It was a bit tamer this year at the Detroit auto show, but there was still plenty of alluring sheetmetal for enthusiasts to get fired up about. And in the minds of AutoWeek editors, an Audi, two Fords and a Cadillac rose to the top.

Audi’s striking Sportback concept took home Best in Show honors. This car could offer a hint of a future A7, and its intriguing grille could offer a new design direction for the brand. The concept is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6.

“This was a unanimous decision. You could tell from the moment this car was unveiled that designers and executives could not help but be drawn to its stylish looks with an elegant execution of the back end, as a signpost toward future design,” Editor and Associate Publisher Dutch Mandel said.

“This is a concept, yes, but look for the production car (with a slightly taller roofline and no panoramic roof) to hit the showroom by the end of next year.”

The Best Concept award went to the Cadillac Converj, emerging from a field of many competitors. The eye-catching two-door gets a further evolution of the Chevy Volt’s powertrain, which is now called Voltec. It gets a prominent grille, stunning headlights and dramatic lines that flow backward.

“There were many worthy concepts that percolated to the surface and for the first time ever, the AutoWeek editors seriously considered giving the award to a Tier 1 supplier for their efforts. In the end, the Cadillac execution of the Chevy Volt powertrain on a two-door coupe won the vote,” Mandel said.

“Yes, you might have seen something like this as the CTS Coupe (or a similar styling exercise) a year earlier, but the fact that this incorporated Volt technology in the high end of the market is significant. Some might argue this was a car built from pieces off the shelf with a business plan created to fit the mold--something General Motors has been accused of doing in the past. This is the convergence of technology and today's reality.”

The Johnson Controls Interior Concept, Chrysler 200C, Fisker Karma S Sunset and Volkswagen BlueSport were also considered.

Most Significant honors went to the 2010 Ford Taurus, a car Blue Oval fans have been waiting for since the Ford Five Hundred arrived as an ill-fated replacement for the original Taurus. The new version gets improved sheetmetal capped by an edgier grille. Initially, power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 making 262 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque--but expect an EcoBoost model with 350 horses in the future.

“This car gives Ford and Taurus fans their car back. It’s a large American sedan born from a global perspective whose appeal will strike with entry-level prices and that can get the full glam treatment--and still not demand you take a second mortgage out to pay for it,” Mandel said. “The 2010 Taurus was a hit that went well out of the park.”

The Honda Insight and Toyota Prius were also considered.

And for pure driving enjoyment--the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 won the Most Fun award. The huge engine, the smooth looks, the blessing of icon Carroll Shelby--it’s an alluring package.

“The 2009 North American International Auto Show is invigorating in terms of the showcases for advancing technologies. But the enthusiast will not be disappointed either. There was no lack of high-emotion cars throughout the show,” Mandel said. “Perhaps none is more emotional than the rebirth of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The 5.4-liter supercharged V8 produces 540 all-American, unapologetic horsepower. Its throaty rumble and tire-smoking torque will put a smile on the most somber faces--even those in Congress.”

The Volkswagen BlueSport, BMW Z4, Jaguar XFR and Mercedes McLaren SLR Stirling Moss also were considered.