Debuting in Detroit

The auto industry is gearing up for the Detroit Auto Show, the first big extravaganza of 2005, opening Jan. 9. More than 800,000 people visited last year, taking in 79 vehicle introductions.

Other commitments keep me from attending this year, but I’ve been keeping up with the previews at www.thecarconnection.com and elsewhere. (I actually know quite a bit about an exciting General Motors concept car that will be shown in Detroit but, alas, I’m sworn to secrecy for now.)

There will be 65 vehicle introductions this year, according to the Detroit News, including a revamped Dodge Charger, the small four- and six-cylinder Ford Fusion (based on the Mazda6), a new Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV, the sharp-looking Saturn Sky roadster and Mitsubishi Raider pickup. I’m looking forward to Mercedes-Benz’s introduction of the tiny and economical Smart cars to the U.S. market, though it will be up to importer Zap to bring in the tiny two-seater models that are common in Europe.

Here are a few highlights on the domestic side: A new version of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac truck is massive looking, in the style of recent Chrysler products. With a 4.6-liter V-8 under the hood, it is bigger in every way: longer, wider and taller. Buyers do seem to want this kind of creeping growth, though they pay for it at the pumps.

Much more economical will be Ford’s pretty Fusion, designed to fit between the Focus and the new Five Hundred. It will benefit from Mazda’s fully independent suspension, and will likely be built in Mexico.

I’ve seldom seen anything as hideous as Jeep’s Gladiator concept vehicle, which looks like a ’46 Jeep grafted on a Hummer chassis. Speaking of hideous, the Hummer H3 is as ugly as its parent vehicle, but somewhat smaller.

The Chrysler Firepower is a neat-looking and ultra-rakish concept car of the type that wows show audiences and rarely makes it into production. Powered by a 425-horsepower V-8 (it’s a Hemi, kids!), the Italian-inspired supercar with Crossfire-derived styling can reach 185 miles per hour and 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds.

Chrysler already has the Viper in its fleet, so it’s unclear what another $100,000-plus Car and Driver cover car would do for the company. The updated Dodge Charger, also Hemi-powered, is definitely going into production. But there will be lines around the Firepower at the show.

Import highlights: The new Audi Avant is the kind of wagon I like — fast, stylish and useful, fitting into the space of the Audi A6. Honda proves it can out-ugly Hummer with its new Ridgeline. This big, boxy and bulky truck will probably sell well, and drag down Honda’s green reputation in the process.

I offer kudos to the designers of the new Mazda5 MPV, which is a very compact wagon/minivan/SUV thing of the type popular in Europe and Japan. Both the second and third row of seats can be folded nearly flat. The MPV, on sale next summer, is powered by a very economical 16-valve four-cylinder engine. Mazda says the design "evokes conversation and communication among occupants." I certainly intend to talk about it.

And there’s a new Porsche Boxster, smoother looking and more reminiscent of the 911 than the model it replaces. The Boxster S can make it to 60 miles an hour in 5.2 seconds, and the entry-level model is only slightly slower. Prices jump $1,200 to $1,500 along with the horsepower.

Again, what may prove to be the most significant debut at the show is coming from GM, but I can’t talk about it yet.