Detroit 2009: Third-gen Prius arrives with 50 mpg combined rating

After teasing us for months with photos of switches and boot up screens, followed by a leak of the whole car, Toyota finally dropped the third generation 2010 Prius today in Detroit. We already heard many of the mechanical details over the past year or so, but today it was confirmed that the Prius will get a combined EPA rating of 50 mpg. That's 50 mpg under the new tighter EPA testing method, mind you. The engine has been up-sized to 1.8L with an output of 98 hp and the total net output of the hybrid drive system is 134 hp.

The basic design is still instantly recognizable as a Prius, but the body does have a bit more character than before. Nonetheless the shape is smoother with a drag coefficient of just 0.25. The peak of the roof has now been moved back 4 inches giving the car a slightly less egg-shaped profile and increasing rear headroom. Aside from optional extras like LED headlights and lane departure prevention, the most interesting new option is the solar roof. A roof-mounted photo-voltaic panel will power the air recirculation system when the car sits in the sun, reducing the internal temps and the subsequent load on the air conditioning system. The Prius goes on sale later this spring but pricing hasn't been announced yet.

Detroit 2009: Revenge Designs builds you a supercar for $145K

Up until now, Indiana-based Revenge Designs focused on body kits for the Honda Ridgeline, Pontiac Solstice and the Pontiac GTO, but here in Detroit, the company unveiled its first complete vehicle: the Revenge GTM-R. If the car looks familiar that's because you've seen something similar badged as the Factory Five Racing (FFR) GTM. Since Factory Five offers the car in kit form only, Revenge seems to have spotted a niche and exploited it by offering a fully built turnkey example and has teamed with FFR to develop bespoke components for their version of the fully-built supercar.

Where the Factory Five kit allows a range of GM engine options, Revenge has focused on just the LS7 V8 from the Z06 Corvette. Not a bad mill to settle on, but it comes at a hefty price. While the kit will cost you around $20,000 (although there's a $2K off special right now), Revenge is asking $145,000 for their GTM-R. Granted, there are a lot of other parts you need to supply for the FFR kit (engine, trans, suspension, etc.), and you have to have the skill, patience and tools to build it yourself, but a $125,000 markup might seem steep to some. Still, the car looks well-built and at 2,550 lbs., it's bound to be a rocketship. Even at $145,000, this could be one of the performance bargains of 2009.

Detroit 2009: 2010 Mazda3

Mazda took the wraps off the five-door hatchback version of the redesigned Mazda3 at the Bologna Motor Show last month, but here in Detroit, we saw the car for ourselves at its North American debut. As you can see in the gallery of high-res pics below, the Mazda3 five-door gets the same swoopy sheetmetal as the sedan we saw in Los Angeles, including the comic smiley face front end. What's new is the lengthened roofline that drops down at a steeper angle to create a wagon-esque profile. Some of the D-pillar design cues remind us of the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, but it also resembles the old Mazda3 hatch more than the new sedan. While we prefer the five-door to its four-door counterpart, we know customers want both, so this makes sense for Mazda.

Mazda3i models are still fitted with the MZR 2.0L engine, putting out 148 hp at 6500 rpm and 135 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm and controlled by either a manual or automatic five-speed. The Mazda3 MZR is packing the newly up-sized 2.5-liter four, providing 167 hp at 6000 rpm and 168 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm, with a choice of either a five-speed auto or a six-speed manual. And naturally, we're looking forward to the next Mazdaspeed model, preferably in hatch form.

Detroit 2009: Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

Maserati says that its new Quattroporte Sport GT S "sets another milestone in terms of sportiness in the high performance luxury sedan segment," and it also appears to be trying to set a record for one car's syllable allotment. Suitable then that it takes more than just a couple of changes to be able to append that "S" to the regular Quattroporte Sport GT.

Torque remains the same, but the 4.8-liter V8 is cranks out 433 hp, eight ponies over the regular model. And you get that horsepower a tad later – the engine's rev limit is 7,200 rpm, but you won't get every one of those ponies in action until 7,000 rpm. The transmission software has also been recalibrated for more engaging shifts in three different modes. The suspension has been lowered, stiffened, and imbued with passive damping for higher cornering speeds and improved response. And the sport exhaust has pneumatic valves that render a "deep, throaty, and captivating sound" through large, twin-oval tailpipes.

Aesthetically, the Maser's big black snout gets concave vertical fins and a trident with red trim, the headlights are finished in metallic titanium, and the door handles are body-colored. Inside, new M-design seats come in perforated leather paired with Alcantara, and a standard trim called Titantex, which must have come from the marketing department. Slightly cheesy, but definitely beautiful. The entire package sits on 20-inch wheels.

Detroit 2009: 2010 Lincoln MKT adds flexibility to the lineup

We already gave you details about the new 2010 Lincoln MKT this morning, but Lincoln just wrapped up its press conference and now we have live impressions and photos to share. After showing us the MKT concept here last year, the production version is a more realistic interpretation of the 7-passenger CUV. While it resembles everything from a GM Lambda to an Audi Q7 in profile, the nose and tail are all Lincoln. It's a tasteful vehicle that looks classy and upscale, as it should for Ford's premium brand. Unfortunately, it's being launched at a time when this class of vehicle seems in remission.

Built on the same D4 platform that underpins the Ford Flex, this new suit of clothes suits the Lincoln well. The interior, in particular, is rather handsome with excellent materials and fit and finish that was exemplary for a show car. Good quality leather, wood used sparingly but effectively and elegant satin-finish metal accents abound. The seats are comfy and the cargo hold looks like they've made good use of that extra length compared to the Flex. The MKT will also feature Ford's twin-turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost 3.5L V6 as an option, giving it the best horsepower (355) and fuel economy in its class. The standard engine will be a 3.7-liter V6 with 268 hp and 267 lb.-ft. of torque. That should keep it in the hunt with the Acura MDX and Audi Q7, which Lincoln have tabbed as the MKT's major competition.

Detroit 2009: Little Bigtime - Concept C takes Lincoln in a brand-new direction

Play the word association game with an average American, and when the topic is "Lincoln," you're likely to hear words like "traditional," "big," and "limousine." Terms describing compact hatchbacks like the Concept C shown above simply won't be on the tips of anyone's tongues. So what gives? Has Dearborn finally looped it? Take a closer look, and what at first seems like a designer pet project reveals a good deal more forethought and finesse.

Yes, the Concept C is small. Said to be underpinned by the next-generation Ford Focus platform, this is a C-segment car, much shorter than any current Lincoln, and indeed, much shorter than any Lincoln we can recall. But how about that width? Emphasized by its sizable fenders and the strong shoulder-line in the doors (said to be inspired by the saddle tanks on go karts), the Concept C may be as long as a Focus, but it's roughly as wide as a MKZ sedan. The extra width and the upright greenhouse (there's almost no tumblehome at all) mean that the C can accommodate two rows of three full-sized adults in surprising comfort. The bustle back shape reminds of a number of Gallic automobiles, including the previous Renault Megane, but rather amazingly, the formal roofline, twin wing grilles and full-width rear light bar that are Lincoln hallmarks don't look out of place.

Detroit 2009: Jaguar XFR

The Jaguar XFR is a saber-toothed tiger of feline badness. The supercharged, direct-injection V8 is good for a jungle-canopy-shaking 510 horsepower – 125 hp up on the naturally aspirated V8 – and 0-to-60 bolt that takes but 4.7 seconds. Further up in the range, getting from 50 mph to 70 mph takes - get this - 1.9 seconds. And even better, the gas mileage stays the same compared to the previous-generation 4.2-liter V8.

Inside, Jaguar's theatrics are upped by the addition of a dark mesh aluminum finish in the fascia and door panels, the latter of which are for the screaming 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. The navigation system gets turn-by-turn instructions in the message center, and there's an acoustically laminated windscreen for quieter motoring. Perhaps the best part is that the XFR seats hug with a vengeance and look the business in two-tone.

Detroit 2009: Fisker Karma S Concept

Just after showing off the the production intent version of the Karma plug-in hybrid sport sedan, designer Henrik Fisker had his models pull the cover off a new concept: the Karma S. The Karma S takes the drivetrain and platform and loses two doors and the roof. The Sunset has a retractable hardtop over its four seats and, as usual in such configurations, the rear seating area loses out. Thankfully, the top folds into fairly compact pieces, so the Karma S doesn't suffer from long deck syndrome. Under the hood sits a GM 2.0L turbocharged and direct-injected EcoTec four-cylinder with 260 hp driving a generator to keep the car going after its 50-mile battery range has been depleted. Out back a pair of electric motors drive the rear wheels with 400 hp courtesy of the lithium-ion battery. If Fisker lasts long enough, the Karma S should be out in 2011.

Detroit 2009: Subaru Legacy Concept

The official unveiling doesn't take place until later this afternoon, but Subaru has already released the details on the Legacy Concept it's introducing this year at Detroit. We only have the head-on shot at the moment, but what you're seeing here is likely the new face of the Legacy, complete with funky-shaped headlamp lenses and a trapezoidal theme to the prow. According to Subaru's, that paint color is called "Ultimate Silver" and the overall design theme is "High Definition," for what that's worth. Power comes from the automaker's 3.6L six-cylinder boxer mated, of course, to an AWD system.

Inside, you'll find a technology carnival, with a multitude of displays available to the four occupants, including the driver. The instrument panel gets a multifunction touchscreen display instead of a traditional center control stack -- no mechanical controls are present -- and those teensy side mirrors house cameras that display the view aft on the widescreen rearview "mirror" in the cabin. Rear passengers get their headrest-mounted LCD screens and their own touchscreen control interface. Outside of the obvious show-car tech, the shapes you see inside are likely what to expect when the production car makes its eventual debut.

Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Concept BlueSport roadster live

Volkswagen's Concept BlueSport should go a long way towards making the term "diesel performance" a household name. While it might seem to be an oxymoron to some, seeing it at the Detroit Auto Show, we can tell you that if it reaches production, everyone will be a believer. While officially just a concept for now (and the interior is a dead giveaway this isn't production-ready), the two-door roadster sports a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four mounted amidships. It puts out 180 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and pushes just 2,600 pounds via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Expect a 0-60 of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 140, all while returning about 35 mpg on the European cycle and upwards of 62 mpg in "Eco" mode.

The BlueSport might look a lot like an Audi TT with a Scirocco nose, but unlike its corporate sibling, the mid-engine layout provides a 45:55 front-to-rear weight distribution. It's also a tidy package at just over 13 feet in length, with a 96-inch wheelbase, a front track of 58.5 inches and a rear track of 60 inches. So it's about the same size as the TT, but in reverse. In person it seems much smaller than the Audi and reminds us of the Porsche Boxster more than anything, which isn't a bad thing. Stylist Walter da Silva explained his design inspiration in great detail for the assembled masses, unfortunately he did it in Italian, without subtitles, so we have no idea what he said. We did understand what Volkswagen Chairman Martin Winterkorn said, and that was that VW is officially committed to growth with cars that will continue to offer maximum excitement with minimum consumption, and the BlueSport is a perfect example of that philosophy.

Detroit 2009: Volvo S60 Concept debuts sexy Scandinavian design

Volvo's big deal for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show is the S60 Concept, which debuts a new design direction for the Scandinavian brand once known for elevating the art of boxes on wheels. Volvo has continually evolved its signature design language, adding curves and bulges to make its vehicles look more organic than cubic. The culmination of that movement is the S60 Concept, which previews the next-gen S60 production sedan.

The concept features a coupe-like roofline and elegant front end brandishing the largest version of Volvo's iron mask badge that we've ever seen. A new character line running along the sides of the concept nicely updates the broad shoulder that's common on the brand's current cars and SUVs. There are lots of other cool exterior details, which you can read about in the press release after the jump, but the interior is the concept's crown jewel. The floating center stack, inspired by current Volvo production interiors, was made by hand out of Orrefors crystal.

The S60 concept is also full of safety tech, including a Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and pedestrian detection system that will debut in the production S60. It works to avoid collisions with pedestrians under 20 km/h altogether and minimize injury for ones occurring at faster speeds. Powered by a 1.8L four-cylinder turbodiesel with direct injection, the S60 Concept is also frugal with fuel, burning through just 5.0 liters of petrol every 100 km (about 47 mpg U.S.)

Detroit 2009: MINI Cooper Convertible chills out

The 2009 MINI Convertible drove out of a simulated ice block with a couple made up all frozen-like in the front seats. As for the car, well, it's pretty self explanatory. Available in March, it finally ditches the last-gen engines for the NA and turbocharged 1.6L fours available in the hardtop Cooper and Cooper S. Other changes? The trunk's roomier, the interior gets brought up-to-date, and the rollbar becomes a pop-up unit, significantly improving rearward visibility and giving the Cooper a much cleaner top-down profile.

Detroit 2009: Lexus HS250h, world's first dedicated luxury hybrid

On the 20th anniversary of the unveiling of the original Lexus LS400 in Detroit, Toyota's premium brand debuted the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid. The HS250h shares many of its components with the third generation Prius that we will be seeing tomorrow, but unlike the hatchback, the HS is a compact four-door sedan with a healthy does of luxury.

Power is provided by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, paired up with 187-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The HS is slightly longer than the current IS, slightly wider than the ES and will include all the usual amenities people expect on a luxury car, along with a lane departure prevention system that uses the electric power steering to help keep the car straight and true. Other features, like a heads up display that's clearly visible in daylight and LED headlights, are optional. The HS250h goes on sale this summer, and although pricing hasn't been announced yet, the automaker hopes to sell about 30,000-35,000 units annually.

Detroit 2009: Lamborghini ups the personalization options

Lamborghini debuted the new Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder in L.A., and the rumored LP670-4 SV is still a ways off, so the Italian supercar manufacturer decided to show off some of their non-automotive offerings in Detroit. Specifically, Lambo brought examples of its Ad Personam personalization program. A white 560 Spyder was flanked by a satin blue LP640-4 and LP560-4 coupe that were both simply mesmerizing. We're huge fans of these new satin paints, because aside from lending an air of understated luxury to the Lambo's lascivious lines, they're remarkably easy to photograph. They reflect light beautifully, while providing translucent reflections that minimize glare and extraneous objects from the car's surface. Lamborghini refers to it as a matte-luster paint finish, we'll just call it matte-sex.

Both of the personalized cars here in Detroit are painted in Lamborghini's new matte blue, although there's no truth to the rumor that anyone showing a birth certificate that says their name is Matt Blue will get a free Lambo. Besides the new blue hue, Lamborghini announced that three more colors are now permanently available in the Ad Personam program: Nero Nemesis (matte-luster black), Bianco Canopus (matte white), and Marrone Apus (matte brown). But don't let that limit you. Lamborghini will do just about anything the customer can dream up. And if you can't get what you want from the factory, you can always go the aftermarket route and get yourself an Ed Hardy special.

Detroit 2009: Kia Soul'ster guns for fun and frolic

The Kia Soul has people talking. Specifically, you. Kia's media presentation here in Detroit highlighted feedback from the Autoblog commentariat. No, we didn't know in advance, but you won't hear us complaining either. However, the star of the show for Kia wasn't the Soul -- it's a new concept derived from the boxy people-mover.

After some dancing fanfare involving large placards, the Kia Soul'ster drove onstage. Put simply, it's cool. The two-door design study looks like a pickup from the side, but the "cab" is open-air, much like the old Isuzu Amigo. Pretty much everything on the car is manual: the gearbox, the window cranks, and the two-piece canvas roof. Other details set it apart from its wagonoid brother, such as a slightly chopped roofline and dual exhausts with carbon fiber sleeves. The roof lamps integrated into the roll bars are a nice touch, too. Cantilevered seats mounted off the center console free up storage room beneath them, and there's a small cargo space aft of the second row. The Soul'ster's meant to be an economical four-cylinder, tarmac-only, front-wheel-drive plaything whose primary mission is fun. It sure looks the part, so now the ball's in Kia's court. Do they have the stones to actually follow through and build something like this? Tell them what you think below. One thng's certain: they'll be reading.

Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj

Cadillac just took the wraps off a new concept based on the Chevy Volt's "Voltec" drivetrain (that's a new moniker, by the way). The angular coupe is called the Converj and it is drop-dead gorgeous. With styling that is instantly recognizable as Cadillac, Bob Lutz told us at the press conference that the car was designed to be aesthetically pleasing on its own. It's just a great shape that holds great promise. Lutz and Co. referred to the Converj as the "CADILLAC OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES" and even if that sounds trite, it could well bring Cadillac back to the top of the luxury car heap, with a solid foundation of SRX and CTS below it.

Like the Chevrolet Volt, GM says the Converj will be able to travel up to 40 miles on electricity alone, and it will have a small helper motor to help drivers avoid "range anxiety." That's the term for the fear of running out of charge when you're still miles away from your final destination. As Lutz pointed out, you can't run down to the gas station for a 5-gallon can of electricity. There's a lengthy press release after the jump with plenty of stats. All we can say is that we'd love to hear that that the Converj is going into production tomorrow, but the reality of GM's current financial situation probably means they won't be able to make any firm commitments for awhile.

Detroit 2009: Chevy Spark playing to a familiar

While details remain sparse, General Motors rolled out its three-door Beat Concept from the 2007 New York Auto Show, promising that a version of the car will be produced beginning in 2010 for foreign markets, and for the US in 2011. Oddly, unlike the three-door sub-Aveo – sized hatch that rolled on to this morning's main stage, the production Spark figures to be a five-door hatchback capable of delivering 40 miles-per-gallon in the city. Officials indicate that a production version of the Spark will roll out at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and AB readers have already seen development prototypes running around.

Detroit 2009: Chevy Orlando Concept comes stateside, production version due in 2011

Among the array of various concept and production vehicles at the GM display was the Chevy Orlando Concept that made its world debut in Paris just a few months prior. Based on the same platform as the Cruze, the Orlando offers seven seats in a relatively compact design. At its debut we found the Orlando to be a much more appealing than the HHR and hoped that GM would consider bringing it to the U.S. as a production vehicle. Our wish has been granted, and the Orlando will arrive in dealers as a 2011 model along with the Spark mini-car.

Detroit 2009: 2010 Buick LaCrosse

While the outgoing Buick LaCrosse featured one distinct superpower -- invisibility -- the 2010 iteration could be a savior for the brand. With classy sheetmetal that will probably remind you of the Buick Invicta concept, vastly improved interior materials, and an all-new powertrain, the 2010 LaCrosse should compete better with cars like the Lexus ES350 and the Lincoln MKS. Powered by either a 260 hp, 3.0L direct injected V6 or a 280-hp 3.6L, it should offer performance to match its portholed good looks.

Detroit 2009: 2010 Cadillac SRX live

When the 2010 Cadillac SRX rolled onto the stage at the Detroit Auto Show, we knew what was to expect. But seeing it in the sheetmetal gave us a new found respect for the styling of the Caddy crossover.

It's an all-new vehicle for Cadillac, replacing the very competent, but slow-selling current model. The only carryover is the name, although a lot of the mechanicals have appeared in the corporate garage before. It also signals a switch for the General, as they've ditched the larger powertrains for an efficient direct-injected 3.0-liter V6 and a 300 horsepower, 2.8-liter turbocharged unit. Sounds like it will have performance to match its sexy good looks.