2012 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Preview

Another year is upon us and that means another 12 months of auto show fun and all the new model and concept unveilings that come with it.
First off the ranks is the annual Detroit Auto Show, or North American International Auto Show as it’s officially known, and while the industrial city’s streets are typically cold during this time of year, things will be very hot inside the halls of the Cobo Center once press days commence come January 9.  
Once again, the High Gear Media team will be on hand in Detroit to bring you all the breaking news, plus live photos and video footage, and remember, you can get our latest updates direct from the show floor by staying glued to our dedicated show page.
In the lead-up to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show let’s take a preview look at some of the cars and concept models scheduled to debut at the upcoming event.

Concept Cars

2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept teaser

2012 Acura NSX Concept: Acura will be making waves at next month’s 2012 Detroit Auto Show with three new concept vehicles previewing models destined for production in the very near future. One of these will be the highly anticipated successor to the Acura NSX supercar, which despite still being a concept has already been confirmed for production by Honda CEO Takanobu Ito.

Other vehicles Acura has planned for Detroit include the new ILX Concept, which will preview a Honda Civic-based entry-level sedan due next fall, as well as a prototype of the next-generation RDX crossover.

2012 Nissan Pathfinder Concept: Nissan will also be bringing more than one concept vehicle to Detroit, in its case a preview of the next-generation Pathfinder SUV, which we recently spied testing, as well as a battery-electric commercial van. It will be shedding its truck-based ladder frame for a more car-like unibody design borrowed from the 2013 Infiniti JX.

Nissan hasn’t given any details on the electric van concept, but we suppose it will be the battery-powered version of the Nissan NV200.

2012 Honda Accord Coupe Concept: Honda will preview its 2013 Accord, we're guessing both the sedan and the coupe, with a new coupe concept in Detroit. There hasn't been any other details revealed except that the production version will hit showrooms next fall.

The introduction of the ninth-generation Accord will mark 30 years of U.S. production of the model at Honda’s plant in Marysville, Ohio, the first Japanese car assembly plant in the U.S. It will also mark the introduction of Honda's first plug-in hybrid model, which promises up to 15 miles of electric only driving.

2012 Smart For-Us Concept

2012 Smart-For-Us Pickup Concept: Fresh from its win in this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, Smart is gearing up for next month’s 2012 Detroit Auto Show where it will be showing off the funky new For-Us electric urban pickup concept. We don’t expect Smart to ever launch a pickup model--at least in the foreseeable future--but it should point the way for styling of the brand’s next-generation ForTwo and rumored ForFour.

The For-Us is powered by the electric drivetrain that will feature in the latest-generation Smart ForTwo Electric Drive due next spring and should be able to reach a top speed of 75 mph.

2012 Lexus Design Concept: With the new GS sedan wearing some attractive sheet metal, it may just be time for an updated IS range, and conveniently, Lexus has just teased an upcoming design concept that previews the future direction of the company's design.

Penned by the artists at the company's Calty studio in Newport Beach, California, whatever it is, it will be revealed in full on January 9.

2012 Lincoln MKZ Concept: This new concept will preview the new 2013 Lincoln MKZ, which will share a platform with the next-generation Ford Fusion and the European Ford Mondeo, though will be significantly differentiated for a premium look and feel.

Expect the piano wire grille to remain, but with horizontal slats instead of Lincoln's current vertical design

New Cars

2013 Bentley Continental GT V8

2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS: With its 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque 1.4-liter turbo four already found in the Sonic lineup, the new 2013 Sonic RS is more of a trim line rather that a brand new model. Nevertheless, we’re still eagerly awaiting some time behind the wheel as the car has the potential to become a new performance bargain.

2013 Bentley Continental GT V8: As we’ve known for some time the big Bentley coupe and its GTC convertible sibling are to receive a new V-8 option, and at Detroit they will finally receive that engine: a newly developed twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 rated at 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque.

According to Bentley, the new V-8 Continental models should remain true to the automaker’s promise of reducing CO2 emissions by up to 40 percent compared to its previous models. Final numbers will be released closer to launch though Bentley boasts that they will be capable of traveling more than 500 miles on a single tank of gas.

2013 Cadillac ATS: Cadillac's long-awaited rival to the BMW 3-Series will finally be revealed in Detroit, and we can't wait. Having been tested at the Nurburgring, as well as GM centers around the U.S., Cadillac's new baby is shaping up to be one sharp-handling sports sedan. It's also expected to come with a high-performance turbo four as well as a V-6, which should appease not only performance buffs but green fans too.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: The Mercedes-Benz SL is a car that needs no introduction, and in just a few weeks’ time we’ll get to see the sixth generation of the cruiser, the first of course being the legendary 300SL gullwing. The latest variant is lighter, more powerful and dare we say it, more stylish than its predecessor, which is no easy task considering how well rounded the last SL was.

2013 Dodge Dart: The replacement for Dodge's compact car, most recently the Caliber, will debut in Detroit, and it bears a once-familiar name: Dart. Based on a combination of Alfa Romeo underpinning and Dodge style, the Dart will have to bring a lot to the table considering it’s going up against the 2012 Ford Focus and popular 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.

Powered by a 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged engine, the Dart could in fact pack a good deal of punch. Alternatives to the standard engine include the Tigershark 2.0-liter four-cylinder and the Tigershark 2.4-liter MultiAir. Three transmission choices (not yet disclosed) will be available with the three engines, possibly including a dual clutch and a nine-speed--yes, a nine-speed!--automatic.

2013 Buick Encore: Buick has a new crossover in the pipeline; a compact affair with premium features including Buick Intellilink, HID headlights, and turbocharged power. It's called the Encore and it will be a five-passenger crossover feature "QuietTuning" technology.

by motorauthority