To car fans, auto shows are a lot like rifling through the Argos catalogue as a kid and picking out all the cool gadgets, toys and gizmos that you’d one day like to own.
Despite the fact that Detroit has been through some hard times as of late and that many manufacturers aren’t attending this year’s show, there’ll still be plenty of new motors on display.
Here’s just some of the cars we reckon are worth getting excited about, from turbocharged Porsches to hydrogen-powered SUVs.
1. BMW M2
The newest and smallest addition to BMW’s current M lineup might be diminutive compared to some of its bigger siblings, but with 365bhp courtesy of a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six under the bonnet, it’s no pushover.
Following on from the much-lauded 1M Coupe, the new M2 is one of the most hotly-anticipated performance cars due to arrive this year, and is due to appear in the UK from April onwards.
2. Fisker The Force 1
The man behind some of the best-looking cars of recent times, among them the Aston Martin DB9 and BMW Z8, Henrik Fisker is due to return with his new The Force 1 model.
Details are so far scant, but The Force 1 is due to be a front mid-engine super coupe with a carbon fibre body, rear-wheel drive and “the world’s highest output natural aspirated engine in a road car.”
Given Fisker’s penchant for creating jaw-dropping automotive masterpieces, you can colour us excited.
3. Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet
Combining signature Mercedes luxury, the thrill of top-down motoring and spades of power, the Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet is due to debut in Detroit ahead of its release later this year.
With 621bhp courtesy of a 5.5-litre V12 engine, it’s got plenty to boast about, but with a price tag of around £200,000 all that power won’t exactly come cheap.
4. Audi Q6 H-tron
Following on from Audi’s range of e-tron electric hybrid models will be an all-new hydrogen fuel-cell concept model that’s due to debut at the Detroit show.
Likely to be based on the electric e-tron Quattro SUV concept that Audi brought to last year’s Frankfurt show, it has been suggested that Audi is gearing up to put a hydrogen car into production.
5. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The new fifth-generation E-Class is due to up the model’s trademark sophistication even further, with a new widescreen digital display carried over from the S-Class and a slightly reshaped body.
With the AMG version rumoured to produce as much as 600bhp, that’ll make the E-Class AMG one of the most powerful performance saloons ever, and it’s due to arrive in Britain this summer.
6. Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S
One of the most revered and most powerful supercars just got even better after Porsche announced a range of updates to its Turbo and Turbo S models late last year.
New for the second-gen 991 Turbo models is a twin-turbo 3.8-litre flat-six engine which can deliver up to 572bhp, a redesigned front end and side-mounted airblades to increase aerodynamic efficiency.
As a result, the standard 911 Turbo is fast enough to make the 0-62mph benchmark sprint in 3.0 seconds flat, while the Turbo S can reach 62mph from a standstill in an incredible 2.9 seconds.
7. Volvo S90
Looking to out-muscle cars like the Mercedes E-Class and BMW’s 5 Series, the new Volvo S90 is looking to capitalise on its Scandinavian approach towards design and ease of use.
Semi-autonomous driving will be standard on all S90 models, while the car is apparently being designed to appeal to outdoorsy types more interested by adventure than status.
It’s also going to come with a new plug-in hybrid engine option, which produces just 44 g/km of CO2, good news for anybody looking to keep their tax costs to an absolute minimum.
8. Mercedes-Benz SLC
The car formerly known as the SLK prior to its latest revamp, the new SLC roadster will get new looks and a new range of engines to go alongside its brand-new name.
Topping the range will be the SLC 43 AMG, which will come with a 362bhp twin-turbo V6, plus twin tailpipes, 18-inch alloys, a sportier steering wheel and a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
