Detroit Auto Show 2005 - Motor City showcases 65 new models

Exclusive Auto Show Photos

By Vince Bodiford,
Automotive Editor

DETROIT -- 2005 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), one of the world's most prestigious automotive events, has showcased more than 65 exciting new vehicle introductions and hundreds of the 2006 vehicle models.

Attracting more than 6,500 journalists from media outlets all over the globe, The Detroit Auto Show is the premier venue for manufactures worldwide to reveal their production and concept vehicles, and for the world to get a first-ever glimpse of the hottest automotive trends in SUVs, Trucks, Sport Cars and Luxury Vehicles.

Major Highlights of the 2005 show:

POWER. Power is back, and not just in a few select supercars. 500-horsepower Corvette's and Vipers. V8's in more vehicles since the 1970's. Every carmaker, from Detroit to Europe to Asia, is delivering more power choices than ever before.

TRUCKS. Ford's F-150 nearly sold a million units last year, and companies like Honda and Mitsubishi want a piece of that action with their own new trucks. But some of these trucks are have a soft underbelly and are not the tough workhorses of the Big Three.

HYBRIDS. Including alternative fuel and power, and showcasing economically viable clean power, low emissions, better fuel economy. Green Cars are no longer the rare oddball at this show, they are found in numbers in virtually every carmakers stand, with few exceptions.

CROSSOVERS. The craze for the Crossover SUV continues with concept and production offerings that range from the truly utilitarian to the downright freakish. Among the best, Saab's new 9-7X Lifestyle SUV and Ford's concept Fusion.

Entering its 17th year as an international event, the North American International Auto Show is among the most prestigious auto shows in the world, and is one of the largest media events in North America. The NAIAS is the only auto show in the United States to earn the distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, the Paris-based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world.

LIFE'S A TRIP - Enjoy the drive. Be a safe and courteous driver, obey all highway laws, never drive impaired and buckle everyone up. Copyright (c) 2005 The Weekend Drive, All Rights Reserved. IMAGES (c) USA COPYRIGHT 2005 By The Weekend Drive(r); and UK COPYRIGHT by The Car Enthusiast. All Rights Reserved.

WORLDWIDE PRODUCTION INTROS:

• BMW 5-Series AWD - an all-wheel-drive version of BMW's midlevel 5- Series sedan.
• Cadillac STS-V - a performance version of Cadillac's flagship STS sedan, redesigned for 2005.
• Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - 500-horsepower performance version of the sixth-generation Corvette, redesigned for 2005.
• Dodge Charger - the return of a legendary name from the muscle-car era on a HEMI(R)-equipped rear-drive, five passenger sedan.
• Ferrari Superamerica - a 12-cylinder convertible version of the 575M Maranello coupe that was designed by legendary Italian design house and perennial Ferrari partner, Pininfarina.
• Ford Fusion - Ford's new midsize car.
• Ford F-150 Harley - a Harley-Davidson version of the F-150 pickup truck.
• Honda Ridgeline - Honda's first-ever pickup truck.
• Infiniti M45/M35 - two new luxury/performance sedans to slot just beneath the flagship Q45.
• Kia Rio - a completely redesigned entry-level sedan that's bigger and more powerful than the current model.
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport - a completely new sport utility vehicle and a fifth nameplate for the brand, slotting between the LR3 and Range Rover.
• Lexus GX 470 - a luxury utility with more performance and technology.
• Lincoln Zephyr - a new entry-level luxury sedan for Ford's luxury division.
• Lincoln Mark LT - a luxury vehicle that combines a sport utility vehicle cabin with a pickup bed.
• Mercedes-Benz M-Class - a redesign of the Alabama-built M-Class sport utility vehicle introduced eight years ago.
• Mitsubishi Eclipse - all-new, more powerful fourth generation of this popular sporty coupe.
• Mitsubishi Raider - Mitsubishi created unique styling inside and out for this midsize truck based on the Dakota.
• Saturn Sky - a new two-seat, rear-drive sports roadster.
• Subaru B9 Tribeca - the first Subaru 7-passenger vehicle.
• Toyota Avalon - a completely restyled full-size sedan with more performance and luxury.
• Porsche 911 Carrera, Carrera S Cabriolet - convertible versions of the redesigned 911.

WORLDWIDE CONCEPTS

• Chrysler Firepower - an elegant grand tourer riding on the Viper chassis and powered by a 6.1-liter version of the Hemi V8.
• Ford Explorer Sport Trac - a concept that signals the next-generation version of the sport-utility vehicle with a pickup bed.
• Infiniti Kuraza - an exploratory look at future sport utility vehicle interior design.
• Jeep Gladiator - a Jeep pickup.
• KCD II - the second concept vehicle from Kia's California design center is a rugged sport utility with three rows of seats.
• Lexus LF-A - exotic sports car concept vehicle.
• Mercury Meta One - a rolling showcase of promising active safety technologies.
• Nissan AZEAL Coupe - a fresh interpretation of the "pocket rocket" - an affordable, high-performance, entry-level coupe with an emphasis on personality and aggressive styling.
• Saturn midsize sedan - a new entry into the midsize sedan segment for the GM division.
• Suzuki Concept X - Suzuki's first-ever midsize sport-utility vehicle concept.
• Volvo 3CC - an innovative and stylish environmentally friendly car with three seats and powered by lithium-ion batteries.

NORTH AMERICAN PRODUCTION

• Aston Martin Vanquish S V12 - the fastest-ever Aston Martin.
• Audi A6 Avant - the station wagon version of the redesigned A6.
• BMW 530xi - the 5-Series Sport Wagon combines the performance of a car with all-weather confidence.
• Hyundai Sonata - the first vehicle to be produced at the new Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Alabama.

NORTH AMERICAN CONCEPTS

• Mercedes-Benz Grand Sports Tourer Vision B - first shown in Paris, a compact sports tourer with compact exterior dimensions but roominess inside.
• Rolls-Royce 100EX - this experimental car from Rolls-Royce, the inspiration for a 2007 convertible, celebrates Rolls-Royce's centennial.