Chrysler’s big surprise at the Detroit Auto Show was the 200C EV Concept – a sleek and European-looking sedan filled with technological innovations.

As a 268hp range-extended EV, the 200C Concept operates on battery power with a gasoline engine kicking-in once the lithium-ion batteries can no longer power the wheels.

The interior may look like a typical crazy concept with all sorts of modern shapes and colors, but Chrysler says many of the technologies found in the cabin will be availale in the future.

Chrysler’s UCONNECT system will provide never-before-seen technologies. Taking from social networking sites like Facebook, the Uconncet system will let drivers program in their freinds’ cars – and the onboard system would be able to tell a driver where his friends are.

The Uconnect system comes with an iPhone-like portable control panel that can turn on the car and operate the windows. It is also connected to a camera in the car – perfect for keeping an eye on your teenage kids.

The 200C also contains several other safety features for parents with teen drivers allowing a maximum speed to be set or a notification sent to the parent if the vehicle leaves a certain range. It will even be able to alert a parent if their teen driver is operating the vehicle erratically.

Official release after the jump:
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Looking strikingly similar to the Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept unveiled at last year’s Detroit Auto Show, the ConverJ Concept is powered by the same drivetrain as the upcoming Chevy Volt. Using a four-cylinder engine, a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric engine, the vehicle should achieve 40 miles of emissions-free driving before the gasoline engine is engaged.

General Motors says that it’s extened-range electric powertrain, called VOLTEC, need not be limited to four-cylinder engines either – hinting that a signficantly more powerful drivetrain could be used to power a production model of the ConverJ.

Official release after the jump:
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We first reported that Jaguar would display its new XFR at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, but the British marque had a surprise -or two – up its sleeve. Also unveiled was the new Jaguar XKR, a high-performance machine above and beyond the current model.

Both the XFR and XKR get new, more aggressive, aerodynamics as well as a shockingly powerful 510hp engine. The engine is an all-new 5.0-liter powerplant that has been supercharged and features direct injection technology. Torque is also impressive at 460 ft-lbs.

This new engine can propel the XFR to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and the XKR to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Thanks to direct injection technology, the XKR gets comparable fuel economy to the old 4.2-liter model with fewer emissions. The XFR also registers equal fuel economy to the standard supercharged 4.2-liter car with fewer emissions. Both vehicles feature a revised transmission that allows for smoother and faster shifts.

Also standard on both new R models is a dynamic suspension that can adapt up to 100 times per second. These two new models are a commitment by Jaguar to reinvigorate the R badge.

The company also plans to unveil an all new model later this year, which, rumor has it, is a coupe-styled luxury sedan along the lines of the CLS and Panamera. Expect an official reveal of that car at the Geneva Motor Show.

Official 2010 XF and XFR release after the jump:
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After unveiling the EV Concept at the Paris Auto Show, Dodge made a concerted effort to keep the publicity ball rolling by showcasing the Tangerine colored Circuit EV Prototype at the Detroit Auto Show.

Running on a pure electric engine, the Circuit will hit 60 mph in less than five seconds and accelerate through the quarter mile in just 13 seconds. Top speed has been limited to 125 mph. Possibly more impressive than the performance is the Circuit’s range. Dodge claims the sportscar will achieve 150 to 200 miles on a single charge.

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As well as debuting the Continental GTC Speed, the Bentley press conference focused on the company’s commitment to the environment. By 2012 Bentley aims to achieve a long list of green changes for its entire lineup.

For starters, Bentley aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent by applying new technologies to the current vehicles as well as using new transmissions and drivelines. Also, the company plans to begin reducing the weight of its cars – an area where Bentley certainly has a lot of room to work with.

Bentley also plans to bring an entirely new powertrain to the market, which will be 40 percent more fuel-efficient than the standard models. There is no word on if the new powertrain will be diesel, a hybrid-electric engine or some other type of system.

Finally, Bentley plans to have its entire lineup of vehicles able to run on either Biofuels (i.e. Ethanol) or gasoline. In other words, they will be flexfuel vehicles.

As though the polished look of the Audi Sportback Concept were not enough to convince you that a similar car will make it to production as the A7, Audi even has a design philosophy thought out for the car and it’s oddly numbered siblings.

According to Audi PR boss Christian Bokich Audi’s philosophy for the A3, A5 and (potentially) the A7 is that the odd numbered vehicles are an area where the company can express itself more creatively. The even numbered models making up the conservative backbone of the German company.

This theory gives credence to the Sportback Concept becoming the A7. It is, after all, a luxury hatchback. The reason behind the hatchback idea comes from the massive success of the A3, as well as the continued popularity of the Avant models.

Powered by a 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine that gets 40 mpg and, the Sportback makes 225hp and 406 ft-lbs of torque. Power is put to the ground thanks to Audi’s 7 Speed S-Tronic transmission.

Other highlights of the Sportback include continuously variable shock absorbers and carbon ceramic brakes.

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Looking a great deal like a YES Roadster or a Vauxhall VX220 Turbo, the BlueSport Concept by Volkswagen is a cute and yet somehow masculine creation.

This roadster for the environmentally conscious is powered by a clean diesel TDI engine that makes an

impressive 180hp and yet can achieve a rating of 55 mpg! Thanks to VW’s revolutionary DSG gearbox the BlueSport Roadster Concept can accelerate to 62 mph in just 6.2 seconds. The low slung body of the BlueSport Roadster and massive 19-inch wheels make for a sporty and fun

look. Desing and material quality is very high and judging from the innovative yet realistic interior and reasonable proportions, expect to see this model hit production in the next few years.

Official release after the jump:
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Thanks to Ford’s new Global Product Development System the company was able to bring the new Taurus to market 12 months sooner – and not a moment too soon. The old 500/Taurus was a relative flop and considering how successful the Fusion has been, a more impressive full-sized sedan was much needed.

Ford believes the 2010 Taurus will bring back the sedan’s past successes and to do so they will offer it at the same MSRP as the outgoing model – $25,995.

The 2010 Tauris will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts down 263hp and 249 ft-lbs of torque. Power will be put to the wheels through a six-speed transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The new transmission will also feature “grade assist” to help during hill starts.

Ford claims a vastly improved interior in terms of both materials and design. As for the exterior, the body panel margins rival those of German luxury sedans.

The look of the Taurus is all-new as well and the sedan will come with 17-inch wheels stadard with sizes ranging all the way to 20-inches.

Technological highlights include Adaptive Cruise Control and a Blind Spot Information System.

Official release after the jump:
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Next year Ford will deliver pure electric versions of its Fusion and Focus models to fleet customers with units going on sale in 2011.

The pure electric cars are expected to achieve 100 miles on a single charge. Then in 2012 Ford will deliver a plug-in hybrids of both the Fusion and Focus.

Ford also announced that the four cylinder all-new Fusion will deliver 34 mpg, making the Fusion the most fuel-efficient mid-sized sedan and mid-sized hybrid sedan.

Official release after the jump:
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Set to go on sale this summer, the Flex EcoBoost gets V8 power with V6 fuel economy.

With 22 mpg on the highway the V8-power is impressive with 355hp and 350 ft-lbs of torque. The EcoBoost engine in the Flex will be a twin-turbo V6 with direct injection.