The Detroit Auto Show opens to the public this weekend but PistonHeads has been there to find out what metal is worth seeing.
One of the stars of the show has to be the new Lexus LF-A roadster.
It is a concept based on a concept, the LF-A coupe, and is made largely from carbon fibre and aluminium, retaining much of the hard top’s structural rigity.
Like the coupe, the roadster is powered by a high-revving 500bhp 5.0 litre V10 that promises wind in the hair thrills at over 200mph.
The engine is mounted in the front but behind the front-axle, making it a ‘front-mid’ configuration.
Like the LF-A coupe the Roadster stands at just 48 inches tall but gains a speed adaptive rear wing.
There are a pair of wrap-around, ‘arrowhead’ rear lights set around two large grilles.
These vent the heated air from the car’s two rear-mounted radiators.
Next up is the Corvette ZR1, expected to be the fastest and most powerful car General Motors has ever built.
The ZR1 will do more than 200mph thanks to a 600+bhp LS9 supercharged V8 and will be hauled to a standstill by Brembo Carbon Ceramic Brakes.
There is extensive use of carbon fibre, with the material visible in the roof, and a domed bonnet showing the Eaton TVS supercharger through a little window.
The car arrives late summer 2008 but the big news is the price - $100,000 – which is seen as rather expensive in the US.
Also on show was the new Audi R8 V12 TDI, powered by a 5.9 litre V12 turbo diesel developing 500 BHP and 737 lb-ft of torque.
The Audi is far more menacing than the V8 R8 and looked good in the flesh.
It is set to redefine what people think of diesels, hitting 60mph in 4.2 seconds and will top 187mph.
VW is having a crack at making its Passat interesting by jumping on the saloon/coupe bandwagon and used Detroit to give the CC its first airing.
The company has obviously had one eye on the Mercedes CLS, which opened up the market for four-door coupes.
The Passat CC at the show looked good in black and VW hopes it will tempt buyers out of their BMWs.
It is expected to be offered with both four and six-cylinder engines, and arrives in the US in 2008.
The Dodge Zeo is an electric shooting brake that has a range of up to 250 miles.
The Zeo is Chrysler’s attempt at ‘a muscle car for the 21st Century’ and a stab at attracting the youth market.
It should give some hints as to future Dodge products and may be the face of a new subcompact model that may even make it to the UK.
There was inevitably a strong ‘green’ theme at the show and General Motors even went as far as showing a eco-friendly Hummer.
The Hummer HX is said to have a ‘flex-fuel’ V6 that runs on biofuel and the vehicle is smaller than its gas-guzzling brothers.
The doors, roof and bumper panels are also removable.
Some visitors to the show were convinced the HX was inspired by the Warthog vehicle in the video game Halo.
But the designers, perhaps keen to show this Hummer is about saving the planet and not making gun-toting killing machines, said it was just a coincidence.
Photo's provided by Nauman Farooq
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