Detroit Auto Show 2016 highlights: Luxury rules day one of the annual car exhibition

Detroit: Highlights from day one of the auto show on Monday in Detroit, where luxury ruled the day as automakers celebrated record-breaking US sales.

'Thor's Hammer'

Signature 'Thor's Hammer' headlights helped Volvo's luxury XC90 capture the show's coveted 2016 sport utility of the year award. The Swedish automaker later unveiled the latest version of its luxury sedan, the S90, with classy clean lines and plenty of chrome details.

Hyundai's leap into luxury

Looking to replicate the success of Japanese rivals Toyota, Honda and Nissan, Korea's Hyundai launched a separate luxury brand -- Genesis -- saying "our intent is to take on the very best luxury brands in the world and to beat them." It revealed the G90, which will be the brand's flagship sedan as it works to build Genesis to six models by 2020.

Lexus pumps some iron

Lexus pumped passion and plenty of power into its new sports car: the LC 500 coupe. The Japanese automaker hopes its standout design and powerful stance will draw new customers to the previously staid brand.

Volkswagen looks to shift gears

Embattled German automaker Volkswagen sought to shift gears away from its pollution-cheating scandal by showing off a concept for a plug-in electric off-roader: the Tiguan GTE sport utility vehicle. The rugged vehicle has a range of 20 miles (32 kilometers) on pure electric power and 580 miles on a single tank of gasoline.

VW's luxury Audi brand revealed the fifth generation of its hydrogen fuel cell concept, the h-tron quattro.

Honda and Ford go heavy-duty

Honda and Ford bucked the luxury trend with muscular new pickups. "This truck is cool, tough and athletic -- like I used to be," Honda executive vice president John Mendel quipped about the Ridgeline. Ford's F-150 Raptor SuperCrew offers more legroom and storage and plenty of off-road agility for rock crawling and sand running.

Chrysler woos moms with minivan

Fiat Chrysler is hoping to woo moms back into the dreaded minivan with a major revamp of its Town and Country, which it renamed the Pacifica and insists will "reinvent" the segment. Loaded with the latest in technology, safety features and conveniences, it has room for five car seats. The hybrid version will get up to 80 miles per gallon.