Auto News 5

As soon as Dodge introduced the Charger's major makeover late last year, Chrysler's famous Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team had their hands on it for yet another transformation, this time to give it an even more pronounced muscle car persona. Not only is the four-door more powerful than the outgoing (and outdated) model, it's also faster, better to toss into corners, and less of a burden at the pump, preliminary Pentastar data suggests.

For the past quarter century or so, Volkswagen has employed a fairly systemic formula for the GLI, the performance variant of the Jetta sedan -- add horsepower, sporty suspension bits, body kit, rinse and repeat -- and the song remains the same for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. But as the new Jetta moves away from its Golf roots and into the cushy mainstream sedan arena, will the GLI be softer as well?

Toyota is focusing on inner-beauty with the refresh of its 2011 Toyota Matrix, which the automaker is bringing to the 2011 Chicago show. The five-door hatchback gets upgraded interior bits and new wheel styles for the 2011 model year.