It may be cold in the D – but it will be warm inside the Cobo Center, home to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Also known as the North American International Auto Show, it has been one of the most important Automotive networking/showing off events on this hemisphere. Even though some dealers and car companies bowed out of this year’s event due to costs, there’s still a slew of domestic and foreign concepts coming to the Midwest this weekend. Here’s a preview of what auto makers are hoping to exploit this January.

2010 Toyota Prius

Toyota is taking their highly successful Prius hybrid and making it faster, cleaner and smarter. With state of the art gadgets on your dash and a 1.8 liter, 160 horse power gas/electric engine you’ll blow the tailpipe off previous models.

Audi A7

Audi’s addition to their A-Series will have a choice of a 204 horse power 2.8 liter engine or supercharged 300 horse power 3.0 liter. Also still possibly in production is a 4.2-liter V8 with 400 horse power!

2010 Shelby Mustang GT500

Ford teased their 2010 Mustang for what felt like an eternity before revealing an official press release, showcasing a 5.4-liter V8 engine, pumping out 540 horse power at 6250 RPM’s.

2010 BMW Z4

BMW loves their Roadster series, and even though sports car sales are down that isn’t stopping BMW from cashing in on the Z4. Good luck. And speaking of roadsters…

VW Roadster

Volkswagen is getting more involved in the minivan, pickup truck and roadster segments. Their Roadster concept houses a 1.4 Liter Twincharged TSI gasoline engine, producing an impressive 170 horse power.

Subaru Legacy Concept

Subaru is bringing back the Legacy with their 2010 concept. This new Legacy will contain a 3.6 liter horizontally-opposed boxer engine, much like the motor seen in the Subaru Tribeca. The car maker is predicting an output of almost 260 horse power.

Kia Soulster

Kia’s sportier version of the Soul will contain either their 1.6 liter GSL gasoline engine or 1.6 liter CRDi diesel, depending on what side of the pound you fish on. Of course, it’s still a Kia.

Electric Cadillac

photo concept from WorldCarFans

This mock-up of a Chevy Volt mixed with a Cadillac grill is one guess as to what an all-electric Cadillac. Or, it may be a converted electric Cadillac CTS.

Mercedes BlueZERO

The Mercedes BlueZERO E-CELL, with battery-electric drive, has a range of up to 200 kilometers using electric drive alone. Kick in the fuel cell and you can reach 400.

Finally, while in beautiful downtown Motor City – check out the talented local music scene (Major NSFW Lyrics!):