News

Cadillac CTS-V: The Cadillac CTS gets a high-powered cousin. The CTS-V delivers 550 horsepower from a 6.2-litre supercharged V-8. It will come with either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. Cadillac also introduced a gorgeous CTS coupe concept that is sure to become a production car.

Toyota Venza: Toyota says the 2009 Venza is a "crossover-sedan" that combines the benefits of a sports sedan with the space and utility of an SUV. The Venza will go on sale late this year. It is aimed at buyers who want to trade in their large SUVs but still want space and towing abilities.

Land Rover LRX concept: This sleek diesel-electric hybrid concept SUV could move Land Rover into a whole new direction. Managing director Phil Popham said the LRX will get 50 miles a gallon and still have all of Land Rover's off-road capabilities. It would take three years for Land Rover to bring a vehicle like the LRX to market because of the technology involved.

Lincoln MKT concept: Parts of its body are made of recycled soft-drink bottles and other waste, but you'd never know it by looking at the sleek new concept SUV. The four-seat MKT has seats borrowed from the first-class section of jetliners, a windshield that extends to the back of the roof and an electrically operated hatch instead of a trunk. Ford calls the vehicle a "premium utility," but it's built on car underpinnings.

Chrysler ecoVoyager concept: The four-passenger ecoVoyager is an electric vehicle that has a hydrogen fuel-cell on board to boost its range. It can go 40 miles on power from its lithium-ion battery. The battery powers electric motors with the equivalent of 268 horsepower.

Dodge ZEO concept: The four-passenger, all-electric ZEO is "designed to break the paradigm of what an electric car should look like," says Bill Zheng, its chief exterior designer. The car's lithium-ion battery is capable of a range of 250 miles between charges, with acceleration as good as a gas-powered Hemi. ZEO stands for Zero Emissions Operation.

Saturn Flextreme concept: Like the Chevy Volt, this plug-in concept uses GM's E-Flex System, a combination of a lithium-ion battery, electric motors and a conventional engine backup. In this case, the backup is a 1.3-litre turbodiesel. The Flextreme has a 34-mile range on its electric motors only. To stretch its range, it has weight-saving features such as lightweight polycarbonate windows and light alloy wheels. It also has an underfloor luggage compartment with an electronic lift.

Honda Pilot prototype: This is a prototype of the next-generation Pilot SUV, similar to the production model that will make its debut this spring. The eight-passenger vehicle, Honda says, will have the same functionality as the current vehicle but will come with fuel-saving cylinder-management technology that operates in six-cylinder mode for power, and four- and three-cylinder modes for fuel efficiency.

Ford F-150 pickup: The F-150, which goes on sale this fall, gets a dramatic new chrome grille, a bigger cab, more horsepower, and better fuel economy and payload capacity. The SuperCrew version is stretched to give better rear-seat legroom. The biggest engine is a 5.4-litre Triton V-8 capable of running on E85 ethanol. Inside, the console has been lengthened so it can store two laptop computers.

Dodge Ram: The new truck's looks remain aggressive, with a bold new forward-canted grille. A 5.7-litre Hemi V-8 develops 380 horsepower, more than the previous model, with 4-per-cent better fuel economy. For convenience, there will be lockable storage bins in the bed rails, heated and ventilated front seats, and a surround-sound stereo system.ƒo

Ford Verve concept: Verve is the concept that will point the way to a wave of stylish small cars that Ford executives have talked about for a couple years. In Verve, Ford has a four-door that will make its debut in Europe later this year, then come to North America in 2010. A two-door hatchback is also being shown.

Audi TTS: The TTS, available as a four-seat coupe and two-seat roadster convertible, features a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine that boasts 272 horsepower. The engine produces nearly as much power as a 3.2-litre, six-cylinder engine, but with better fuel efficiency. The TTS is scheduled to be in dealer showrooms in November.

BMW X6: This five-door hatchback is making its North American debut in Detroit. Dubbed a "sports activity coupe," the X6 is designed to be roomy and offer good performance. The space in back is big enough to store four full golf bags. Performance is provided by either a 300-horsepower 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder engine or a 400-horsepower 4.4-litre V-8. All-wheel-drive comes standard. The V-8 has twin turbos and direct gasoline injection, features that help boost its power.

Toyota A-BAT concept: The A-BAT, which would be positioned below a Toyota Tacoma pickup if it is eventually built, has a gas-electric hybrid powerplant and translucent solar panels on the instrument panel. The truck was also given fun touches like tailgate lighting for illuminating the four-foot bed, retractable portable navigation unit and a Prius-like info display. As for the name, it stands for Advance Breakthrough Aero Truck.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA: It has a low-emission, 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that's designed to meet strict environmental standards using a newfangled catalytic converter system.

Mercedes Vision GLK Freeside concept: This is a thinly disguised version of the luxury brand's new compact SUV that will make its debut later this year. The concept has Mercedes' 170-horsepower four-cylinder Bluetec diesel engine with a seven-speed transmission. The Vision GLK has all of Mercedes' latest creature comforts, such as a rear-seat entertainment centre with two screens and three-zone automatic climate control.

Cadillac Provoq concept: The Provoq uses a hydrogen fuel cell with its E-Flex propulsion system. The fifth-generation fuel cell is half the size of its predecessor. Yet it's powerful. Provoq is capable of 0-100 kilometres an hour in about 8.5 seconds, a 30-per-cent improvement over the previous generation and a top speed of 160 km/h.

Subaru Forester: Subaru's crossover SUV gets a longer wheelbase, more ground clearance and an available navigation system in a complete redesign. The all-new chassis allows the wheelbase to be stretched longer than in the previous model for a more comfortable ride. The all-wheel-drive Forester is powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine, same as before. But there will be new features like Start Assist, which keeps the vehicle from rolling backward when starting on a hill using the manual transmission. The new Forester goes on sale in the spring.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: This supercar has a 620-horsepower engine. It's the first production Corvette designed to exceed 320 km/h. Expected to cost $100,000 (U.S.) or more, it has a hulking, hand-assembled, supercharged 6.2-litre V-8 with a six-speed manual transmission.

Ford Explorer America concept: Ford says the Explorer America concept has a 275-horsepower, four-cylinder engine or a 340-horsepower V-6 that will be up to 30-per-cent more efficient than today's V-6 Explorer. The engine is lighter, has fuel-saving electric-actuated power steering and a six-speed transmission. The Explorer seats six. It has wraparound glass and a sliding rear door, a work table with seats in the tailgate and a compass and fancy navigation unit built into the instrument panel.

Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid: The two-mode hybrid version of the 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line will deliver a 50-per-cent fuel economy improvement over the conventional six-cylinder version, GM says. But it is designed to go from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. GM started offering the compact SUV with a more rudimentary hybrid system based off a four-cylinder engine for the 2007 model year. These so-called "mild" hybrids will still be offered.

Hyundai Genesis: A $30,000 Hyundai luxury sedan? Indeed. The rear-wheel-drive car will be available with a 4.6-litre V-8. Hyundai is inviting comparisons with the likes of the 342-horsepower Lexus GS when it comes to the new 368-horsepower engine. The 2009 sedan will be followed in the 2010 model year by a coupe.