Dodge Challenger SRT8 2008

• Competes with: Ford Mustang, Nissan 350Z
• Looks like: A 1970s muscle car
• Drivetrain: 425-hp, 6.1-liter V-8 with five-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: SRT8 this spring, base Challengers in 2009

The production Dodge Challenger is so similar to the concept from last year that it certainly feels like we've seen this car before. The changes to the production model are significant, of course — different grille and taillight clusters — but the overwhelming sense of nostalgia applied to a design probably hasn't been so extreme since Ford redid the Thunderbird in 2002. This Challenger may face the same doomed existence as that convertible, too. While the exterior is certainly muscular and the engine will no doubt offer the same thrills we've enjoyed in other SRT8s, like the Dodge Charger and Magnum, the interior looks to leave a lot to be desired. It looks almost identical to the Charger and Magnum, and neither is our favorite to sit in. At a sticker price of $37,995, the first year's allotment of Challenger SRT8s has already been spoken for, but Dodge should still be worrying about its second year of production. That's when the base model will have to compete with a new Chevy Camaro and revised Ford Mustang. We'll try to stay positive for a moment, though, and point out that the SRT8 comes in just three colors — orange, silver and black — with racing stripes, and will hit 60 mph in the low 5-second range.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

• Looks like: Hyundai still hasn't found its styling call
• Defining characteristics: Not a lot; the lines are aggressive but don't go anywhere new
• Ridiculous features: Staggered carbon-fiber hood, enormous air intakes
• Chance of being mass-produced: Confirmed; expect a production version at next year's New York auto show

Though the Genesis coupe shares styling elements with the upcoming Genesis sedan, the shared name puzzles us. Hyundai bills the sedan as a full-blown luxury car, but when the production coupe arrives at next spring's New York auto show, it will compete with cars like the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Nissan 350Z. One Hyundai product planner told us the company benchmarked the Infiniti G37's performance, but he added that the rear-wheel-drive coupe won't replace the front-wheel-drive Tiburon, which will likely get its own replacement down the road. As concept cars go, the Genesis coupe's over-the-top quotient is low. There are no gull-wing doors or computerized dashboards. In fact, there's no dashboard at all; the car on display had windows tinted so dark we couldn't make out anything within, and Hyundai wasn't letting anyone open the doors. Hyundai says the coupe's oversized wheels, carbon-fiber hood and bright orange bodywork drew inspiration from race cars and "Dub City" die-cast models. (Evidently, the chrome 24s and 1500-watt stereo didn't make it.) Full mechanical details aren't available yet, but Hyundai says the production coupe will have a standard turbo four-cylinder and an optional 300-plus-horsepower V-6. Hyundai says the production coupe should hit 60 mph in less than 6 seconds with the V-6, and it will be the "most affordable" 300-hp sports car on the market. The current title goes to the $25,840 Ford Mustang GT — which does zero to 60 in well under 6 seconds, mind you — so expect the V-6 Genesis coupe to start around there, with the turbo four-cylinder costing a few grand less.

Saleen S5S Raptor

• Looks like: Lamborghini meets Acura NSX
• Defining characteristics: Monster 650-hp engine
• Ridiculous features: That this monster may be unleashed on roads
• Chance of being mass-produced: Saleen needs a new supercar, and this looks pretty darn super

Saleen is best known for its custom Mustang work, but the company also builds supercars for the rich and speed-addicted as well. The S5S Raptor concept gives us an idea of what its next supercar will look like.

Unlike concept cars from large manufacturers, Saleen is a small shop that hand-builds its supercars, so bringing the Raptor to production wouldn't take too long. The company says it could go on sale within two years at a price near $185,000.

What would that money get you? A supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 good for 650 horsepower and 630 pounds-feet of torque. Zero to 60 time? The company predicts 3.2 seconds. Top speed? More than 200 mph. Saleen says these numbers will be aided by the use of E85 ethanol as the car's fuel.

We're fans of the look. It might remind us a little of a Lamborghini up front, but the wild backside makes the Raptor unique.

Lotus Exige S 2007

• Competes with: BMW Z4 M Coupe, Porsche Cayman S
• Looks like: A genuine racecar, shrink-wrapped to three-quarter scale
• Drivetrain: 220-hp, supercharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: November 2006
• MSRP: $57,000 (est.)

Lotus added a brand-new Exige coupe to its lineup for the 2006 model year, only to replace it in late 2006 with a supercharged Exige S. It joins the Elise roadster, which debuted in the U.S. for 2005. The limited-production Exige S is marketed toward high-performance enthusiasts and is intended mainly for operation on a racetrack.

Like the Elise, the Exige S coupe is built in Britain.

Exterior
Even though the Exige S looks similar to the soft-top Elise, the two sports cars use different sheet metal. Only the door panels are shared. Both are based on the same 150-pound aluminum chassis — featherweight, by automotive standards. Both models are flamboyantly styled, and each car's appearance is augmented by a variety of vents and curves — some shapely, others practical in nature.

The Exige S sports a body-colored rear wing and black ground effects. A single exhaust pipe replaces the twin pipes in the Elise, and an updated roof scoop channels air to the mid-mounted engine's intercooler.

Bilstein shock absorbers work with Eibach coil springs, and cross-drilled rotors and twin-piston Lotus/AP brake calipers are installed. Built on a 90.5-inch wheelbase, the Exige S measures 149.5 inches long overall and is 45.6 inches tall.

Interior
As in the Elise, only two people can fit inside the Exige S. The small steering wheel is barely more than a foot in diameter. An air conditioning-delete option is offered, and composite sport seats come only in black. An optional Touring Pack includes leather seats, additional sound insulation, an upgraded stereo system and full carpeting.

Under the Hood
The supercharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder in the Exige S pumps out 220 horsepower and 165 pounds-feet of torque. Lotus says 80 percent of the torque is available at just over 2,000 rpm, giving the Exige S a flexible power band.

The sole transmission is a six-speed manual. Options include traction control and a torque-sensing limited-slip differential. Meant to distribute power more evenly between the rear tires during autocross competition, the limited-slip differential permits more aggressive acceleration when exiting corners. An engine control system can vary the rpm at which the engine's variable valve timing kicks into motion.

Lotus says the Exige S scoots from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

Safety
The antilock braking system is specially calibrated for delayed actuation, which allows competition-oriented drivers to perform "threshold" braking.

Maserati Gran Turismo 2008

• Competes with: BMW 650, Jaguar XKR, Aston Martin V-8 Vantage
• Looks like: A stretched, flattened and chopped version of the Maserati Coupe
• Drivetrain: 405-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 with ZF six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Fourth quarter of 2007

Maserati teamed with Italian design company Pininfarina to style its latest model, the Gran Turismo, which is influenced by another of the companies' collaborative efforts, the Maserati Birdcage 75 concept car of 2006.

The Gran Turismo is a replacement for the not-so-gracefully-aging Maserati Coupe that first hit the road as a 2002 model.

Exterior
The Gran Turismo looks like a current Maserati Coupe that was imported into an image-editing program, then stretched, flattened and chopped into a sleek sports car. The Gran Turismo displayed at the Geneva show features wheels almost identical to the 2005 concept's. The production version will have standard 19-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels available.

The most alluring view of the Gran Turismo is its side profile, where the arching fenders and long pointed nose are most notable; this is in stark contrast with the current Coupe and its bulgy front and rear ends.

Interior
Maserati surrounds the interior with high-quality leather and wood, as well as chrome accents on the dashboard. There's seating for four passengers, and Maserati says two adults can fit comfortably in the backseat.

Under the Hood
Powered by the same Ferrari-derived 4.2-liter V-8 as the Coupe, the Gran Turismo has 405 horsepower, and Maserati says it can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 177 mph. A six-speed automatic transmission adapts gear changes to driving style and conditions.

Volkswagen Scirocco 2009

• Competes with: Mini Cooper S, Volvo C30
• Looks like: A low-riding GTI with a chopped roof

Though it's been absent from the U.S. for a while, Scirocco is one of Volkswagen's more recognizable nameplates, and it's been resurrected in the form of a two-door hatchback that has room for up to four people. Details are few at the moment, but Volkswagen says the Scirocco will be offered with an adaptive suspension and both diesel and gas engines. We'll have to wait and see if the diesel engine option makes it to the U.S.

The Scirocco's profile is reminiscent of Volvo's new C30 hatchback, with its sloping roofline and long side windows. Rather than a version of VW's corporate chrome grille, the Scirocco has black upper and lower sections that are separated by a molded bumper. A small rear spoiler finishes off the liftgate.

Inside, the dashboard layout closely resembles the GTI's, and occupants in both the front and back get sculpted bucket seats.

Volvo XC60 2009

• Competes with: BMW X3, Land Rover LR2, Acura RDX
• Looks like: Safe comes to the compact luxury SUV market
• Drivetrain: 281-hp, turbocharged six-cylinder
• Hits dealerships: Early 2009

Volvo is jumping into the small luxury SUV game with the XC60. It joins an ever-growing group of very good vehicles, like the BMW X3, Acura RDX, Land Rover LR2, Infiniti EX35 and Mercedes-Benz's upcoming GLK. Can Volvo play the safe card and win buyers?

That's what the company says it isn't doing, at least with the design. While it certainly isn't boxy, we're not sure if the lines are as universally appealing as the Infiniti EX35 or as true to their brand as the Land Rover LR2. At first glance the interior looks similar to other Volvos, but the floating center stack is actually off-center, skewing toward the driver. It's an odd effect, but it might turn out to be quite practical.

Under the hood is an energetic turbocharged T6 six-cylinder pumping out 281 horsepower — more than any other SUV in this segment. It will be the only available engine in the U.S. when it goes on sale in early 2009. All-wheel drive will be standard, which makes us worry that the entry price might be high. But considering that parts of Volvo's lineup — like the S80 and XC70 — are priced well below the competition, we'll have to wait and see.

As for safety, the XC60 comes with a crash-avoidance feature that can tell if you're about to run into the car in front of you, and it then applies the brakes to avoid the accident. Volvo is calling it "City Safety" in the XC60, but it sounds much like the collision warning system in other vehicles in Volvo's lineup, sometimes as part of a $1,700 option package. City Safety is standard in the XC60.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2008

• Competes with: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Volkswagen R32
• Looks like: Demonic hatchbacks have a new hero
• Drivetrain: 305-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual
• Hits dealerships: Early 2008

It's rare when two classically opposed models debut at the same time. The Subaru WRX STI hits the show floor at the same time as its archrival, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. That's like debuting the new Camaro alongside the new Mustang. The differences between the two, however, have never been more clear: The Subaru is a hatchback, while the Mitsubishi is a sedan. Obviously there's a lot more to distinguish the two, but like the Evo the STI is a turbocharged-four-cylinder all-wheel-drive sports car. It puts out more horsepower — 305 versus the Evo's 291 — but has less torque, with 290 pounds-feet versus 300 pounds-feet in the Evo. Still, the STI should be an impressive ride. The car's hood is made of aluminum, which lessens weight. The 2008 is 22 pounds heavier than the 2007 it replaces. There's an incline-start assist that prevents the car from rolling backward in the time it takes the foot to leave the brake and hit the gas. The brakes are large Brembo numbers. The interior gets a nice upgrade, with comfortable sport seats with Alcantara — which is a suede-like material — seat inserts and door panels. Along with the Evo, the STI delivers one more example of a sports car in an unconventional shape.

Mitsubishi Eclipse 2009

• Competes with: Hyundai Tiburon, Nissan Altima Coupe, Scion tC
• Looks like: This Eclipse can swallow a few metric tons of krill
• Drivetrain: 162 hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, 265 hp 3.8-liter V-6 with six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Spring/Summer 2008

The Mitsubishi Eclipse was radically redesigned for the 2006 model year and it's pretty unusual for such a new model to get such a significant facelift like we see here. However, the front end of the Eclipse — as well as the Eclipse Spyder convertible — was never its best angle. This update gives the car a more menacing and masculine look, something buyers want in a sporty coupe.

The Eclipse GT gets a few upgrades, including a new dual exhaust system boosting horsepower to 265 from 263. Yep: 2 horsepower. Stability control, larger rear disc brakes and HID headlights also comes standard on the GT model for 2009.

Otherwise not much changes for the Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder, but the grille is so radically different we think buyers will take notice.

Nissan GT-R 2009

• Competes with: Corvette Z06, Ford Mustang GT 500, Porsche 911
• Looks like: A 13-year-old's doodlings during algebra class
• Drivetrain: 473-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 with dual-clutch transmission; all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: First half of 2008

Nissan has unveiled its "supercar," named GT-R. A famed Japanese nameplate, this beast will be unleashed on U.S. roads early in 2008 at a price tag close to $80,000. For that money, you get a demonic-looking sports car that can hit 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 193 mph.

The GT-R is not meant for the faint of heart, although it does have seating for four and a trunk, so maybe Nissan expects you to take it on trips with friends. We don't know about that, but owners will undoubtedly be taking trips to every stoplight they can find with this thing.

Only a select number of Nissan dealerships will be certified to sell and maintain the GT-R, and the company says it will take care of all "adjustments" to keep the car running at optimum levels for the first three years of ownership. That sounds like this might be one particularly hard-to-tame animal. Of course, you can get on a mailing list now through Nissan's U.S. website. We'd also suggest getting your name on a waiting list if you don't mind sight-un-driven impulse buys.

Volkswagen Passat CC 2009

• Competes with: Infiniti G35, Lexus GS, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series
• Looks like: A sportier Passat
• Drivetrain: 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with six-speed manual or automatic, or 295-hp, 3.6-liter six-cylinder with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Fall/winter 2008

Volkswagen tried to compete with luxury automakers when it debuted the ill-received Phaeton a few years ago. This year, the company is at it again with the Passat CC. Volkswagen is calling the four-door a coupe, and it has a sloping roofline much like that of the Mercedes CLS. The CC is about 1.5 inches longer than a regular Passat and just slightly wider.

We're not sure where VW is going with the Passat CC. The company says the driving dynamics will offer a more sporting ride, but there isn't much talk in the voluminous press kit about much that's been done to the car to make it perform better than a standard Passat. Engine choices are the same as the regular sedan, with the six-cylinder gaining roughly 15 horsepower. The minimally wider stance won't help handling that dramatically, nor will the more aerodynamic shape.

There are a lot more technological gadgets added to the CC, though, including an adjustable suspension system called Dynamic Drive Control, which will probably be an option in the U.S. We usually find systems like this neither dynamic nor interesting in real-world driving. There will also be a park assist system — as part of an option package — that will steer the car into a parking spot using cameras, sensors and software much like the new Lexus LS. Drivers will control the braking and acceleration during the maneuver, but the car will turn the steering wheel to fit into a tough spot. A Lane Assist program sounds similar to Infiniti's setup, correcting the Passat CC if it strays into a lane it shouldn't. All-wheel drive will also be available.

Pricing hasn't been finalized for the CC, but we know it will start in the mid- to high-$20,000 range and could easily top $40,000 when well-equipped with features like park assist. That's still roughly $20,000 less than the Lexus LS460 that parks itself.

Toyota Matrix 2009

• Competes with: Mazda3, Dodge Caliber, Pontiac Vibe, Saturn Astra
• Looks like: A demonic little hatchback
• Drivetrain: 132-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder or 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder
• Hits dealerships: February 2008

While not nearly as important as the Corolla, the Matrix is still a part of the Toyota family, and it too gets an all-new design for 2009. We're a bit surprised the Matrix is as aggressively styled as it is, though that's not a bad thing. With its sloping roofline and sharp looks, it could really compete with the Mazda3 and Saturn Astra.

Based on the new Corolla's platform, which also underpins the 2008 Scion xB, the Matrix is significantly improved. If it handles anything like the Scion xB, we'll be impressed. Power comes from the same two engines as the new Corolla. Power for standard and S trims is rated at 132 horsepower from a revised version of the previous four-cylinder engine, with mileage figures of 26/32 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission and 25/31 for the automatic. A performance XRS trim level will reappear for 2009 with the same 158-hp four-cylinder found in the Scion tC and xB. It gets 21/29 mpg in this application and is only mated to a five-speed automatic. All-wheel drive will be an available option on the S trim level.

Smart ForTwo Micro Hybrid 2008

• Competes with: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid
• Looks like: A Smart ForTwo
• Drivetrain: 71-hp gasoline engine and electric motor
• Hits dealerships: In Europe, this October; no word on the U.S.

It's all about green in Frankfurt, it seems — that is, besides the Lamborghinis and Bentleys on parade. Smart, which will introduce its new ForTwo in the U.S. early next year, rolled out a hybrid version of that car. It's called the ForTwo Micro Hybrid — you know, because it's small.

Smart sells a diesel version of the ForTwo in Europe, but because the hybrid runs on standard gasoline it has a much better chance of making it to the U.S. if the Smart launch goes well. The company is saying the hybrid will get 8 percent better fuel economy overall; in heavy city driving it could get up to 20 percent better mileage.

Smart hasn't released EPA numbers for the ForTwo yet, but it said it will likely get a combined rating of 40 mpg. That means the Micro Hybrid would get around 43 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway, at a cost of just 500 Euros more than a basic ForTwo coupe. Even at a roughly 1.4 conversion rate, that's not a bad deal to be green ... and small.

Pontiac Solstice Coupe 2009

• Competes with: Mini Cooper, Volvo C30, VW GTI
• Looks like: Pontiac has a true inheritor for the Fiero
• Drive train: 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder or 260-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with five-speed manual or five-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Early 2009

There aren't many inexpensive sports cars on the market, and Pontiac is hoping the 2009 Solstice coupe will catch fire and generate a buzz like the convertible did a few years ago.

The coupe is almost identical to the convertible in terms of the engines and transmissions offered, as well as the interior layout and materials. What's obviously different is the fastback body style, which really sets it apart from its sibling.

Without the clunky fold-down ragtop and its assorted mechanisms, there's a flat floor behind the front seats for storage; cargo room is virtually nonexistent in the convertible. The coupe isn't actually a fixed roof — the roof panel can be removed, just like on the Corvette, and is made of magnesium.

We wonder what the demand for the Solstice coupe will be, but much of it may depend on the price. Common practice usually prices coupes less than convertibles, and the 2008 vert's prices of $22,165 and $27,845 for the base and GXP versions are already pretty affordable. We'd still love to see a sub-$20,000 base price.

Pontiac G8 GXP 2009

• Competes with: Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8
• Looks like: A meaner G8
• Drivetrain: 402-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 with six-speed manual or automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

Every car really should have a Corvette engine wedged into it. Imagine your daily driver, whatever it is, with the vroom-vroom of a 402-horsepower V-8. Pontiac's engineers live in this world; they've taken the V-8 engine that graced the 2007 Chevy Corvette — the '08 'Vette gets 430 hp — and dropped it into the newly on-sale Pontiac G8 sedan.

Dubbed the 2009 G8 GXP, this rear-wheel-drive sedan comes with either a manual or an automatic transmission, and GM says it'll hit 60 mph in "about" 4.7 seconds. Or, as we like to say, fast.

There's more, of course: 14-inch Brembo brakes rest behind some nice-looking 19-inch wheels. GM also says the suspension has been revised to offer better grip.

The GXP's looks aren't too over-the-top; it has the customary lowered stance, extra body cladding and interior touches. The big news is that you can finally get the wheels that were on the original G8 GT concept car.

The currently top-of-the-line G8 GT, with a 361-hp V-8, starts at $29,310. We'd expect the GXP to have a considerable "upgrade" cost. We'll have to wait for a test drive before we decide if it's worth it.

Nissan Murano 2009

• Competes with: Ford Edge, Mazda CX-7, Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Looks like: Nissan designers were watching a bit too much "Battlestar Galactica"
• Drivetrain: 265-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with CVT
• Hits dealerships: January 2008

Nissan really surprised people with the original Murano back in 2003. It handled much more like a car than the other midsize SUVs of the day. Now, the company is surprising us again with a radically updated look centered around a futuristic front end. The rest of the exterior design may be more middle-of-the-road, but no one will miss this coming down the street.

The 2009 model looks to be a significant redesign built on a new platform shared with the Altima sedan, with an all-new interior and the solid 3.5-liter V-6 used in many Nissans and Infinitis. The Murano comes in S, SL and LE trim levels and front- and all-wheel drive.

Standard on all trims is keyless ignition, keyless start, stability control, active head restraints, a tire pressure monitoring system, and both side-impact and side curtain airbags. Prices will be announced closer to the on-sale date, but we expect them to be similar to the current starting price of $27,830.

Mercedes-Benz Diesels 2009

• Competes with: BMW X5 Diesel
• Looks like: All three look like regular models
• Drivetrain: 210-hp, 3.0-liter diesel V-6
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2008

Mercedes-Benz is jumping full-tilt into the clean diesel game. Its three newest diesel models — the R320, ML320 and GL320 Bluetecs — will be sold exclusively in the United States starting this fall and will meet the toughest emissions rules in the country. Powering the models is a diesel V-6 putting out 210 horsepower and a very healthy 400 pounds-feet of torque. Mileage estimates for the GL320 (which we'd assume would be the thirstiest of the three) is a combined 25 mpg. The only bad news about these diesels is that they require an additive called AdBlue to keep emissions clean. And yes, the AdBlue needs to be refilled. However, Mercedes says the small tank only needs to be refilled at regular service intervals. If you already service your car at a dealership, that won't be any added headache. If you somehow miss a regular service, an alert will sound when your AdBlue level is low. The 320 Bluetecs will all come standard with features like surround-sound audio and rear entertainment systems. All three will also feature a choice of three new infotainment systems with Bluetooth, HD radio and voice activation.