The 2007 Chevrolet Volt concept dazzled, even more than General Motors expected. For 2010 production, however, it has to use existing component sets, which naturally make the Volt more mainstream and cheaper to build. The changes also give the car lower drag, more cabin space, and a tighter turning circle. The designer of both vehicles, Bob Boniface, says that concept cars are "not a contract with the general public" and that the commercial product is a much better car. We tend to agree with him. Polarizing design can impress but lose sales. GM needs this car to succeed. So do we all.

From Concept to Production

1 The deeply inset grille and the sharp crease from the lower lamps were terrible for aerodynamics, and the recessed lamps were neither adequate for illumination nor legal.

2 Multiple hard surface-change lines on the front of the concept tended to confuse and retard oncoming air molecules. Smoothing the front end helps aerodynamically and simplifies production.

3 Saab 99-like, the tank-slit wraparound windshield was deemed likely to compete with plans for future Saab products. But GM may sell Saab anyway.

4 The sharp break from windshield to roof was likewise considered too Saab-like, and it was also aerodynamically undesirable, thus the change to uninterrupted flowing glass.

5 Big bulges for oversize - 21-inch - wheels were another drag-increasing styling element that had to go for the production car.

6 The grille shape was retained, but air flows into the engine compartment only through peripheral slots around the grille shield, which retains its diamond texture. Most air enters below the bumper.

7 Headlamps had to be bigger for adequate lighting, and wrapping them around the front end let side markers be incorporated.

8 The impossible-to-clean transparent fairings from the show car have been replaced by painted sheetmetal, which visually extends the height of the side glass.

9 These 17-inch wheels look much like the show car's 21-inch units, but in fact, they have been refined to reduce aerodynamic drag. Small details count when there's not much power available.

10 The continuous sweep of glass from windshield to roof is excellent for aerodynamic drag reduction, but it also gives the car a softer, safer appearance, desirable for a family car.

Ironically, it's only years after the big divorce that the Jeep brand finally benefits from the DaimlerChrysler marriage. An all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee debuts for 2011, and it now shares its underpinnings with the Mercedes-Benz M-class SUV. Better late than never, we suppose.

A new 3.6-liter replaces the previous 3.7-liter as the base V-6. It produces 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque (up significantly from the old lump's 210 and 235) and returns 11 percent better fuel economy, thanks in part to variable valve timing. The optional 360-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 returns to the playground, and both engines are paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and either rear- or four-wheel drive.

An optional Quadra-Lift air suspension (inherited from Mercedes) can raise the Grand Cherokee's ride height, increasing approach, departure, and breakover angles for even more off-road credibility. No longer constrained by the Commander, Jeep's mainstay family hauler has room to grow--and so the new Grand Cherokee is 1.8 inches longer, 3 inches wider, and, most important, rides on a wheelbase that's 5.3 inches longer. That last measurement contributes to a significant increase in rear-seat room, a welcome improvement over today's cramped bench. Jeep promises more soft-touch plastics and a higher quality interior, as well as an available Alpine sound system.

The BMW X6 is a powerhouse of a hatchback vehicle that is a whole lot of fun to drive, but which has always cost a whole lot of money as well. A little odd in its class for all that it offers and its seeming indecision, the X6 is a blend of cars from many different styles and arenas.

Specifications

BMW has released some details for the future of the X6 and from what we’ve seen so far, these are the specs you can look forward to in mid 2010 when it hits dealerships:

• Pricing: An MSRP just shy of $56,000 is expected for the base model.
• Engine: An N55 single-turbo inline-six engine at 3.0 liters and a prodigious 300 horsepower will be found under the hood of the new X5.
• Fuel Economy: Fuel economy for the X6 was horrible in 2010 at 15/21 or even 13/18 miles per gallon, but is expected to improve thanks to the new engine and transmission configurations.
• Acceleration: The right trim of the new X6 is expected to get zero to sixty miles per hour in five seconds flat.
• Transmission:A ZF-sourced automatic eight-speed transmission will be new and is expected to improve the efficiency of the X6’s engines.
• Car Safety Features: Crash test results were not made available by the government for the 2010 X6 but safety features are plentiful and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the X6 “Good”, its highest rating. This year the X6 gets side-view cameras as an option and a lane-departure warning system.
• Warranty: BMW warranties all of its cars for 4 years/50,000 miles

For now, much of the buzz surrounding the Porsche brand has to do with the release of the automaker’s first four-door sedan, the . However, when the highly anticipated 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera debuts in the fall of this year, it is sure to steal the spotlight. In addition to small but significant changes to the powertrain and curb weight, the 2011 Carrera will also sport a redesigned back end, complete with an all-new, speed-activated spoiler. Read on for additional details on the 2011 Porsche Carrera in our initial auto review.

Specifications

Many of the details we have so far on the 2011 Carrera are only speculative, but here are the specs that are most likely for the new model year:

• Pricing: the 911 Carrera should start at about $78,000 MSRP and around $70,000 invoice
• Fuel economy: Porsche has not released any data on fuel economy car ratings for the new Carrera, but they will likely be similar to the current city/highway rating of 18/26 mpg
• Engine: Porsche insiders indicate that the carmaker will enhance both the power and displacement of the 2011 911 Carrera’s engines, possibly offering an inline six-cylinder with 350-360 horsepower on the base model and a 400-horsepower inline six on the S model
• Drivetrain: the existing options of a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed PDK manual/automatic transmission will probably remain the same, and Porsche will continue to offer all-wheel drive on one or more Carrera models for 2011
• Acceleration: standard model completes 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds; Carrera S completes 0-60 in 4.3 seconds. Times may get a bit faster in 2011 due to a lighter-weight body and stronger powertrains.
• Model lineup: 911 Carrera (coupe or cabriolet); 911 Carrera 4S (coupe or cabriolet); 911 Carrera 4 (coupe or cabriolet); 911 Carrera S (coupe or cabriolet)
• Car safety features: existing safety equipment, such as dual front and side airbags and stability control, will transfer to 2011 Carrera
• Suspension: active suspension management system optional
• Competitors: Mercedes-Benz CL; Mercedes-Benz SL; Jaguar XK; Nissan GT-R
• Warranty: four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty

The Dodge Challenger is expected to see some changes over the next model year. There may be a few changes to the features, but the styling is likely to remain the same. The biggest change to expect in the 2011 Dodge Challenger is in the top-of-the-line SRT8 engine. The exterior is likely to remain the same. New Challengers are scheduled to hit the dealerships in the fall of 2010.

Specifications

This is what we know so far about the specs of the 2011 Dodge Challenger:

• Pricing: car pricing for the 2011 Dodge Challenger has not been announced yet, and is not likely to be available until shortly before the release this fall. The base model should cost around $24,000. The upgraded R/T trim is likely to cost about $32,000, while the SRT8 trim may cost $44,000 or more.
• Fuel economy: the gas mileage on the new Dodge Challenger has not been released yet; new engines could change the gas mileage. Dodge is likely to use new Pentastar engines that it claims are more fuel efficient than the 2010 engines. If that is the case, the SE model should get better than 17 city/25 mpg highway.
• Engine: three engines are expected: the base SE model should get a 3.6-liter, 280 horsepower V6; the R/T trim should receive a 5.7-liter, 376 horsepower V-8; the SRT8 trim should come with a 6.1-liter, 425 horsepower Hemi V-8 engine.
• Acceleration: some auto reviews have suggested that the current Challenger’s base model has an engine that lacks oomph; the 2011 Dodge Challenger has a more powerful base engine, which should improve on its acceleration. The vehicle has not yet been tested for its 0 to 60 mph times.
• Car safety features: safety features should be similar to the 2010 model. The 2011 Dodge Challenger may include car safety features such as antilock brakes, traction control, antiskid control, and side curtain air bags.
• Suspension: suspension offers a smooth ride.
• Warranty: three-year/36,000 mile basic warranty; five-year, 100,000 mile powertrain and corrosion warranty; three-year/36,000 mile roadside assistance.

"This car's so quiet I'm falling asleep." That sentence has probably been uttered in a Buick before. But not in a Buick cruising along a German autobahn. At 130 mph.

"Hey, this feels pretty nice." Someone's probably said that before in a Buick, too. But not in a Buick hammering around the legendary Nurburgring Nordschliefe. That's because no Buick in history has had its chassis tuned on the same bit of road utilized by the likes of BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, and Audi to get their cars handling right.

The 2010 Focus is a 2- or 4-door, 5-passenger family coupe, or family sedan, available in 6 trims, ranging from the SE Coupe to the SEL Sedan.

Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 140-horsepower engine. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.

The 2010 Focus is a carryover from 2009.