Detroit goes pro; Automakers show sporty side at Detroit Auto Show.(Brief Article)

Certain professional franchises aside, Detroit can safely claim the title of ``sport'' capital of the world during the 2002 North American International Auto Show.

``Sport'' is the operative word, from production cars like the Cadillac XLR and Maserati Coupe to sport wagons and utes like the Suzuki Aerio and Honda Pilot. Among concepts are sports car dreams like the Ford GT40 (cover) and the Pontiac Solstice (page 3). There are sport (station) wagons of the future like the Chrysler Pacifica and Saab 9-3X.

With trucks claiming more than half of the North American market, automakers would be remiss if they didn't roll out a few sporty trucks, too. Here's a look at some of what's coming to the show, open to the public Jan. 12-21, and featured in next week's issue:

* General Motors flexes its product development muscle with anticipated debuts of the Corvette-based Cadillac XLR two-seater derived from the 1999 Evoq show car, and the 5.3-liter V8-powered Chevy SSR (AW, Jan. 7) that also had a concept predecessor. Perhaps someday we'll see production versions of the Thunderbird-chasing Chevrolet Bel Air concept, or the Cadillac Cien two-seater. The latter's mid-engine 750-hp V12 is likely to find its way into the Cunningham super coupe, at least.

* Aside from the GT40, Ford's big news is in trucks-the new heavy-duty 6.0-liter diesel aboard the F350 Tonka (which foreshadows the styling of future Ford trucks) and the debut of the 2003 Expedition. Expedition boasts independent rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, a power-folding third row and an innovative second-row center section that slides forward to create a ``one-and-one-half'' row to allow parents to easily reach back to a kid strapped in a ...