Auto News 5

Revitalizing the sedan isn't anything new to Nissan -- just three years ago it introduced the current seventh-generation Maxima as the new age affordable "four-door sports car" (or 4DSC) fit for mall sprees and canyon runs. Even still, Nissan's design leaders say, the well-aged segment remains bland.

Entering (or re-entering) a new market is never easy, but Fiat wants to make it as painless as possible for the customer, so the Italian brand announced today that the 2012 Fiat 500 will start at just $15,500.

Mercedes gave up building mere automobiles a long time ago. The current obsession is building ground-bound rolling rockets like their latest offering, the 2012 CLS63 AMG. Not only does it have the thrust to reach orbit but also the looks to impress any advanced civilization.

Honda may be withholding the Fit Hybrid from Americans, but a pure electric version of the subcompact hatchback should reach our shores by 2012. Touting a usable range of 70 miles and a top speed of 90 mph, Honda introduced a concept of the Fit EV at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Following the successful launch of the Boxster Spyder, a lightweight, more potent version of the mid-engined Boxster S, Porsche has come back to the Los Angeles Auto Show one year later to give a similar treatment to its mid-engined coupe, resulting in the Cayman R.

Subaru may not admit it, but you're likely looking at the next-generation Impreza, which will received the new "confidence in motion" design philosophy showcased on the Impreza Concept you see here. With this new design, the internationally known four-door receives clean and simple character traits that continue to evoke the brand's iconic anytime-anywhere attitude.

After a two year absence, the Dodge Durango is back, and while you may recognize the SUV proportions and crosshair grille, this is a very different vehicle than the truck that bowed out of the market in 2009. Most significantly, the Durango is now a unibody vehicle, rather than the body-on-frame truck it was previously. That has serious implications for the ride comfort, but passengers are just as likely to notice the more comfortable cabin that aims to erase memories of the last five years of Chrysler interiors. Since the 2011 Dodge Durango is an all-new vehicle, there's also fresh engineering or new features in every aspect of the car.

The Audi Q5 Hybrid Quattro pairs up a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, resulting in surprisingly impressive fuel economy of 33.6 mpg.

Although General Motors announced it was working on an updated mild-hybrid system for its midsize sedan models, the automaker had avoided answering which vehicle would first receive the new powertrain. The answer, it seems, is the 2012 Buick LaCrosse: GM revealed today its new eAssist system will become the entry-level powertrain offering next year.