(Image Source: StarkInsider)

BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE

ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE

The 2012 Detroit Auto Show kicked off Monday and innovation was everywhere.  From Ford to Nissan you can expect to see exciting new rides in showrooms late this year - and next. 

The Detroit Free Press says be ready to flip the switch on the new Ford fusion.

“This car’s got a new platform, new styling, very very aggressive styling. The front is low and wide with a grill that is sort of reminiscent of Jaguar styling.”

That’s on the outside - what’s on the inside is expected to be even more impressive, says Fox News.

“For the first time, Ford is gonna offer you the option of a plug-in hybrid power train, standard hybrid, or gas engine you can get that too.  Ford continuing its commitment to not just style and quality but to offer consumers the choice of what they want underneath the hood.”

And that’s not all. The New York Times reports Ford constructed its own amusement park-type cloud - to teach people all about its new cloud service. According to the Times, the rumored cloud could be pretty cool. (Video: The New York Times)

“In the cloud, I learned that I’ll soon be able to connect my car to my house. … Pulling out of the driveway, it will lock the house and set the alarm. On the road, the system will communicate with other vehicles in the vicinity and suggest alternate routes if it foresees traffic. Ford even claims that it will monitor your personal health — in case of emergency, it would take the wheel and steer you to safety.”

Another hot car at the show - the Nissan Pathfinder.  Nissan hasn’t made it to the show in recent years - but this year - the company showed off its newest SUV. Here’s Inside Line.

“Nissan has unveiled a fourth generation of its pathfinder.  Officially, this is only a concept.  But when quizzed the nice man from Nissan admitted that the production version would look exactly the same. … They reckon it will be 25% more fuel efficient than the old pathfinder.  … NIssan has sold over 1.7 million pathfinders over the past 27 years and it will be fascinating to see how that loyal fanbase will respond to a model that is more soccer mom than hunter gatherer.”

Also making a big splash this year - Nissan’s latest move to electrify the automobile. The Japanese automaker is showing off its e-NV200 concept which, if everything goes according to plan, could help reduce carbon emissions in big cities. MSNBC reports.

“The Nissan e-NV200 Concept may look familiar to some. The Nissan NV200 van is due to start service in New York as the city’s exclusive taxi beginning in late 2013. Nissan has been testing an electric variant for some time now, with examples under trial with the Japan Post Service and FedEx in London...”

It wasn’t a Ford or Nissan that took home the 2012 Car of the Year Award, though. The economically viable Hyundai Elantra won the award in what many are calling an upset.