The car of the future revealed in Detroit

By Philippa Busby
BBC News business reporter at the Detroit motor show

Wake up and smell the coffee, with Audi's in-car espresso

As the young male actor - almost as highly polished as the car itself - gives his introduction to Audi's latest product of the future, he is interrupted by his co-presenting colleague, an attractive young blonde woman behind the steering wheel.

"Wait, we haven't finished yet. The Audi Roadjet concept carries an onboard espresso machine! Freshly brewed coffee can be enjoyed whether stuck in a jam or at a park."

The Detroit motor show is all about slick presentation, from the gleaming new vehicles catching the light as they rotate on the stage, to the sound and light shows which accompany every press conference.

More than 6,000 reporters have descended on Motor City this week, before the show throws its doors open for the public on Saturday 14 January.

All week, the constant flashing of cameras has lit up the large halls as the trade press has been moving as close to the cars' bodywork as they physically can, whilst young women have been easing their way between them, balancing trays of hors d'oeuvre just high enough to avoid jostling elbows.

With so many stands and so many brands, everyone was keen to make an impression.

Take Jeep, which launched its new Wrangler, not with a splash but with a crash, as the rugged "truck" was driven straight off the stage through the glass windows of the front of the exhibition hall, before mounting a flight of stone steps and climbing a Jeep-created mountain.

The whole episode was relayed live to the journalists still watching the stage inside.

Learning to drive

The showy glamour of the event is mirrored in the cars themselves.

A computer game on wheels

The concept cars, the vehicles of the future, are all hi-spec and hi-tech.

The emphasis is on sleek body shapes and pleasant interiors.

In years to come, expect to drive cars with interior colours that can be changed according to whim like the screensaver on your home PC, and with sensors that alert you when a car moves into a blind spot by a vibrating pulse in the driving seat.

Concept cars on display include the Nissan Urge, in which the steering wheel and pedals double up as an Xbox 360, allowing the driver to take a fictitious spin on the roads when the car is stationary.

Its designer John Cupit admits it is an idea that needs to be tested on the public and may never make it into production. but he hopes some of its technology will.

"If you take the next logical step with this technology, maybe it's a tutorial," he says.

"Kids who are learning to drive could get into the car and practise shifting and parallel parking without ever having to get out into traffic."

Tomorrow's car designers

American Speciality Cars have their sights set on the sun roofs of the future.

Jeep launches with a crash

Easily retractable, they offer a clear sky to all, or some, of up to 10 passengers.

One of their vehicles includes a built-in barbecue and ice box.

There are also a number of cars sporting hybrid engines, which combine fuel powered engines with electric ones.

Ford, Honda, Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi are among those exhibiting hybrid models.

But while greener cars might sell themselves to drivers with a conscience, others might instead be convinced by user friendly gadgets, predicts Mark Reisen, a student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

Mr Reisen believes manufacturers focus is on tempting drivers who want to spend that bit extra on a customised car.

"You have product icons like the iPod and DVDs and personal computers, and you are going to see a lot of that user-friendly personalisation in the interior of the vehicle.

"It is inevitable as people are going to be spending a lot more time in their vehicle."

And he is probably a man well worth listening too.

The College for Creative Studies is responsible for producing some of the worlds most respected car designers. They may just have designed the car you drive today.