Auto show preview: Fusion, Dart, Malibu among key debuts

The 2012 North American International Auto Show is shaping up as the opportunity for Detroit automakers to state even more clearly their intent to grow in the meatiest part of the market, to redouble the thrust that has seen them make gains against traditional Japanese competitors. And indeed, the thrust looks formidable.

So Detroiters will get their first look at crucially important new cars, the kind that keep whole factories humming.

Public days for the auto show are Jan. 14-22. The media will get its first look on Jan. 9-10. Barring surprises, here's what the automakers will be touting.

Key mass-market entries make debuts

Criticized a few years ago for being a "truck company," Ford will sling the all-new 2013 Fusion at midsize purchasers. The company's best-selling car is coming off its best sales year ever and now has an all-new design, the result of the company's cohesive international design language.

Ford offered previews through a downloadable smartphone app (http://fordfusionapp.com/); otherwise, the lid was on details until the Jan. 9 debut.

Seeking to end a long skein of strikeouts in the compact segment, Dodge sagely revives an old name with the all-new Dart, an Alfa Romeo-based car that created quite a buzz at an exclusive December preview. The Dart will offer the choice of three quite different four-cylinder engines, and a nine-speed automatic transmission will be part of the mix.

Forty miles per gallon highway is expected. What's unexpected is the innovative instrument panel's enhancement with ambient lighting. The Dart could be an attention-getter.

The Chevrolet Malibu's sales rose 2 percent in 2011. Now, the 2013 Malibu is ready. The first model, the Eco, is expected in showrooms no later than March. The Eco uses the latest eAssist mild-hybrid system to achieve 37 miles per gallon in highway driving. The car is attractively priced at $25,995.

Getting pumped about concept cars

"Ferrari fighter" was always an overestimation for the Acura NSX. Nevertheless, for no-fuss, no-muss driving enthusiasts, the whiz-bang, lightweight, mid-engine NSX manifested perfection. Then it left the Acura lineup. Based on new renderings, the new NSX concept brings what the old one lacked: attitude. As the pointy nose and prancing stance demonstrate, it doesn't feed on sushi. Rather, Kobe beef could be the fuel of choice.

Until Lexus created the keen-edged LFA supercar, the brand hadn't offered anything too sporty since its early SC300 and SC400 coupes. But a photo of the LF-LC 2+2 shows a coupe that translates the LF-A's design language into a more practical but still compelling shape, accentuated by a delicately drawn roofline. A huge air scoop is ahead of the rear wheel, and on that body panel is the word "hybrid."

All that Toyota would say about its NS4 concept is that it features advanced plug-in capabilities.

The Honda Accord Coupe is also being called a concept, but it provides obvious clues about the ninth-generation Accord that will go on sale in the fall.

Hybrids and battery-electric vehicles expand their reach

Ford headlines the industrywide trend toward electrification when it rolls out the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, raising the bet in the EV segment by a large amount. The Focus Electric seats five yet is capable of more than 100 miles per gallon equivalent and recharges faster than the Nissan Leaf, according to Ford.

Ford claims fuel-economy leadership over the comparable Toyota Prius models as it reveals the 2013 C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi. The Energi is the plug-in version that allows extended travel exclusively on battery power. Ford also can claim utility advantage, thanks to these mini-minivans' hands-free tailgate that opens when motion-sensing technology detects the operator's foot swooshing under the rear bumper.

Meanwhile, other makers from Europe and Asia are wading more deeply into the green pool. Volkswagen has confirmed an electric vehicle concept, although the company was guarding details. VW also will show a Prius-fighting hybrid version of the Jetta.

BMW will present the world premier of the 2012 ActiveHybrid 3, which the company says is the world's first-ever full hybrid among premium, compact sport sedans. The 2012 ActiveHybrid 5 will make its North American debut. Additionally, the i3 and i8 will appear. These electric and electric-hybrid cars with carbon fiber-reinforced bodies are scheduled for sale in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Battery-powered trucks were common after World War I, and to many the idea seemed right because a limited range often suited delivery routes. FedEx is testing an electrified Nissan van in Europe, and now Nissan will unveil an American-market van with Leaf-like electric propulsion.

The company said this unveiling "previews a future production version of a full electric vehicle designed to provide businesses or families with flexible, roomy cargo space, while offering a dramatic CO2 footprint reduction."

Details of production, price and timing are expected for the Cadillac ELR, which translates the sharp-looking 2009 Converj concept to a car based on the Chevy Volt's platform. "Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present — the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving," said Cadillac vice president Don Butler. If his optimism is justified, the shopping malls around Beverly Hills should start to add compact-only parking spaces near the entrances.

Mercedes-Benz will present the world premier of two hybrid versions of the E-Class sedan: the European-market E300 BlueTEC HYBRID, which uses diesel power, and the E400 HYBRID, which combines a gasoline-fueled V-6 with an electric motor for a combined rating of 27 miles per gallon. The 2013 E400 will go on sale in the United States in the second half of 2012.

Crossovers and SUVs are more efficient

A whole new look, better fuel economy and a plethora of convenience features characterize the 2013 Ford Escape, which is a complete reinterpretation of the best-selling SUV. Whereas the outgoing model was instantly recognizable for its squared-off handsomeness, the new Escape adopts a more international style.

It is exclusively powered by four-cylinder engines: in fact, choose from among three offerings. The hybrid model is dropped from the lineup. An important feature is the hands-free tailgate like that of the C-MAX.

The Honda CR-V always has nipped at the Escape's sidewalls. Like the '13 Escape, the 2012 CR-V, which was introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, is a global vehicle. It has an efficient 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed automatic transmission. The new vehicle sees the cargo floor lowered for easier access. Meantime, hands-free calling and a backup camera are standard.

Closely related to the CR-V, the 2012 Acura RDX emphasizes performance. The turbocharged 2.3-liter four puts out 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The RDX rides on standard 18-inch wheels and tires and shines its high-intensity xenon headlamps into the night. The buyer may select front- or all-wheel drive. Prices start at $32,895.

A five-seat crossover, the Encore, is just what Buick needs, so this 2013 model will be revealed on Jan. 10. Buick's emphasis on a quiet ride and premium interior design will help to distinguish the Encore from the Chevrolet Equinox.

Officially labeled a concept vehicle, if the Nissan Pathfinder differs much from the 2013 Pathfinder that goes on sale in the fall, Nissan employees will surely have to scramble. Nissan says the concept takes familiar Pathfinder design cues and sets them on a new chassis and dramatic new body. The vehicle will seat seven and have "ample" cargo room.

The 2013 Audi A4 allroad quattro, with ground clearance of 7.1 inches for capable all-wheel-drive performance, is based on the A4 Avant wagon. Previous allroad wagons have a cult following, and with its distinctive design details, the new car should score well with the same set. One gas and three diesel engines are offered in Europe; U.S.-market offerings will be announced.

The refreshed 2013 Lincoln MKT is lightly restyled, has more horsepower and incorporates a system for improved ride and handling. New safety and convenience features are added as well.

The 2012 Ford Flex was likewise refreshed with a bolder grille, more power, and innumerable upgrades among convenience and safety features.

Sports cars upend some traditions, reassert others

First the Dodge name fell off the Ram pickup. Now it's falling off the Viper, replaced by the new SRT badge. Say hello to the 2013 SRT Viper. And let the imagination go, because the SRT boutique could ultimately offer a polymorphous array of products. SRT officials have squirreled away details about the new car, which replaces the Viper that went out of production in 2010. But yes, the Viper is back, coming out of the "Snakepit" plant on Detroit's Conner Avenue later this year.

An all-aluminum body makes the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL lighter than its predecessor, yet thanks to advanced design capabilities, it's more rigid. Naturally, the new car will be fast, with the 4.6-liter V-8 pumping out 449 horsepower, and the luxurious interior will be supplemented by the convenience and splendor of a retractable hardtop with a panoramic panel of self-darkening glass.

Two sporty models from Asia will take a different approach to performance. The 2012 Toyota Prius c, which was shown here last year in concept form, will receive its North American debut. Toyota says this runabout will get 52 miles per gallon, yet the car will squirt through traffic. And the Hyundai Veloster Turbo makes its world debut. Expect the twin-scroll turbocharger that was perfected on the brand's Sonata. (A similar turbo also will be used on the refreshed Genesis coupe that's making its North American debut.)

Luxury and near luxury segments see increased refinement

While the 2013 Cadillac XTS, the division's new large car, bowed a few weeks ago in Los Angeles, the 2013 ATS will greet the world from the Detroit stage. Dimensions and details of the ATS will be revealed then, but it is known that the car, to be built in Lansing, will offer a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a 3.6-liter V-6 or a sophisticated 270-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four.

Now in its sixth generation, the 2012 BMW 3-Series sedan is all-new and making its North American debut. The familiar design is freshly tailored, tucked and creased. When the car reaches showrooms in February, the buyer will have to decide between the 328i, with a turbocharged four, and the 335i, with a twin-turbo six.

The Acura ILX, the new "gateway" car for the brand, is officially a concept vehicle. But the ILX goes into production this spring in Greensburg, Ind., alongside the Honda Civic. The ILX will come with conventional and hybrid powertrain options.

More power, better ride and handling, and a new interior — that's the 2013 Lincoln MKS. The new sedan also has a refreshed exterior. The MKS now offers an improved SYNC telematics system and the Lane Keeping System, which has three ways of monitoring and assisting the drowsy driver.

Lincoln also will unveil a front-wheel-drive MKZ sedan concept, designed to go head-to-head with the BMW 3-series, the Audi A4 and the Acura TL. The production version is expected to debut as a 2013 model.

Whereas the 2011 Hyundai Azera lacked much appeal, the 2012 Azera, which goes on sale in February, is seriously good-looking. The car's 3.3-liter V-6 makes 293 horsepower. Thoroughly upgraded, the Azera sends a message to the Lexus ES350: "Look out!"