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The arrangement Japanese carmakers have among themselves to limit maximum power on production vehicles to 206kW will be revisited when Mitsubishi launches its next-generation high-performance Lancer Evolution.
A near-production model dubbed Prototype X was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show this week, along with a promise by Mitsubishi
that the new car will be the "most powerful Evo yet, offering major gains in handling dynamics and technology".
Output from the Evo's revised 2-litre turbocharged engine has yet to be finalised, says the company. But analysts expect it to be around 225kW (300bhp).
If so, the new Evo will be the first production car out of Japan to officially break through the 206kW ceiling. However, the next-generation Nissan GT-R is expected to push the power numbers out even further when it is unveiled next year.
The Prototype X is similar in size to the current Evo IX but has a new look, emerging with many of the styling cues that have been teased over the past couple of years on several concepts called Evo X and Concept-X.
The "jet fighter" front end has an upright grille with large air intakes, and the waistline rises for a more wedgelike shape than the outgoing car.
Mitsubishi is keeping much of the car's new technology to itself until closer to launch.
The four-cylinder engine gets an aluminium block instead of iron, and the new gearbox is a six-speed clutchless unit, along the lines of Volkswagen's direct-shift (DSG) transmission.
The big news though is a new active all-wheel drive system (S-AWC), incorporating yaw control, stability control, and an active center differential.
Mitsubishi says the new Evo will also offer a "much improved" ride quality compared with the current car, thanks to a stronger and lighter-weight suspension with forged aluminium components.
The new Evo is expected to go on sale here later this year. Mitsubishi New Zealand is likely to tap into Japanese domestic production, thereby getting access to the car months before other right-hand-drive markets.
Mercedes-Benz revealed one of the worst-kept secrets of the Detroit show when it unveiled its Concept Ocean Drive - a convertible version of the flagship S-Class sedan.
The carmaker calls it a "one-off creation" that revives its tradition of large luxury convertibles.
Dieter Zetsche, CEO of DaimlerChrysler and head of the Mercedes-Benz group, said he wanted the company to create a "spectacular, fresh and all-new design concept".
He told reporters: "If everyone likes it as much as you do, I promise we'll consider a comeback for a full-size luxury convertible."
The Concept Ocean Drive is based on the S600 sedan and is powered by a 6.2-litre V12 engine.
Nissan created interest with its Rogue, a smaller version of the all-wheel-drive Murano designed to tackle models like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV and Hyundai Tucson.
The Rogue is destined for the North American market only but its design was clearly influenced by the Qashqai concept that Nissan has been showing in Europe for several years and recently put into production. Nissan is looking at the Qashqai for New Zealand.
Honda broke with tradition by showing off an Accord Coupe Concept, a first for an Accord concept at a major motor show.
"The Accord Coupe Concept demonstrates the styling direction for the upcoming, eighth-generation Accord," said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda.
"As the industry's target for midsize segment excellence, the all-new Accord will set a new benchmark for safety, efficiency, performance, refinement and style."
The Accord Coupe Concept features the carmaker's next-generation variable cylinder management technology in an i-VTEC V6 engine.
It also incorporates the carmaker's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which Honda says offers better crash compatibility with vehicles of differing ride heights and also offers improved frontal-crash energy absorption. The new CR-V is ACE-based.
The Accord coupe is a North American model only. Honda expects the mid-size coupe segment in the US to grow by 34 per cent between now and 2011.
The US arm of DaimlerChrysler hinted at things to come with the Chrysler Nassau, a compact luxury car with two full-length glass skylights.
The Nassau features an array of high-tech hardware, including Bluetooth and navigation systems, and individual video screens and speakers mounted into the back of the front seat headrests. Up to four occupants each get their own bucket seats.
The concept is powered by a 6.1-litre version of Chrysler's Hemi V8, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
The Jeep Trailhawk looks like "what happens when you leave the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee alone for too long," joked Creed.
The overall footprint is roughly that of the Grand Cherokee, though the chopped roof is 7cm lower. It also features a Targa-style top with a pair of removable panels. The low brows over the headlight, suggested Chrysler's design boss, "give the Trailhawk the look of a bird of prey."
