Detroit Motor Show 2012 round-up

The Detroit Motor Show hasn't previously been held in the same kind of regard as some of the biggest European motor shows like Frankfurt and Geneva, but this year's expo will definitely be remembered as one of the best yet. 

The big news for everyone was the unveiling of a new Ford Mondeo – known as the Fusion in America. Like the latest Focus, it's a global car and will be sold around the world mostly unchanged. It's promising to be better handling and more luxurious than ever, while the big news under the bonnet is a plug-in hybrid powertrain boasting up to 140mpg.

Lexus signalled its intentions to produce a 6 Series-rivalling model with the LF-LC Concept and Toyota pulled the wraps of the NS4 Concept, described as "an advanced plug-in hybrid" that previews how the next Prius could look. 

All the rumours flying around about Honda's new NSX supercar turned out to be true. The new NSX is set to use a 400bhp V6 hybrid powertrain, with a mid-mounted petrol engine and a pair of electric motors at the front, as well as a development of Honda's Super-Handling-All-Wheel-Drive-System (SH-AWD).

Volkswagen took the wraps off the two-seater all-electric E-Bugster, which is based on the Beetle, and a Jetta Hybrid. The latter may work for the American market, but it's actually not as efficient as the cleanest diesel Jetta. 

Elsehwere, Mercedes gave a world debut to the all-new SL in Detroit, Cadillac unveiled its 3 Series-rivalling ATS and Chevrolet released details of the new Sonic RS hot-hatch – a model that will make it to the UK as the Aveo RS. 

We also had a chance to sit down and chat with Bentley's engineering boss, Rolf Frech, about diesels, hybrids, downsizing and SUVs. British CEO of VW America, Jonathan Browning, also spared a minute of his time to talk to us about boosting sales and the brand's image in the US.