The 2010 Motor Show season starts this week with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Previously a show, full of announcements, the economic downturn and the  state of the local car industry has pushed this show to an also-ran in the Motor Show season.

The biggest news is the worldwide debut of the new all-world Ford Focus. Previously, North America has been laden with a reshelled version of the original Ford Focus which debuted back in 1998, while the rest of the World has a class leading 2nd Generation.

With Ford in relatively good financial state, the American company has decided to bring the European developed 3rd generation to the North American shores from 2011.

The car is clearly influenced by the new Fiesta, also destined for North America, but to my (old) eyes, it appears a little over styled in places. I’m not sure of the front bumper styling…maybe that’s for the North American market.

While these images show the ‘bread and butter’ models, expect performance ST (or SHO designation in US?) and maybe a new RS version to appear once the standard cars have been launched.

While Ford are moving to more world cars in their range, Volkswagen are going in the opposite direction.

The next generation North American Jetta will be different to the version available in the rest of the world and this New Coupe Concept (is that the best name they could think of!!!)  hints at the future North American sedan. It is clear the manufacturer is positioning their Jetta more upmarket, to bridge the gap between the Golf and the (Passat) CC.

Conservative, but very well resolved clean styling. looking at the front 3/4 view, the concept reminds me a little of the BMW 1 series around the rear quarter, while the rear view says Audi to me. The rest of the world will have the Golf based Jetta IV and Scirocco.

Toyota unveiled their FT-CH Hybrid concept at the show. The advanced styling is pure pie-in-the-sky stuff, but could, as many concepts are, be used to introduce a future styling direction. The idea is this fits below the Prius. Toyota also confirmed Eight new Hybrids will be introduced into the US over the next few years….A hybrid FT86 perhaps……..

Surprisingly, Toyota didn’t show the FT86 concept at the show…. reserving it for Scion perhaps?

On the subject of Hybrids, the production version of the Honda CR-Z made its debut at Detroit. As expected the concept styling has been toned done and it is less aggressive. Based on the Insight platform, the CR-Z is the first Sports Hybrid car, using a 1.5 Litre engine with 102bhp and a 20bhp Electric Motor. Combined this gives 122bhp and 128lb of torque at 1500rpm.

All seems a bit weak to me….Maybe the expected Mugen version will be of more interest.

The Blue car shows the European version

Must be the first time ever for Speedhunters…a Chevrolet Aveo on the site! This concept shows off the direction of the new Aveo and it looks pretty cool to me, even if the Bow-tie grille is  bulging out of the front end.

A few other debuts…

Chrysler showed off this Lancia Delta, complete with Chrysler grille. With the Fiat group buying into Chrysler during 2009, North America will be getting a few Italian cars over the coming year.

Chrysler also showed off two 500’s. An Abarth in Black and a 500 BEV which is the fashionable Electric vehicle that every stand must have! Not liking the wheels though.

Ever wondered what an R35 mated with a Audi R8 would look like? Here you go!  This is the latest Audi e-tron concept, another EV vehicle. This concept could be a hint of the rumoured ‘R4′ which would fit between the TT and R8

Audi advise e-tron will become a brand like ‘quattro’ with the first vehicles on sale in 2012.

– Andy Blackmore