Car sales are finally edging up in the UK, although many of Europe’s big manufacturers are still searching for the killer product that’ll elevate them above their rivals. Premium cars are still doing best of all, with the big German brands now outselling their mid-market equivalents in some territories. The American car market is a different beast altogether, slower, more conservative and rather eccentric in its predilection for big trucks and nostalgic muscle cars. On the other hand, hybrids have been taken by the US in bigger numbers than almost anywhere else, while the ultra-compact city car beloved in central Europe is still seen as a wayward aberration to be confined to the coasts.
This year’s Detroit Motor Show, the traditional bellwether of the US Industry’s state of mind, was rather more upbeat than in recent years. The headline car was an all-new Corvette, the C7 Stingray, a sharp-edged statement that - Chevrolet hopes - signals a switch to American supercar supremacy. Elsewhere, the focus wasn’t so much on eco-flavoured minimalism, but a rather pumped up self-confidence; expensive cars are starting to look rather similar as the fashion for swirling, muscular body styles and jutting, angular grilles sweeps across the market.
See the image gallery above for our round-up of the most significant machines at the show.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7: The American icon has been given a bold new look, hopefully with the dynamic abilities to match. But will the heavily sculpted new Stingray tempt American - and European - sports car fanatics out of their Porsches?
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7: The American icon has been given a bold new look, hopefully with the dynamic abilities to match. But will the heavily sculpted new Stingray tempt American - and European - sports car fanatics out of their Porsches?
Ford Atlas Concept: This leviathan pick-up truck is a conceptual preview of the next generation Ford F-150 - the country's best-selling truck for over a quarter of a century. For all the talk of downsizing, the country still has a massive market for tough, no-nonsense Tonka-style supertrucks
Ford Atlas Concept: This leviathan pick-up truck is a conceptual preview of the next generation Ford F-150 - the country's best-selling truck for over a quarter of a century. For all the talk of downsizing, the country still has a massive market for tough, no-nonsense Tonka-style supertrucks
Cadillac ELR: GM's Cadillac brand spent big money on building the Volt, the range-extended saloon that's been highly acclaimed. The ELR takes the Volt's clever tech upmarket, swathing the chassis in Cadillac's signature creases
Cadillac ELR: GM's Cadillac brand spent big money on building the Volt, the range-extended saloon that's been highly acclaimed. The ELR takes the Volt's clever tech upmarket, swathing the chassis in Cadillac's signature creases
VL Automotive Destino: A clever provocation - the Destino takes the elegant lines of the Fisker Karma, strips out of the efficient four-cylinder engine and battery pack and replaces them with an all-American V8. The brainchild of industry veteran Bob Lutz, the Destino is almost an automotive two-fingers to the idea of an eco car
VL Automotive Destino: A clever provocation - the Destino takes the elegant lines of the Fisker Karma, strips out of the efficient four-cylinder engine and battery pack and replaces them with an all-American V8. The brainchild of industry veteran Bob Lutz, the Destino is almost an automotive two-fingers to the idea of an eco car
Infiniti Q50: In the future, all Infinitis will be 'Q' cars, as the luxury arm of Nissan attempts to simplify its line-up. The Q50 is first to go, a sleek, elegant saloon (with a hybrid option) stuffed full of tech
Infiniti Q50: In the future, all Infinitis will be 'Q' cars, as the luxury arm of Nissan attempts to simplify its line-up. The Q50 is first to go, a sleek, elegant saloon (with a hybrid option) stuffed full of tech
