Here's a look at the new and refreshed cars, trucks and SUVs coming down the pike for the 2010 model year.
Automakers around the globe are reeling from the recession and the resulting downturn in automobile sales, which is projected to last well into next year. Consequently, most are rethinking their product offerings to meet the public's perceived desire for more affordable, fuel-efficient transportation. While traditional thought would tell us that the next generation of new car buyers is in for a parade of easy-to-sell vehicles with no pulse to speak of, we've found more than a few 2010 model year cars, trucks and SUVs that'll get your heart pounding.
To give you a more complete look at the latest vehicles coming down the pike, here's a comprehensive overview of what's new and what's been slightly modified or "refreshed" for the 2010 model year — as well as a few 2009 and 2011 models for good measure.
To make this massive list of metal more digestible, we've broken it up into three parts, and identified the highlights of each part for quick reading.
Highlights here in part 1 include the return of Italian automaker Alfa Romeo, a subsidiary of Fiat, to the American marketplace with several sexy, yet fuel-efficient models; an all-new array of slick-looking clean diesels from Audi, and the much-celebrated return of the Chevrolet Camaro.
Acura
Acura might not be riding the green wave like other luxury automakers, but it does benefit from strikingly efficient, low-emission gasoline engines, thanks to the experience of parent company Honda. The company is set to unleash a new crossover ute, the ZDX, geared to go toe to toe with Bavarian metal like the BMW X6. Longtime favorites such as the RDX should see some cosmetic changes to keep up with familial design language.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
Acura ZDX Prototype
2010 Acura ZDX
Acura isn't content to let BMW hold a monopoly on the nascent performance crossover segment. The ZDX prototype, which debuted at the 2009 New York International Auto Show, is reportedly powered by the same beefy 3.5-liter V6 engine found in the 2010 TSX. The 280-horsepower mill is coupled to a 6-speed automatic gearbox and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: Around $50,000
WHAT’S BEEN REFRESHED . . .
2010 Acura TSX V6
2010 Acura TSX
The TSX now comes with significantly more grunt, thanks to a tweaked version of its 3.5-liter V6 that bumps horsepower up to 280. There are also a number of suspension revisions to go along with the more potent engine.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $32,000
2010 Acura RDX
The RDX, Acura's small crossover offering, is expected to receive the same design treatment as the rest of the Acura fleet for 2010. That's to say, like it or not, the nose of the company's turbo 4-cylinder will see the polarizing familial shield for the first time.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: $33,895
Alfa Romeo
With parent company Fiat's new interest in Chrysler, next year should see an end to the Italian automaker's long hiatus from the U.S. market. We'll finally get a taste of a few premium-priced yet slick-looking Alfas alongside Fiat's fuel-efficient models. In fact, Alfa Romeo will have three models fit for U.S. consumption.
WHAT’S NEW . . .
2010 Alfa Romeo 159
2010 Alfa Romeo 159 Sedan
It's been a long time since Alfa Romeo last took to the land of the free, and it's a hard sell to get buyers to snap up cars from what feels like a brand-new company. To put those worries at ease, the Italian automaker is set to introduce the 159 Sedan as its first new model on this side of the Atlantic. With its sights set dead on the BMW 3-Series, the car boasts a direct-injection 260 horsepower 3.2-liter V6 engine, dynamic styling and standard all-wheel drive.
Availability: Late 2009
Price: Starts at around $34,000
2010 Alfa Romeo Brera Coupe
This 2-door has sporty written all over it. A 2+2 hatch that is well-styled with low and attractive lines, the Brera is powered by the same 3.2-liter V6 as the 159 to ensure that it has the bite to back up the aggressive look. Like the more reserved sedan, the Brera should also be able to brag about full-time all-wheel drive and a well-sorted suspension.
Availability: Late 2009
Price: Starts at around $36,000
2010 Alfa Romeo Spider
2010 Alfa Romeo Spider
For those of you who remember Alfa Romeo for its fun little convertibles, meet the new Spider. Based on the same platform as both the 159 and the Brera Coupe, you can expect similar handling and performance out of this relatively small Italian drop-top. Power should come from either the direct-injection 3.2-liter V6 mentioned above or a fuel-thrifty 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, which will probably be more fuel efficient. Rumor has it that there may be a more potent performance model, called the GTA, available in the United States as well.
Availability: Late 2009
Price: Starts at around $44,000
Aston Martin
Next year will be an exciting one for Aston Martin. The long-awaited 4-door Rapide will finally be available to the public, and the super-exclusive One-77 can be had by people with more money than most developing countries. Finally, if you've been itching for a DBS but yearning for a drop-top, too, Aston Martin has added the DBS Volante to its lineup.
WHAT’S NEW . . .
2010 Aston Martin Rapide
2010 Aston Martin Rapide
The company's first 4-door, dubbed Rapide, is built to take on the likes of Porsche's Panamera. Aston Martin's sedan is powered by the same 6.0-liter V12 found in the much smaller DBS Volante. However, the mill churns out 470 horsepower in family guise — 40 horses less than in the convertible.
Availability: Early 2010
Price: Around $200,000
2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante
Adding a bit of drop-top fun to Aston Martin's new-decade portfolio is the DBS Volante. The car is built as a 2+2. While that technically means it has back seats, we wouldn't recommend that anyone over 10 actually attempt to use them. An automatic cloth top keeps the elements out when the going gets wet, and a 510-horsepower version of the company's hand-built 6.0-liter V12 provides plenty of power.
Availability: Late 2009
Price: Around $300,000
2010 Aston Martin One-77
2010 Aston Martin One-77
Only six One-77s will find their way to this side of the pond next year, and only 77 (fitting, right?) will be built worldwide. Since they are individually tailored to the buyer, each should be somewhat unique. Aston Martin has billed the super-exclusive car as a paradigm — i.e., the pinnacle of what the company can do in terms of performance — and the 7.2-liter V12 with 700 horsepower would seem to attest to that statement.
Availability: Late 2009
Price: Around $2 million
WHAT’S BEEN REFRESHED . . .
Aston Martin DB9
2010 Aston Martin BeoSound DB9
Aston Martin has partnered with Bang & Olufsen to produce the BeoSound DB9 — a DB9 outfitted with a special sound system that has been specifically developed for the car. Sporting twin acoustic lens speakers and cosmetics to match the car's interior, Aston Martin says it sounds unlike anything else out there. Of course, if the music isn’t enough to keep you in the cockpit, the DB9’s 6.0-liter V12 should be.
Availability: Late 2009
Price: $269,000
Audi
Despite the global sales downturn, Audi has actually gained market share in the U.S., mainly because its product offerings are solid. To celebrate, the company is rolling out all-new A5 and S5 Cabriolets, as well as spicing up engine choices in a few key product areas. The mighty R8 will have a taste of the company's powerful 5.2-liter V10, and the A3 will benefit from diesel power for the first time in the U.S.
WHAT’S NEW . . .
2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet
2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet
The 2010 A5 Cabriolet is set to replace the aging A4 Cab next year. Unlike other drop-tops in the luxury segment, this car will boast a traditional soft-top to save weight. Two engines will be available, including a fuel-thrifty 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and a more potent 3.2-liter V6. Brand new styling all around and a slew of tech goodies inside promise to make this convertible worth a look.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: Around $42,000
2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet
The A5's more muscular sibling, the S5 Cabriolet packs some serious grunt, thanks to a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that puts out 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. You will be able to choose from either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed double-clutch unit.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: $52,700
2010 Audi S4
2010 Audi S4
Audi has focused on doing more with less with its newest generation S4, the A4's sinister twin, and the result is a car powered by a 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine. The supercharged six-cylinder generates a heady 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque — enough to tango with the BMW 335i any day of the week. Choose a fantastic six-speed manual transmission or the company's new seven-speed dual clutch unit to put power to all four corners, resulting in a zero to 60 mph time of around 5.1 seconds. The best news is that this mean sedan does it all with 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: Starts at $49,000
WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .
2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI
2010 Audi R8
Audi has added a new engine option to its all-wheel-drive supercar. The R8 can now be had with the company's 525-horsepower 5.2-liter FSI V10. While the car isn't set to be available until the end of 2009, the first model sold in the U.S. at a charity auction for more than $500,000. We expect the actual price tag to be significantly less.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: $123,000
2010 Audi A3
Good news for diesel fans — Audi's diminutive A3 will finally be available in the land of the free with a 2.0-liter TDI engine. With 140 horsepower, 236 lb-ft of torque and astronomical fuel economy, this is the wagon of choice for families looking for an alternative green solution.
Availability: Early 2010
Price: $32,000
Bentley
Bentley, a purveyor of sheet metal worth more than most people's homes, seems undaunted by the worldwide economic collapse, as it is turning out a couple of pricey new and refreshed models. Front and center is the company's Continental Supersports.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2010 Bentley Continental Supersports
2010 Bentley Continental Supersports
This is the fastest Bentley ever created. Powered by a flex-fuel 6.0-liter W12 twin-turbocharged motor that develops 621 horsepower from its perch under the car's long and lovely hood, the Supersports sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, all while cradling you in the kind of hand-stitched luxury only Bentley can provide. Far from just a straight-shot warrior, it also boasts a refined suspension and careful weight balance to remain poised in the twisties.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: $273,295
WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .
2010 Bentley Continental GTC Speed
The Continental GTC will get Bentley's "Speed" treatment for the first time. That means it will be outfitted with a 600-horsepower twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12; that's a boost of nearly 50 horses compared with the standard GTC. The extra power nudges the Speed's top velocity to 195 mph with the roof down, 200 with it up. New ceramic brakes and host of other upgrades help the car cope with the extra force from the W12.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $231,400
BMW
BMW is focusing on new and efficient technologies with its 2010 offerings. The company is, once again, offering diesel engines in the United States, starting with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo that produces 265 horsepower and a staggering 425 lb-ft of torque. The six-pot diesel is surprisingly clean, even meeting the strict standards of California's watchful eye.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2009 BMW Z4
Th all-new Z4 is equipped witha slick, retractable hardtop (RHT). In sDrive35i trim, the car can brag about 300 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine, though a less potent naturally aspirated 3.0-liter version is also available for substantially less money. The best news: Unlike most roadsters with retractable hardtops, the Z4 doesn't suffer from a huge rear end.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Starts at $45,750
2009 BMW 7-Series
If fire-breathing sport utilities aren't your cup of tea, BMW has taken a clean sheet to the 7-Series. The result is an all-new design outside as well as a new beating heart under the hood, in the form of a silky smooth, twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Around $80,000
2010 BMW X6 M
2010 BMW X6 M
Call it innovation or call it sacrilege, the X6 M represents an all-new chapter in the story of BMW's performance division. Thanks to power from a twin-turbocharged V8, this massive crossover utility vehicle does the zero to 60 mph dash in around 4.5 seconds. That's not just quick — it's lightning fast.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: $89,725
2010 BMW X5 M
You can think of the X5 M as the X6 M's little sibling — as long as you remember that they're both motivated by the same powerful twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. With 555 horsepower and more than 500 lb-ft of torque on tap, this is one mean SUV. New design cues differentiate the M from the rest of the X family, including front fascia and side skirt treatments.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: $86,225
WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .
2009 BMW 335d
2009 BMW 3-Series
The 3-Series receives a new powerplant for the 2009 model year — an Advanced Diesel. Found in the 335d and the X5 xDrive35d, the new 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine delivers 265 horsepower and an eye-widening 425 lb-ft of torque. The best part is that all that twisting goodness is available from low in the power band (1500 rpm). Fuel economy numbers sit in the 23 mpg city/36 mpg highway range, too.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Starts at $33,600
Buick
Despite the maladies afflicting parent company General Motors, Buick seems to be bent on rolling out new models that are as efficient as they are attractive. The Buick Enclave has seen surprising success after its recent redesign, and the company is looking for a repeat performance with its new Lacrosse. It remains to be seen whether these new products will have what it takes to counter the company's geriatric image, but — for the first time in a long while — Buick is a name worth considering in the mid-level luxury game.
WHAT'S NEW. . .
2010 Buick LaCrosse
2010 Buick Lacrosse
The all-new Lacrosse comes standard with a potent 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 engine that develops 280 horsepower. But the real news about this all-new ride comes from a smaller displacement model. Late in the first year of production, a 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine will be available with 180 horsepower and up to 30 mpg highway. That eye-widening EPA figure puts the car ahead of anything Acura or Infiniti can boast. Smart styling outside and an interior that's light-years ahead of what Buick was producing not too long ago make the Lacrosse a worthy competitor.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $27,835
Cadillac
Parent company General Motors might be slashing dealerships left and right, but Cadillac has some exciting news for the world. Next year will see not one but two new models from the Crest. A new wagon version of the CTS will help the company run with its tough German competition, and a new crossover should satisfy people who buy such things.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
The CTS Sport Wagon builds on the standard sedan's already attractive styling, adding the svelte proportions of a long roof and the functionality of an automatic liftgate to the equation. The result is the first full-blown wagon from Cadillac since a handful of rogue models escaped the factory in the '70s and '80s. The car is powered by either a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 with 304 horsepower or a more efficient 3.0-liter V6. All-wheel drive will be an option.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Around $33,000
2010 Cadillac SRX
The SRX is getting a much-needed makeover. GM bills the car as a midsize luxury crossover, complete with a selection of two direct-injection engines. A 3.0-liter V6 with 265 horsepower is standard fare, but a turbocharged 2.8-liter example is also available. Both engines are coupled to an efficient, new 6-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive versions receive an interesting new safety system that can transfer up to 100 percent of vehicle power to the wheel with the most grip.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $34,155
Chevrolet
The moment has finally come: The 2010 Chevy Camaro is here! While not likely to bring the public pouring into showrooms across the U.S., the car promises to stir up some much needed interest in General Motors. With a potent V6 or an insanely powerful V8, there's much to celebrate.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro can be had in a variety of packages, all based on engine choice. The base engine, a 3.6-liter V6, serves up an impressive 29 mpg highway while still delivering 304 horsepower. And diehard fans will be glad to see a beefy V8 under the hood, good for 426 horsepower. The best part is the price — the Camaro starts at a lowly $23,040.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Starts at $23,040
WHAT'S REFRESHED . . .
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
While far from a full-on new model, the Corvette will get a new option package for 2010. Essentially an extension of the already excellent Z51 package, the Grand Sport will employ the same 6.2-liter 430-horsepower LS3 in the 2009 Corvette, but will also make use of new wide-body styling. Brakes from the Z06 will also find their way aboard, as will new transmission gear ratios that should shave at least two-tenths of a second from the car's zero to 60 mph time.
Availability: Fall 2009
Price: $55,720
Chrysler
The past year has been rough for Chrysler. First, it had to endure filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Now, the automaker has to fight for its life in a cutthroat marketplace. Unfortunately, the company doesn't have much to brag about for the 2010 model year, but that doesn't mean a few eye-opening 2011 models aren't right down the road. Chrysler's merger with Fiat promises a bevy of new fuel-efficient models in dealerships across the country for the first time ever, not to mention talk of the company's much-ballyhooed electric vehicle program finally producing a marketable product.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2011 Chrysler 300
Chrysler's hoping to get the company back on the right track by late next year, and those plans include an all-new 300. Expect to see massive improvements in terms of interior quality and fuel efficiency. That means one of Detroit's thirstiest models may topple the 30 mpg mark for the first time. For fans of the now-iconic styling of the 300, the base lines will likely stay, with the addition of a new rear end and other style cues.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $28,000
WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .
2011 Chrysler Town and Country
The first model to benefit from Chrysler's work in the electric vehicle and hybrid categories will likely be the vehicle that made Chrysler king in the early '90s, the Town & Country. The T&C EV will have an all-electric range of around 40 miles. It won't be an electric vehicle or hybrid, but rather what's called an extended-range electric vehicle. That means the vehicle will be propelled at all times by its battery-powered electric motors. The small gasoline engine is only there to recharge the minivan's battery packs when they run low. The result is a people mover with half the emissions of a standard vehicle and phenomenal gas mileage.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $35,000
Dodge
Dodge is under the same financial microscope that its parent company Chrysler is, and it too is feeling the pressure. While the 2010 model year shouldn't see any brand-new models, 2011 will likely boast a number of additions to the company's lineup by the end of next calendar year. The new cars and trucks should put the company where it needs to be in order to stay competitive with the rest of the automotive world, with new, fuel-efficient motors and a wide array of hybrids.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2011 Dodge Charger
Dodge is keeping its lips sealed as far as hard details on its next-generation Charger, but we're guaranteed the car will top CAFE standards for fuel consumption and emissions. That's thanks partly to a new 8-speed transmission that should make the most out of whatever engine Dodge puts behind the headlights. The car will continue to be rear-wheel drive, and odds are a few performance variations will likely hang around to live up to the Charger name.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $26,000
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