The North American International Auto Show is the beginning of the new car year 2014. And the manufacturers are really accelerating in Detroit. FORD sees itself back on the winning track. With the new F-150 the most successful pickup in the USA has been successfully modernized. But - Detroit is also famous for the show cars and the concept vehicles. 2014 is no exception.

The three hottest studies from Detroit 2014

In third place: the Volvo XC Concept

The XC Concept gives us an outlook on the upcoming Volvo XC90. A brilliant, powerful design for an SUV of the upper vehicle class. Particularly nice on the model: the hand-carved Pirelli sports tires.

In second place: the HONDA FCEV

Not a Detroit novelty, admittedly - but I wasn't in LA where the fuel cell vehicle was originally shown. HONDA has promised a fuel cell vehicle will come onto the market by 2015. It won't look as much like "i Robot" and Star Wars as this concept - but - concept vehicles always give a direction. In this case: the right one!

But Toyota shoots the bird. No. 1 - without discussions: The FT-1

More about this sports car dream on the page with the Toyota FT-1 photos [click]