North American International Auto Show, Detroit

01 Audi

There was a lot of media attention at the Audi press presentation and the launch of the h-tron quattro: a concept car run on hydrogen that could see a future release depending on market demand. The zero-emissions focus was given extra emphasis due to last year’s exhaust scandal; Audi’s chairman and CEO Rupert Stadler took to the stage in Detroit to assure visitors that the company was committed to resolving the issue.

02 Media Room

The North American International Auto Show likes to position itself as one of the “big three” on the global calendar, competing with Frankfurt and Paris. And while it doesn’t get the same sort of visitor numbers as shows including New York, some 5,000 journalists from around the globe flock to the event. The pressroom is constantly buzzing during the opening two days that are reserved for the media.

03 Porsche

There was much to discuss at the Porsche stand after the much-lauded world launch of the company’s new 911 Turbo. With Porsche sales up in the US by 10 per cent – as well as the country being the largest consumer of the 911 model – the show seemed like a logical place to launch the car and it was alongside its sister model: the 911 Turbo S.

04 BMW

The BMW i8, launched in Detroit, remains a concept car for now. The German manufacturer was one of several companies at the show scrambling to show off viable self-driving models. This concept car was exploring future of driving from a design rather than a technological viewpoint (the brand has worked out that without a driver, side mirrors become redundant).

05 Cadillac

It’s not all about the cars here: good stall design and interesting side projects are also worth a look in Detroit. This project was commissioned by Cadillac in collaboration with New York-based design house Public School. The aim of the installation is to show the inherent similarities in every creative process, from creating a piece of artwork to fashioning the latest supercar.

06 General Motors

As you’d expect from a company headquartered in Detroit, General Motors had a strong presence here. In this picture a couple of people are viewing the Cadillac ATS-V Coupe, with its 400-plus horsepower and six-cylinder engine. The brand was also pushing the new CT6 sedan, which includes a foray into semi-autonomous driving with the Super Cruise feature.

07 Mercedes-Benz

The Mercedes-Benz GLA at the manufacturer’s stand. The German manufacturer also used the show to launch the latest version of its iconic E-Class, newly designed and with extensive new features. These include several technology-driven gizmos such as Drive Pilot, a responsive form of cruise control that allows you to take your hand off the steering wheel for up to 60 seconds at a time.

08 Volvo

The Volvo stand was typically Scandinavian in feel with wooden slats on the giant high-resolution screen lending a sense of cosiness to the cavernous Cobo Center. As well as serving fika (cinnamon rolls, coffee and elderflower cordial), the Swedish manufacturer also used the show to launch its S90 model. The emphasis is squarely on design with clever attention to detail in the interior, including tactile wooden panelling and grooved adjuster knobs. The car is also big on tech: the steering wheel performs its own sharp counter-manoeuvre if you start to veer off the road.

09 VLF

Supercar designer Henrik Fisker talking to the media after the launch of his VLF Force 1. The colourful Dane is highly respected in the industry and has worked for companies spanning Dodge, BMW and Aston Martin, as well as forming his eponymous – and now defunct – Fisker Automotive. The Force 1 launch took place on Tuesday despite calls from former employer Aston Martin to withdraw the car from Detroit, claiming it was too similar to past designs that Fisker had drawn up.

10 Acura

Honda’s Acura brand presented a concept car, the Precision, for the 2016 edition of the show. The sleek, highly aerodynamic design – conceived at Acura’s Californian studio – got plenty of attention, as did the doors that open at right angles to expose the whole side of the car. Honda is looking to grow in the US after closing its sales up 3 per cent in 2015.