DETROIT, MI (January 19, 2005) — Well, another Detroit show is in the books. Here in Detroit, there is always a lot of enthusiasm for the locally-produced iron, but talk of Toyota's amazing sales numbers was certainly swirling around the crowds.

Here are some of the highlights from the 2005 show:

Chrysler Firepower: This Hemi-powered sports car concept is rumored to be a possible Corvette competitor if it is launched into the US market. The car has the looks and power (425 HP from its Hemi V8) to run with the 'Vette, but it remains to be seen if Chrysler will unleash this beast into the US market.

Jeep Gladiator: A big Jeep pickup? With a diesel engine? Rugged styling? This is what the Hummer pickup should have been, and the guys at Jeep think they have a winner here. Expect this one to hit dealers within the next 2 years and redefine the extreme off-road pickup.

Toyota Avalon: The Avalon is the forgotten sibling of the high-volume Camry, but for 2005 it gets a makeover. This new (built in America) version of the Avalon should reinvigorate the big sedan's sales and offer solid competition for Ford's 500.

BMW M5: Like the M5 sedans of the past, this is truly a wolf in sheep's clothing. The new M5 is powered by a 500 HP V-10, and should be able to keep up with the world's finest sporting machinery - while seating 4 adults in a luxurious sedan interior. Stunning.

Jaguar Advanced Lightweight Coupe: This Jag concept coupe was beautiful, and it serves as a harbinger of coupes to come from Ford's British luxury marque. Whether the Jaguar brand lives long enough to see the intro of a new coupe is another story.

Saturn Sky: There are signs of life on Saturn (the car company, not the planet), and the Sky convertible looks like a winner. This affordable 2-seater looks great and it should help drive traffic back into the Saturn dealers. Saturn needs a winning product, and the Sky is a step in the right direction.

Ford Fusion: This mid-size Ford is a bit smaller than the 500, but its tight exterior proportions belie a surprisingly roomy interior. Ford isn't exactly swinging for the fences with this car, but the Fusion will fill a large gap in the current product line and should find more than a few willing buyers.

Cadillac STS-V: The big Caddy gets a supercharged version of the Northstar V-8 (good for 440 HP), and similar exterior cues that resemble those on the CTS-V. While this car is not likely to be a performance threat to the aforementioned M5, the STS-V will prove appealing as a fast sedan with a distinctly American flavor.