New S. U.V.s dominated media previews on Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show, the latest sign
that the shift away from traditional cars is more than a short-term trend.
Mr. Aldred said the typical customers drawn to Buick S. U.V.s included families with young children who required considerable space
and older drivers who appreciated the rugged capability and utility of a high-riding model.
Pickup trucks and S. U.V.s have accounted for about 62 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States so
far this year, compared with 57 percent in the first quarter of 2016, according to the research firm Autodata.
“The old perception that S. U.V.s are terrible on fuel economy is going away,” Mr. Aldred said.
And while Ford is pushing luxury, other automakers are taking S. U.V.s to new levels of speed and performance.
