THE Detroit Auto Show 2016 is currently in full swing, and with the press days done and dusted we've seen the latest reveals from this, the first major motor show of the year.  

These are our pick of some of the Detroit highlights.  

Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept and VW BUDD-e

Keen to promote alternative fuels and leave the diesel scandal in its wake, VW's Tiguan GTE Active plug-in hybrid made its debut at Detroit.

All-wheel drive, petrol engined and backed up by a pair of electric motors, the Tiguan GTE also looks ready for some off-road adventures, with widened wheel arches, skid plates and knobbly tyres.

A Kombi of the future was also seen with the BUDD-e - revealed at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas a few days before Detroit - an all-wheel-drive microbus with an electric drive system offering 235kW and a range of up to 533km.   

Lexus LC 500

Lexus Australia confirmed local availability of the brand's new flagship, the LC 500 coupe, which will launch in 2017.  

It features a 351kW 5.0-litre quad-cam V8 and the world's first 10-speed automatic transmission in a luxury vehicle, and should crack the 100kmh sprint in less than five seconds.  

Lexus said it wants to create less boring cars, and this sports coupe certainly grabbed our attention.  

Nissan Titan Warrior Concept

Now this is a ute. Nissan said the Titan Warrior Concept goes to new extremes with its aggressive and athletic styling features, and it's hard to disagree. 

It's based on Nissan's recently launched Titan pickup, and is powered by a 5.0-litre V8 turbo-diesel. Markedly wider, higher and tougher than the model it is based on and with purposeful-looking knobbly tyres, it's an appealing bruiser, but sadly there's no word on this Warrior or the basic Titan coming to Australia.  

Kia Telluride Concept

Funny looking one, this. Kia said this boxy full-size SUV has "rugged beauty" while being both elegant and sophisticated.   

It's a three-row, seven-passenger offering with a focus on luxury, and reveals Kia's interest in potentially offering a premium SUV positioned above the current Sorento.  

The all-wheel-drive Telluride features a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine alongside an electric motor to offer a combined 298kW.  

Audi h-tron quattro concept

Audi presented its hydrogen drivetrain concept h-tron quattro, promising zero emissions motoring, a 600km range and a refuelling time of only four minutes.  

The model also provided a glimpse of piloted driving and parking technology, which Audi will put into production in 2017 with the next generation A8 luxury sedan.  

The h-tron quattro features 330 individual cells housed in the forward structure and three hydrogen tanks beneath the passenger and luggage compartment. Audi said that at a pressure of 700 bar, they store enough hydrogen for a range of up to 600km.

A compact battery, able to supply up to 100kW of power, backs the hydrogen fuel cell up for forceful bursts of acceleration. With 550Nm of system torque, the h-tron quattro accelerates to 100kmh in less than seven seconds.  

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Benz's latest generation luxury sedan will launch in Europe with a single petrol and single diesel powerplant initially, while Australian customers will have to wait for details on full specification and engine line-up closer to launch in the third quarter of this year.

One thing's for sure, it will take autonomous driving to the next level when the luxury sedan arrives.  

Europe will receive the E200 with a 135kW/300Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol returning 5.9-litres/100km, and the E220d offers 143kW/400Nm from its 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, giving an incredible 3.9-litres/100km.  

Genesis G90

Hyundai's new separate luxury sub-brand Genesis revealed its tech-rich G90 luxury sedan. The Mercedes S-Class/BMW 7 Series-sized Korean aims to shake up the large premium segment, no doubt seriously undercutting the established Germans on price.  

Key features for the 5.2-metre G90 include a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 or 5.0-litre V8 mated to an eight-speed auto, a leather-stitched instrument panel, 22-way power driver seat, 12.3-inch widescreen monitor, surround sound audio, a suite of active driver safety technologies and optional all-wheel-drive.  

However, there is no confirmation as yet that it will come to Australia.