The New York auto show isn't just about cars. As proof, BMW announced a new suite of apps that will be compatible with iDrive, bringing Internet radio to new and recent models.

No, not those models that frequent a runway. Instead, two of the big introductions here at this year's New York auto show are trumpeting major weight reductions. To be fair, it did require major surgery in both cases.

Shelby American will apply some of its founders' chili spice to the Ford Focus ST, creating an even hotter high-performance hatch.

Mercedes-Benz has updated its workhorse E-Class sedan and wagon for 2014 with new safety technology, sportier styling, and a new four-cylinder diesel that will offer, for the first time, a four-wheel-drive version.

At the Detroit Auto Show this week BMW showed the next-generation 3 Series-based coupe. Although officially just a concept, this is the car that apart from the door handles, side mirrors and rear apron will replace the 3 Series coupe in late fall 2013.

Volkswagen, once known for making cars that stood out, is plunging deeper into the mainstream. Besides the storied Beetle, it cranked out generations of jewel-like Jettas and premium-class Passats that were great to drive, but too often had to be driven to the repair shop. Now, following the launch of rather undistinguished redesigns of the Jetta and Passat, the company is building a new, very mainstream American-style three-row SUV.

Yes, I had to look up the name of this car three times.

The top dog of the Dart sedan lineup, the Dart GT, was revealed today at the Detroit Auto Show, sporting mostly cosmetic enhancements: LED tail lamps, integrated dual exhaust, projector headlights and body-colored door handles.

Sure, a new Corvette is catnip to car journalists. But my interest runs toward new beasts of burden, since I spend most of my weekends towing a 23-foot Airstream trailer behind a 2011 Dodge Durango. So I was rather interested to hear about the 2014 improvements made to the Durango's platform-mate, the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

How do you give mainstream vehicles a touch of evil? You give them dark wheels, grille, headlights, paint, and interior touches. And you come up with a name like "Blacktop."

Jeep is giving Grand Cherokee customers some awesome options for the 2014 model year: "Would you like power or fuel economy? Or, perhaps boatloads of torque?"

If proclamations such as "more Facebook fans than ever" are meant to impress, you have to wonder if FB, that paragon of credibility, should really serve as the paradigm of success. To our well-worn eyes and ears such a boast carries all the weight of "as seen on TV." But Facebook fandom helped Jeep kick off this morning's Detroit Auto Show press conference.

Chevrolet introduced the 2014 Corvette Stingray ahead of the action-packed Detroit auto show, revealing sharp-edged styling, more power, a better-dressed interior, and impressive materials technology.

Motor City is the undisputed capital for concept- and production-car unveilings in the United States. This annual event promises more than 50 vehicle debuts this year, starting Monday morning. And Consumer Reports is on the scene to deliver the highlights.

There was a lot of cool stuff on display at CES. In fact, there was a lot of stuff, period. Trying to find a single standout isn't easy, especially when it is near-impossible to even see everything at the massive event. But there were a number of products and technologies that did get us excited.