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Detroit’s reputation as being the car capital of the world has earned it the nickname of the “Motor City.” A title that brings with it one of the most important auto shows in the world. Detroit’s North American International Auto Show is not the biggest in number of cars, however it has always been the most important show for car makers.

Each year, companies release some of their biggest designs at the Detroit show. 2008 was no different.

This year, some of the biggest releases were the new Ford F150 pickup truck, which is seen by car enthusiasts as one of the most substantial cars of the year, and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. AutoWeek magazine awarded the ZR1 its “Best-In-Show Award” as voted on by their writers and other affiliates. As expected, the ZR1 drew quite a crowd with its bold design, most noticeably the carbon fiber hood window directly over the engine.

Other car makers got in the mix too with some bold new releases. Jeep unleashed its Renegade concept, while Audi released a brand new concept of its own. Bentley and Rolls Royce both introduced new convertible models to their luxurious line-ups and MINI brought out a new three-door extended model of the Cooper.

One of the hottest cars at the show was Jay Leno’s personal corvette, a one of a kind model designed and built by Pratt and Miller, who before now only worked on racing vehicles.

The Pratt and Miller version boasts 100 more horsepower than its Ferrari competitor, and while currently Leno’s is the only in existence, Pratt and Miller associates say that they plan to release around 25 of the supercars. So if you think you want one, you better place an order now.

The 2008 show was a very successful one, but that doesn’t mean it was all glorious.

First, there weren’t enough new flashy cars that everyone loves to look at.

Second, Land Rover was supposed to show an all new concept vehicle, but unfortunately they removed the car before the public got a chance to look at it. So if you weren’t there during Press Week, then you missed out on a car that was sure to get a lot of hype.

Finally, what frustrated me the most, was the absence of Aston Martin. In years past, Aston Martin has shown off their sporty yet luxurious cars such as the DB9 and the Vanquish. Unfortunately this year, Aston Martin did not even participate in the show.

Even with these minor setbacks, the 2008 North American International Auto Show was pretty good. There have been better shows in the past, and there are sure to be better shows in the future, but every show is a good show when you’re a car lover.