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2012 Detroit Auto Show. Image by Lexus.

photographs

2012 Detroit Auto Show

Here's the full rundown on the 2012 Detroit Auto Show - it was a good one.

   

OUR SHOW ARTICLES BY BRAND
   Acura
 Audi
 Bentley
 BMW
 Cadillac
 Chevrolet
 Chrysler
 Dodge
 Ford
 Honda
 Hyundai
 Lexus

  Lincoln
 Mercedes-Benz
 MINI
 Nissan
 Porsche
 Scion
 Smart
 Toyota
 Vauxhall
 Volkswagen
 Volvo

 

SHOW PHOTOGRAPHS BY MODEL
  Acura at the Detroit Show (1)
Acura ILX (1)
Acura NSX concept (6)
Acura RDX (1)
Audi Q3 Vail concept (23)
Bentley Continental GT V8 (31)
Bentley Continental GTC V8 (10)
BMW 3 Series (145)
Cadillac ATS (10)
Chevrolet Code130R concept (6)
Chevrolet Tru 140S concept (6)
Chrysler 700C concept (2)
Detroit Auto Show (12)
Dodge Dart (3)
Ford Fusion Energi (12)
Ford Fusion Hybrid (19)
Ford Mondeo (36)
Hyundai Veloster Turbo (3)
Lexus LF-LC concept (11)
Lincoln MKZ concept (18)
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (9)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class hybrid (21)
Mercedes-Benz SL (39)
MINI Roadster (198)
Nissan e-NV200 concept (11)
Nissan Pathfinder concept (12)
Scion FR-S race car (11)
Smart for-us (13)
Smart for-us concept (6)
Toyota NS4 Plug-In Hybrid concept (6)
Volkswagen E-Bugster concept (14)
Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid (7)
Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid (18)
 
photographs

 

Motorshows homepage -> 2012 Detroit Auto Show

2012 Detroit Auto Show -
Shane O' Donoghue, Paul Healy, Kyle Fortune, Graeme Lambert


There you have it folks, Detroit 2012. It's been one of the best and most optimistic Detroit shows in years. Full articles and image galleries linked from the left as ever.
Acura/Honda.   Acura/Honda
One of the most talked about cars of the show was the Acura NSX concept. Acura is Honda's North American luxury/sports division and so it got to show off the new car on its stand. Fear not, it'll be sold as the Honda NSX when it eventually reaches the showroom - by 2014 we reckon. Looks like it'll have about 400bhp from its hybrid powertrain and four-wheel drive. The Acura RDX SUV and ILX saloon also on the stand were all but ignored.

Audi.   Audi
Given the company's recent new product onslaught it was a little surprising that the only all-new exhibit on Audi's stand was the Q3 Vail concept, though there are loads of US market debuts. The Vail is a winter sports themed Q3, powered by a promising 309bhp five-cylinder engine.

Bentley.   Bentley
Big news on the Bentley stand in Detroit was the arrival of a new twin-turbo V8 engine to the Continental GT and GTC line-ups. It's an advanced unit boasting 500bhp and 442lb.ft of torque, cylinder deactivation technology and a 500-mile cruising range. Just don't call it the 'cheap' version.

BMW.   BMW
Detroit was, we think, the first outing for the new BMW 3 Series, but seeing as we've already driven it, it didn't grab our attention. The news that a BMW M5 with a manual gearbox would be sold did though, mainly because it won't be offered over here. Eh?

Buick.   Buick
Ordinarily we wouldn't pay that much attention to an announcement from Buick, as the cars built by GM's luxury brand never make it this side of the pond. However, if you prise the badges off its compact SUV - the Encore - you get Vauxhall's rival for the Nissan Juke, called the Mokka.

Cadillac.   Cadillac
Your compact executive saloon isn't worthy of the tag if you don't compare it to the BMW 3 Series, which is exactly what Cadillac is doing with its new ATS, despite the distinctly Mercedes-like styling. The Caddie features rear-wheel drive and will probably be made in right-hand drive.

Chevrolet.   Chevrolet
We knew that Chevrolet would unveil the Aveo RS baby hot hatch, but it surprised us with a weirdly named concept coupé double act. The Tru 140S and Code 130R were apparently conceived with Generation Y in mind. They're interesting if nothing else.

Chrysler.   Chrysler
The big reveal by the Chrysler Group at Detroit was the Dodge-branded Dart saloon but the 700C concept parked at the other end of the stand has garnered almost as much attention. This is primarily because Chrysler has released no information about it at all other than it was brought along to 'gauge interest' from press and public alike. We would not be surprised if it eventually morphs into a replacement for the venerable Grand Voyager.

Dodge.   Dodge
The idea of taking a car like the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, throwing away its good Italian looks and re-skinning it with something sporty and American might sound odd, but it works in this instance. That's how the Dodge Dart came along and it really does look good. Will be sold with MultiAir engines too, though probably not in the UK. Another car we are unlikely to see over here is the 590hp Dodge Charger Redline. Shame that!

Ford.   Ford
We knew something Evos-inspired was coming to Detroit, but we didn't quite expect a production ready saloon (the Fusion) that clearly previews an all-new Mondeo. Don't expect Energi (electric) and Hybrid versions of the Mondeo, but it should look this good when it arrives in 2013.

Hyundai.   Hyundai
As predicted, Hyundai launched its new Veloster Turbo in Detroit. A modest update to the already quite eye-catching styling differentiates it from the lesser model, as does a nigh-on 200bhp engine. We're hoping for some suspension revisions too.

Lexus.   Lexus
For us, the battle of the Japanese hybrid supercar concepts was won by the Lexus LF-FC. Where the Honda NSX looks almost production ready (and dare we say it, a little tame), the Lexus is wonderfully OTT. Still, it looks like it'll influence a new production car down the line. Mini Lexus LFA anyone? Just don't expect a screaming V10 under the bonnet.

Maserati.   Maserati
Detroit was the first chance for our American cousins to see the upcoming Maserati SUV that was originally unveiled at Frankfurt. Little has changed since then but Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne did confirm that when it enters production it will be Ferrari engined, built in Detroit and will carry an Italian name that is "more beautiful than Kubang".

Mercedes-Benz.   Mercedes-Benz
To mark its 50th anniversary, the new Mercedes-Benz SL was launched in Detroit, though arguably the restored 1952 example stole the show. Alongside them the worthy (but let's face it, dull) pair of E-Class hybrids melted into the background.

MINI.   MINI
We've known about the MINI Roadster for so long that its actual world debut was a bit of an anti-climax in Detroit. Still, we're looking forward to driving it. Just not in Detroit in winter. Brrr.

Nissan.   Nissan
The two big reveals from Nissan were the e-NV200 concept - a van based on the all-electric LEAF - and the all-new, more sophisticated and upmarket, Pathfinder. It is doubtful we will see either vehicle in the UK so moving on...

Porsche.   Porsche
There's one word that describes Porsche's new 911 Cabriolet: 'predictable'. We also predict that it'll be brilliant as ever. It took its first bow in Detroit.

Scion.   Scion
Toyota's American yoof brand used the Detroit show to unveil its version of the GT 86/BRZ rear-drive coupé. Having already seen the Toyota and Subaru versions this didn't excite us. What did excite us was the 600hp version that was built by Scion and GReddy for Ken Gushi to compete with in Formula DRIFT.

Smart.   Smart
It's a real sign of the times when a tiny (and we mean really tiny) electric pick-up truck grabs a few headlines in the motoring heartland of America. This is the funky little Smart for-us concept. Not quite sure what it means to the company's future product line, but who cares, right?

Toyota.   Toyota
Toyota chose to follow the single-shot teaser release that worked so well on the Lexus LF-LC to announce the NS4 Plug-In Hybrid Concept to the world and this got the blogosphere excited about a possible Supra replacement. What we actually got looks to be the next generation Prius packed to the rafters with human-machine interface technology.

Volkswagen.   Volkswagen
Two cars starred on the VW stand, neither of which we're going to be given the chance to buy. The Jetta Hybrid is for pro-petrol countries while our hopes for a Beetle coupé based on the cool E-Bugster electric concept were quickly dashed by Volkswagen.

Volvo.   Volvo
The Swedish company previewed its new XC60 Plug-in Hybrid in Detroit. It mates a petrol engine with an electric motor and battery that you can charge by plugging it in, giving it great on-paper economy. It is unlikely to be sold in right-hand drive markets however.








 

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