Auto News 5

With the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport making its U.S. debut at New York, Mitsubishi has a crossover it can offer starting at less than $20,000. At a length of 169.1 inches, the Outlander Sport is more of a Lancer-alternative than a true compact crossover along the lines of class leaders like the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape.inline_mediumwraptextright32813706/features/news/1003_2011_mitsubishi_outlander_sport2011-mitsubishi-outlander-sport-side.JPG.jpgTrue

Kia took the wraps off a third Forte model, a sleek-looking hatchback that will join the coupe and sedan this summer. Compared to the sedan, the new body style trims seven inches from the overall length, but height, width, and wheelbase remain the same. The two-engine lineup mirrors that of today's Forte, with a 156-hp, 2.0-liter in the base car and a 2.4-liter, 173-hp unit powering the sport version. Either engine offers the choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with shift paddles.inline_mediumwraptextright27408368/features/news/1004_2011_kia_forte_5_door2011-kia-forte-hatch-front-three-quarter.jpgTrue

Kia's Optima has never exactly stood apart from the crowds of midsize sedans sold here in North America -- but all of that changes with the new 2011 Kia Optima, which makes its big debut at the 2010 New York auto show.inline_mediumwraptextright32716560/features/news/1003_2011_kia_optima2011-kia-optima-side-view.jpgTrue

Hyundai's Korean-market Equus flagship first landed at the New York auto show in 2009, allowing the automaker to "test reaction" to a premium sedan above the Genesis. It seems reaction was plenty positive, as Hyundai is gunning for the likes of Lexus with the new U.S-spec 2011 Equus.inline_mediumwraptextright32833389/features/news/1003_2011_hyundai_equus2011-hyundai-equus-front.JPG.jpgTrue

The 2010 WRX STI Special Edition doesn't make much sense as a business plan. With an upgraded suspension and a slightly decontended interior, it's a better handling STI for less money. Unless you just have to have HIDs and a trunk-shaking sound system, there's no reason to look higher up Subaru's performance hierarchy. That is until late this summer, when the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, which is making its debut at the 2010 New York show, reaches dealer lots.inline_mediumwraptextright32824041/features/news/1003_2011_subaru_impreza_wrx_sti_sedan2011-subaru-impreza-WRX-STI-sedan-side.jpgTrue

Months in Fleet: Three
Mileage to Date: 5802 milesinline_mediumwraptextright28591084/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1003_2009_nissan_cube_sl_march_20101003_z_01+2009_nissan_cube_sL+profile_view.jpgTrue

As the performance gap between the standard Subaru Impreza WRX and the racy Impreza WRX STI continues to close, so too will the appearances of the two cars as Subaru updates the less-powerful car with the more-powerful car’s bodywork for 2011.inline_mediumwraptextright32718240/features/news/1003_2011_subaru_impreza_wrx2011-subaru-impreza-wrx.jpgTrue

Acura's MDX caters to customers shopping for a midsize SUV, while its ungainly new ZDX reportedly aims at those who seeking something more carlike. What, then, does Acura offer buyers who want a car, but with just a little more cargo space?

Why, a wagon, of course.inline_mediumwraptextright32822877/features/news/1003_2011_acura_tsx_sport_wagon2011-acura-TSX-sport-wagon-front-three-quarter.jpgTrue

Six years without any significant upgrades takes its toll on a car's sales volume. Take, for instance, the Scion tC: largely untouched since its debut in 2004, sales peaked at 80,000 units in 2006, but plummeted to 18,000 in 2009. Obviously, it's time for a chance, and Scion hopes the new 2011 tC, which debuts at this year's New York auto show, will help reverse this freefall.inline_mediumwraptextright28608643/features/news/1003_2011_scion_tc2011-scion-tC-front.jpgTrue

By ditching V-6 engines in favor of improved four-cylinder engines, Hyundai's clearly making fuel economy a chief priority with its 2011 Sonata -- but customers who want the utmost in fuel savings will likely look past the standard sedans and shop the new 2011 Sonata Hybrid, which makes its debut at the 2010 New York auto show.inline_mediumwraptextright32800896/green/news/1003_2011_hyundai_sonata_hybrid2011-hyundai-sonata-hybrid-front-three-quarter-motion.jpgTrue

Tradition holds that there's no replacement for displacement, but Hyundai's challenging that logic with its latest Sonata sedan. By strapping a turbocharger onto a four-cylinder, Hyundai can offer greater fuel economy, horsepower, and torque than most competitive midsize V-6 sedans -- but will customers buy into the logic that the buying less will, in fact, get you more?inline_mediumwraptextright27388667/features/news/1003_2011_hyundai_sonata_20t2011-hyundai-sonata-turbo-rear-three-quarter.jpgTrue

When Scion unveiled its tricked-out, Toyota iQ-based microcar concept at last year's New York auto show, executives insisted it was there to test America's appetite for ultra-small commuter vehicles. Apparently we're hungry for tiny transportation, as the automaker is using this year's show to publically unveil the 2011 Scion iQ.inline_mediumwraptextright32798685/features/news/1003_2011_scion_iq2011-scion-iQ-front-three-quarter.jpgTrue

The full-size SUV market may be shrinking, but it's still an incredibly profitable piece of the pie for manufacturers with desirable products. So if you've got a platform to use (such as the Nissan Patrol sold overseas, for instance) it makes a lot of sense to add the requisite luxury features, re-skin it and charge a lot more for it. That's just what Infiniti did to create the 2011 Infiniti QX56 which is bowing at the 2010 New York show.inline_mediumwraptextright28617211/features/news/1003_2011_infiniti_qx562011-infiniti-QX56-front-three-quarter-view.jpgTrue

Alpina debuted the new B7 sedan at this year’s Chicago auto show and the big news was the car’s availability in either short- or long-wheelbase configuration. The previous B7 was only available as a SWB car in the U.S. and ended up stepping on the M5’s toes as a result. With significant revisions to BMW's standard 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 that include new pistons, larger intercoolers, and increased boost pressure, the B7 was said to be good for a well-rounded 500 horsepower and a full 516 pound-feet of torque. Hook that type of power up to the B7's rear wheels and the improvements were good for 4.5-second 0 to 60 mph launches when the sun is shining and roads are dry. So what about when conditions aren't quite so good?inline_mediumwraptextright26744771/features/news/1003_2011_bmw_alpina_b7_xdrive2011-bmw-alpina-b7-front-three-quarter-1.jpgTrue

With the pending CAFE standards on the horizon even sports car manufacturers like Porsche are looking for ways to improve fuel economy. Enter the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, which shares its mechanical underpinnings with the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid. That means a 333-horsepower supercharged V-6 from the Audi S4 and a 47-horsepower electric motor can be found underhood, paired by a decoupling clutch to allow each to run independently. Combined, the two power sources make a solid 380 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque and run through an eight-speed automatic transmission.inline_mediumwraptextright28543363/green/news/1003_2011_porsche_cayenne_s_hybrid2011-Porsche-Cayenne-S-Hybrid-front-three-quarter-view-motion.jpgTrue

Though we’ve already seen the Lexus CT 200h at the 2010 Geneva auto show, Lexus decided to bring the little hybrid over to bolster interest in the vehicle before it’s U.S. launch.inline_mediumwraptextright27334394/green/news/1003_lexus_ct_200h_hybridlexus-ct-200h-side-view.jpgTrue

We’ve always walked away impressed with the taut body control and sharp handling exhibited by Suzuki’s midsize Kizashi sedan, but a new model — the 2011 Kizashi Sport — promises a sharper drive experience yet.inline_mediumwraptextright28606429/features/news/1003_2011_suzuki_kizashi_sport2011-suzuki-kizashi-sport-side-view-passenger-2.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport – 2010 New York Auto Show Coverage, New Car Reviews, Concept Cars – Automobile Magazine

Nissan's Juke crossover certainly caught our eye at last month's Geneva motor show, though not necessarily for all the right reasons. There's no doubt the Juke will turn heads and split public opinion at both the New York auto show and when it reaches American roads later this year -- and that's just what Nissan wants.inline_mediumwraptextright28274380/features/news/1003_2011_nissan_juke2011-nissan-juke-front-three-quarters-driver.jpgTrue