Detroit Auto Show highlights hi-tech

More than 50 new vehicles debuted at the North American International Auto Show, with highlights including Mercedes Benz' new concept F015 Luxury in Motion, the new aluminum body Ford F-150, Cadillac CTS-V, Shelby GT350R Mustang, a concept car from Chevrolet, Bolt, an EV concept expected to cost around 30,000 U.S. dollars, and Buick's first convertible in more than 25 years, dubbed Cascada.

The high-tech queen of the show, Mercedes Benz' F015 Luxury in Motion, is an autonomous, hybrid, carriage-style sedan, where the driver and front passenger can turn around to talk to their passengers as the car brings them to their destination. The vehicle is only a concept, but can run for 200 km on battery power alone. It has sleek, flowing lines, and looks like a stretched out egg with armor on it.

The Ford F-150, America's best-selling truck for 38 years running has come out with a big upgrade, the industry's first aluminum alloy body, which allows the vehicle to shed massive amounts of weight, improving the fuel economy and allowing the vehicle to pull more weight. The F-150 also won the North American Best Truck of the Year award, raising expectations for Ford's F- 150 features this year.

Ford also introduced the Shelby GT350R Mustang, a sedan focusing on track racing, while maintaining street legality. The GT350R has a 5.2L engine which produces more than 500 horsepower and includes standard 19-inch lightweight carbon fiber wheels, the first time a wheel of this type has come standard on a car from a major automaker. In order to keep performance up and weight down, Ford removed the air conditioning, stereo system, rear seats, trunk floorboard and carpet, backup camera and emergency tire sealer and inflator.

Over in GM territory, Chevrolet has released the Bolt concept car, a plug-in hybrid that can go 321km on one charge, but the sticker price is the real appeal, the car is priced at 30,000 U.S. dollars, giving it the range of a Tesla without the sticker shock of one. However, Tesla is expected to debut a production car around this range before the end of 2015, in contrast to Chevrolet 's concept car.

Finally, Buick debuted their first convertible in 25 years. Dubbed the Cascada, it features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four- cylinder outputting 200 horsepower. Buick has grown significantly over the past year, with an 11.4 percent sales increase in 2014, Buick's vehicles have attracted significant interest from buyers, giving them the option to take a risk on a convertible. Endite