Acura
Honda's luxury division had a profitable 2006. During the Acura's 20th anniversary year, it sold over 200,000 vehicles for the second year in a row. For 2007, the automaker plans to open a new research and design center in southern California and broaden their global market by expanding into China and entering the Japanese market. On stage at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show was the Advanced Sports Car Concept, offering a peek at Acura's future design direction. Click here for more.
Click here for video coverage of the Advanced  sedan concept.

Audi
Volkswagen's premium-vehicle division is working hard to shed its image of having vehicles with below-average reliability. Audi plans to invest more than $15 billion in new products and technology by 2011. At the retail end, more shoppers are flocking to Audi, as evidenced by a record sales performance in 2006. Audi sold 90,116 vehicles, an 8.5 percent increase over calendar 2005. The company recently launched a series of high-performance sedans for the 2007 model year. At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, Audi unveiled a pair of its Q7 large SUVs, each powered by diesel engines that meet strict emissions requirements in all 50 states. Click here for more.

BMW
BMW is coming off a strong year for car sales in 2006. While total sales were up three percent, car sales were up 9.4 percent, and SUV sales were down 15 percent (a redesigned X5 and more power for the X3 should boost SUV sales for 2007). Much of the increase in car sales was in its best selling 3-Series lineup, which totaled 120,180 units, up 12.4 percent from 2005. With the introduction of a new 3-Series convertible at Detroit, only the development of a high-performance M version remains. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the 3-Series convertible.

Cadillac
Though General Motors retained its spot as the world's number-one automaker in 2006, the company continues to face declines in its sales and market share in North America, its most important market. GM doesn't plan to go down without a fight, and the company launched several model-year 2008 vehicles at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show.  Though Cadillac sales were down about 3.4 percent in 2006 versus 2005, its Escalade large SUV and CTS midsize sedan each posted gains. GM's flagship division hopes to keep CTS' momentum going with a redesigned 2008 model, which made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Click here for more.

Chevrolet
Though General Motors retained its spot as the world's number-one automaker in 2006, the company continues to face declines in its sales and market share in North America, its most important market. GM doesn't plan to go down without a fight, and the company launched several model-year 2008 vehicles at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Chevrolet's redesigned 2007 Silverado received the North American Truck of the Year award. Introduced at the Detroit Auto Show were one production model and two concepts: the 2008 Malibu midsize sedan, the 2009 Camaro Convertible Concept, and the Volt electric car. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Camaro Convertible Concept. Click here for video coverage of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. Click here for video coverage of the Chevrolet Volt Concept.

Chrysler
2006 was a busy year for the Chrysler Group's Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands. Combined, the Group launched 10 new vehicles throughout the year, and sales were up across all three brands. Chrysler unveiled the Nassau Concept sedan at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, and further committed itself to the minivan segment with the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country minivan. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Chrysler Group's minivans.

Dodge
2006 was a busy year for the Chrysler Group's Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands. Combined, the Group launched 10 new vehicles throughout the year, and sales were up across all three brands. Dodge went from macho muscle to mom mobile at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. The automaker introduced the new 2008 Dodge Caravan, a restyled 2008 Dodge Magnum, an amped-up 2008 Viper, and the all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger midsize sedan at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Dodge Viper.

Ford
Ford sales dipped below 3 million in 2006, and Ford's North American market share slipped to 17.5 percent, down 1.1 percentage points from 2005. In contrast, Toyota saw its market share increase to 15.4 percent, up 2.1 percentage points over last year. Ford is hoping to right the ship by having all of its North American product lineup be new, refreshed, or redesigned no later than 2010. Ford kicked off this ambitious plan at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show by introducing a redesigned 2008 Focus and a freshened 2008 Five Hundred. It also unveiled the Airstream and Interceptor Concepts. Click here for more information. Click here for video coverage of the Ford Focus. Click here for video coverage of the Ford Interceptor Concept. Click here for video coverage fo the Ford Sync.

Honda
Honda sold 1.3 million vehicles in 2006, boosted by the sell-out success of the Fit and the strong sales of the redesigned CR-V. For 2007, the automaker plans to sell 1.36 million units and bring to market the 8th generation of its flagship vehicle. At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, Honda gave the audience a sneak peek of what's on the horizon for Accord; Honda's best-selling vehicle. Click here for more.

Hyundai
Now comfortably distant from its early days as a retailer of budget-priced commuter cars, Hyundai bolstered its position as a mid-market maker in 2006 with all-new versions of its midsize Sonata sedan and Santa Fe SUV. Now American made, both vehicles are assembled at Hyundai's new Alabama assembly plant. With an annual capacity of 300,000 cars and trucks, the new factory is capable of producing more than half of Hyundai's annual U.S. sales volume. Hyundai shares its Korean parent company with sister division Kia, which also retails cars and trucks in North America. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Hyundai Veracruz.

Jeep
2006 was a busy year for the Chrysler Group's Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands. Combined, the Group launched 10 new vehicles throughout the year, and sales were up across all three brands. At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, Jeep showcased its Trailhawk Concept SUV. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Jeep Trailhawk concept.

Kia
According to the South Korean automaker, Kia is taking America by storm in attempts to win consumer confidence in the brand. Construction of the automaker's first North American production plant is underway in West Point, Georgia, and its North American design center in Urbine, California will open later this year. Sales growth is a similar story. Kia sales are up 6.7 percent in North America and the automaker celebrated its 2,000,000th sale here in November. Forecasting Kia's design future was the Kia Kue Concept unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for more.

Lamborghini
Most manufacturers wouldn't consider annual worldwide sales of 2087 to be very good. But for Italian exotic automaker Lamborghini, that figure represents the company's 2006 sales and is a record performance--an increase of 30.4 percent versus 2005. Lamborghini sold 876 cars in the United States, an increase of 37 percent over 2005. The company expanded its lineup during 2006 with more new models than in its 40-plus-year history. Lamborghini displayed its Murcielago LP640 Roadster at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for more.

Lexus
With a stable of cars and trucks that includes four sedan models that have all been redesigned in the past 24 months, Toyota's luxury division enjoyed another year of steady sales growth in the U.S. Not content with its reputation for building reliable, somewhat conservative premium vehicles however, Lexus is rolling out two vehicles at the Detroit show that expand the brand's performance reach. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Lexus IS-F. Click here for video coverage of the Lexus LF-A Concept.

Lincoln
Ford's premium vehicle brand is undergoing a renaissance of its own. Its new MKX crossover SUV is hitting dealerships right now, as is the revamped MKZ midsize sedan and Navigator large SUV. Hints at Lincoln's future design direction could be found with the unveiling of the MKR Concept. MKR also served as a foundation for showing Ford's new twin-turbocharged V6 engine that can run on gasoline or E85 ethanol. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Lincoln MKR Concept.

Mazda
Mazda, Ford's Japanese affiliate, is riding high on a string of several new vehicles launched for the 2007 model year. Those include the CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs, a power-retractable hardtop version of its sporty MX-5 convertible and a high-performance MazdaSpeed3 compact hatchback. Mazda unveiled two vehicles at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. First was the Ryuga (ree-YOU-gah), a concept built on the foundation of the Nagare (nah-GAR-eh) concept, which debuted at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show. Also revealed was the gas-electric hybrid 2008 Tribute HEV. Click here for more.

Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is making a push in the diesel market with several vehicles that can run on the new clean diesel that was introduced in late 2006. The party started with the 2007 E320 Bluetec in late 2006, and continued with the ML320 CDI, R320 CDI, and GL320 CDI shortly thereafter. Mercedes showed a possible U.S.-bound V8 diesel engine at Detroit in the Vision GL420 Bluetec concept vehicle. Mercedes-Benz also used the opportunity to show the recently released 4Matic (all-wheel drive) version of the 2007 S550, as well as a four-door convertible dream car called Concept Ocean Drive. Click here for more.

MINI
Things are going well for MINI. Since its inception in 2002, the company has never had to offer incentives to sell its popular line of small cars. Now, it is in the midst of revising the line. Hardtop models are redesigned for 2007, while convertibles retain the 2002-2006 design. The redesigned hardtop was introduced at the 2006 Paris Auto Show in October and is making its North American debut in Detroit. MINI added a bit of spice to the convertible mix by announcing the Sidewalk option package at Detroit. Click here for more.

Mitsubishi
It's almost an oxymoron to say that a Japanese automaker is struggling in North America, but that's exactly where Mitsubishi stands right now. The company's sales have bottomed out to slightly more than 100,000 in 2006, down more than two-thirds from just three years ago. To try and reverse those fortunes, Mitsubishi is pinning its future on vehicles based on its new "C" platform. The first to use it is the new-for-2007 Outlander compact SUV. Mitsubishi's next C-based vehicle is the 2008 Lancer compact sedan, which appeared at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Also unveiled was the Prototype X, a thinly disguised version of Mitsubishi's next generation, high-performance Lancer Evolution. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Mitsubishi Prototype X Concept.

Nissan
Nissan retains its position as the number three Japanese car brand in the U.S. behind Toyota and Honda, despite losing some market share in 2006. While redesigned versions of its staple Sentra and Altima sedans should bolster sales in 2007, Nissan's fleet of midsize and large trucks and SUVs has failed to ignite strong buyer interest. One bright spot for Nissan was the recent launch of the Versa. Available in sedan and hatchback body styles, the high-roofed feature-laden compact has been a hit with buyers and media alike, and looks to bring new shoppers into Nissan showrooms. Click here for more. Click here for video coverage of the Nissan Rogue.

Premium Automotive Group
Ford groups its premium vehicle makers--Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo--as the Premier Auto Group (PAG). Jaguar and Volvo unwrapped concept vehicles in Detroit. Volvo believes the premium small compact SUV segment will grow by 75 percent by 2009 to 443,000 units. At Detroit, Volvo announced it would jump into the premium cute ute game and showed the XC60 concept, the precursor to the 2009 XC60. Jaguar, on the other hand, needs to boost sales, which were down sharply in 2006 to less than 30,000 units. The company, which recently announced the S-Type name would change to XF in the future, showed the bold and brawny C-XF concept at Detroit. Click here for more.

Pontiac
Though General Motors retained its spot as the world's number-one automaker in 2006, the company continues to face declines in its sales and market share in North America, its most important market. GM doesn't plan to go down without a fight, and the company launched several model-year 2008 vehicles at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. GM's performance division showed a pair of high-performance "GXP" models at the show. One is based on the company's midsize G6 coupe and sedan, the other on its midsize Torrent SUV. Click here for more.

Porsche
Germany's legendary sports-car maker broke with tradition and ruffled a few feathers in 2003 when it introduced the Cayenne SUV. Cayenne was a four-door, off-road capable, truck--all things that Porschephiles feared would dilute the purity of the brand's sports-car character. None-the-less, Cayenne initially sold well, and the "real Porsches" were none-the-worse for wear. Unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show is the 2nd generation Porsche Cayenne. Click here for more.

Rolls Royce
Now owned by BMW, British-based Rolls Royce continues its tradition of selling small batches of expensive, hand-built luxury vehicles. In 2006, Rolls sold about 350 cars in the U.S. Since being purchased by BMW in 1998, Rolls has introduced one new model, the Phantom sedan. At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, the automaker introduced the Phantom Drophead Coupe. Click here for more.

Saab
Though General Motors retained its spot as the world's number-one automaker in 2006, the company continues to face declines in its sales and market share in North America, its most important market. GM doesn't plan to go down without a fight, and the company launched several model-year 2008 vehicles at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. GM's Swedish affiliate showed off a technology concept at the show. The BioPower Hybrid Concept, based on Saab's 9-3 convertible, employs technology that allows it to run without any petroleum-based fuels. Click here for more.

Subaru
Subaru met an important sales milestone in 2006--selling over 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. market. In fact, since 1995, sales have been up a total of 6.5 percent. 2006 also marked the 40th anniversary of the automaker's Boxer engine. In 2007, Subaru will celebrate the 35th anniversary of its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System. At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, Subaru took the wraps off of the 2008 Outback and Legacy. Click here for more.

Toyota
Toyota sales keep climbing. Even in a U.S. market that was down 2.6 percent in 2006, Toyota prospered. For the first time ever, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., bumped DaimlerChrysler out of third place in the annual sales race. Toyota has claimed 15.4 percent of the U.S. light vehicle market. With the vehicles it showed at Detroit, it looks like its planning to take an even bigger chunk out of the market. On the production side, Toyota unveiled the 2007 Tundra CrewMax, a crew cab version of its all-new large pickup. And on the concept front, Toyota showed the FT-HS Sports Concept, a radically styled hybrid sports car. Click here for more.