2012 Detroit Auto Show

Honda announced at the Detroit Auto Show that it would offer three engine configurations for its new Accord, seen here as a Coupe Concept. There will be an all-new four-cylinder engine that Honda says will deliver more power and better mileage than the current model. It will also offer a six-cylinder engine and a plug-in hybrid that can run for 10 to 15 miles on battery power alone. The carmaker is also decreasing the length and reducing the weight of the vehicle to improve fuel economy and handling.  (Tannen Maury / EPA)

Ford Motor Co. unveiled an early version of the new Lincoln MKZ that signals the styling direction the brand is taking as it struggles to gain traction in the U.S. luxury market. Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally said the car was “very close to what you will see in the showroom.” Mulally said the MKZ’s segment, the mid-sized sedan, makes up the largest volume segment of the luxury market and represents Lincoln’s best chance to gain ground against the other luxury nameplates. Full story   (Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images)

The MKZ Concept offers a sleeker, less boxy design than the current model, and a sweeping horizontal front grill inspired by the wings of an eagle. A clear glass roof allows light to flood the passenger cabin, giving the MKS the feel of an enclosed convertible. It has a wide rear end with slim, full-width tail lamps. The automaker spells out the word Lincoln in big letters across the back. The production version will go on sale toward the end of the year. Full story  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

The Toyota Camry of Beverly Hills just got more approachable. With an eye on increased sales and a better average fuel-economy rating, Bentley used the Detroit Auto Show to release its Continental GT with a V-8. Looking almost identical to its turbocharged W-12 cousin, save for a revised lower fascia, the real changes are under the hood. The GT V-8 is has a 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 capable of 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. Instead of the six-speed automatic transmission on the 12-cylinder GT, this V-8 model gets a new close-ratio, eight-speed automatic unit that pushes power to all four wheels. Bentley says the V-8 model will do 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and, with the help of cylinder deactivation, can go as far as 500 miles on a single tank of gas.  (Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images)

Automakers have been on an eternal hunt for that which will unseat BMW’s 3-Series as the world’s best small luxury sport sedan. Though a few have come close, none have found the perfect mix of handling, rear-wheel-drive performance and refinement to unseat the boys in Bavaria. Yet Cadillac thinks it has the answer in its all-new ATS. Full story  (Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images)

Ford’s all-new Fusion, introduced in Detroit, follows new versions of the smaller Focus and Fiesta the automaker introduced recently as it tries to become less dependent on large trucks and sport-utility vehicles. Full story  (Tannen Maury / EPA)

The new Fusion features a crisp silhouette and sport design that’s a departure from the conservative styling that has previously dominated the family passenger car category. It is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. Full story  (Tannen Maury / EPA)

After watching fellow U.S. automakers GM and Ford quickly learn to make world-class compact cars recently, Dodge and parent company Chrysler have joined in on the fun. The result is the 2013 Dodge Dart. Full story   (Stan Honda / Associated Press)

Styling on the new Dart pulls in a little of the familiar; the wrap-around LED taillights resemble those on Dodge’s current Charger sedan, while the front features the signature ‘cross hair’ grille but dilutes its significance to the car’s aesthetics compared with other Dodge models. Full story  (Tony Ding / Associated Press)

Much like angels, every automaker should have its halo. The halo is the supercar that establishes the brand’s cachet and pushes the maker’s design and performance philosophies to their extremes. Features and aesthetics bestowed upon these aspirational products then trickle down into the rest of the company’s products over time. Since 2005, Honda and its luxury division Acura have been without such a halo car. That ended today in Detroit with the Acura NSX Concept. Full story  (Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images)

The concept previews the Acura NSX that the company says it will build within the next three years (in Ohio, no less). It builds on the philosophy established by Acura’s 1990-2005 NSX that an optimal power-to-weight ratio is better than just raw power. Like that previous version, this NSX will have a mid-mounted V-6 engine. Power figures haven’t been released, but the VTEC engine will feature direct injection and will send power to the rear wheels via a dual-clutch transmission. Full story  (Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images)

Also furthering Hyundai’s sporting credentials is the refreshed Genesis Coupe the company debuted in Detroit. The 2013 models will still come with either a turbocharged four-cylinder or a V-6, but both engines have been updated significantly for--yes, Einstein--more power.   (Tannen Maury / EPA)

Finally, Audi used Detroit to tease a small SUV the company has on sale in Europe and will be bringing to the U.S. sometime next year. Meet the Audi Q3 Vail concept. Ignore the extraneous cladding and trim and you’ll see the Q3 SUV we’ll get. This concept is powered by a 2.5-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder engine, making 314 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive.  (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

Porsche used an unlikely location (Detroit, in the winter) to officially debut the convertible version of its new 911 Carrera and Carrera S sportscar. Mechanically identical to the 911 we saw here in L.A., these soft-top versions feature a magnesium structure covered in fabric with a heated glass rear window.  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Another drop-top unveiled in Detroit was the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550. While perhaps not as iconic as Porsche’s 911, the SL has been a Mercedes mainstay for 60 years. This latest hardtop convertible has a new 4.6-liter, direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that makes 429 horsepower and an immense 516 pound-feet of torque. That power is routed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission. The car sheds some 275 pounds from the previous SL, which certainly aids in its 4.5-second 0-60 acceleration time. Stay tuned for a full review in the near future and look for the new SL to hit dealerships this spring.  (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images)

The company says the concept is a hybrid sport coupe in a 2+2 configuration, with seating for four. It was designed at the Calty studio in Newport Beach.  (Carlos Osorio / Associated Press)