It was only a few years ago that Detroit's Big Three automakers, once the heart and soul of American industry and mass production, were just a few heartbeats away from death. GM and Chrysler were bankrupt, and Ford, to its credit, was in the midst of a massive reorganization and depended on the former two's survival regarding the supplier network. Things weren't looking good. But that's all in the past now, as all three have proven at this year's Detroit Auto Show.

Whether it's the new Ford F-150 or Mustang, Chrysler 200, or the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Cadillac ATS Coupe, it's patently clear that not only have the Big Three become better automakers, they're also now competing at a global level. They're taking on the likes of BMW, Mercedes, and the entire VW Group head on. Detroit is officially back.