Style, luxury and performance in Detroit as auto sales boom
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Mr Fred Diaz, chief executive officer of Chrysler's Ram Division, poses with a Ram pickup truck after it won the North American Truck of the Year award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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The BMW Z4 sDrive is introduced at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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The Honda Urban SUV concept car is introduced at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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The 2014 Audi RS 7 Sportback is displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is revealed at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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The Lincoln MKC Concept is unveiled during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Mr Fred Diaz, chief executive officer of Chrysler's Ram Division, poses with a Ram pickup truck after it won the North American Truck of the Year award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The BMW Z4 sDrive is introduced at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
The Honda Urban SUV concept car is introduced at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
The 2014 Audi RS 7 Sportback is displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is revealed at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
The Lincoln MKC Concept is unveiled during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on Jan 14, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
DETROIT, Michigan (AFP) - Stand-out styling, performance and luxury dominated the Detroit auto show on Monday as carmakers jostled for position amid booming sales and renewed optimism after a deep downturn.
"Wow, what a difference three years make," Mr Fred Diaz, head of Chrysler's Ram brand, said as he accepted the truck of the year award for the Ram 1500 pickup truck.
General Motors (GM), which like Chrysler was restructured under bankruptcy protection in 2009, was awarded the car of the year for its Cadillac ATS sedan.
United States (US) sales are expected to rise to between 15 million and 16 million vehicles this year after jumping 13 per cent to 14.5 million vehicles in 2012, the biggest yearly gain since 1984.
