The beginning of each year pleases the audience with the automotive novelties from Detroit. There takes place the most important in the New World North American International Auto Show 2008. It is the event companies prepare for beforehand as the biggest automotive market is a tasty apple for everybody. Moreover, there is a lot to look at in Detroit. The most important - a great number of automobiles with alternative fuel power units. Moreover, Detroit is full of “green” concepts plus a lot of serial models with hybrid engines.

Nevertheless, there is a definite leader - General Motors who is doing its best to keep up with the Japanese. Here we see huge Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade with hybrid power units, the similar technologies in Saturn Vue, ex-concept Volt and Provoq E-Flex – the concept of a crossover with electro-engines of the 5th generation. “Caddy” showed the 2-door version CTS, as a prototype at the moment. If we take into account that the prices for the American cars are more affordable than that for the European automobiles, we will have to admit that BMW M5 has found a new competitor.

Ford is getting ready for another fight with Dodge on the pick-up field – there debuted F-150 of the new generation and Dodge Ram accordingly. These huge pick-ups are sold by hundreds of thousands in the US annually are can be met on roads almost as frequently as sedans. The changes in both the cars are similar: new exterior, enhanced environmental figures, new transmissions with 6 grades etc.

Mitsubishi has showed “Evo for the poor” – sedan Lancer Ralliart with 4WD and 240-hp petrol power unit. The novelty is aimed directly at the niche where Subaru Impreza WRX is the one and the only leader. The car overtakes the previous competitor of Subaru by the new design, and, to tell you the truth, looks much more competitive. Subaru, in its turn, has showed the modest Forester which turned into a real crossover.

Mazda has showed the restyled version of the fabulous rotary RX-8. The coupe has a totally restyled front end, retuned power unit and enhanced maneuverability. From this time on the customers will be able to choose among two new engines: 212 hp and 232 hp. There will appear a new version R3 with sport chassis settings.

The Europeans acted powerfully and spectacularly. One of the major novelties – the supercar Audi R8 with a 500-hp V12 torbodiesel – is one of the fastest cars of the year. It is no wonder, the car accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, has the max speed of over 300 km/h and the max torque is 1000 Nm. Moreover, the novelty matches Euro 6 requirements.

BMW is celebrating the release of the serial crossover X6. VW also moved into the niche with its “4-door coupe” Passat CC. Nevertheless the car is even less similar to a coupe than the predecessor of such terms - Mercedes CLS. Built on the platform of the traditional Passat, this “mutant” will be positioned one step higher than Passat proper. The company has given the car 5 engines – from 140hp diesel to 300-hp petrol one. The electronics is really rich:ParkAssist and other active and passive systems

Mercedes is getting ready to assault the market of premium-crossovers. The fans of BMW X3 – meet Mercedes GLK, which was called a prototype in Detroit, but in fact is almost a serial car. The rectangular shape resembles the magnificent Gelandewagen. And it is for you to judge if the car is beautiful or not.