Hot cars at the Detroit auto show

The North American International Auto Show begins this week in Detroit with media and industry previews. It opens to the public Jan. 18.

Here are some of the new cars and experimental concept vehicles unveiled at the show:

— CADILLAC ATS COUPE: General Motors' Cadillac brand gets another tool to go after the Germans with the sleek new 2015 ATS Coupe. Aimed at the BMW 4-Series and Audi A5, the ATS coupe offers the same engines, transmissions and most of the same features as the sedan. But the coupe gets its own roof, doors, front fascia and fenders to accommodate a wider track than the sedan. The coupe, unveiled Tuesday at the Detroit auto show, is expected to arrive in showrooms during the summer. The car will likely cost more than the current sedan, which starts at $33,065 excluding shipping.

— KIA GT4 STINGER CONCEPT: Kia's latest concept car forgoes an audio system, with the idea that the sound from under the hood and the exhaust will be music to the driver's ears. The four-seat GT4 Stinger made its debut in Detroit and features a version of Kia's 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine, with a six-speed manual transmission that packs 315 horsepower. Designers gave the sports car what they described as a shrink-wrapped appearance with a bright, orange-yellow hue. Kia Motors America notes that it often ends up making vehicles that closely resemble concept versions.

— LEXUS RC F COUPE: Lexus is marking its 25th anniversary with some power. The RC F coupe is based on the RC coupe unveiled in November at the Tokyo Motor Show, but it's produced for high performance. The hood on the RC F is higher to accommodate a 5.0-liter, V8 engine that produces more than 450 horsepower. The automaker said the rear-wheel drive RC F also features a speed-sensitive, active rear spoiler that deploys at about 50 mph (80 kph) and retracts below 25 mph (40 kph). The wing helps maintain traction and stability at higher speeds. Lexus expects the RC F to go on sale in early fall. Pricing hasn't been announced.

— VOLVO XC90: Volvo teased its new XC90 seven-passenger SUV, slated to hit the market later this year. The XC Concept Coupe has design elements that will be on Volvo cars going forward, including an oval grille with Volvo's distinctive logo, daytime running lights shaped like a narrow, sideways "T'' and a band of taillights curling down from the roof. A first-time plug-in hybrid version gets an estimated 400 horsepower. The two-door concept doesn't exactly mimic the future XC90, which will have four doors.

— SUBARU WRX STI: The 2015 WRX STI features a four-cylinder, 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with a 6-speed manual transmission that puts out 305 horsepower. The four-door, all-wheel drive STI version of the WRX aims to offer top-of-the-line performance along with comfort. Starting in April, Subaru plans to offer a WRX STI Launch Edition for three months, limited to 1,000 units and featuring special blue paint and gold-color forged alloy wheels. Pricing will be announced later.

— ACURA TLX: The Honda luxury brand plans to beef up its sedan line-up with a mid-season enhancement. Acura unveiled its 2015 TLX prototype, which it describes as a "performance luxury sedan," to join its ILX compact and RLX performance models. The sporty side comes through with a low and wide stance, rigid and lightweight body, and shortened front and rear overhangs. The car will come with a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or more powerful 3.5-liter V6. The carmaker says that high performance won't compromise luxury, with the TLX offering "vault-like quietness" in all driving conditions. The TLX was designed and developed in the U.S., where it will also be produced.

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