Roadshow's favorite 2019 Detroit Auto Show debuts

Big power always delights me, and the new Ram Heavy Duty is available with as much as 1,000 pound-feet of torque.

Having torque like that means the Ram HD can tow as much as 35,100 pounds, not to mention payload capacity of over 7,600 pounds.

The Ram's onboard tech isn't bad, either. Inside, you'll find an optional, 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, adaptive cruise control and multiple USB Type-C outlets.

Like many folks who still reminisce about Japanese sports cars of the 1990s, I have reservations about the 2020 Toyota Supra. BMW bones and lack of manual transmission aren't exactly ideal for its return, but part of me also believes that any Supra is better than no Supra at all.

The BMW tie-up fittingly provides a turbocharged inline six-cylinder with 335 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. With an eight-speed automatic transmission, it gets to 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds, which is quick enough.

A 50:50 weight distribution, standard adaptive dampers, torque-vectoring differential and 19-inch Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires do sound like a recipe for respectable handling. I'll have to reserve final judgment until I drive it.

If you're a fan of Subaru Tecnica International -- STI -- then you're probably aware of the "S-Line" models that have been offered in Japan for several years. They're particularly tasty bits of forbidden fruit, and we're finally getting one in the US. Say hello to the S209.

The S209 is wider and lighter than the stock STI, and its engine gets a nice boost, as well. The turbocharged, 2.5-liter H4 now makes 341 horsepower, routed to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. It's got a big, silly wing, gold wheels and bulges and flares galore. It's ugly and I love it.

Given the fact that the STI Type RA costs around $50,000, I'm sure this S209 is going to be hella expensive. But I don't really care, and neither will the hardcore Subie enthusiasts who plunk down for the 200 or so examples that will arrive on US soil.

If Ford is gonna pivot to a mostly SUV lineup, they'd better be good. Thankfully, the new Ford Explorer Hybrid looks promising. And I'm not just talking about its redesigned exterior.

The hybrid features a 3.3-liter V6 mated to an electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack. Together, they send 318 horsepower and 336 pound-feet of torque through a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

So, perhaps it's not as exciting as the Explorer ST, but its estimated cruising range of 500-plus miles could end up make it a great family hauler and a solid roadtripping machine. We'll know for sure when the EPA's mpg estimates are released.

The Veloster N TCR is arguably the coolest car at the Detroit show when compared solely on the basis of fender flares, plus it's a heckin' race car.

The TCR packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that's related to the unit in the road-going Veloster N, only it makes 350 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque and sends it to the front wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox.

I also like that it's cheap for a real-deal factory supported race car. Just $155,000 gets you in the door and on the track in places like Daytona (yes, that's cheap for race cars). Oh, and tires are included.

I can't help but make the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 my pick of the show -- it's the debut I most want to get behind the wheel of. With over 700 horsepower and a chassis set up for absurd on-track performance, this car is shaping up to be big fun.

Because I'm still a childlike driving enthusiast at heart, function-over-form details such as its front-dive plains, massive hood vent, and adjustable rear wing make me giddy.

I do have misgivings about the GT500 only being offered with a dual-clutch gearbox, but I appreciate the fact that Ford is modernizing its muscle car to keep it relevant. The proof will be in the driving.

OK, so my pick for favorite car of the show isn't exactly the freshest daisy on the show floor. It's a 20-year-old model, but oh what a model. This is the Subaru WRX 22B STI, one of the hottest road-legal rally-spec cars of all time.

Released to celebrate both Subaru's 40th anniversary as well as yet another championship in the World Rally Championship, the 22B offered a 2.2-liter, turbocharged, flat-four engine rated for 280 horsepower. This, though, this was back when many Japanese companies agreed to not produce cars beyond that power figure, so the true number is likely higher.

The car was clad in its iconic World Rally Blue color over gold wheels, and even the name was a reference to its motorsports heritage. Officially, the 22 refers to the 2.2-liter engine and the "B" is Subaru's internal designation for turbocharger. However, 22B in hex converts to 555 in decimal, and 555 was the chief sponsor of Subaru's rally efforts at the time.

The Lexus LC coupe may have its flaws, but it really is a gorgeous machine with a beautiful interior. As this concept model shows, an open-top version would only be a more appealing grand tourer.

Though it's plenty fun to drive, the LC has always struck me more as a GT than a sports car. It's at its best when driven swiftly for pleasure, rather than hard for thrills. I think this convertible version would be perhaps the best way to have that experience. It'll compete with the likes of the S-Class Cabriolet in that sense, offering up a super-plush way to soak up the Malibu sunshine.

Lexus says, of course, that the LC convertible is just a concept. But it's giving so many big hints that the roofless stunner will become the brand's flagship that I'd place big money on seeing this car in Lexus dealerships soon.

The Hyundai Elantra GT Sport is one of my favorite ways to have fun on the cheap, and the GT N Line that replaces it should be even better. 

The Elantra GT N Line is the first in a new lineup of N Line vehicles that will slot between regular Hyundais and the hottest N models.

While the GT N Line sports the same 201-horsepower turbo I4 as the car it replaces, the chassis has been stiffened and the suspension has been retuned.

Just because you have kids and all their stuff in tow, doesn't mean you can't have a muscle car.

The Explorer ST packs a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, which can hustle to the school parking lot at a top speed of 143 miles per hour.

It also comes with a bunches of safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. The Explorer ST is the "have your cake and eat it too" SUV.