Rolling Thunder In Motor City

This week Detroit –- bankrupt but not bereft –- opened an electrifying North American International Auto Show, hosting 17 major automakers, introducing 50 new models. The show launched to a preview for some 5,000 journalists, more than a third coming from abroad.

American brands stole the show early with the announcement that the 49-member motor press jury gave the 2014 North American Car and Truck of The Year top honors to a pair of Chevrolets: the Corvette Stingray and the Silverado pick-up.

Ford unveiled a new aluminum alloy framed F-150 pick-up, shedding 700 lbs with the promise of boosts efficiency and performance. As the best-selling vehicle in the US for 37 years, tampering with the F-150, even an improvement, presents a real risk.

Toyota presents its FT-1 front-engine, rear-wheel-drive high performance concept sportscar. Could this be the next Supra… to compete with Nissan’s GT-R and Acura’s new NSX and American muscle like the Mustang, Camaro?

A VW Dune concept car turned heads though it is unlikely to bolster the lagging US sales for VW. For BMW, Detroit was the world debut of the new 2 Series Coupe, M3 Sedan and MBW M4 Coupe.

This George Polgar of GT Marketing for KYW News Radio.