Amy E. Voigt, The Toledo Blade photos The Chevy Camaro is introduced by Ed Welburn, vice president of Global Design with GM, at the North American International Auto Show Tuesday at the Cobo Center in Detroit. Click photo for larger image.
	The Cadillac CTS features a 3.6-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission.. Click photo for larger image.
	The Jaguar C-XF prototype is less retro, more contemporary. Click photo for larger image.

DETROIT -- Move over, junior. It's mom and dad's time to shine in Detroit's spotlight.

At least, that seemed to be one of the central messages of this year's North American International Auto Show, which runs through next Sunday at Detroit's Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center.

For quite some time, each successive auto show in Detroit had revealed an almost feverish stampede to serve the needs of Generations X and Y, the children and the grandchildren of the baby boom generation. But while those groups are still very much on the radar of carmakers, it's the baby boomers -- the some 77 million born between 1946 and 1964 -- who are getting the lion's share of attention among new cars and trucks slated to hit the market in coming years.

Take Nissan's Bevel, a concept car aimed squarely at active, aging baby boomers who like to say they're not their parent's generation, i.e., they may retire from work, but not life. Built to look like a combination station wagon/space station on wheels, the Bevel is making a no-holds-barred push to woo middle age men.

As its press kit intones, the Bevel is "designed for men who understand that life's second act can begin at any age. For every activity, for every opportunity, Bevel expands the range of what's possible. ... Every angle presents a fresh perspective on active, involved lives."

In other words, Bevel is your buddy, your wing man, as you make that shift from the office to whatever it is that thrills you. It features easier entry and access, large and unique graphics for easier viewing, and a "doggie hutch'' in the back where your other buddy can hang out while you drive.

Other carmakers are taking the nostalgia route to reach boomers.

The Chevy Camaro convertible concept, one of the hits of the show, is aimed squarely at the '60s set who can remember the first time they saw the Hugger Orange 1969 Camaro. For its part, Dodge now offers wild purples, yellows and oranges that are similar to shades offered on its '60s performance models.

This year's show wasn't all about the boomers, of course. Two-door coupes could be found all around. Nissan displayed an Altima coupe that looked like a larger version of its popular 350 Z sports car and will go on sale soon. And Honda unveiled a concept coupe that mimics its new fastback Accord coupe that goes on sale in the fall.

Pontiac has announced a souped-up version of its 2008 G6 Coupe called the GXP, available in both base and specially equipped editions. It has powerful looking features such as new front fascia and a rear "hammerhead" spoiler, and likely will scoot with its 3.6-liter, 252-horsepower V-6 engine.

But if nostalgia and sporty two-door coupes don't bring the buyers, auto manufacturers are betting technology will.

From plug-in hybrid systems and faster shifting, smoother performing six- and eight-speed automatic transmissions, to multipurpose, voice-activated on-board computer and navigation systems, cars and trucks of the future will have plenty to appeal to the techno savvy, engineering-driven buyers out there.

At Suzuki for example, the Flix concept based on the 2007 Suzuki XL-7 has special appeal to movie lovers. Once parked, the clamshell roof opens to reveal a moon roof that serves as a 40-inch movie screen.

The car's front roof vent panel can reveal a high density digital projection system to display your own choice of movies, and there are comfortable theater style seats, a theater-quality sound system, pivoting window speakers and even a red door/floor strip lighting system to spice up the experience.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Suzuki showed the BaseCamp, also based on the Suzuki XL-7, with a gullwing side door that, when it's open, shows an attachable peninsula bar work station with full media connectivity.

There's a custom roof rack system with an integrated dual slot bike rack and Santa Cruz mountain bikes, a forward-mounted miniature camera and other features. And when owners find a campsite, they can attach a canopy with a carbon fiber frame to the roof rack for weather protection.

But perhaps the most promising trend at the show -- at least for our economy and for those depending on the auto industry for jobs -- was the growing creativity and product strength shown by domestic manufacturers.

Despite declining sales and market share, it's clear they aren't ready to raise a surrender flag anytime soon. In fact, some of the most exciting, practical and just plain desirable iron featured at this year's show came from Detroit.

There was Ford, with its new Focus and its Lincoln MKR and Ford Interceptor concepts; General Motors, with its all-new Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave crossover and 2008 Chevy Malibu sedan; and the Chrysler unit of DaimlerChrysler, with its totally redone, practical and innovative Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans. Don't count the Big Three out just yet.