Best cars of the 2012 auto shows

The LF-LC hybrid sports coupe concept, unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, signals a new design direction for Lexus. If the LF-LC gets positive response on the auto show circuit, the company might be inspired to build the supercar, which would indeed be super. Ideally, we'd like it to possess the handling prowess of Lexus' celebrated LFA, come in a rear-wheel-drive platform and have the turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrain pump out between 450 and 500 horsepower. Now that would be a world-class sports car.

View Pictures:  Lexus LF-LC concept

The original NSX was the everyman's supercar. The car, sold in the United States from 1990 to 2005, wasn't overly powerful, but handled like it was on rails, thanks to a low curb weight, ideal weight balance and a low center of gravity. The all-new NSX, which is expected to come out sometime in the next three years, will rely on technology to achieve the same results in the twisties. The concept's midmounted V6 engine is connected to a dual-clutch automatic transmission with a built-in electric motor that sends power to the rear wheels. An additional pair of electric motors sits at the front axle to provide all-wheel drive.

View Pictures:  Acura NSX at NAIAS
Watch Video:  Acura NSX concept

Midsize sedans are the best-selling cars in America. With the release of the 2013 Fusion, Ford may vault to the top of that important class. With its sweeping lines and Aston Martin-like grille, it will be one of the prettier cars on the road. The Fusion also boasts class-leading fuel economy for its hybrid version: 47 mpg combined. The turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder base engine is also at the top of the mpg list, and Ford will offer a highly efficient, plug-in hybrid Energi version of the Fusion, too. Ford also promises improved handling, safety technology worthy of a luxury car, and a richer interior.

View Pictures:  Ford Fusion at NAIAS 2012

Just as Chevrolet was making headlines with its new 556-horsepower Camaro ZL1, Ford one-upped its rival with a revised Shelby GT500 Mustang, unveiling a convertible version of the modern muscle car at the Chicago Auto Show. The heart of the GT500 is a new 5.8-liter supercharged V8 engine that pumps out 650 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, making it the world's most powerful production V8. Handling is improved, thanks to adjustable Bilstein shocks, while Brembo brakes provide stronger stopping power. The GT500 ragtop went on sale last summer at just under $60,000.

2013 Ford Shelby GT500

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Ferrari unveiled the replacement for its V12-powered 599 at this year's Geneva Motor Show: the F12 Berlinetta. The 6.3-liter V12 engine makes the F12 the most powerful Ferrari ever, spinning out 740 horsepower and accelerating from zero to 62 mph in a reported 3.1 seconds. The lone transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual. Extensive use of aluminum in the chassis means the F12 weighs an estimated 150 pounds less than the 599, and performance is improved with a lower center of gravity, less drag and greater down force. Pricing should start in the mid-$300,000 range when the F12 goes on sale early in 2013.

View Pictures:  Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Watch Video:  Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Lamborghini unveiled its Aventador supercar at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. With its carbon-fiber body, 691-horsepower V12 engine and street-racer looks, the 2-seat coupe was one of the biggest hits of the show. This year we got to see the Aventador J, a one-off speedster with an open cockpit, a cut-down windshield and a minimalist approach that eliminates air conditioning and a radio. Changes from the Aventador include seats with carbon-fiber fabric inserts, a narrower front end with a unique carbon-fiber air scoop, an X-shaped carbon-fiber engine cover, and special bumpers that create more down force.

View Pictures:  One-of-a-kind Lambo
Watch Video:  Lamborghini Aventador J

Infiniti made one of the biggest impressions on the press corps in Geneva with the debut of the sexy Emerg-E. The Emerg-E extended-range electric vehicle showcases eye-watering design, from the intense headlight eyes to the astonishing rear air intakes said to be "modeled on the neck of a kimono." Two electric motors, driving through an Xtrac transmission, produce a total of 400 horsepower. Solar roof panels help top up the supply. Lotus provides a small range-extender engine that charges the batteries.

View Pictures:  Infiniti Emerg-E concept

The new Viper is even more of a badass than before, and that's saying a lot. Its 8.4-liter V10 engine puts out 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. The body structure of high-strength steel is 50 percent stiffer and 28 pounds lighter than before. The exterior body is 32 percent lighter, thanks to aluminum doors and sills and a carbon-fiber hood, roof and rear decklid. The interior is a huge step up; the seats are the same as those in a Ferrari. A racing version also debuted in New York and is competing in the American Le Mans Series.

View Pictures:  New SRT Viper

This cool-looking concept is a close representation of a new electric car that Infiniti plans to launch within the next two years. If it does what Infiniti says it will do, it could be a game changer. It's about as long as the Infiniti G Sedan, so it won't compromise space or practicality as do most current EVs. Furthermore, it should offer impressive acceleration, not just from a standstill, but while cruising at speed, thanks to 240 lb-ft of torque available instantly. It has a compact 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Inside, it will have a twin-display center console with advanced data services.

View Slideshow:  2012 New York Auto Show: Top 10 rides

Best described as more a road-going airplane than a flying car, the street-legal Terrafugia Transition garnered plenty of attention in New York after making its first flight just a few weeks before the show. On the road, the Transition's wings fold up and the driver operates the vehicle like any other car. Upon arriving at the airport, the wings fold out and power is directed to the rear propeller. The driver-turned-pilot has full aircraft gauges and controls, and upon takeoff can cruise at about 115 mph. The Transition can be operated by anyone with a sport pilot license — and with $279,000 to spend on this new car/aircraft.

Watch Video:  The flying car

McLaren returned to the Pebble Beach Concours two years after the MP4-12C's debut to open the next chapter in the MP4 playbook, wherein the supercar takes on new life as a convertible. The 12C Spider features a retractable hardtop that can be opened in just 17 seconds, even while the car is moving. And this car can move; with 616 horsepower generated by its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, it can reach 62 mph in just 3.1 seconds on its way to a top speed in excess of 200 mph.

Watch Video:  McLaren MP4-12C Spider

The sophisticated 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo was named Best of Show at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours. Owner Paul Andrews said that only 13 of the 680S Saoutchiks were created and that just three featured the sporty, low windshield. The owner also cited the car's "great lines and beauty" as a reason for the win, but noted that the supercharged 6.8-liter engine boasts "great power" and "handles fantastically for the era." Recalling the roar of the engine, estimated to produce between 200 and 300 horsepower, Andrews likened the noise to "a bunch of screeching owls."

Watch Video:  2012 Pebble Beach Best of Show

Twenty years after releasing the F1, which some say is the greatest road car ever built, McLaren unveiled another potential game-changing supercar, the P1, at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. It joins the MP4-12C as the second model in the company's growing line of performance cars. Engine details were not discussed, but McLaren promises the P1 will carry a scant 3.7 pounds of weight for each horsepower, and generate more than 1,300 pounds of down force with a low drag coefficient of 0.34 percent.

View Pictures:  High performance in Paris

The C-X16 concept, which had over the past couple of years become a darling of the auto show circuit, was finally let loose on the real world at the Paris Motor Show in the form of the Jaguar F-Type. When it arrives on the market, the F-Type will be available with three supercharged trim levels offering anywhere from 340 to an astonishing 495 horsepower. Of course, first impressions are made by the F-Type's styling; its body shows plenty of influence from Jags of the past, inviting inevitable comparisons to the legendary E-Type.

Watch Video:  Jaguar F-Type

This concept from Lexus is a look at what we should expect in the all-new IS series series slated to debut at the upcoming 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Styling elements are aggressive, starting most prominently with the angular, attention-demanding grille. The rear end of the LF-CC confirms and conveys a look that makes the car seem poised to leap at any moment; it's specifically designed with a rear-drive production model in mind.

Read:  Lexus gets focused

At first blush, the more upscale 2013 Range Rover seems less "all new" than it does mildly different. But peek inside its cabin and you'll find this SUV is as posh as they come, and it should be a serious threat in the luxe car arena. Plus, its chassis is all-aluminum to help save a massive 926 pounds, rear legroom has improved, and the turbocharged V8 engine in the highest trim level pushes 510 horsepower, taking the Range Rover from zero to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds.

2013 Land Rover Range Rover

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Ford is examining a different kind of menace for the drag strip with its twin-turbo Cobra Jet concept revealed at the 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. It carries the usual presence of a Mustang outfitted for drag competition — but this Snake has a very different kind of bite. The concept features a 5.0-liter V8 engine capable of propelling the racer to an 8-second quarter-mile sprint.

View Pictures:  Ford at the 2012 SEMA show

At this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas, Chevy introduced a Hot Wheels-inspired Camaro, slated for production and complete with redline wheels and the famous flaming logo of the 44-year-old toy brand. All models will be coated in a special Kinetic Blue metallic paint. "Millions of us grew up playing with Hot Wheels," says Chris Perry, vice president of marketing for Chevrolet. "Offering a special production model of the Camaro Hot Wheels is an opportunity to bring those memories to life, for kids of all ages." Chevy says the Camaro Hot Wheels Edition will arrive in dealerships in early 2013, with a limited run of about 1,500 vehicles.

2013 Chevrolet Camaro

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For those who find the monstrous SLS-AMG to be a bit too soft, there's the SLS AMG Black. With its 6.2-liter V8 engine cranking out 622 horsepower, the SLS-AMG Black debuted at the LA Auto Show in late November with a wing, spoiler, vents and all manner of bodywork, showing that this is not your run-of-the-mill SLS. All of that aggressive aero work and the screaming yellow finish seem to be a warning: Your doom will come, but the SLS AMG Black will try to make it quick, and you'll have fun while it lasts.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS

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The S60 Polestar is a 508-horsepower beast churning out 424 lb-ft of torque. With a new chassis that is both lower and wider, along with a Haldex all-wheel-drive system and Ohlins suspension, the Polestar S60 concept is a serious machine plucked straight from our fantasies — or nightmares. Rumor has it that Jay Leno has already shelled out cash for the Polestar S60; unfortunately, the closest the rest of us will get is a package for the Volvo S60 offering 25 more horsepower than the stock S60, along with the loud blue finish of the Polestar concept. We can always dream.

Watch Video:  Top cars from the 2012 LA Auto Show

At its press conference in the City of Angels, Mazda dropped an unexpected gift along with its new Mazda6 — the news that the company's Skyactiv-D diesel engine will be available in the United States in the Mazda6. With 173 horsepower and a delightful 310 lb-ft of torque, the diesel Mazda6 makes the already eagerly awaited new sedan even more attractive to buyers. Along with a new styling philosophy and available 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, the 2014 Mazda6 is a bold statement for the Japan-based automaker as it looks to increase its small but loyal American market share.

2014 Mazda Mazda6

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The third-generation Cayman was unveiled at Los Angeles, and we believe it is what most Porsche fans expected: a beautiful new take on what many think is Porsche's best-looking — and, indeed, flat-out best — sports car. With design elements taken from the gorgeous new Boxster, the Cayman has swooping lines — especially where the roofline meets the integrated spoiler and taillight setup — that create a real sense of drama. With a longer, wider stance and a horsepower bump in both trim levels, the Cayman and Cayman S are ready to defend their "best driver's car" title.

2012 Porsche Cayman

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