Curtain goes up in Motor City
A look at the vehicles to be shown at this year’s Detroit Auto Show
By Bengt Halvorson
Forbes Autos
Updated: 3:55 p.m. CT Jan 5, 2007
Downtown Detroit isn’t exactly the most desirable place to be in January — unless you’re a motorhead or just an average motorist keen on getting a first look at the hottest new vehicles coming this year and beyond.

The North American International Auto Show, as the Detroit show is officially called, remains the top U.S. auto show for its sheer number of important model introductions. Last year the show boasted 70 new vehicles, including many world debuts.

And just like the other major shows, the Detroit show lives a double life. Following the special preview days for media and analysts, 800,000 public attendees will stream through the doors, making it one of the most-visited auto shows anywhere. The show will be open to the public Jan. 13-20 at the downtown Detroit convention center, Cobo Hall. Admission for adults is $12.

Business woes this year for the domestic automakers, combined with weak economic conditions and inflamed gas prices, mean that they’re under a lot of pressure to deliver designs that are going to be a hit with discerning shoppers.

We’ll no doubt see several important trends continue: Manufacturers will keep pushing stylish, car-based SUVs — called crossovers because they’re a sort of cross between a wagon and an SUV — as alternatives to sedans and minivans; sporty niche utility vehicles will hone in on younger, more-finicky buyers; and striking designer interiors, with materials such as brushed aluminum and carbon fiber, and customizable features like LED mood lighting and multimedia entertainment systems will find a place even in the smallest cars.

Here are some of the new vehicles we expect to see at this year’s show:

A few months ago at the Los Angeles auto show, Acura unveiled the future design direction of its sedans with its high-waisted, aggressive Advanced Sedan Concept. In Detroit, Honda’s luxury brand will roll out a similarly named Advanced Sports Car Concept that, according to the company, “provides a glimpse at the next-generation Acura exotic sports car,” presumably one that will fill the void left by the discontinued NSX.

Although it’s no secret that the 2007 BMW 3 Series Convertible will use a folding hardtop system rather than a conventional soft-top, Detroit will mark the public debut for the models, which are expected to arrive later this year. In the U.S. we can expect convertible versions of both the 328i and the twin-turbo 300-hp 335i.

Look for a new Cadillac CTS to be uncovered on the Detroit stand. The sport sedan launched a whole new and much-acclaimed look for Cadillac when it debuted in 2002 and will receive its first major redesign for model year ’08. It should prove to be a significant new model for this embattled American brand that faces steeper competition by the year.

Last year, muscle cars ruled at the Detroit show, with unveilings of the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger concepts as well as the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500. The trend continues this year, with a Chevrolet Camaro convertible concept and a revamped 600-hp Dodge Viper.

Chrysler will show its Nassau wagon concept that, according to the automaker, brings the side silhouette of a British-style “shooting brake” sports car (like a low-slung wagon) and the cargo versatility of an SUV. It’s based on the same platform as Chrysler’s 300 sedan and will likely see production.

Ford will no doubt have several surprises on its stand at Cobo Hall, but as of now, one of the cats is already out of the bag: The automaker will pull the wraps off a high-performance, rear-wheel-drive sedan concept called the Interceptor, based on the Mustang coupe. Lincoln may also show a high-performance sport sedan called the MKR.

The Trailhawk concept that Jeep is plann