Clearly worried that the assembled metal would fail to wet the public's insatiable appetite for glamour, the world's automotive manufacturers had the foresight to pay hundreds of attractive young women to linger in the Cobo Arena and greet the hoards with a welcoming smile.
Fortunately, the days of scantily-clad girls reclining on the bonnet of the latest Lamborghini are long gone; today's showgirl is more likely to be cloaked in a ballgown than a bikini.
If, like us, you're not quite sure about the Cadillac CTS-V coupe, then this video might just make you want one.
We'd want one with the same sound track in the background and slow motion at appropriate power-sliding moments too.
Believe it or not this is the very video Cadillac used to greet a room full of journalists waiting to be introduced to the CTS-V Coupe at the Detroit motor show. Check it out for yourself.
Audi has revealed a smaller version of its all-electric E-tron sports car concept, which first appeared at the Frankfurt motor show last year.
At just 3.93m long this version of the E-tron is actually smaller than an Audi TT, but like the original E-tron it has been built around an aluminium space frame with carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic body panels to keep weight down.
It's powered by twin motors producing 204bhp and 1954lb ft torque propelling it from 0-62mph in around 5.9 seconds with a limited top speed of 124mph to conserve the battery. This particular version is also rear-wheel drive compared with the original E-tron's all-wheel drive.
Audi claims this E-tron should be good for a range of 155 miles and charging will take around 11 hours from a domestic socket.
It certainly looks good, and here at Autoblog we hope they decide to make it – with or without electric power.
This is the new top of the range Z4, revealed on Monday at the Detroit motor show, with 335bhp and performance to match the M3 and M5.
It's called the sDrive35i and is fitted with a warmed over version of BMW's excellent straight six engine, featuring a new overboost function that temporarily raise torque to a whopping 369lb ft for crushing mid-range acceleration.
Fitted with the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, this Z4 deals with the 0-62mph dash in just 4.8 seconds and can go on to an electronically limited 155mph top speed.
The M Sport and M Suspension packages are fitted as standard, while lower bumpers and new 18-inch alloys mark it apart from the standard car. It'll be loud too because BMW has adjusted the exhaust system to offer "powerful acoustic feedback."
The Z4 xDrive35i goes on sale in the spring priced from £43,885.
Mini's new 4x4 Beachcomber concept has appeared in a video from the Detroit motor show that delves a bit deeper into the car's detail.
The video shows a range of features such as a dashboard-mounted compass, a rear-mounted lockable compartment in the spare-wheel box and, wait for it, plastic palm-tree decorations. It also reveals the Beachcomber's dune-tackling off-road mode, which is illustrated on the classic Mini central instrument dial.
Mini will not be putting the Beachcomber into production, but the styling hints heavily at the look of the upcoming Countryman SUV that the brand will be selling from autumn 2010.
Honda has finally taken the wraps off its long-awaited CR-Z hybrid coupe at the Detroit Motor Show.
The CR-Z is big news for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is the world's first hybrid to be equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox - hybrid vehicles are traditionally fitted with CVT automatic transmissions – and it is also the first properly 'sporty' hybrid car, which Honda hopes will quash many of the misconceptions about hybrids being a bit dull or boring to drive.
Under the bonnet sits a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine coupled to a Honda IMA hybrid system producing 122bhp and 128lb ft torque - available from just 1,500rpm – and a kerb weight of 1198kg so it should be fairly nimble. It also offers excellent economy with a claimed combined fuel consumption of 56.4mpg and 117g/km CO2 emissons.
"The CR-Z is a sport hybrid coupe for people with a spirit of adventure and an elevated sense of responsibility toward the environment," said John Mendel, VP of sales for American Honda.
Chrysler has revealed a rebadged Lancia Delta at the Detroit show.
The lightly revamped Delta is the first evidence of CEO Sergio Marchionne's plan to immediately integrate some of Fiat's existing products into Chrysler's range in an attempt to boost the brand's sales performance in its home market.
Although Marchionne had already outlined plans for the ailing US giant to share Lancia's models, reports from Detroit suggest that observers were surprised at the transparency of the car's badge-engineering.
Despite a slightly altered grille, the Chrysler Delta appears to have hardly changed from the Lancia version currently sold on the continent, although there was no word on whether any alterations had been carried out beneath the exterior.
With no Chrysler press conference at Detroit this year the car was shown without any fanfare, and received little initial press coverage. But with more of Lancia's range expected to cross the Alantic in the coming months, it seems a good bet that the Delta has been quietly unveiled to gauge US reaction to Fiat-built Chryslers.
At this stage, there are no official plans to begin selling this rebadged Delta in America.
Marchionne has already expressed concern over the damage that could be done to Lancia by sharing its portfolio, but Chrylser's CEO also needs to consider the independence of his American division. A European makeover might be effective in the short term, but it's hard to imagine Chrysler surviving without a unique identity of its own.
Peugeot has confirmed it will be putting its BB1 electric car into production, while simultaneously announcing a new business plan and design direction that includes a remodelling of the lion badge.
The company is also aiming to move from its current position as the tenth-largest car maker in the world to the seventh by 2015.
Peugeot will also be introducing a series of three upmarket models referred to as 'haute serie' in a strategy initiative similar to that announced by sister brand Citroen last year. The first, the RCZ coupe, has already been unveiled.
There will also be high-series models to complement the 207 and 308 model ranges. The BB1 electric car will not look like the concept, says managing direction Jean-Marc Gales, but 'it will be in the spirit of the car'. It is reckoned to be at least two years from going on sale.
Volkswagen has unveiled a hybrid concept called the Compact Coupe at the Detroit motor show, which it says blends practicality, performance and style with incredibly low CO2 emissions.
The new hybrid system combines VW's award-winning 148bhp 1.4-litre TSI engine with a 25bhp electric motor. Mixing the two has the happy effect of generating impressive performance - 0-62mph takes just 8.6 seconds and top speed is pegged at 141mph.
Driven gently though, VW says the Compact Coupe can run around town on electric power alone and potentially offer a Prius-matching fuel economy of 67.2mpg on a longer journey. That means CO2 emissions of just 98g/km - low enough to qualify for road tax exemption in the UK.
Tweet this!
Toyota accelerator fault could spread to Europe
Ken Block's race-prepped Fiesta revealed
GM Sells Saab to Spyker
Live from Detroit: VW takes on Toyota in the hybrid race
Official Vauxhall Meriva pictures revealed
Drag racing in a Shelby Mustang
First drive: Mazda MX-5
Testing Porsche's new 2010 Hybrid Cayenne prototype
Cars of the Decade - 2010
New model at Bugatti
Asylum