2006 North American International Auto Show; Detroit concepts: Must-see three.(News)

Byline: BOB GRITZINGER

Of the dozens of production and concept-car world premieres at the 2006 North American International Auto Show-many of which we've already revealed on these pages and at autoweek.com-we'd be remiss if we didn't draw attention to a few hot concepts for the enthusiast set:

Hyundai HCD9 Talus

This 2+2 concept previews the future of sports cars from Korean automaker Hyundai. Designed at the Hyundai Design Center in California, Talus is a different kind of sports car "for a person who has grown accustomed to the needs and benefits of an SUV, but desires the emotional gratification of sports car styling and performance,'' says Joel Piaskowski, chief designer at the Hyundai Design Center (and a featured speaker at this year's AutoWeek Design Forum).

Unlike a traditional sporty coupe, Talus' high ground clearance allows it to traverse steep driveways and two-track access roads, channeling power from its 4.6-liter, 340-hp V8 via a six-speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels or to an optional four-wheel-drive system. Inside, the rear seats fold flat, and there is a covered storage locker beneath the load floor.

Ford Reflex

This is Ford's take on a concept showing that cars can be ...