Stars of the 2017 Detroit motor show

Detroit is the centre of the automotive world.

It is the home to three of the biggest car makers - General Motors, Ford and Fiat-Chrysler. The city is filled with the legacy of these three brands and, traditionally, the trio use the annual Detroit motor show to stamp their authority on the industry.

But not in 2017. After years of show-stopping concept cars and important production cars (think Ford GT in 2015 and the Chevrolet Corvette in 2014) the big American brands were surprisingly subdued this time around.

Chevrolet's big reveal is the sensible and practical Traverse SUV. Ford showed off the facelifted F-150 and announced plans to revive the Bronco (but revealed no concept, or even a sketch) and the entire Fiat-Chrysler Group didn't even both with a press conference.

Instead the 2017 edition of the Detroit show was left to the imported brands to bring the glitz and glamour with flashy concepts and desirable production cars.

Here are Drive's stars of the 2017 Detroit motor show.

Volkswagen I.D. Buzz

The German has tapped the design spirit and inherent versatility of one its most iconic and revered models in the original Microbus, or Kombi as it is known to Australian motorists, for its new I.D. Buzz concept - an unapologetically retro inspired but technically advanced four-wheel-drive electrically powered MPV revealed at the show.

Tentatively planned to join the German car maker's line-up in 2020, the I.D. Buzz forms part of a multi-model electric car initiative masterminded by Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess, who is aiming to thrust the company to the forefront of the electric car ranks within the next decade following the upheaval surrounding the diesel emission scandal.

Offering accommodation for up to eight adults on seats that can either swivel, fold away or be removed completely to provide a highly flexible and roomy interior, the tall one-box MPV concept is described as the second in five dedicated electric powered models being developed by Volkswagen, following on from the original four seat I.D. hatchback revealed at last year's Paris motor show.

The I.D. Buzz features two electric motors - one mounted up front within the short nose section and another one within the rear axle assembly at the rear. This provides it with four-wheel drive capability, unlike the significantly smaller rear-wheel drive I.D. hatchback which features a single electric motor mounted at the rear.

As well as providing zero emission compatibility, the new I.D. Buzz also features the latest in autonomous driving technology, allowing the driver to retract the touchpad equipped steering wheel and make use of a seat that swivels 180 degrees to face the rear in what is described as "non critical driving conditions" in a so-called I.D. Pilot mode that is being developed for introduction in 2025.

The upright eight window glasshouse also features a look very reminiscent of the original Kombi with prominent pillars - those at the rear each carrying three ventilation ducts in a visual nod to the vents used on the original.

A further throwback feature is the two-tone paint scheme, which has been enhanced with the inclusion of an LED light band that is used to separate the lower section of the new concept from the top section within a swage line that mimics the look of chrome feature line of the earlier Kombi.

Kia Stinger

Kia plans to fill the void left by the departure of the Australian-made Commodore later this year with its biggest, most powerful car ever.

The South Korean car maker took the covers off its stylish new Stinger in Detroit, promising the big rear-drive sedan-cum-hatch will offer the kind of performance, style and driving engagement of a muscle car like the Commodore SS.

Coincidentally, Kia's new flagship is due to arrive in Australian showrooms around September, roughly the same time as production of the V8-powered Commodore ceases before the nameplate switches to the European-designed and fully-imported model in early 2018. It will also come with a similar sticker price, starting somewhere in the $40,000 bracket for an entry-level model with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder and topping out around $50,000 for the flagship GT variant with its twin-turbo V6.

The Stinger not only matches the Commodore in concept - a large, rear-wheel drive sedan - but also in size. Measuring 4831mm in overall length, 1869mm in width and riding on a wheelbase of 2906mm, the Stinger is fractionally smaller in its key dimensions and will likely offer similarly generous levels of interior space with enough room for five adults.

The Stinger will come to Australia in two mechanical configurations distinguished only by the engines. The entry-level model will be powered by an upgraded version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder already offered in the Optima GT, but turned north-south in the engine bay and driving the rear wheels via a limited slip differential and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The flagship Stinger GT has the same transmission set-up but is driven by a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 that will make it the fastest and most powerful model in its history with the ability to shoot from 0-100km/h in 5.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 269km/h.

While Kia says both engines are still under final development, it expects the four cylinder to produce 190kW at 6200rpm (up from 180kW in the Optima) and 353Nm between 1400-4000rpm while the V6 will generate 272kW at 6000rpm and 510Nm between 1300-4500rpm.

Audi Q8 Concept

Audi previewed a planned future flagship SUV model unveiling the near-to-production-ready Q8 concept in Motor City.

Set to go on sale in Australia in 2018 at a starting price over $110,000, the big new Audi has been conceived to sit above the recently introduced second-generation Q7 as a rival to the likes of the Range Rover Sport, boasting a uniquely styled exterior, luxuriously equipped interior, heady performance potential and, in combination with a new 330kW plug in petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain showcased by the Audi concept, the capability of running exclusively on electricity for a distance of up to 60km.

Drawing on the styling lineage first explored on the smaller all-electric e-tron quattro concept revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show as well as the existing second-generation Q7, the Q8 concept receives a bold appearance credited to Audi design boss, Marc Lichte.

Compared to the existing Q7, the Q8 concept receives a lower and more sloping roofline along with a shallower glasshouse and more heavily angled rear tailgate - all of which helps to provides it with more sporting silhouette than its upright sibling. It also adopts elements from the original Audi quattro from the 1980s, including prominent shoulders above the large wheel houses and a characteristic C-pillar treatment. The wheels are 23-inch in diameter and come shod with generously dimensioned 305/35 profile tyres.

Inside, Audi has used the Q8 concept to preview new high-definition display and touch screen monitor technology that is being developed for inclusion on future models.

Power for the new Audi comes from is a newly developed plug in petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. It uses a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 direct injection petrol engine developing 245kW and 500Nm of torque in combination with a brushless electric motor sited within the forward section of the gearbox housing with 100kW and 330Nm.

The hybrid is set to be offered alongside more conventional V6 and V8 petrol and diesel engines on the production version of the Q8.

Toyota Camry

The Japanese giant revealed the next evolution of Australia's most popular mid-size sedan in Detroit.

Production of the Camry and Aurion are set to finish in Australia by the end of 2017 but the new model revealed in Motown (and to be built in Japan) will fill the void of both cars.

The Camry V6 will return for the first time since 2006, featuring a 3.5-litre direct injection unit and eight-speed automatic transmission, both of which are set to debut locally in the Kluger large SUV next month.

While the US will receive a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with direct injection and dubbed Dynamic Force, linked to an eight-speed auto, local Camrys will retain the existing 2.5-litre and six-speed automatic combination.

An overhauled 2.5-litre/electric motor Camry Hybrid will also serve in the new range hooked to an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT), with Toyota claiming that "an upgraded Hybrid Synergy Drive system is more powerful ... smoother and quieter."

Because the new Camry is built on the scalable Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that also underpins the CH-R small SUV and Prius hybrid, the batteries for the Camry Hybrid have for the first time been moved underneath the rear seat to permit a 30-litres-larger boot volume (to 451L) and split-fold backrest capability for the first time.

The petrol-only models also rise 10L to 525L.

A new cabin featuring soft-touch dashboard and door trim materials also offers technology such as wireless phone charging and a 10-inch colour head-up display for the first time.

Infiniti QX50 Concept

Could this be the vehicle to finally put Nissan's luxury brand on the map in Australia?

While the car is officially a concept for the Detroit motor show, the model is understood to be a close representation of the finished article, a much-need rival to the highly-popular Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC - a market every self-respecting premium brand needs to play in.

Infiniti president Roland Krueger says the new car will offer world-first engine technology alongside next-level autonomous driving features to rival the best brands on the road.

Kruger says engineers are also considering a high-performance version of the car, one that could rival Porsche's Macan compact SUV. On sale in the US this year, the model could make it to Australia in the near future.

While he stopped short of confirming its local appearance, Infiniti Australia spokesman Peter Fadeyev says the car would be a great fit for Australia.

"The QX50 Concept is our vision for a next-generation mid-sized premium crossover," he says.

"Even though the vehicle that has been unveiled in Detroit is conceptual we are excited by the possibility of such a model for our range.

"Globally, this vehicle segment is the fastest growing and vehicles of this type are popular in Australia and we would be thrilled to have the opportunity to compete using such a great-looking vehicle."

Lexus LS

Lexus has taken its LS limousine into the future by tracing a line back to where the whole brand began 28 years ago.

Despite a technology war that refuses to see a cease fire between the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, there are only a few heavy hitting headlines in the Lexus including a world first 24-inch colour head up display and pedestrian swerve function that aims to apply the brakes and steer away from a human in a potential collision.

Yet Lexus insists it is "reimagining what a flagship sedan should be, as if launching the brand all over again."

Lexus has updated its long-lagging drivetrain lineup, though, with a brand new 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 replacing the previous 4.6-litre naturally aspirated V8 with 250kW/107Nm higher outputs, now 310kW/600Nm.

Despite sharing capacity with a myriad Toyota and Lexus six-cylinder engines, the design is claimed to be all-new with and "developed through the company's F1 technology."

For the first time the LS takes on an obvious "coupe-like silhouette" according to the brand, but the sunroof even pops outwards and over the roof to preserve all-important headroom, teamed with Lexus design cues including a 'spindle' grille and Nike-tick LED headlights.

Lexus has based the cabin around Omotenashi or "the concept of Japanese hospitality" and that includes ambient lighting inspired by Oriental lanterns, native Shimamoku wood patterns, a floating-armrest design and a rear Shiatsu massage and raised ottoman.

The Lexus LS will arrive in Australian dealerships in early 2018.

How Vegas beat Detroit

The quintessential American motor show has a opening act that threatens to steal the limelight from Motor City.

Las Vegas' Consumer Electronics Show has evolved from a quaint gadget expo to a world-class showcase of technical achievement, much of which is taking place in cars of the future.

Artificial Intelligence was the unofficial theme this year, as breakthroughs in computing power allow major manufacturers to collect, analyse, and act upon more data than before.

Mercedes-Benz and Audi announced strategic partnerships with computer powerhouse NVIDIA, which says next-generation processors will be intelligent enough to learn about their environment and act intuitively, rather than being programmed to respond to stimulus in a set way.

That has powerful implications for autonomous vehicles and the way we interact with cars.

Toyota's CES presence revolved around Concept-i, a futuristic vehicle that serves as the home of Yui, an electronic assistant sensitive to human needs and emotions - something like the ultimate evolution of Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana smartphone systems.

BMW had its own spin on vehicle interaction, showing off "HoloActive" technology that combines hologram-esque imagery with sonic energy to create a floating image you can touch and feel.

BMW, Audi and Hyundai offered practical demonstrations in autonomous vehicle prototypes that could hit the road within five years, while Toyota says drivers should approach the technology with caution, as the road environment is not truly ready to host self-driving cars.

- David McCowen