Automakers plan to debut 45 new vehicles at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which opens to the public on January 16. Here are some of the buzz-worthy new cars and trucks at the show along with their salient features and everything else that you need to know.
FORD RAPTOR SUPERCREW: The Raptor has been a hit for Ford among outdoor enthusiasts and those who like its brawny look. Now, the truck drops 500 pounds, making this off-road monster faster and more agile, Ford says. There are six modes of driving, including a Baja mode for desert racing and a mud mode for mucky trails. The Raptor SuperCrew goes on sale this fall; pricing hasn't been announced, but expect it to be in the $50,000 range.
VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN GTE ACTIVE CONCEPT: Volkswagen hopes the next-generation Tiguan is the hit it needs in the SUV market. The concept version being shown in Detroit has a gas-electric hybrid drive system and bolstered off-road performance. VW says the five-seat concept has two electric motors that boost total system horsepower to 221, pushing the SUV from zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds. The Tiguan concept will be able to go 20 miles in all-electric mode before the gas engine comes on. It also has the latest safety features such as automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.
The tenth generation of the midsize E-Class sedan
AUDI A4 ALLROAD QUATTRO: The new Audi A4 all road quattro seeks to combine driving comfort with off-road performance. Available engines in the station wagon produce between 150 and 272 horsepower, up to 27 hp higher than the previous model.
AUDI H-TRON QUATTRO CONCEPT: A fuel cell concept car from Audi seeks to offer power and range with the convenience of quick fueling. The h-tron quattro concept at the Detroit auto show is envisioned as a zero-emissions vehicle with power from electric motors in the front and rear. Audi says it will take 4 minutes to refill the tanks with hydrogen. Once the h-tron is fueled up, its range will be nearly 373 miles.
LEXUS LC 500: Toyota also unveiled the new LC 500, a sports performance coupe that hews closely to the LF-LC Concept introduced at the Detroit show in 2012. The LC 500 offers a 5-liter V8 engine with 467 horsepower. It's expected to arrive in showrooms next year.
VOLVO S90 SEDAN: Volvo's new luxury sedan makes self-driving technology standard. The semi-autonomous Pilot Assist software allows the car to accelerate, decelerate, come to a complete stop and steer on a road with clear lane markings at speeds up to 80 mph. Three engine choices will be available, including a four-cylinder, 2.0 liter turbocharged and supercharged engine and a plug-in hybrid. The S90 displayed at the Detroit auto show goes on sale this year in the US.
LEXUS LF-FC CONCEPT: A fuel cell concept from Lexus is a \"luxury fuel cell sedan of the future.\" So says Akio Toyoda, chief branding officer and master test driver for Toyota's luxury brand. Toyoda says the goal for the LF-FC Concept, which could see production as soon as 2020, is to achieve a lot of \"zeros\": zero emissions, zero dependence on oil and zero accidents through advanced technology.
BMW M2: The rear-wheel drive, high performance sports coupe is a first for BMW's famed M line in the automaker's 2-Series. The M2 offers a 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine producing 365 horsepower. BMW says it can go from 0-62 in 4.3 seconds and offers a top track speed off about 155 mph. Design features include a double-slatted grill that complements the double-spoke style of the light-alloy wheels. To prove the new M2 maintains the DNA of the brand, board member Ian Robertson rode out to the unveiling in a 2002 Turbo from the 1970s.
PORSCHE 911 TURBO S: Not known for austerity or restraint, the latest Porsche 911 pushes even further: more horsepower, faster acceleration and higher top speeds. The 2017 911 Turbo S promise 20 horsepower more than before and both have faster top track speeds7 mph faster for the Turbo S, which now clocks in at 205 mph. The Turbo S starts at a price of $188,100.
Here are some of the brilliant new cars and trucks on display at the show.