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" When the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit opens its doors early next week, attendees will be greeted by an incredibly diverse lineup of concept and production cars. Some vehicles will put a priority on fuel efficiency, such as Toyota&amp;#039;s new Prius-based crossover. Others, like the Lamborghini LP560-4 Bicolor Special Edition, remain true to the proven tradition that nothing wows a crowd more than an outrageous shape and a jaw-dropping sticker price.   More than ever before, the 2011 Detroit Auto Show signals the resurgence of American automakers like General Motors and Chrysler. Both companies plan to use their home-turf advantage to showcase new and exciting concepts and production vehicles. For GM, this means playing up the potential of the hybrid gas/electric hardware that powers the Volt sedan.            Look for the Volt&amp;#039;s 150-hp electric motor and 1.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine to find their way under the hood of the Chevrolet Amp, a small crossover vehicle. Like the Volt, the Amp should be able to run for up to 40 miles using only electric power. Our hope is that the premium you&amp;#039;ll pay to own the Amp doesn&amp;#039;t run much above the Volt&amp;#039;s already steep $41,000 price tag (excluding state and federal tax incentives).            Chevrolet is also set to unveil the Sonic, the bowtie brand&amp;#039;s new entry-level model. The 2012 Sonic sedan and hatchback will replace the totally forgettable Aveo, a car best remembered for being economy-car filler for rental fleets. Set to slot itself beneath Chevy&amp;#039;s handsome new Cruze sedan in terms of size and pricing, the Sonic should start around $13,000 when it goes on sale next year.            Chrysler is also ready to begin introducing some much-needed new sheet metal. Having allied itself with Italy&amp;#039;s Fiat Group, which presently owns 20 percent of the American automaker, Chrysler has been eerily silent at recent auto shows. With few attention-grabbing concepts or new production vehicles, Chrysler is long overdue when it comes to making a splash. This has finally started to change; thanks to new vehicles such as the 2011 Chrysler 200, which was unveiled during the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.            The 2011 Chrysler 300 set to appear in Detroit will continue to strengthen the brand&amp;#039;s lineup. With smoother exterior styling and an upgraded interior, the new 300 sedan looks less broad-shouldered and bulky than before. Engines range from a 292-bhp 3.6-liter V-6 to a 370-bhp 5.7-liter V-8, both mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Chrysler&amp;#039;s Jeep brand will also display a redesigned 2011 Compass. Looking like a scaled down version of the Grand Cherokee, this new crossover SUV is available with a choice of two 4-cylinder engines and front- or all-wheel drive.            Ford Motor Company emerged from the global recession in better shape than any of its American rivals, but this doesn&amp;#039;t mean the blue oval brand is relaxing during this year&amp;#039;s Detroit show. The 2011 Ford C-Max straddles the line between minivan and tall station-wagon. Whatever you want to call it, the C-Max should prove a capable hauler\u2014and an economical one, thanks to Ford&amp;#039;s range of small-displacement EcoBoost engines. Look for Ford to also feature several eco-themed concept and production vehicles on its stand.            American automakers are fighting back, but foreign brands aren&amp;#039;t about to be caught standing still. Toyota is set to transform its highly successful Prius hybrid sedan into an entire range of green-minded vehicles. A plug-in hybrid version of the Prius will be shown in Detroit, along with a new crossover vehicle. The Prius MPV will offer 50 percent more cargo room than the current sedan, according to Toyota. Powering this larger take on the Prius is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, coupled with the next generation of Toyota&amp;#039;s Hybrid Synergy Drive system.            Honda is also set to unveil a new Civic with much more aggressive styling, at least judging from official sketches released prior to the show. Volkswagen will unveil its highly anticipated &amp;quot;New Midsize Sedan,&amp;quot; the first vehicle the German automaker will build at its factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Set to replace the Passat sedan, the NMS takes aim at the heart of the family sedan market and should prove a pivotal part of VW&amp;#039;s ambitious plans to boost sales and gain market share.            Other notable debuts include the Mini Paceman Concept, a cutesy coupe that borrows the 4-wheel-drive hardware from the larger Mini Countryman (but thankfully not the Mini SUV&amp;#039;s awkward exterior design). Kia will take the wraps off its KV7 crossover, while Chinese automaker BYD returns to Detroit with two new models. The S6DM plug-in hybrid sedan and e6 Premiere electric crossover should continue BYD&amp;#039;s streak of impressive technology. Perhaps they will bring to an end BYD&amp;#039;s tendency of over-hyping sales estimates and setting unrealistic on-sale dates.            If compacts and fancy hybrids don&amp;#039;t get your automotive juices flowing, there is always the new Lamborghini LP560-4 Bicolor Special Edition. As the name suggests, this limited-edition model is a two-tone version of the latest (and fastest) iteration of the Gallardo sports car. Slightly lower down the performance and pricing food chain, BMW will introduce the 2012 1 Series M Coupe and 6 Series Convertible.            For those who want everything, performance and eco-engineering, Porsche plans to unveil what it not-so-humbly refers to as a &amp;quot;spectacular&amp;quot; new concept car. It wouldn&amp;#039;t surprise us if this concept vehicle continues the &amp;quot;green performance&amp;quot; theme of the 918 Spyder, first seen at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/detroit-auto-show/news/a16877/insiders-guide-2011-detroit-auto-show-preview/>