#2011Naias

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Crime is something often associated with Detroit, though the many who’ve been there will tell you the Motor City doesn’t deserve the bad wrap it frequently seems to get in the press.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

The biggest debut at this year’s North American International Auto Show may have been a hybrid, but that doesn’t mean it’s not exciting. On the contrary, the Porsche 918 RSR is 767-hp of proof that hybrids can most certainly be cool. Based on the 918 Spider which also stole the show in Geneva last year, it’s a clear sign that Porsche is serious about hybrids, not just for its road cars, but also for its future in motorsports.

A very long list of other hybrids also made their debut in Detroit, including one surprisingly stylish one from Toyota. While it’s no surprise to see Toyota release a hybrid, the Prius c Concept defies the Toyota corporate mandate to be boring with great styling. As a concept, details are scarce, but Toyota says it will hit the market in 2012. The car is part of a larger effort by Toyota to grow the Prius name; with the Japanese automaker also unveiling a new Prius v wagon that will hit dealers this Summer.

Yet another hybrid on display came from Ford in the form of the C-Max Hybrid. Based on the C-Max MPV (another Detroit debut), the Hybrid version will get better fuel economy than the Fusion Hybrid and will be able to operate on pure electric power above 47-mpg. In addition to the C-Max Hybrid was the C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid that promises even better fuel economy and a total range of 500 miles. And let’s not forget the Audi A6 Hybrid, that can travel up to 62-mph on electric power.

Some of the more important mainstream vehicles included the Honda Civic Concept, as well as the official introduction of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, which is based on an all new, larger platform for the American market and will be built in America too. At Chrysler, the redesigned 300 was unveiled, while Ford showed the Vertrek Concept, which previews the next iteration of the Escape. Chevy rolled out its latest small car, the Sonic, while Buick introduced its first ever compact car, the Verano.

As for the important North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards, it was a no-contest bout with the Chevrolet Volt taking the prize in the car category, while the all new Ford Explorer takes home bragging rights in the truck list.

For the complete 2011 Detroit Auto Show breakdown, hit the jump or see our landing page here.

Announcing the launch of the Prius family of vehicles at the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota unveiled the new Prius v hybrid, as well as a new smaller Prius concept. Called the Prius c Concept, the vehicle is an obvious evolution of the FT-CH concept that debuted at the Detroit show just a year ago.

Speaking just a day after Toyota officially announced the expansion of the Prius hybrid into a whole lineup of vehicles at the Detroit Auto Show, General Motors CEO Daniel Akerson has confirmed the Chevy Volt will follow a similar path.

Compared to the Ford Raptor, the GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept is a T-Rex. Based on GM’s new Heavy Duty platform, this truck is in a whole other segment than the Raptor and was never meant to be a Baja machine.

If any other automaker announced they wanted to bring back the van, we would have expected something practical and utilitarian. We’d picture a family-friendly minivan or perhaps a commercial vehicle for small businesses. But when a company like Kia says it, we expect something entirely different. After all, this is the company that gave us giant hamsters.

Having just been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, the MINI Paceman Concept is production ready, according to a MINI source, who told AutoGuide that 2013 is the target date for the Paceman’s launch. Before the new two-door crossover, MINI will launch the upcoming Coupe and Roadster, sportier, stripped down versions of the base car with distinctive styling.

A car designed by and for Generation Y, the Hyundai Veloster has finally been revealed at the Detroit Auto Show. Powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 138-hp and 123 ft-lbs of torque, Hyundai will offer the car with either a 6-speed manual or a dual-clutch 6-speed automatic. Designed to deliver sporty performance, Hyundai is also claiming a 40-mpg highway rating, putting it ahead of all competitors in this segment.

Hyundai has finally released details on their new CURB crossover Urban Activity Vehicle, described as  a vehicle for “Generation Y living an urban lifestyle with an active night life.” The wild sport-cross concept shared the stage with the new Veloster during its debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

Fulfilling a promise from a year ago Toyota has expanded the Prius badge into a brand, unveiling a family of vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Along with the third-gen Prius and Prius Plug-in Hybrid, is the Prius v (a mid-size hatchback/wagon) as well as the Prius c Concept, which takes badge down-market to a more affordable segment with even better fuel economy.