Detroit motor show 2009 news - Detroit 2009: Red - 2009

12 January 2009 - 11:00

Detroit 2009: Red

It's not all hybrids and sustainable transport in Detroit, there's quick stuff too - and they were making no apology for it.

VW Concept Bluesport
Definite star of the show, this one - a lightweight mid-engined roadster from Volkswagen with 180bhp diesel power. It's been designed to accept the four-pot Golf engines turned around and plonked behind the driver, so tuned petrol versions are also a possibility. The Bluesport is only a concept at the moment but it's drivable and VW bosses are serious about building it, providing they can be confident it'll sell as well as the MX-5 does for Mazda. An Audi version might also help make up the numbers.

Audi R8 V10
Lots of dry ice and all the tightly scripted enthusiasm you'd expect from a German autocue as Audi revealed its second most interesting car of the show: the V10-engined R8. Shame, because they had lots to sing about - a 5.2-litre unit out of the Gallardo putting out 518bhp and 390lb ft of torque, which'll do 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and top out at 196mph. A few visual tweaks too: all-LED headlights, bigger sideblades, new diffuser. Costs £100,000. Find out why it was only second most interesting here.

McMerc SLR Stirling Moss
Speedster version of Merc's supercar. No windscreen - just a couple of tiny wind deflectors. The 5.4-litre V8 is fettled up to 641bhp, will manage 60mph in 3.4 seconds and get to 217mph - the quickest windscreen-less road car on the planet. Only 75 being built, all already sold to current SLR owners for 750,000 Euros.

Bentley Conti GTC Speed
Most powerful Bentley convertible ever: six-litre W12 now puts out 600bhp (48bhp more than the non-Speed). There was a press conferemce for this, but since the covers were off the car from the moment the show opened, we missed it. Anyway, stuff you need to know includesthe 4.5-second 0-60 and 200mph the roof-up top speed. There's also a sportier ESP mode, a few changes to front end, bigger wheels and bootlid spoiler. Costs £146,100.

Ford Shelby GT500
A refreshing break from the central US auto industry theme of small, green and economical - the new 540bhp GT500. Carroll Shelby revealed the thing, available in tin-top coupe and convertible flavours. Styling mods are subtle, but there are more curves to that distinctive 'Stang shape and a prettier rear end. It's also been sharpened up in the handling department, but the headline news is it's the most powerful production Mustang ever.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S
A bit of extra power for Maser's four-door: 4.7-litre V8 bumped from 425bhp to 433bhp thanks to engine remap and new exhaust. Stiffer springs, lower ride height, new grille, fresh headlights. Definitely the big luxo-barge of choice if you like to waft at speed.