications, according to U.S. News. The GTD—donning a white coat with a Race Red and Lightning Blue stripe—is a charged up tribute to Craig Breedlove’s land-speed feats, wielding a supercharged V8 that bellows out a heart-thumping 815 horsepower, as per details provided by MLive.
Ford’s show-and-tell wasn’t restricted to high-octane sports cars and commemorative pickups; the company also strutted vehicles like the Maverick Lobo—the latest style-flexing addition to the Maverick lineup—and the rugged Bronco Sport Sasquatch, which promises all-terrain tire action and adventure-tackling chops. True to the city’s hardworking spirit, Ford CEO Jim Farley also shined the spotlight on first responders to the Los Angeles wildfires and saluted the employees from local Ford plants like the Rouge, Michigan Assembly, and Flat Rock, capturing the essence of community and perseverance at the event.
As for the Lions, whose playoffs march adds a particular zing to the Detroit Lions Special Edition Powerboost Hybrid F-150’s limited and numbered release, success on the field seems to have mirrored Ford’s ambitions off it; marketing muscle that’s flexing both in the stadium and on the showroom floor, with the truck finished in a sleek silver with team blue accents. “I’m taking a lot of naps right now,” Goff joked onstage, resting up for the playoffs, according to WXYZ-TV; though it seems Ford’s engine is wide awake and roaring.
The public can catch a glimpse of all these eye-catching models and more during the Auto Show’s run, today through January 20, tickets being available on the Detroit Auto Show website. Meanwhile, car enthusiasts who desire a sneak peek before the crowd can tune into the Charity Preview on WXYZ-TV, capturing the city’s automotive.