Having done their best to give splashy introductions to new models, carmakers now have to hold their breath to see whether the new cars, trucks and SUVs prove popular with the public. In 2018, they’ll have a bevy of new models, skewing heavily to pickups and SUVs that have been favourites this year. Veteran car executives know that the industry’s history is an unpredictable mix of hits and duds.

The most noticeable introductions will come at the opposite ends of the spectrum: two of the best-known pickup trucks and the new mass-market electric car from Tesla. The pickup wars will be especially vicious. 35,000 before incentives, which is roughly half the cost of the brand’s existing luxury sedan and SUV, could finally bring electric cars to the masses.

] a month, that is going to change the landscape,” Caldwell says. By the end of 2018, the Model 3 could power electric-car sales to the point that they pass gas-electric hybrids for the first time. All eyes will be on the Model 3, the test of whether the Silicon Valley carmaker can attract drivers from their gasoline-powered cars and into a futuristic vehicle. A few are already on the road, mostly in the hands of Tesla employees. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the car is running late because it’s in “production hell”.

1,000 reservations will still be there when more roll off the assembly line. This go-anywhere vehicle is the symbol of the Jeep brand, one of the most important assets of its owner, Fiat Chrysler. It is a direct descendant of the Army jeep that helped win the second world war.

Jeep has re-engineered it for 2018, using aluminium in some components, and added new engine choices while keeping its iconic look. Coming in the first three months of the year, it looks like Jeep has successfully walked the tightrope of improving Wrangler while staying true to its roots. General Motors’ full-size pickup is the nation’s second-most-popular vehicle of any sort behind Ford’s F-150.

Chevy did not follow Ford’s lead in making extensive use of aluminium to lighten the vehicle and improve fuel economy. Chevy is sticking with steel and promoting it as tougher than aluminium. The nation’s other popular pickup will debut at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Ram, another Fiat Chrysler division, faces the same challenge as GM and Ford: winning over hidebound pickup buyers by adding capability and ruggedness while improving fuel economy. The new 1500 will arrive in the first half of the year.

The Ascent fixes a big problem for Subaru, a brand that won over buyers with its outdoors image and all-wheel drive vehicles. Subaru buyers loved their vehicles, but outgrew them as their families got larger. Ascent takes over the large SUV space that Subaru left behind with the oddly-styled Tribeca. “The luxury mummy-mobile is getting bigger,” Caldwell says.

Lexus created a devoted following with its two-row RX midsize SUV. Now it is extending it by 4.3 inches to create a three-row model with a name aimed at capturing the warm feelings for the RX. It will also come in a hybrid version. Cars are out of favour with buyers compared with SUVs, and large cars haven’t caught fire either.

Toyota’s Avalon has done better than most. A new version comes to the auto show in Detroit and it will hit showrooms later in the year. It will give Toyota a fresh product to go up against other full-size competitors Ford Taurus, Chevrolet Impala and Nissan Maxima. Ford was late to the party when it brought a small SUV, the EcoSport, to the Los Angeles Auto Show last year.

The SUV finally comes to showrooms early next year. It will be imported from India. The latest version of the Accord has been drawing rave reviews since the turbocharged 1.5-litre version went on sale in October, followed a month later by one with a turbocharged 2-litre engine. Now comes the hybrid, which should combine the best of the car with better fuel economy.