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The 2010 Detroit Auto Show is only a few months away, and as manufacturers work on rolling out their latest and greatest models to dealer lots, a select group of automotive journalists are working hard to decide what vehicles the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards should go to. From the vast selection of contenders, here are the final nominees:

Car of the Year
- BMW 335d
- Buick LaCrosse
- Cadillac CTS
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Ford Fusion / Fusion Hybrid
- Ford Taurus
- Honda Insight
- Kia Soul
- Mazda3 / Mazdaspeed3
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Porsche Panamera
- Subaru Legacy
- Suzuki Kizashi
- Toyota Prius
- Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Truck of the Year
- Acura ZDX
- Audi Q5
- Cadillac SRX
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Ford Transit Connect
- Honda Crosstour
- Land Rover LR4
- Lincoln MKT
- Subaru Outback
- Volvo XC60

Obviously, we'll have to wait until January to see which vehicles actually win, but we at Winding Road know who we're rooting for. (And we aren't telling!) In the meantime, scroll through our gallery of all the candidates, and be sure to leave a comment and let us know who you think should win, and why.

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We've had news left and right of mildly interesting cars being killed off due to the financial state of the global automotive marketplace. But now here's one that hurts -- reports are now showing that Audi will be canning its plans to bring forth a production version of the R8 V-12 TDI, or TDI Le Mans.

Originally unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the R8 V-12 TDI Concept featured a 5.5-liter turbo-diesel V-12 -- a complete monster, what with its 500 horsepower and 740 pound-feet of torque output numbers. But as you can imagine, it's not cheap to engineer or produce something to this caliber, and Audi thinks that its money is better spent on more sensible projects.

No official word has been given from Audi on this matter, but we're crossing our fingers in hopes that this V-12 oil-burner isn't headed for an early grave.

+ Motor Authority: Audi abandons plans for R8 V12 TDI

When Mini unveiled their latest Cooper Convertible at this year's Detroit Auto Show, they explained that they want consumers to drive with the top down as much as possible -- after all, that's the point of a convertible, and a rule we at NextAutos live by as much as humanly possible.

To promote this idea, Mini sent a group of guys through a car wash in the latest drop-top Cooper, and (you guessed it) told them to keep the roof off at all times. Check out the self-explanatory video to see the whole thing go down.

+ YouTube: MINI Cabrio Car Wash

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Ford pulled the wraps off of the new Lincoln MKT crossover this week at the Detroit Auto Show, and now that funky looking Flex-based vehicle has a price tag.

The base MKT with front-wheel drive and the 3.7-liter, 268-horsepower V-6 will start at $44,995, with all-wheel drive available. On the higher end of things, the MKT with AWD and EcoBoost will command $49,995, which makes it competitively priced with vehicles like the Acura MDX. Keep in mind, the EcoBoost V-6 will be capable of producing 355 horsepower but will offer roughly the same fuel economy as the base V-6 engine. For an additional $5000, customers can opt for the MKT's Elite Package, boasting adaptive cruise control, collision warning with brake support, cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, voice-activated navigation, and a power panoramic sunroof.

For all the details about the new Lincoln MKT, click on over to our auto show coverage and stay tuned for the new Lincoln to hit dealerships this coming summer. Click through the post for Ford's press release, as well.

Volkswagen unveiled its new BlueSport diesel roadster concept at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this week, and while we had dozens of still photos, VW has released an accompanying video to show the little sportster in action. While there's still no word if the BlueSport will ever see the light of day, we can only hope that Volkswagen will move forward with its plans to bring some sort of oil-burnig roadster to life, and this video gives us all the moor reason to get excited.

+ YouTube: VW BlueSport Mid-Engined Roadster Concept with 180HP Diesel

No, the Subaru Legacy Concept isn't the sexiest thing to come out of the Japanese automaker's design studio, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. We wouldn't mind if the next-generation Legacy looked a bit like this show car, but only time will tell what Subaru's plans for the mid-size Legacy are.

In the meantime, Subaru has released this video of the Legacy Concept from nearly every angle, so Subie fan boys, rejoice! Two minutes of Legacy hotness has arrived.

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While Mercedes-Benz didn't have an official press conference during the show, their latest little BlueZERO concept did make its way onto the show floor. The cute little Benz uses a unique sandwich-floor architecture which Mercedes-Benz had originally introduced for the A-Class and B-Class nearly ten years ago. The BlueZERO is Mercedes' entry into the small, electric concept car segment, showing that they have all of the necessary equipment to create vehicles like these.

For all of the details, click through the post and read M-B's press release, and click through the gallery above to see the BlueZERO live on the NAIAS floor.

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This afternoon, Fisker, the maker of the Karma plug-in hybrid, dropped
the veil, then dropped the top, on its new concept hardtop convertible,
the Karma S, also known as the Sunset. The Sunset features a
Fisker-exclusive lithium-ion battery, two electric motors, a sleek body
style, and a plush interior.

Although the Karma-S concept greatly resembles the production model
Karma, the crowd seemed pleased at the unveiling, but the champagne and
chocolate-covered strawberries may have had a hand in that.

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There are still a couple of arguments going on within the NextAutos staff as to whether or not the Lincoln C Concept gets thumbs up or thumbs down, but in any case, this new compact car from the Ford Motor Company will surely shake things up a bit if put into production. And even if the concept never does see the light of day, we're hoping that Ford uses that 1.6-liter EcoBoost four in other vehicle applications.

We've just returned with a few live shots of the little green Lincoln, so have a look through our gallery and let us know what you think.

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The BMW Z4 has undergone a major overhaul for the 2010 model year. The most significant of these changes is indeed the removal of the Z's soft top in place of a folding hardtop setup. Does this mean that no true Z4 Coupe will be on the horizon? Only time will well.

We told you earlier about the fine details of the new Z4, but we now have some live shots of the car looking pretty at the BMW stand. Have a look through our gallery for in-the-flesh shots of the all-new BMW roadster.

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Revenge Designs unleashed its new supercar, the GTM-R, at the Detroit auto show this afternoon. Fitted with a GM-Performance LS7 427 engine, the GTM-R is capable of 505 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The vehicle, which is built in Decatur, Indiana, calls to mind the Corvette, and has an interior that encourages high-speed driving. With a price tag of $145,000, Revenge hopes to sell 100 GTM-R supercars this year.

Click through the gallery above to see the GTM-R at its unveiling.

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After much anticipation, Toyota has finally pulled the wraps off of the all-new 2010 Prius hybrid which will hit American dealerships this coming Spring. The Prius has been slightly redesigned to improve the drag coefficient, and this effort has now made the Prius the most aerodynamic car in America. Small adjustments like a sleeker roof and larger rear spoiler aid in swooping the air over the car, improving fuel economy in the long run.

Fuel economy is the big story here, and Toyota says that the Prius will achieve a combined fuel economy rating of 50 miles per gallon -- besting the numbers recently quoted for the new Honda Insight. Obviously, we'll have to wait until we do real-world driving tests to see how these numbers stack up, but this initial rating of 50 mpg makes the Prius (once again) the most fuel-efficient car in America. Additionally, the Prius has been given a more powerful engine, delivering net power figures of 134 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque, able to scoot the little Toy from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under ten seconds. (Not that you'll be doing 0-60 runs in the Prius.)

Interior refinement is also improved with a new electronic display which shows hybrid functions, steering wheel controls, and other useful information pertaining to driving. Concerning functionality, the Prius' cargo area has been expanded by 0.4 inches in length and 2.2 inches in width because of a new battery cooling unit which saves space. Rear seat legroom has been improved greatly, as well.

We can't wait to drive this third-generation Prius and we're sure it will be a hit among consumers. In fact, Toyota hopes to sell 180,000 of these hybrids annually, which shouldn't be too hard to do if 50 mpg is on tap. Click through our gallery above for a raft of both stock and live shots and be sure to click through the post and read Toyota's own words in their press release.

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If you read through the history book of Lincoln, you'll find mid-size and large luxury vehicles which are generally sort of soft and harmless all around. However, the Ford Motor Company wants the Lincoln brand to also produce some small car luxury offerings, and the first example of this comes via the C Concept -- a small hatchback based off of the next-generation Focus platform. Peter Horbury, executive director of design for the Americas says, "Modern luxury buyers who live and work in large, urban areas want to play their part in helping the environment by moving to a smaller vehicle, but they still want to enjoy the luxuries of life. The Lincoln C offers sensible indulgence."

Powering the C Concept is a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine mated to an all-new, dry, dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission. This engine is said to produce 180 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque and will allow the C to achieve fuel economy figures as high as 43 miles per gallon on the highway.

Inside, the C Concept takes cues from Lincoln designs of the past: a bright, clean color palette with authentic wood and metal materials, jewel-like chrome details, and a symmetrical instrument panel design. Additionally, laser-engraved floral etching can be found on the passenger side seats and floor, as well as on the back of the driver's seat. Lincoln says that this pattern gives the C Concept a refined, sophisticated look.

There's no official word as to if/when the C Concept would see the light of day, but with America's new commitment to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, we wouldn't rule out seeing a Lincoln-branded small car somewhere in the very near future. Click through our gallery of shots above and click through the post to read Lincoln's official press release.

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While the first images and preliminary details of the Jaguar XFR were released on Saturday, we now have a gallery of live shots of the supercharged kitty, as well as Jag's actual press release. This new BMW M5-figter will surely be bringing the heat, what with its 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 under the hood pumping out 510 horsepower which is capable of propelling the XFR to 60 miles per hour in just 4.7 seconds.

Click through the post to read Jag's official words and click through our gallery to see live images of the latest Super Cat.

 With 150 roadsters already delivered to its customers, Tesla has recently added a new model to its lineup called the Roadster Sport. Essentially an upgraded version of the original roadster, the Sport has 15 percent more power, totaling to about 285 horsepower (compared to the regular 248), bringing the 0-60 time down to 3.7 seconds— 0.2 faster than the standard model.

The additional power partially comes from the hand-wound stator with a higher winding density and lower resistance, which (apparently) provides a higher peak torque. The electric motor redlines at 14,000 rpm with power transmitted to high-performance Yokohama tires via an upgraded gearbox found in the “powertrain 1.5” package. Improved suspension, including adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars, keep the Roadster Sport firmly planted on the ground.

Tesla has already started taking orders on the $128,500 Sport in the U.S., and the first completed models are expected to be delivered in late June. For the 1,100 customers who have yet to receive their Tesla, they can still upgrade to the more powerful model.

+ Motor Authority: Tesla adds more powerful Roadster Sport to lineup

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When the Ford Flex came out, we knew it wouldn't be long before the Blue Oval folks cross-branded that platform within their portfolio. In fact, when we first saw the Lincoln MKT concept at last year's show, we knew right away that Lincoln would be getting a luxury version of the seven-passenger crossover. However, as you can see in these images, Ford has done a really good job of making the MKT and Flex very, very different from one another, though some might say that the resulting design isn't too flattering here on the Lincoln. Like the new Taurus that was introduced yesterday, the MKT will hit dealerships this summer.

Aside from a new design, the MKT also gets more standard power than the Flex, using the 3.7-liter V-6 found in the Lincoln MKS sedan. This engine delivers 268 horsepower, though consumers can opt for an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 producing around 355 horsepower. Like other applications of EcoBoost, it will only be mated to AWD-equipped MKTs.

On the inside, perforated leather meets the laundry list of premium and technological features that Ford is putting on their high-end cars these days, including SYNC, Sirius travel link, a vista roof, dual climate control, and heated and power everything. While the exterior may not be too pretty, the interior of the MKT will surely be a nice place to relax while driving home from a long day at the office.

In any case, you can read all of the picky details yourself in Ford's press release by clicking through the post, and scroll through our gallery of stock shots to see the MKT from all views. Stay tuned for live shots later today after the Lincoln/Mercury press conference this morning.

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Volvo tipped all the details about its stunner of an S60 concept a while back, pointing towards a future design language for the vehicle. After bringing you that news, we knew we would just have to follow up with some live images of the car. Voila. Check out the real deal in all of its conceptual Swedish glory in our gallery above.

The 2009 North American International Auto Show kicked off today, and while things were going relatively smoothly inside of Cobo Hall, a small group of auto workers held a protest just across the street. These local workers were protesting against labor concessions that the Bush administration has demanded in return for the bailout loans which were recently approved for both General Motors and Chrysler.

What's interesting about this is that both Ford and GM had large groups of their employees attending their respective press conferences. These American auto workers cheered along as the executives from each company introduced their new products and latest achievements.

As the afternoon went on, the protesters gradually faded away, but there's always a chance that they'll be back for the rest of press week, or potentially picketing when the Detroit Auto Show opens to the public on Saturday. For all of the details, click on over to Reuters.

+ Reuters: Auto workers protest Bush concession targets

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Bentley is one automaker that doesn't believe in flashy lights or extravagant press conferences simply because the products, like the new Continental GTC Speed, really speak for themselves. There's no denying that this is one gorgeous convertible, and the Bentley name means its hand-crafted, super luxurious, and extremely powerful.

This variant, the GTC Speed, is capable of reaching 200 miles per hour and is advertised as Bentley's most powerful convertible ever. Under the hod lies a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 engine which produces an astonishing 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, running to the ground via permanent all-wheel drive. Even so, the GTC Speed can hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, making it supercar fast but with really elegant style. This show car looks particularly interesting with its steel grey exterior color and the bright red interior finish, though in typical Bentley fashion, consumers will have a wide array of options to really personalize their GTCs.

Affordable? Hah! Even so, those who must have the GTC Speed will indeed not be disappointed. Click through the post to read about this car in Bentley's own words and scroll through the images above to see it in both stock and live flavors.

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Kia tried to bring some sun and fun to Detroit today with its Soul’ster concept vehicle. Its open top design and roomy interior are meant to encourage people to take the day off and enjoy themselves. Kia highlighted this “feel-good” vehicle with a stage full of eager youngsters holding up signs, one combination of which translated to “beer + taco = sun.” We don’t know what that means, but we think we agree.

The car itself was touted as an “efficient front-drive car rather than an aggressive off-roader.” The interior is designed for comfort and roominess, and features cantilevered seats that jut from the center console rather than being bolted to the floor. The rear seats fold forward to provide cargo space. Features such as the roll-up window handles, rather than being downplayed or hidden, accentuate the funky overall design.

Click through the gallery above to view pictures of the Kia Soul’ster Concept, or scroll down to read the press release from Kia.