5 hottest trucks from the Detroit auto show

For years, the truck market has been pretty predictable. Ford was the top seller; then came Chevrolet/GMC. Small trucks got little attention. And diesel engines were only for heavy-duty beasts.

But a look at the truck market in 2015 shows that things have changed. Ram has become a true contender in sales, and small trucks are finally getting the attention they deserve. Last year, GM rolled out the Chevy Colorado, and the GMC Canyon debuted For 2015, Toyota is quick to respond with a freshened Tacoma. And that’s just the beginning.

—George Kennedy

Ford F-150 Raptor

With the new Ford F-150 on the market, it was only a matter of time before we saw an off-road-ready Raptor variant. The Ford F-150 Raptor is back with just-as-wild styling and a new twist. The lighter body meant Ford could swap out the big V8 for a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 making 411 horsepower. Adding to the Raptor’s repertoire is a 10-speed automatic transmission, massive Fox racing shocks, and unique LED lighting and camera tech to aid in blasting down trails at night. The new Raptor goes on sale in the fall of 2016.

Hyundai Santa Cruz

Meant to be a study in both form and function, the Hyundai Santa Cruz was designed with the city dwelling millennial in mind. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, producing 190 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque. Hyundai claims this powertrain returns fuel economy in the high-30-mpg range. Power is sent to the road through Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive setup. The extended-cab setup has rear-hinged doors, while the expandable bed features drawers for added utility. We expect styling from this concept will influence future Hyundai SUVs.

Nissan Titan

At long last, the second-generation Nissan Titan full-size pickup truck has emerged, distinguished with a new Cummins diesel V8. It is unique to see American icon Cummins teamed with an import-brand pickup, and with 310 horsepower and 555 lb.-ft. of torque, the engine certainly makes a statement. Nissan is going after the open space between work truck and weekend warrior with the new Titan. It boasts more than 12,000 lbs. of towing capacity and is even available with an optional built-in gooseneck trailer hitch. The 2016 Titan will hit dealers late in 2015.

Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and Ram 1500 Rebel

Meanwhile Ram has released a new version of its diesel truck, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel HFE. On sale in the first quarter of this year, the truck chases big fuel economy numbers, certain to appear in ads, with 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg overall.

Ram also unveiled a new off-road edition to its 1500 lineup—the Rebel. It’s not quite the rock crawler of the Ram Power Wagon, but this tough-looking truck delivers bold styling and an air suspension that gives it an impressive ground clearance of more than 10 inches. Inside, the Rebel has imprint of the truck's actual Toyo tires sewn into the seatbacks. This is clearly not a vehicle for the understated.

Toyota Tacoma

The updated Toyota Tacoma features new styling, and a new 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6, sending power through either a six-speed manual or new six-speed automatic. A smaller inline four-cylinder is also available. Serious off-road hardware includes automatic limited slip, locking rear differential, hill start assist, and crawl control. Other notable items include keyless start, available leather seats, moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert. In the past, we've knocked the Tacoma for a clumsy ride; Toyota says the new model will have improved handling, but keeps its off-road chops. We hope so.

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