The North American International Auto Show

The North American International Auto Show which opens on Saturday, January 10 in Detroit will have several auto companies debuting their new concept vehicles. This year, 30 concept cars will make their debut. Many of the concept cars are already slated for production release within the next year or two.

The ultimate supercar on display this year is The Mercedes-Benz Mayback. The Mayback is slated for release in the year 2000. The ultra-luxury sedan that was conceived in Germany is powered by a 5.9 liter V-12 engine and is one of the largest displayed at the Auto Show. The vehicle measures nearly 19 feet long. A vehicle this size can handle the reclining rear seats, the center console that slides out to reveal a bar that can serve hot and cold drinks and it's own humidor. An onboard communication center which includes three cellular phones, a portable computer, a video recorder and a premium audio system are also available in the Mayback. If the go ahead is given to produce The Mayback it will be produced to sell in limited volume for around $200,000.00.

Ford is debuting one of it's most fascinating concept cars, the Aston Martin Project Vantage. This exciting two-seater sports a one-style gearshift that can operate the six-speed transmission as a manual or automatic through a system of paddles that are operated from the steering wheel, permitting the driver to shift gears faster than any race-car driver. The Aston Martin is the company's first to sport a 6.0 liter aluminum v-12 engine giving it an incredible 550 horsepower. With its powerful engine the Aston Martin can go from zero to 60 in just four seconds and can reach 140 miles an hour at the end of a quarter mile and still get more than 20 mpg on the highway. With an asking price of $125,000 the Aston Martin is sure to be a technological phenomenon. The Chrysler Chronos is the ultimate luxury car for Chrysler Corp. The Chronos was designed in Detroit by Japanese designer Osamu Shikado. The inspiration for his design came from a 1953 concept car called the Chrysler D'Elegance. The Chronos is a large vehicle. It's wheelbase is 131 inches and is a hefty 4,200 pounds. It has a 350-horsepower 6.0 liter V-10 with an electronic four-speed automatic transmission. One exceptional feature is the large 20-inch Goodyears in the front and 21-inch in the rear. Also included in the car is a built in humidor complete with storage, lighter and thermostat. If production is approved, the Chronos is slated for release in the year 2000.