Detroit is the spiritual home of the US car industry but since the latter’s most recent crisis, the city’s annual car fest - The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) - has lacked a little swagger. Thankfully 2011 is a different story, with renewed optimism on display, indicating a turning point towards better times.
Two extreme recessionary years featuring the high profile bankruptcies and subsequent drastic restructuring of GM and Chrysler has restricted or at least delayed future product planning - and there was a notable dearth of far-sighted concepts at the January 2011 show.
Nonetheless, the number of exhibitors and visitors were both up, suggesting that the home of the muscle car and pick-up truck still has life in it yet.
BMW 6 Series Convertible
Arguably, the slightly more sober-suited third-generation 6 Series looks even better in drop-top form than its coupe stablemate. The 2+2 seat production model is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor and features 320hp 640i and 407hp 650i models, plus the option of a reassuringly large 10.2-inch central Sat Nav display screen (standard screens are a mere seven inches). From £65,680.
