In its first days of the media preview of the 2014 North American International Auto Show, Detroit has lots to see. Taking place as always in Cobo Hall Convention Center, the Detroit Auto Show has some $200 million in displays for 2014. Over 5,000 journalists stormed the doors of the revamped Cobo, with over 700 vehicles, 50 new debuts and more than $279 million in renovations, including new conference rooms, a glass atrium and food court. The 50-some year-old convention center saw 796,000 attend the world famous North American International Auto Show in 2013. The theme of the 2014 NAIAS show is “we’re alive again. The show opens to the public January 18-26.

Below is just a small part of what journalists are reveling in the Motor City:

Volkswagen:

A car for the 21st century, the Dune Concept: Yet, another version of the beloved Beetle, with a ski rack built into the roof and rear spoilers, based on the Beetle R-Line with an EA888 TSI engine with 210-horsepower, the Dune is wider and taller and adds two inches of ground clearance. Combined with a six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Beetle Dune has a manufacturer estimated fuel economy rating of 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

beetleduneRegardless of where it shows up, the infamous VW Beetle is a hit, bringing a smile to people’s faces. With the world premiere of the Beetle Dune at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volkswagen is giving the public the chance to see a Beetle with a cool offroad look.

The Dune concept shows the potential for a new production version of the sportiest Beetle ever. The concept is painted in “Arizona”, a yellow-orange metallic, with two-part wheelarch extensions that are offset in black. Like the Cross Golf, these extensions are rugged looking elements with a matte finish. The wheel housings widen the body by 1.1 inches per side to give a total width of 73.4 inches, an increase of 2.2 inches over a stock Beetle. The overall length has increased by 0.5 inches to 168.9 inches and the car is both 2.0 inches higher off the ground and 0.8 inches taller.

The Dune’s front and rear tracks are increased by 1.1 inches at the front and rear to 63.3 and 61.9 inches respectively. As a result of the four-square stance and its reduced wheel travel, the 19-inch wheels and 255/45 tires fill out the wheel housings.  At the center of each wheel is the VW logo embedded in a three-dimensional housing that’s painted in the car’s exterior color. The distinctive Dune logo is placed  in front of the rear fenders.

The front end sports the Beetle’s basic design and Bi-Xenon round headlights, however a new hood has been adopted, which has a raised center section with prominent air vents, which have a honeycomb appearance with a central chrome strip.

The front apron features a large central air intake. The intake widens towards its bottom edge, highlighting the front end’s sporty look: the black honeycomb screen has a chrome-plated surround that morphs into the underbody protection.

To the left and right of the central air intake and the aluminum underbody protection are the foglight housings: trapezoidal in shape, they have gloss black frames and contain LED foglights.

The skis are mounted to the outside of the trunk lid which is made possible by the swiveling of the outer parts of the rear spoiler. The skis are placed in the spoiler, then it is closed to clamp them in place. At the top, the skis slide into a receptacle in the specially developed roof spoiler, where they are secured by an 0.8-inch-wide belt.

The Dune’s interior has also been revamped: The dashpad—painted in the “Arizona” exterior color and has been replaced by another classic original Beetle feature, a grab handle that features contrasting black soft-touch material with “Arizona” and aluminum accent. In addition,  the entire infotainment system incorporates a digital interface with a high-resolution 7.7-inch touchscreen. beetleduneint

The seat design is sophisticated and sporty, and upholstered in “Titan Black” leather, while the center surfaces are made of “Ceramique” colored “Gobi” breathable sport fabric. The leather and fabric areas and the front and rear of the head restraints have decorative stitching in the “Arizona” color.

VW’s new Golf R also makes its debut at NAIAS and will offer a race-driving mode which sharpens the throttle response and shift points, while firming the shocks.

VW E-Golf is also featured at NAIAS, with its everyday versatility with zero tailpipe emissions, low ownership costs.

The Volkswagen group grows its 2013 deliveries almost five percent to over 9.7 million vehicles (up from 9.3 million in 2012)

Lexus

Lexus makes three debuts at NAIAS, including on center stage, their global premier of the RC-F ‘low-slung, athletic’ coupe, with Toyota’s most powerful V8 performance car ever developed by Lexus.

Also on display are the RC 350 and LF-NX turbo concept cars, making their North American introductions, having first debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. The RC 350 features a 3.5-liter, V6 engine teamed with an 8-speed sequential transmission, and the most aggressive styling yet of its iconic spindly grille.

The LF-NX turbo concept, a premier compact crossover SUV, is bold, dynamic and innovative in its design. The Lexus exhibit also shows off the F Sport accessorized vehicle and components, including the LFA performance car.

Lexus celebrates 25 years in Detroit.

Toyota

With 35,000 square feet of exhibit space, Toyota features 38 vehicles, including the 2014 editions of the new Corolla, Highlander, 4Runner and Tundra. Highlights for the media include the FCV-fuel cell-powered concept. Also on display is the unique concept Toyota FV2, future mobility car operated by the driver shifting his/her body to intuitively move the vehicle in any direction.

Toyota is also featuring its hybrid technology with all four Prius vehicles. And for NASCAR fans, Toyota offers its Racing Zone. But the big shock of the show is the FT-1 concept, a midsize sports coupe. In collaboration with BMW, the FT-1 will head Toyota in a new direction with innovative exterior design. Brings back shades of other legendary sports cars like Supra, the 2000G, Celica and MR2.

Scion

Appealing to youth-oriented markets, Scion has 10 vehicles on display, including the 2014 limited edition Monogram Series FR-S and tC models. Also focusing largely on social media elements, such as their “Master Dashboard” video wall which displays live Scion tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram images, Scion introduces the “Scion Swag Machine,” the world’s first Instagram-powered near-field communication enabled vending machine.

Also available at the Scion exhibit is the availability of “Paper Shapers” Scion cars. Created by artist Shin Tanaka, guests can assemble their own Origami style cars.

Ford

Ford introduces the 2015 F-150 with its 2.7-liter engine.

Other introductions at this year’s Detroit show include the 2014 BMW Z-Series Coupe, 2015 BMW M3, 2015 BMW M4 and the 2015 BMW Z4 Pure Fusion Design. Cadillac will show off its attractive 2015 ATS Coupe; Hyundai its Genesis sedan. Audi introduces its 2015 A8, and of course, the all-new sports car of the year, Chevrolet Corvette, introducing the Z06 this week.

Other intros include the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2015 MB S600 and the GLA 45 AMG, 2014 Dodge Dart SXT Blacktop, 2015 GMC Canyon, 2015 Honda Fit and the all-new Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept, Mini John Cooper Works Concept, Nissan Sport sedan concept, 2014 Porsche 911 Targa, 2015 Blue Motion Concept, Volvo Concept XC Coupe and 2015 Subaru WRX STI.

Stay tuned……………………