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Washington Auto Show preview (Photos)

The Toyota Mirai is a fuel cell vehicle coming to some parts of U.S. this year. It runs on pure hydrogen and emits only water vapor. The Mirai can also power parts of a home for up to a week in the event of an outage. (WTOP/John Aaron)

The retail price of the Toyota Mirai is $57,500 before tax credits. Toyota will cover cost of fuel for initial buyers. The car comes to California first, then northeast U.S. The infrastructure is not yet in place here. (WTOP/John Aaron)

The Honda FCV is another fuel cell vehicle. This one from Honda is still in the concept stages. (WTOP/John Aaron)

Chevy announced Maryland is the third state where the electric Spark will be sold. It’s priced at under $18k and has a range of 80 miles. (WTOP/Johan Aaron)

"That car will go from zero to 60 miles an hour in 2.9 seconds, which is less time than it took me to say that sentence," GM's James Bell tells WTOP of the 2015 Corvette 206. (WTOP/John Aaron) — “That car will go from zero to 60 miles an hour in 2.9 seconds, which is less time than it took me to say that sentence,” GM’s James Bell tells WTOP of the 2015 Corvette Z06. (WTOP/John Aaron)

The Z06's equally sinister sibling, the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V, also packs over 600 horsepower. Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen tells us: it "overwhelms every other product offering in that segment." (WTOP/John Aaron) — The Z06’s equally sinister sibling, the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V, also packs over 600 horsepower. Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen tells us: it “overwhelms every other product offering in that segment.” (WTOP/John Aaron)

The new Mustang gets the Shelby treatment. The must-see of the Ford display. (WTOP/John Aaron)

The 1940 GM Futurliner is feet high and 33 feet long! It also toured the country for GM. A similar one just sold for $4 million. (WTOP/John Aaron) — The 1940 GM Futurliner is 11 feet high and 33 feet long! It used to tour the country for GM. A similar one just sold for $4 million. (WTOP/John Aaron)

A view of the show floor from the sky-high cab. (WTOP/John Aaron)

The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S was "raised on the racetrack," says Mercedes. Budget at least $130k if you'd like one. (WTOP/John Aaron) — The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S was “raised on the racetrack,” says Mercedes. Budget at least $130k if you’d like one. (WTOP/John Aaron)

The top Volkswagen Golf R starts at around $37,000 but features all wheel drive and nearly 300 horsepower. (WTOP/John Aaron) — The top Volkswagen Golf – the Golf R – starts at around $37,000 but features all wheel drive and nearly 300 horsepower. (WTOP/John Aaron)

This adorable mini-Jeep is part of the fast-growing small SUV segment. (WTOP/John Aaron) — This adorable mini-Jeep (the 2015 Jeep Renegade) is part of the fast-growing small SUV segment. (WTOP/John Aaron)

The BMW I8 is an all wheel drive hybrid sports car that comes in 140 grand. (WTOP/John Aaron)

1 of 4 fiberglass "dream cars" created for 1953 GM Motorama; this is the only Le Mans left in the original 1953 configuration — 1953 Cadillac Le Mans concept car – 1 of 4 fiberglass “dream cars” created for 1953 GM Motorama; this is the only Le Mans left in the original 1953 configuration. (WTOP/John Aaron)

This radically-styled, low-slung roadster concept from 1954 is described as "one of one." — Buick Wildcat II — This radically-styled, low-slung roadster concept from 1954 is described as “one of one.” (WTOP/John Aaron)

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WASHINGTON — The Washington Auto Show opens up Friday at the D.C. Convention Center with more than 700 vehicles from 42 manufacturers.

The show runs through Sunday, Feb. 1.

The cars generating the most buzz are a mix of high-tech and high-torque. Several performance models top the 600-horsepower mark, and a fuel cell vehicle that runs on pure hydrogen is about to hit the market. In addition to powering itself, it could even power your home in the event of an outage.

Also on display are three exceptionally rare historic vehicles, which may be worth more than all the rest of the cars there combined.

Here’s a look at some of this year’s standouts.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

John Aaron

John Aaron is a news anchor and reporter for WTOP. After starting his professional broadcast career as an anchor and reporter for WGET and WGTY in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he went on to spend several years in the world of sports media, working for Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network Radio, and WTOP.