The North American International Auto Show opened in Detroit with Japanese automakers debuting sports cars and pickup trucks, taking advantage of U.S. market trends toward less fuel-efficient vehicles as fuel prices drop.
With an enthusiastic auto industry reporting annual sales in 2014 of more than 16.5 million vehicles — a figure not seen in the United States since 2007 — and the light truck segment growing about 10 percent, automakers from around the world gathered in Detroit on Monday to unveil more than 40 vehicles, with many shifting focus away from fuel efficiency and toward performance.
Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled the 2016 Tacoma midsize pickup truck on Monday while its luxury brand Lexus was expected to debut the GS F performance sedan on Tuesday. The sporty midsize car will join the brand's high-performance F lineup that also includes the RC F coupe that was unveiled at last year's show.