Show Floor News

A Designer Lets Loose in the 'Year of the Car' J Mays, Ford's design chief, finally has a chance to redefine a car line that has been characterized by the long-in-the-tooth Taurus flagship.	Reportage or Espionage? Though they wear badges reserved for the media, many so-called journalists are actually on a fact-finding mission for the automotive competition.
The Shape of the Future on Wheels The power of design was evident in Detroit as concept S.U.V.'s got a sportier look and lagging brands became clarified and renewed.	Detroit Focuses on Cars, and Asia on Trucks Everything seemed backward at Cobo Center: American companies are trying to regain some of the car-market share, while the Asians are going after the big profits offered by large, sumptuous trucks.
Detroit to Focus on Tastes as Its Market Share Decreases Refusing to address the steady decline of market share, the Big Three said, however, they would look for ways to make the cars and trucks that they do sell more profitable.	Automakers Unveil Plans for More Hybrid Models The number of fuel-efficient hybrid models available in the United States will more than double in the next year.
A New Lexus with an Advanced Safety Feature The new Lexus GS luxury sport sedan, which was introduced Tuesday, is the second Lexus model now to have its pre-collision safetly system.	In Detroit, Home Teams Swing for the Fences The Big Three have plans for splashy introductions of both production models and concept cars at the Detroit auto show, which opened to the press on Sunday.

Interactive Features

2004 Detroit Auto Show Wrap-Up A videotaped discussion by the Automotive editors of the New York Times and Edmunds.com on new production vehicles and concepts. Video: Part One | Video: Part Two	Audio Slide Show: Japanese Competition The Times's James G. Cobb on how Japanese auto makers are proving once again that they are here to give Detroit a run for its money.
Audio Slide Show: Staying in the Game The Times's Danny Hakim talks about the hopes that the Big Three have for recapturing the imagination and dollars of American drivers.	Audio Slide Show: American Debuts Michelle Krebs, a frequent contributor to New York Times, on some American cars to watch for in the coming year.

Design Notebook

Headlights Get Their Moment in the Spotlight If the cars unveiled at the Detroit auto show are any evidence, there's a new hot spot in auto design: the lights.	After a 50-Year Journey, Nomad Comes Home The Nomad, a concept car from Chevrolet, is General Motors' answer to BMW's successful Mini Cooper.
G.M. Executive Preaches: Sweat the Smallest Details This year, rekindling America's desire for American passenger cars is the principal goal of the Detroit-based automakers.	Corvette Chronicles: Chapter 6 Instead of inventing a whole new Corvette for the sixth-generation, Chevrolet concentrated on fixing small glitches in the old one.

The Scene
Reporters' Journals: Monday The annual song-and-dance routine by automakers continued in Detroit as they sought to influence the press in the most positive way.	Reporters' Journals: Sunday News of upcoming cars and trucks with hybrid powertrains seems to arrive with almost every press conference here, but Mercedes-Benz added a novel twist: the hybrid luxury sedan.