Top 5 Trucks of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show

Pickup trucks took the Detroit Auto Show by storm this year, with plenty of surprise debuts.

From heavy hauling diesel power to lightweight compact pickups, Motown hosted debuts for just about every classification of truck at this year’s show. So which one of these new pieces of hardware caught our eye?

2015 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

Read on to find out.

Nissan brought out an all-new Titan this year in Detroit packing a 5.0-liter Cummins V8 diesel engine along with a new XD model. A whopping 555 lb-ft of torque is sent through an Aisin six-speed transmission to all four wheels in the XD model, which uses a larger frame that adds about 20 inches to the wheelbase compared to the standard truck.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Nissan Titan Packs 555 lb-ft of Torque

Nissan is looking to play in the space between half-ton and three quarter ton trucks, although when properly equipped, the new Titan will actually be heavy enough to fit into the same class as 2500 series trucks.

Technology in the new truck includes a fold out flat rear floor, 12-volt and 120-volt power outlets and a seven-inch touchscreen.

Ram is getting ready to send the 1500 into the wilderness with the all-new Rebel. A one-inch lift takes the truck up to 10.3-inches of overall ground clearance while Bilstein shocks and air suspension will help to absorb the beating of the trail.

SEE ALSO: Ram 1500 Rebel Yells in Detroit

To make sure it looks the part, the Rebel gets a massive ‘RAM’ badge in the middle of the grille rather than the classic crosshair grille. Increasing performance and style, the Rebel gets a billet silver skid plate, new front tow hooks, LED fog lamps and a twin-snorkel sport hood.

Toyota finally rolled out a new 2016 Tacoma at the Detroit Auto Show.

Updates include a new 3.5-liter V6 that uses the Atkinson cycle along with D4S technology to allow both direct and port injection. Transmissions are updated as well, with a new six-speed automatic and six-speed manual available. A 2.7-liter four cylinder remains available.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Toyota Tacoma Bows with New Powertrain in Detroit

Most importantly, Toyota has finally refined its truck, bringing the interior into the modern world of trucks with optional leather seats, wireless device charging, a push-button ignition, a power moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control and a new touchscreen audio unit.

One of Detroit’s biggest surprises this year came from Hyundai with the debut of the Santa Cruz pickup truck concept.

This is a true compact pickup truck that has roughly the same footprint of a small crossover. Hyundai says it did not prioritize payload or towing, but rather, the truck is meant for the customer looking for a sedan or crossover with the functionality of a pickup bed.

SEE ALSO: Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept is a True Compact Pickup

Speaking of the bed, Hyundai has designed a system that allows the entire bed to be extended almost like a drawer being pulled out. Once pulled out, the brand says the bed is roughly the same size as those found on a midsize pickup.

Ford was full of surprises this year at the Detroit Show, dropping an all-new Raptor off road pickup truck that looks straight up badass.

Power will come from a 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine that will make somewhere above the 411-hp and 434 lb-ft that the current 6.2-liter V8 in the Raptor makes. All of that juice will be sent through a brand-new 10-speed automatic transmission and on to a new torque-on-demand transfer case which manages power distribution between the front and rear wheels.

Weight loss is also being served up for the Raptor thanks to that new aluminum body, which shaves off about 500 pounds.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Ford Raptor is Ready to Rule the Trails

A new set of larger 3.0-inch Fox shocks will allow the Raptor more travel than before, which means it will pack over 11.2-inches of travel in the front and 12-inches at the rear. Doing duty in the mud will be new 17-inch wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires.

There is one major downside to new Raptor however. It is a 2017 model year vehicle and it won’t reach production until late in 2016, so we have a long wait ahead of ourselves before we can get behind the wheel and pilot this beast through the toughest of terrain.