Conceptually Speaking

Sure, Chrysler Group unveiled its new minivan, and Toyota Motor Corp. dazzled pickup intenders with its Tundra Crew Max, but the real story at this year's North American International Auto Show was the flood of concepts, most of which will never cast a shadow on the plant floor.

During the press days at Detroit's Cobo Center, the concepts came fast and furious, heralding design cues that were sporty, sedate, boxy, curvaceous, inviting and a bit stand-offish.

Chrysler, attempting to prove sportiness is not limited to its Dodge brand, unveiled the Chrysler Nassau luxury coupe.

Based on Chrysler's successful LX platform, the Nassau features a 6.1L Hemi V-8 that generates 425 hp and an interior inspired by home-theater systems and the latest handheld electronics.

Chrysler describes its Jeep Trailhawk concept SUV as an amalgam of Wrangler Unlimited's ruggedness and Jeep Grand Cherokee refinement. It is powered by the same 3.0L V-6 diesel engine that debuts in the '07 Grand Cherokee, but the Trailhawk's mill features emissions-reducing Bluetec technology developed by Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler Group's sister brand.

Ford Motor Co.'s Airstream concept cross/utility vehicle, from the pen of exterior designer Jordan Bennett, drew its inspiration from the Lewis and Clark expedition of the American frontier from 1804 to 1806 and embraces Henry Ford's affinity for camping.

Ford pitched the idea to Airstream Inc., maker of the famous aerodynamic trailers, and the 75-year-old company bought in.

Not all elements of the vehicle are conceptual. Ford's new HySeries Drive plug-in hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain is functional and currently undergoing testing in a Ford Edge prototype.

Ford's Interceptor concept rides on a stretched Mustang platform, with a 400-hp Ford Racing 5.0L V-8 Cammer engine.

The E85-compatible Interceptor showcases some upcoming safety devices under development by Ford, including a 4-point “belt and suspenders” seatbelt design. E85 is a blend of gasoline and ethanol.

A Ford executive also says the auto maker's new TwinForce engine, showcased in the Lincoln MKR concept, will debut in a production vehicle in the near future.

The TwinForce engine is based on Ford's new Duratec 35 all-aluminum V-6 and is capable of running on E85 or premium gasoline and produces 415 hp.

Also in the Ford family, Mazda Motor Corp. debuted its windswept Ryuga concept, with gullwing doors. Pronounced “ree-yoo-ga,” the name means “gracious flow” in Japanese.

Mazda says the front-wheel-drive Ryuga closely resembles a production model, with a 2.5L flex-fuel engine that can run on gasoline or E85. Steer-by-wire technology also is employed.

Jaguar Cars says its C-XF 4-door concept sedan signals the new design direction for the iconic marque.

The V-8-powered concept was designed by the same team that produced the '07 Jaguar XK coupe and convertible.

Another closely studied concept at the show was American Honda Motor Co. Inc.'s sleek and swoopy Accord Coupe, which hints at the design language of the new Accord lineup, due out in the U.S. this fall.

Honda promises a new, more powerful V-6 that will use the next-generation of the auto maker's fuel-sipping cylinder-deactivation technology.

From the quirky side of the ledger came Nissan Design America Inc.'s Bevel multipurpose concept vehicle, sporting three rows of seats.

The Bevel is intended for empty nesters who have tired of stylistically challenged minivans but still want flexibility and plenty of cargo space for golf clubs, tools and pets.

Saab Automobile introduced its BioPower Hybrid concept. The flex-fuel vehicle, which bowed in Europe and was featured at last summer's Sydney auto show, is equipped with General Motors Corp.'s new Two-Mode hybrid system and is capable of running on 100% ethanol or any combination of ethanol and gasoline.

The concept, which the Swedish auto maker displays as a 9-3 Convertible, proves the Two-Mode hybrid system can be scaled down for small vehicles.

Saab parent GM co-developed the Two-Mode system with DaimlerChrysler AG and BMW AG and will launch the technology later in 2007 in its '08 fullsize SUVs.

Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled the low-slung 400-hp FT-HS hybrid-electric concept vehicle at the Detroit show.

Developed at Toyota's Calty Design Studio in California, the car uses a new-generation sports hybrid system designed to achieve revolutionary acceleration. Toyota projects a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration in 4 seconds, which puts it in the realm of a supercar.

The FT-HS is a front-engine, rear-drive, 2-plus-2 sports car.

Toyota's Lexus luxury division also debuted the latest version of its LF-A supercar concept, equipped with a V-10 of unspecified displacement (with front mid-engine placement) targeted to produce more than 500 hp.

Lexus first showed the LF-A concept in Detroit in 2005, but this latest iteration is closer to production ready, Lexus says.

Kia Motors America says its high-powered Kue CUV concept aims to change the way CUVs are perceived.

The 4-passenger Kue has a DOHC, supercharged 4.6L V-8 that produces 400 hp and 400 lb.-ft. (542 Nm) of torque, as well as a full-time all-wheel-drive system.

Of course, production sheet metal is what bolsters the bottom line, and General Motors rolled out two vital new entries in its car lineup: the Cadillac CTS and Chevy Malibu.

The CTS, which five years ago breathed new life into Cadillac, returns fully redesigned for '08. The updated sedan upgrades the interior experience and softens the angular lines of its predecessor, a design cue that will carry over into coupe, wagon and CUV variants that are on the way.

Sales of the new CTS are expected to begin in late summer, with worldwide exports to follow in the fall from GM's Lansing (MI) Grand River plant.

The '08 CTS sedan's choice of engines includes a 3.6L direct-injection V-6 rated at 300 hp and a 2.8L V-6. The car also is available with all-wheel drive for the first time.

The '08 Malibu, which sports engineering from GM's Adam Opel AG subsidiary, is built on the Global Midsize Vehicle Architecture (Epsilon) that also supports the new Saturn Aura.

Similar to the Aura, the Malibu's overall styling represents a vast improvement over the outgoing model, with a lower and longer greenhouse and shorter deck. A 2.4L Ecotec DOHC 4-cyl. engine will be offered with all trim levels, while a 252-hp 3.6L V-6 is optional.

GM's 2006 auto show star, the Camaro, returned this year in drop-top form as a preview for its '09 market arrival after the coupe launches.

The rear-wheel-drive Camaro Convertible will share a V-8 engine and a manual transmission with the coupe, which also will offer an automatic transmission and V-6 power.

Camaro coupe output is to start at the end of 2008 at GM's Oshawa, ON, Canada, plant. Initial annual sales are pegged in the 100,000-unit range.

Another muscle car in the GM family, the Australian Holden Commodore SS, will be rebadged as the Pontiac G8 to fill a void in Pontiac's U.S. lineup, GM product chief Bob Lutz says at the Detroit show.

GM unveils the G8 this month at the Chicago auto show.GM Holden Ltd. expects to export up to 50,000 V-8-powered Commodores annually to the U.S.

On the family hauler front, the world's best-selling minivan gets a facelift in time for the Detroit auto show.

Chrysler's fifth-generation minivan abandons its short-wheelbase model for '08, but the redesigned long-wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country offer 35 new or improved features, including Swivel 'n Go, a variant of Chrysler's highly successful Stow 'n Go seating system.

Swivel 'n Go enables the second-row seats to turn 180 degrees, so rear passengers can face each other. The seats, however, do not fold flat into the floor.

Chrysler will divide assembly of its new minivans between plants in St. Louis and Windsor, ON, Canada, with dealer deliveries coming in fall.

President and CEO Tom LaSorda promises hybrid-electric technology will migrate to the minivan lineup.

Chrysler's Dodge brand also gets two other vehicles for the pipeline: the '08 Viper SRT10 and the Avenger midsize car that replaces Stratus.

The midsize Avenger sedan shares its architecture with the Chrysler Sebring that launched last year. Both are assembled at the Sterling Heights, MI, assembly plant.

The '08 Viper's aluminum V-10, generating 600 hp at 6,100 rpm and 560 lb.-ft. (760 Nm) of torque, can go from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in under four seconds.

Also ripe for stump pulling is Audi AG's new Q7 V12 TDI. First unveiled in Paris last fall, the CUV is the first production passenger vehicle ever to feature a 12-cyl. diesel.

The Q7's 6.0L twin turbo V-12 pumps out 500 hp and 737 lb.-ft. (544 Nm) of torque, reaching 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.5 seconds. A 2008 European rollout is expected.

Other notables at this year's show: