2013 Detroit Auto Show Preview

HighestOfHigh · Jan 8, 2013

The air is crisp, the Snoreastercanepocalypse has become a traveling road show, and most of the automotive industry is headed to Detroit for a couple of days of mixing fantasy, reality, and the cynicism that passes for a critical eye with enough booze, pork fat, and product promises to float an oil rig to the moon.

Let's get excited!

But seriously, this year's Detroit Auto Show is shaping up to be one of the best in the past half-decade, with a bounty of products that, despite the economy--or in some cases, because of it--have somehow made it to fruition. We'll be celebrating the automotive awesomeness (and meh-ing the mediocrity) live from the show floor, with our force of editors, photographers, and video guys, bringing you the latest as it happens.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette (C7) spy shots

First up, the car everyone is looking forward to most: the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. The seventh generation of an American icon, sporting a new LT1 engine, this seemingly inexhaustible inspiration for endless cliches also just happens to be one of the best sports cars for the money, anywhere in the world--or it has been so far. Can Chevy hit the right mix of looks, performance, and price to keep the Corvette's legend alive? We'll find out this Sunday.

2014 Mercedes-Benz E Class models

Next, we have the new 2014 Mercedes-Benz E Class family. From the sedan and wagon to the coupe and convertible all the way to the new E63 AMG 4Matic, the whole group should be there.

2014 Audi RS 5 Cabriolet

Audi will be braving the cold, too, with the North American debuts of the 2014 RS 5 Cabriolet and the 2014 R8 family. We've already had some wheel time with the '14 R8, and we can confirm: it's pretty awesome. We expect the same of the RS 5.

2014 Audi SQ5

If you thought the sports cars were all Audi is bringing to Detroit, you must have missed the 2014 SQ5 memo: supercharged V-6 crossover goodness to the tune of about 350 horsepower will be there too--this time, without the diesel and with American launch plans.

Teaser for 2014 Cadillac ELR

Back to American brands, Cadillac's 2014 ELR will also finally shed both its camouflage and its (Converj) concept status in Detroit. Packaging range-extended EV roots in an elegant, modern Cadillac coupe body, the ELR promises doses of technology and style previously unheard of in its expected price range. This one is not-so-secretly on our must-drive list for the coming year.

Teaser for 2014 Infiniti Q50 sedan

For something completely different, Infiniti's 2014 Q50 sedan will also make its debut, launching with it the dramatic and slightly confusing (at least for now) renaming of the brand's entire portfolio. While we're not too keen on the nomenclatural neologisms, we are looking forward to the car itself, as the previous G37 was one of the best values in the luxury sport sedan field.

BMW 4-Series Coupe concept

BMW will also be launching a new name on a relatively familiar face, with the 4-Series Coupe Concept. Filling the role once held by the 3-Series Coupe, the new 4-Series helps get the bread-and-butter model line into alignment with the latest evolution of the brand's naming strategy--and looks might sharp in the process.

North American Car of the Year logo

And, let's not forget, the winners of the North American Car & Truck/Utility of the Year will also be announced at the Detroit show. The finalists for the car category include the Cadillac ATS, Ford Fusion, and Honda Accord, while the trucks/utilities fighting for the top honor are the Ram 1500, Ford C-Max, and Mazda CX-5.

A wide range of other cars and concepts will also be making their debuts at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

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