2004 Detroit Auto Show: Trends in Performance Vehicles

January 2004 (Newstream) -- At this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, you'll find a new or remodeled sports car in nearly every manufacturer's display. And something else: the return of rear wheel drive.

Experts say the trend means better performance for power and steering. Pontiac rolled out two new rear wheel drive performance cars - the Solstice, a two seat roadster for 2005, and they reintroduced the seventies icon, the GTO.

Ford announced a remodeled version of its rear wheel drive muscle car, the Mustang and Chrysler introduced a prototype supercar. But the talk of the show was the unveiling of the sixth generation Chevrolet Corvette.

While no one here is predicting that rear wheel drive will replace front wheel drive on most cars, for pure performance cars it looks to be the clear choice.