Looking your best is vital if you want to impress the Americans and polish and posture were present everywhere at the Detroit Motor show which opens to the public on Tuesday.

Figures for 2013 are expected to show the US car market enjoyed its highest number of sales for six years with the total number set to top the 15 million mark and European car makers are benefiting.

“Sales in the Mercedes brand were up 14 percent in 2013 compared to the previous year. Our share of the luxury market is among our highest in history. Almost one in every five luxury vehicles sold here is a Mercedes,” said Dieter Zetsche who is Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

US firms have also received a boost reflected in the fact General Motors scooped the show’s two most prestigious awards for the car and the truck of the year. It’s the first time in the company’s history it has won both prizes.

The show will also reflect the change in high performance cars with the development of smaller engines but with turbochargers to provide more power.

Makers of traditional sports cars are reducing weight enhancing power and economy. In one BMW model aluminium and carbon fibre- reinforced plastic has replaced the traditional heavier steel.