Detroit Show Highlights, Part 1: New Cars and Trucks on Sale Soon

Here are the production vehicle highlights from the press preview days of the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, open to the public from Jan. 13-20

Click here to see the concept vehicles that debuted at the show.

2008 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Bluetec

The Q7 3.0 TDI Bluetec will be the first Audi running on the low-emission, low-fuel-consumption Bluetec-branded diesel engine. The Bluetec brand name was introduced by Mercedes-Benz, but the underlying hardware — a low-emission diesel engine that dramatically reduces toxic nitrogen oxide output — will also be used in Audi, Jeep and Volkswagen vehicles in North America as part of a partnership between Audi/VW and DaimlerChrysler.

Audi AG’s new president, Rupert Stadler, celebrated his seventh day as head of the German luxury car brand by unveiling the new Q7 3.0 Bluetec diesel, which should meet federal and state emissions standards and be sold in all 50 states by 2008. No fuel-economy figures for the Q7 diesel were released, although Audi did say that the same engine in its full-size A8 sedan returned about 27.7 mpg. The Audi Q7 3.0 diesel (though not a Bluetec) is already on sale in Europe.

2007 BMW 3 Series Convertible

BMW unveiled its 2007 3 Series Cabriolet with the company’s first folding hardtop. Two versions will come to North America, a 335i and a 328i convertible. Each will feature the same engines that are in the similarly named coupes: a twin-turbo 306-hp inline six-cylinder and a 230-hp inline six-cylinder, respectively. Although BMW resisted the hardtop convertible trend with its new generation of Z4 and 6 Series models, which compete with the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and SLK-Class (both of which have folding hardtops), BMW decided to strike early in the four-seat coupe segment where the trick fold-and-hide solid roof designs are still nascent. The current Audi A4 Cabriolet and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class still offer fabric tops, although the less-expensive Volvo C70 and Volkswagen Eos do offer folding hardtops and seating for four. BMW says its first-ever hardtop convertible goes topless in 22 seconds and weighs about 440 pounds more than the coupe, with features such as lightweight plastic side front fenders that help offset the added weight. Both models go on sale in the U.S. this spring. Read more about the 3 Series Convertible and other variants in our reviews section here.

2008 Cadillac CTS

GM pulled the wraps off a redesigned 2008 version of its CTS sport sedan on a stage nearly filled to capacity with the vehicle’s entire design and engineering teams — to emphasize that a high level of attention has been paid to the smallest details. The current CTS had been widely criticized for its interior materials, so the most dramatic changes take place inside the car. A lighter-toned theme inside emphasizes metallic finishes, chrome accents and a handcrafted look, with seat stitching modeled after high-end leather goods to match what Cadillac calls a “sharply tailored exterior.” The new CTS gets direct injection, bumping output of its 3.6-liter V6 to 300 hp, with a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

2008 Chrysler Town & Country and 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan

Chef and Food Network star Bobby Flay joined Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda on stage for a little banter — and a little cooking — before helping introduce Chrysler’s new minivans. Both 2008 minivan models have been completely redesigned with a more angular, upright appearance and fewer ovoid shapes inside and out, along with other cues to bring them in step with the times. The minivans introduce several features not offered by the competition, such as a six-speed automatic transmission and one-touch, power folding third-row seating. A new “Swivel ’N Go” seating system allows the second-row seats to face the rear, with a fold-down table between the second and third rows. Options now include a Park Sense electronic parking aid, a dual-screen DVD entertainment system and a MyGig hard-drive entertainment system, which can control audio, navigation and video.

2008 Dodge Avenger 

In a NASCAR-themed press conference that included appearances by racers Elliot Sadler and Kurt Busch, Chrysler introduced its new Avenger sedan on the same stage as its companion motorsports car, which will be driven by this year by Juan Pablo Montoya. The Avenger bears a silhouette that’s similar to Dodge’s larger (and very popular) Charger sedan, along with many of the same muscle-car-inspired design cues, including the distinct rear fender creases. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is standard on the base Avenger models. The step-up engine is a 2.7-liter V6 that’s flex-fuel capable, while top R/T sport models get a 235-hp 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic, with available all-wheel drive. Unique features include a heated and cooled cup holder, LED interior lighting and a hard-drive-based MyGig entertainment system available as an option.

2008 Dodge Magnum

The 2008 Dodge Magnum — available in the standard R/T and sportier SRT8 versions — boasts a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 pulling 425 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque, plus an electronic stability program specially tuned for sporty handling. Redesigned exterior elements on the SRT8 include a more-aggressive front end and a hood with a huge scoop in it. Also new to the Magnum is Brake Assist, an advancement in collision avoidance, complementing the Magnum's list of safety features, which includes multiple airbags, crumple zones and an energy-absorbing steering column.

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10

After skipping model year 2007, Dodge has made its unruly Viper even more venomous for ’08. With a slight bump in displacement, to 8.4 liters, the addition of variable valve timing, and other engine revisions, the Viper’s V10 engine now rips out 90 more horsepower, for 600 hp and 560 pound-feet of torque. That’s good for zero-to-60 mph times of under four seconds, and thanks to improved, opposing-piston Brembo brakes, zero-to-100-to-zero times of less than 12 seconds. Other improvements for the revised sports car include a new gearbox and clutch with smoother action, along with a revamped cooling system and a new speed-sensing limited-slip differential to help the rear wheels stay in check. The Viper also gets modest appearance changes that result in a more ‘bad-boy’ appearance, the most obvious being the hood, which now has a larger air-intake scoop and aggressive-looking louvers. Inside, there are more color choices and improved materials for the ’08, which will go on sale this spring.

2008 Ford Focus

Ford unveiled its 2008 Focus, which will go on sale in North America this fall. Disappointingly, it still won’t use a version of the C1 platform that the European Focus received in 2005, an able chassis that already underpins the Mazda3 and Volvo S40 (Mazda and Volvo are both part of Ford). Thus, the Focus will be a heavily revised version of the car that debuted in 2000, giving it the unenviable distinction of being a car with one of the oldest engine and platform designs in the compact class. Ford devoted most of its efforts to updating the interior, including an upgraded entertainment system, selectable interior mood lighting and a silver dashboard finish. Ford will also add a two-door coupe version to the Focus lineup. Also disappointing was the fact that neither hatchback nor wagon versions of the Focus would return. Even Ford admits, in not so many words, that there are cost-cutting compromises happening here. “The Focus will allow us to meet customer needs for 80 percent of the business, at the right investment,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas.

2007 Hyundai Veracruz

Hyundai showed off its largest SUV ever in Detroit, a seven-seater called the Veracruz. It’s priced to compete with the Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano and Subaru B9 Tribeca, but it’s benchmarked against vehicles like the Lexus RX. The 2008 Hyundai Veracruz will feature lots of minivan-like touches, including a split-folding third-row seat that disappears into the floor, a rear-seat DVD player and a powered rear hatch. This family friendliness is not surprising as more manufacturers look for ways to replace slow-selling minivans. The Veracruz will offer a standard 3.8-liter V6 sourced from the Azera, a six-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and airbags for all three rows. Starting prices will be less than $30,000 when the Veracruz arrives in dealers this March.

2008 Lexus IS-F

With the release of the 2008 IS-F, Lexus formalizes its in-house high-performance “F” division to rival BMW’s M division and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division. The IS-F is based on the IS 250 and IS 350 sedans, but it uses a non-hybrid version of the 5.0-liter V8 engine in the LS 600h L, sporting more than 400 hp — closer to 425 hp, said one Toyota insider who had driven the IS-F — as well as 350 pound-feet of torque. All this power is predicted to get the four-door IS-F from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, courtesy of the world’s first eight-speed transmission with paddle shifters. The IS-F is planned to arrive in Lexus showrooms by January 2008.

Next: Detroit Show Highlights continued