It's been an exciting few days here in Detroit Rock City, as we've be working non-stop to deliver the latest news, big debuts and very first photos of all the hottest cars we could find. Sadly, all good things must come to an end and the 2013 Detroit Auto Show has treated us to a ton of major automotive reveals this week (including the highly anticipated Corvette C7).

Click on the images below for a recap of our top stories from NAIAS 2013 and be sure to check out the massive day 1 and day 2 photo galleries fresh off the Detroit Auto Show floor.

Acura has released pricing for its upcoming flagship, the RLX, at the Detroit Auto Show this week. Powered by an all-new direct-injected 3.5-litre V6 rated at 310 horsepower, the front-wheel-drive sedan replaces the outgoing RL model (2011's worst-selling car of the year) as the automaker's new flagship.

In addition to boasting the most spacious passenger cabin in its mid-luxury class, the new range-topping Acura features the automaker's first-ever application of Precision All-Wheel Steer and Jewel Eye LED headlamps. Standard equipment includes Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning, with Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, and Blind Spot Information (BSI) system trim and option specific.

The four-door will initially be sold in five grades (Canadian pricing TBD):

• RLX - US$48,450
• RLX with Navigation - US$50,950
• RLX with Technology Package - US$54,450
• RLX with Krell Audio Package - US$56,950
• RLX with Advance Package - US$60,450

While the new model doesn't officially go on sale until mid-March, to provide potential customers "with the opportunity to experience the numerous new technologies," Acura will preview its sedan at dealers during a "Destination RLX" program beginning in February.

As previously mentioned, an even more powerful version of the RLX, equipped with Acura's new Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD) and a 370-hp powerplant, will debut later this year.

There could hardly be more riding on the next-generation General Motors full-size pickup trucks, so the automaker has wisely made sure to have a selection of different models on hand at the Detroit Auto Show to show off. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra were both officially introduced last month at a stand-alone reveal, and now they'll be on display for the public to see in various body configurations and trim levels.

The Silverado LTZ Crew Cab and Sierra SLE Extended Cab are aimed at providing more of a high-end pickup experience, while the Silverado LT Z71 Extended Cab and Sierra SLT Z71 Crew Cab should have off-road fans scouting out their favorite trails. The crew cab trucks won't go into production until sometime during the second quarter of this year – with other bodystyles coming later in the year – but we have plenty of live images from Detroit for you to enjoy.

Fiat brought out two new design concepts at the Detroit Auto Show, both intended to expand the appeal of its 500 Turbo and 500 Abarth models with upgraded and unique appointments inside and out.

First up is the Fiat 500 "Cattiva," based on the 500 Turbo, painted with a vibrant Rame (Copper) exterior with contrasting Nero (Black) accents. The turbocharged 500 features gloss Nero headlamp buckets, parking lamp bezels, tail lamps and a roof-mounted spoiler. Special 16-inch alloys, painted satin dark gray, hint at the sport-tuned suspension inside each fender. The appointments are continued inside its cabin with leather sport seating, Matte Nero instrument panel and other trim upgrades. Lastly, the sound package is the segment-exclusive Beats Audio system.

The Fiat 500 "Tenebra," based on the 500 Abarth, is painted in Matte Grigio (Gray) with Nero accents, just like its sibling. In addition to gloss Nero headlamp buckets, parking and tail lamps, it is fitted with 16-inch alloys with a Nero chrome finish. Setting itself apart, the signature Abarth bodyside stripes (and mirror cap) are Grigio in color and there is a large Abarth "Scorpion" logo on the roof. Inside the cabin, the Tenebra features performance seats with leather upholstery, a flat-bottom steering wheel and other cosmetic upgrades. Like the Cattiva, the Beats Audio system is standard.

Check out live galleries of both the Cattiva and Tenebra models, and then read the full press release after the jump.

Affirmation, clarification, smack-down refutation – that was the order of responses when the issue of a right-hand0drive C7 Corvette came up at the Detroit Auto Show. When an Australian news outlet asked General Motors CEO Dan Akerson whether the new Stingray would get an RHD version, he answered "yes" and "soon."

That same question was put to lead Corvette engineer Tadge Juechter, and he began by stating that they've been wanting Corvette to get to Australia and "Our plan is to make this a truly global car." He then clarified Akerson's answer with "It'll be years away rather than soon.

Nevertheless, even after Juechter's curb-your-enthusiasm answer and Holden chief Mike Devereaux's sidestepping the line of fire by offering no comment, the responses led to this headline in Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Finally, iconic American sportscar, the Corvette, set for Australian showrooms."

Cue Tim Lee, GM's vice president of global manufacturing, president of its international operations and "the operating guy in charge." When the same query was put to him the day after it was put to Akerson, Lee said, "I have no idea what [Akerson] said but we have no plan to put a right-hand-drive under that bonnet. The Corvette is a Chevrolet, it's not a Holden, it never will be, next question." He added that there isn't even a plan for it, much less any engineering behind it.

His journalist questioners, sniffing blood in the contradiction, wouldn't let it go. After being led back to the subject of Akerson's "Yes" and Juechter's non-denial again and again, Lee finally said "This is a non-story from my point of view. You can write what you want to write, I really don't give a [expletive]. But it is not in the mainstream plan."

So there you have... something. The Brits and Japanese will get the new Corvette because it's legal to drive left-hand drive cars in those countries. For you Aussies, the 60-year wait continues.

Last September, Hyundai confirmed that it was exiting all of its motorsports programs in North America. That left Rhys Millen Racing without a title sponsor for its Formula Drift and Global RallyCross Championship series challengers. It also looked to have meant the end of a partnership that last year resulted in a record-setting run at Pikes Peak when Rhys Millen established the new benchmark for a run up the Colorado mountain in a production-based race car.

Hyundai clarified that September report by saying it was "reconsidering our continued involvement in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, having achieved the world record in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe this year." The return is official, with Hyundai saying it is going back to the peak with Millen and two cars, one of them a "purpose-built unlimited class rear-drive," the other being the Hyundai Genesis Coupe-based racer that set last year's record in the time attack two-wheel-drive class.

Hyundai wants to show off the strength of its engineering, so the unlimited car will have something like 900 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque while using the production block, cylinder heads, bearings and accessories of its Lambda V6 engine. You can read more about the effort in the press release below, and click the image above for an enlarged view of what's coming.

Who knew that diecast model makers could be such a good source of leaks? Less than a month after a diecast model 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA in China, someone overseas at Diecast Empire or Jadi Modelcraft could get a bath in boiling oil for leaking uncamouflaged images of the next-generation BMW X5.

Naturally, that assumes that this image from a brochure from a Jadi brochure is indeed the F15 BMW X5 – it was posted to Diecast Empire's Facebook page. In its favour, the lines all add up if we compare it to the most revealing spy shots we have of the coming crossover – the headlight corners, the metal trim separating the kidney grille from the opening just above the license plate, the cut of the swage line, and the fact that the model picture reveals all of the most important character pieces that BMW has kept covered.

There's something written on the door of the model image that isn't in the spy shots, but that could be an xDrive badge. We will see the genuine article soon enough and we'll know for sure. For now, we might have already seen its facsimile in miniature.

In a roundtable interview today at the North American International Auto Show, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced a US$6,400 price drop for the base-model 2013 Nissan Leaf. Last year's base model was US$35,200, while the new base-level 2013 Leaf S starts at US$28,800. Ghosn says the new prices make the Leaf the least expensive five-seater electric for sale in the US.

Some of the lower cost is due to a difference in content from last year's low-end model to this year's. But a sizable portion can be chalked up to the Leaf's production moving from Japan to Tennessee. The 2013 Leaf is not only assembled in the US now, but its lithium-ion batteries and the car's electric motors are manufactured in the same southern state.

The Leaf SV will be priced from US$31,820 for 2013 compared to US$35,200 last year. The high-end Leaf SL now starts at US$34,840, down from the 2012 model's US$37,250. These models also have differences in content. One big one is a new 6.6-kWh charger that reduces charging times pretty dramatically. (Canadian pricing is TBD but expect it to be the lowest price EV available on the market).

We've inundated you with Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray information over the last couple of days (you're welcome), but until now the images of the car have been largely of the exterior, and completely static. We figured that the slightly less dense crowd of journalists around the Chevy stand on day two of our media coverage would make for a good opportunity to get some video. And, considering that the reconfigurable instrument cluster was brand-spanking new, we asked Corvette Interior Design Manager, Ryan Vaughan for a tour of it.

Scroll down below for a first look inside the Corvette cockpit, and stay tuned for more fun from Detroit, today and tomorrow.

Shelby American has made a name for itself in tuning numerous Ford products, and now the Ford Focus ST can be added to this list. Introduced at the Detroit Auto Show, the Shelby Focus ST doesn't add any extra horsepower under the hood, but it should still make big gains in performance thanks to an upgraded suspension, brakes and exhaust systems. Also on hand at the Shelby display was a widebody version of the powerful Shelby GT500 Super Snake.

Starting with the already-quick Focus ST, Shelby adds Ford Racing suspension components under the car and bigger brakes with cross-drilled rotors, and this is all finished off with a Borla exhaust system with larger, circular outlets. Styling enhancements include functional hood vents, a liftgate spoiler, unique interior bits and wider wheels and tires. Shelby does mention a tuning option that will increase the engine's 252-horsepower output, but no pricing for this was released. Speaking of price, Shelby says this souped-up hot hatch will carry a "budget-minded price." What is that you ask? Well after you buy a US$23,700 Focus ST from your local Ford dealer, the Shelby upgrades will cost an extra US$14,995. Production of these cars will be limited to just 500 units, though.

As for the Super Snake, Shelby is giving the car a wider body kit to accommodate the 10-inch front and 13-inch rear wheels. Customer can choose just the wider rear wheels or the wider wheels at all four corners. Opting for a "stock" 662hp Super Snake will cost US$28,995 on top of Shelby GT500, and there is a tuned 850-hp version of the car US$39,995. The widebody package is an extra US$14,995.

Scroll down for the official press release from Shelby.

It may not be quite as radical as some of the company's past rotary racers, but the new Mazda6 Skyactiv-D racecar does have a notable powertrain underhood: the automaker's brand-new clean diesel four-cylinder engine.

Three of these new diesel-powered Mazda6 racers will take to the track in the Grand-Am GX class of the upcoming 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 26, with five drivers on each team. The car you see above, number 70, is sponsored by Mazda's longtime motorsports partner, SpeedSource.

Check out our full gallery of high-res images live from the 2013 Detroit Auto Show above and feel free to read through the related press release from Mazda below.

Yep, it's the new MDX. And despite being totally redone, it looks exactly like we expected. That is, it's an up-sized version of the RDX crossover with fancy LED lights stolen from the RLX sedan. And while that might not sound too exciting, we have to say, it is handsome – certainly a more cohesive, refined design than the angular, beak-tastic model that's currently on sale.

Acura is calling this 2014 MDX a prototype, but that's only because it isn't 100-per cent finished. Everything you see here will likely carry over to production, maybe with a couple small tweaks. Under the hood is the same 3.5-litre V6 that we know and love from the Honda group, and while we don't have power figures just yet, Acura says it will deliver more torque while improving efficiency. In redesigning the MDX, the Japanese automaker has managed to lighten and stiffen the chassis, improving driving dynamics. More interestingly, for the first time Acura will offer a front-wheel-drive version of the MDX, but don't worry, the automaker's SH-AWD all-wheel drive will be available.

Inside, the usual smattering of tech goodies will be on hand, including the next-generation AcuraLink system, satellite radio, tons of comfort amenities and every single alphabetic safety device known to man (okay, maybe not all of them).

This MDX may be a prototype, but we'll see the production version very, very soon. Scroll down for the full details in Acura's release.

The Acura NSX is still a couple years away from production (isn't it always?), but Acura has taken the dark window tint off last year's concept and opened the doors to show us what the interior of the car looks like. From what we can tell on the show-floor display, Acura's hybrid supercar will not only have a sexy exterior design, it will look great from the inside as well, but Acura pointed out that this is just "one possible direction" the interior could go. We suppose that means we can look forward to many more NSX concepts – you won't hear any complaints from us.

Building on Acura's latest tagline of "the synergy between man and machine," the NSX promises to provide a "human connected space" offering a simplified layout presumably chocked full of technology. Looking inside the concept reveals a cabin wrapped in maroon leather with sport bucket seats that will certainly provide plenty of support. We're sure there will be more information about the car and its interior at upcoming auto shows, but until then, scroll down for Acura's press release.

No, this is not the oh-so pleasantly named Quoris rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan – this is Kia's new front-drive entry into the North American market, the Cadenza. (If that sounds familiar, it's because Kia has long used the Cadenza name in other markets.) And while it's a sharp-looking thing, it's not exactly an original masterpiece. Peel away that slick exterior and you'll find a trusty Hyundai Azera doing the grunt work.

That's no bad thing, though; the Azera's a smooth-sailing sedan. Under the hood is a 3.3-litre direct-injection V6 putting out 293 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with, oh yes, Sportmatic manual mode. That power hits the ground via a sport-tuned suspension with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear configuration, matched with either 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, there's a whole host of nice leather surrounded by wood and chrome accents, with a driver-focused cockpit (sort of like the Optima) with a seven-inch TFT color touchscreen display. Premium options include things like Nappa leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, Kia's UVO infotainment system, HID headlamps with active lighting, heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Sounds comfy.

Kia will officially launch the Cadenza in the second quarter of 2013, with pricing to be announced closer to the on-sale date. Scroll down for the official press blast.