Volvo XC60 concept

According to Steve Mattin, there are three reasons to show the XC60 here at Detroit: to pre-position the forthcoming XC60 production car for 2009, to introduce some new Volvo DNA elements and to show some new design innovations for concept cars. "We're moving the DNA to become more expressive especially for the front end" he explains.

The six-sided grille and new interpretation of the Volvo 'iron mark' are both bolder, more three-dimensional and up close one notices the hexagon texture to the recessed grille mesh, which is flanked on either side by characteristic position lamps between the grille and the headlamps. "These display the Volvo face at night too and, over time, will become a standard Volvo design cue" Mattin continues. The tailgate is in two parts: the lower half motors up to stack over the upper part to allow fast loading of bulky goods in tight parking spaces. Chrome is used to finish front and rear skidplates, while the side view is livened by a similar chrome finish to the lower door light catcher feature.

The cabin features a light upper section and espresso brown lower area. The iconic floating center stack is finished in translucent white and chrome a bit like a giant iPod and features a sliding auto gear shifter along one edge. Extended pony tail slots in the seats serve a number of virtuous functions: they aid visibility for both rear passengers and the driver, they allow air circulation and act as luggage anchorage points.

Chrysler Nassau concept

 The Nassau is again a new attempt by Chrysler to stretch the brand's reach up-market into luxury territory, a niche it has not been able to occupy in the last four decades. Last year Chrysler showed the Imperial concept that was a pastiche of old Rolls and Bentley ideas and that relied on its sheer volume and vainglorious proportions to convince. Aiming at the same target, the Nassau is now taking a contrastingly different approach: fine chiseled details, both for exterior and interior, and a package that leads one to perceive the car as much smaller than its 120'' wheelbase Chrysler 300C SRT8 platform would suggest. As Alan Barrington, principal exterior designer of the concept says of the four-door, four-passenger luxury coupe: "it is a more emotional and artistic articulation of what it means to be a Chrysler." The hatchback Nassau is atypical for an American luxury car design and its arrowhead shape at the prow and stern make the overhangs literally disappear when seen at three-quarter angle. Barrington also states that "the dramatic back end creates its unexpected 'shooting brake' appearance". We could also see a lineage there with the Crossfire Coupe's cambered roofline.

The exterior lighting uses LED technology but the over complex detailing weakens the DRG impact while the variable width polished metal bezel adds some facial expression. The Nassau was designed at Chrysler's Pacifica advanced studio in California. Ben Chang was the principal designer for the interior. He says his team "paid close attention to the graphics and finishes of contemporary technologically advanced products like cell phones, computers, iPods and MP3 players to achieve a seamless interface between your car and the rest of your electronic world".

Kia Kue concept

The Kue is a four-seater crossover coupe/SUV with a powerful 4.6-liter V8 engine and 4WD that hails from the new studio of Kia Motors America (KMA) in Irvine, California. The long 114-inch wheelbase and cab rearwards stance is dominated by large 22-inch wheels with muscular wheel flares that play a nice contrast to crisp beveled sections found elsewhere on the body. The single door each side opens scissor-style for easy ingress and egress and has a simple large window graphic that extends to the wide C-pillar. The main characteristic is the negative trapezoid skive shape in the lower door, similar to that seen on the new c'eed.

"Good design shouldn't look like you are trying too hard," said Tom Kearns, KMA chief designer. "The future Kia direction will incorporate the 'less is more' philosophy but still include a heavy dose of boldness to be distinct."

At the rear, the heart-shaped profile has a split rear hatch, similar to the Mazda Kusabi concept shown at Frankfurt in 2003. The front face is simple and confident with an interesting lower mouth in the shape of a bone but it appears a little raw and unfinished, mainly due to the flat-section brushed aluminium surround to the grille and the grille texture itself.

The interior has a high floating console that arcs through the cabin and four individual bucket seats, the front pair of which swivel outwards to aid access through the scissor doors. The tee-shaped IP and console incorporates touch pad and motion-sensing controls that are used to adjust functions such as audio and climate control.