Newsmakers at the 2014 Detroit auto show

The North American International Auto Show in Detroit opened on January 13, 2014, with media and industry previews. Here are some of the new cars and experimental concept vehicles unveiled at the 2014 edition that made news -

- PORSCHE 911 TARGA: Porsche is dialing up the 911 with two new models, the Targa 4 and 4S. As with the original 1965 Targa, the new models feature a roof bar, movable front roof section and wraparound rear window. The Targa 4 accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, the 4S slightly quicker with an optional package. The Targa 4 has a sticker price of $101,600 and the 4S is at $116,200.

- CORVETTE Z06: General Motors rolled out a hot new version of the Corvette Stingray, called the Z06, with a staggering 625 horsepower supercharged V8 engine. The car gets a new 6.2-liter engine and a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The Z06 - and the Corvette Racing CR7 - gets an aluminum frame. The car also has a removable top. No performance times or prices were released. The standard Corvette starts around $52,000.

- MERCEDES-BENZ S600: The top model from Mercedes-Benz is getting an upgrade. The S600 sedan features a 12-cylinder, 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine that packs 523 horsepower. With the look and feel expected from the highest tier of the luxury brand, it seats four or five and features touchpad controls that allow letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting in nine languages.

- MERCEDES GLA45 AMG: A small SUV from Mercedes' AMG performance division that's so low profile it looks more like a sporty car and seats up to five. It has a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 355 horsepower. The engine promises acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

- BMW 2 SERIES COUPE: The two-door, four-seat, rear-wheel drive 2 Series Coupe - the replacement for the 1 Series Coupe - will come in a 228i version, which features a 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter V4 engine, and the M235i version, which features a 322 horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine. Scheduled to go on sale starting in March, BMW plans to sell the 228i for $33,025 and the M235i for $44,025.

- BMW M3 SEDAN: BMW also is showing its new 2015 model M3 Sedan.

- BMW M4 COUPE: Along with the M3 Sedan, the M4 Coupe is likely to go on sale in early summer, with pricing and options announced in the coming months.

- VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R: The compact Volkswagen Golf is getting a powerful boost. Its latest incarnation packs a 290 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that improves on past fuel efficiency. The all-wheel-drive Golf R promises zero to 60 mph acceleration in 4.9 seconds with the automatic transmission version.

- TOYOTA FT-1: This vehicle's development started two years ago, and the car was devised first in the Sony PlayStation Gran Turismo game environment. The automaker says FT-1 will be available as a downloadable vehicle for PlayStation 3 Gran Turismo 6. The physical car is designed to stir emotions and push limits with Toyota design, according to Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota's Calty Design Research facility in California.