As for that new hardware presented here, some of the vehicles of interest to North Americans would include:
-The Concept D from Volkswagen, which is a ''design study" for a large sedan that VW chairman Ferdinand Piech thinks will take on the Mercedes-Benz S-class and the BMW 7-series.
The study is said to set ''new standards in emotion and functionality as well as in design and technology" and ''represents a first taste of the luxury saloon that will be built in the transparent factory" in the centre of Dresden, and if you have any idea what a ''transparent factory" is you're the first non-VW person so qualified.
-The Red Label Arnage from Bentley, which will address that huge audience for whom the Green Label Arnage is not quick enough.
No longer will Arnage buyers have to make do with a 5-litre V8 that provides just 350 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Now they can pony up another few thousand dollars and get a car with 6.5-litre V8 that cranks out 400 horsepower and 619 pound-feet of torque.
-Renault's Avantime minivan/coupe is worth considering just because it is so different from anything currently roaming the planet. It is a real car, due to go on sale in Europe next summer with a 3-litre V6 and a 6-speed manual transmission.