Visitor's Guide to the 2010 Detroit Auto Show

 Click here for Inside Line's Full Coverage of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show

For the first time during this new auto show season, the talk has been about the car companies that are at the show, not the ones that aren't. The automotive industry is coming to life again, and the evidence can be found in the surprisingly interesting array of vehicles at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Ford made a big impact with its introduction of the forthcoming 2012 Ford Focus, the recognition of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid as North American Car of the Year and the choice of the 2010 Ford Transit Connect as North American Truck of the Year. But more significance might actually lie in the enthusiasm for Ford's electronics, both the MyFord system and upgraded Sync. As indicated by the thunderous ovation that Ford CEO Alan Mulally got last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the cell phone revolution has made people receptive to the idea that electronic convenience features — not just styling, horsepower or fuel economy — can stimulate car sales (and vice versa).

That said, the Cadillac CTS-V coupe made its entrance onto the stage at the Detroit show with the rumble of 556 supercharged horsepower, reminding us that the old ways are sometimes the best. Cadillac has turned its CTS into a franchise with the recent introduction of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and the 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe, supplementing the impressive CTS sedan. While there's turmoil in GM's corporate infrastructure, the GM engineers still clearly know how to build cars.

Even Chrysler made some waves, though its cars were largely conspicuous by their absence. Instead Fiat chairman Sergio Marchionne presented his plan to revive Chrysler, and then made his ideas sexier by bringing a Ferrari 599FXX and a few other glossy cars from the Fiat empire to help reinforce his credibility. In the meantime, though, the Fiat 500 BEV is the closest thing on the horizon.

Against all odds, the European carmakers were also in the game at the Detroit show. Vehicles with clean diesel reinforced the auto industry's overall conversion to high-efficiency power plants of all sorts, while the latest, heavily restyled version of the Audi E-tron made the luxurious electric car seem one step closer to production.

Yes, it's clear the world is changing. But as the 2010 Detroit Auto Show confirms, the car industry is changing with it.

Automotive Entertainment
Now in its 21st year, the North American International Auto Show is open to the public January 16-24, still located in Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. The best thing is, it's possible to have a great time seeing it, as you're in a town that actually likes cars.

As part of the interest in all things electric, you might be keenly interested in Electric Avenue, a showcase of electric vehicles, and especially the MEDC EcoXperience, an opportunity to drive a selection of electric vehicles on a landscaped, indoor quarter-mile track in Michigan Hall. The speed limit is 10 mph, but we have reports of 20 mph being possible. The environment is perhaps a bit more green than you might expect, as the smell of the tree mulch is awfully strong.

If you want a look into the future, the display for the Michelin Challenge Design features provocative models and renderings from independent designers from around the world. The display for Eyes on Design celebrates major design accomplishments at this year's show. The 2011 Audi A8 Sedan won the production car category, while the GMC Granite took the prize in the concept vehicle category.

At the Show
The 2010 North American International Auto Show runs from January 16-24 at Detroit's Cobo Center. Total attendance of 700,000 is customary, so weekends are very crowded.

The show has encouraged community involvement with several activities including a poster contest and various special events. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children under the age of 12, and can be ordered online.

Parking is available at Cobo Hall as well as at numerous parking garages in the downtown area. In fact, parking spots can be purchased online beforehand. The Detroit People Mover makes it easy to get to the hall from within downtown, while show-sponsored shuttle service to Cobo Hall is available on the weekends from the Detroit Zoo and The Henry Ford at Greenfield Village.

Detroit's Most Significant Vehicles
Among all the vehicles that we've covered at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, these are the ones that we've found to be the most significant.

Audi E-tron: This heavily restyled version of the Audi R8-based E-tron introduced at the Frankfurt auto show looks more like a coupe than a sports car, evidence of a move toward the mainstream. That said, low-volume production of the first-gen E-tron is assured for late 2012, but plans for this particular version are hazy.

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept: Cadillac has been wondering what to do about replacing its full-size STS sedan, and the XTS is it. It indicates a slightly different and more elegant design direction for Cadillac, and its interior presents GM's latest concept for touchscreen-style electronic controls.

2012 Ford Focus: Ford continues with a corporate strategy that revolves around a new generation of international-style compact cars, and this preview of the 2012 Ford Focus complements the impending arrival of the 2011 Ford Fiesta. It looks terrific in both appearance and specification, but it's perhaps more significant for its MyFord touchscreen-style cabin controls and the updated version of Sync.

GMC Granite Concept: GMC is trying to expand its audience, and the Granite is its latest attempt to offer a more carlike vehicle. About the size of a Scion xB, it mixes truck styling cues with car-style architecture. Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-4 from the upcoming Chevy Cruze, and indeed you'll find a lot of Cruze beneath the Granite.

2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid: Honda enthusiasts have been waiting a long time for something small and sporty like the fondly remembered CRX, and it appears the CR-Z is it. A lot of effort (perhaps too much) has gone into giving this car a dramatic appearance, but so far we're promised only a 122-hp version of a 1.5-liter inline-4 with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) in this hybrid version. Surely a CR-Z Si will eventually appear, we hope.

2011 Hyundai Sonata: Introduced at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show just last November, the next-generation Hyundai Sonata is not likely to be the sort of rarity that you seek out at an auto show. But that's just the point, as this further developed Sonata looks even more refined and sophisticated than the previous one. We expect you'll be seeing a lot of them on the road very soon — a lot of them.

2011 Lexus LFA: The Detroit show might be your only opportunity to get up close and personal with the Lexus LFA, as only 150 examples of Toyota's new supercar are expected to come to the U.S. when production finally begins next winter. When the car was launched, there were those who doubted whether it could support a price of $375,000, but no one who has ever heard its 552-hp 4.8-liter V10 has any reservations about this car's future.

Mini Beachcomber Concept: We're just shameless suckers for any kind of concept car that Mini whips out for an auto show, and this wacky utility-style vehicle is the latest to get our attention. This all-wheel-drive vehicle with big holes where the doors and roof used to be might be considered a modern version of the old Mini Moke, but only if you squint real hard and try to wish Tinker Bell into life once again. Instead, think of this as attitude adjustment for Mini enthusiasts in anticipation of the forthcoming 2012 Mini Crossover utility vehicle.

Toyota FT-CH Concept: Toyota has plans to expand its Prius model into a little family of like-minded vehicles, and the FT-CH might be one of them. Or it might not. No one really wants to say. All we know is that this seems like a Scion-style hatchback that's about the size of the current Toyota Yaris sedan. No matter where this vehicle will fit in, we expect it's a lot closer to production than Toyota wants to say.

Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Concept: Despite its long and very prosaic name (perhaps it's derived from one of those long German words with lots of crashing consonants), the VW NCC is actually a look at the forthcoming Volkswagen Jetta coupe, which is meant to compete with the BMW 1 Series. It appears here as a hybrid, which is likely to be priced at about $25,000, but you'll also see conventional engine choices in more affordable versions.

 Click here for Inside Line's Full Coverage of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show