The SUV takes center stage in Detroit

Acura is ditching the problem-plagued turbocharged inline-4 engine of its last RDX in favor of a more traditional 3.5-liter V6, which will realize an extra 33 horsepower and be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. A new all-wheel-drive system is lighter than the previous one and thus more efficient. The front-wheel-drive RDX does 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway, and it looks better, too. The door openings are bigger, and the rear hatch has a power function. It's more technologically advanced than before, too; optional features include Pandora radio and a 60-gigabyte hard drive (15 of that for music).

Read: Acura Unveils 3 Concepts in Detroit

The Q3 is definitely coming to America in 2012. If we had to guess, we'd say something that looks like the Q3 Vail concept will be available on our shores, too, perhaps in 2013. It looks like a kind of Allroad vehicle from Audi's past, and those have been nothing but cool. This concept takes things further, though, sporting a turbocharged inline-five engine that produces 314 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That engine is mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission, so you'd be able to bang off shifts pretty quick on the way up the mountain. And it will power to 62 mph in a quick 5.5 seconds. Oh, and it'll do 163 mph. It has a unique paint color — Energy Red — and other unique touches inside and out. Needless to say, we want one.

Read: Audi Introduces the Q3 Vail, Improves the S4

Think what you want about Maserati's admittedly late entrance into an already-crowded SUV scene. But before you start screaming sacrilege, remember that the Cayenne all but saved Porsche back in 2002. If you still want to trash-talk, you should consider that the Kubang is built in Detroit and that it's based on the well-received Jeep Grand Cherokee. As you can see, this one is quite a bit more avant garde than its domestic counterpart. Nobody will mistake you for a Jeep driver behind the wheel. The Cayenne competitor will be available with two engines: a 4.7-liter 450-horsepower V8 from Ferrari and a 3.0-liter V6 diesel said to make 300 horsepower.

Bing Images: Maserati Kubang

The Encore is the small SUV that Buick may or may not need, but it's interesting enough. Buick is hoping to attract younger buyers (as it has with many of its recent reveals) with the Encore's size and of course, price, at $22,000. The Encore is a little bigger than a Nissan Juke, and we'll tell you right now, it's not going to be nearly as quick, with its 1.4-liter turbocharged engine producing just 140 horsepower. On the plus side, the Encore will sport a relatively upscale interior, and it'll likely be more refined and quieter than smaller competition like the Juke. But why isn't Buick building a Lexus competitor instead?

View Slideshow: Best Bang for the Buck: Crossovers

The company is insisting that we not apply the term "crossover" in describing its new 7-seat crossover, but that's what it is, technically speaking. The switch back to a unibody chassis is said to save around 500 pounds, and it opens up a more spacious interior. The new Pathfinder will be V6-powered, and it will use a continuously variable transmission. The design lines have been softened, and the interior is decidedly nicer. The bottom line here is that you're not going to be doing heavy off-roading in your new Pathfinder, but you'll enjoy your trips to the supermarket more, which is fine.

Read: In a Sea of Cars, Nissan Shows 2 Trucks

James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.