2009 Toyota Venza

When we first heard about the Toyota Venza, we weren't sure why Toyota needed a five-seat crossover based on the Toyota Camry. The popular Highlander was recently redesigned, it seats seven and it's also based on the Camry. Now that the Venza is here and we have real specs on it, we're even more unsure of its place in the market.The Venza is almost exactly the same length as the Highlander, at 189 inches, and almost the exact same width. The Venza does come with an all-new four-cylinder engine in the base model, which the Highlander doesn't, but we don't have power numbers on it yet. The available V-6 is the same one that's in the Highlander. The Venza will also come in both front- and all-wheel-drive models. The wheels you see pictured are the standard 20-inch variety for the V-6 model. Four-cylinder buyers won't get shortchanged, though, as 19-inch wheels are standard on it.Driving dynamics should be different from the Highlander, of course, as the Venza has a different suspension setup, a lowered height and those big wheels. The interior, too, is radically different — almost at a Lexus level when it comes to looks. That makes us wonder how much this will cost, and if that will bring in buyers.

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2008 Toyota Sequoia

The designer of the new Sequoia went so far as to live with an American family to find out what their large-SUV needs were to help on this redesign. We don't know if all that effort was needed to basically build the SUV version of the new Tundra pickup, but that's pretty much what we get with the new Sequoia.Thankfully, it features the 5.7-liter V-8 engine we loved in the new Tundra. The standard V-8 is the same as the outgoing Sequoia's, however. Surprisingly, the larger engine gets better fuel economy, at 14/19 mpg city/highway with the 5.7-liter and 14/17 mpg city/highway with the 4.7-liter. Those numbers drop to 13/18 and 13/16 mpg for the four-wheel-drive models of each, respectively.Even inside, the Tundra's Neapolitan color scheme is carried over. We're guessing it'll be a terrific-riding large SUV, and the fact that it can tow 10,000 pounds may make it a favorite of the hauling crowd.

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2009 Toyota Matrix

While not nearly as important as the Corolla, the Matrix is still a part of the Toyota family, and it too gets an all-new design for 2009. We're a bit surprised the Matrix is as aggressively styled as it is, though that's not a bad thing. With its sloping roofline and sharp looks, it could really compete with the Mazda3 and Saturn Astra.Based on the new Corolla's platform, which also underpins the 2008 Scion xB, the Matrix is significantly improved. If it handles anything like the Scion xB, we'll be impressed. Power comes from the same two engines as the new Corolla. Power for standard and S trims is rated at 132 horsepower from a revised version of the previous four-cylinder engine, with mileage figures of 26/32 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission and 25/31 for the automatic. A performance XRS trim level will reappear for 2009 with the same 158-hp four-cylinder found in the Scion tC and xB. It gets 21/29 mpg in this application and is only mated to a five-speed automatic. All-wheel drive will be an available option on the S trim level.

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2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

It's rare when two classically opposed models debut at the same time. The Subaru WRX STI hits the show floor at the same time as its archrival, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. That's like debuting the new Camaro alongside the new Mustang. The differences between the two, however, have never been more clear: The Subaru is a hatchback, while the Mitsubishi is a sedan.Obviously there's a lot more to distinguish the two, but like the Evo the STI is a turbocharged-four-cylinder all-wheel-drive sports car. It puts out more horsepower — 305 versus the Evo's 291 — but has less torque, with 290 pounds-feet versus 300 pounds-feet in the Evo. Still, the STI should be an impressive ride.The car's hood is made of aluminum, which lessens weight. The 2008 is 22 pounds heavier than the 2007 it replaces. There's an incline-start assist that prevents the car from rolling backward in the time it takes the foot to leave the brake and hit the gas. The brakes are large Brembo numbers.The interior gets a nice upgrade, with comfortable sport seats with Alcantara — which is a suede-like material — seat inserts and door panels.Along with the Evo, the STI delivers one more example of a sports car in an unconventional shape.

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2009 Subaru Forester

The all-new Subaru Forester is definitely a new look for the company. Out is the completely boxy — some would even say frumpy — look of the current model and in is a sleeker front end attached to an otherwise generic SUV body. Before, when looking at the Forester the term SUV didn't always come to mind. This new look should correct that problem.The new Forester has a longer wheelbase, all-new sheetmetal, 8.9 inches of ground clearance and a revised version of the current 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Subaru hasn't said how much horsepower it produces but promises more power throughout the engine's range. There will also be a Forester XT right from the start with a turbocharged version of the same engine. Details on horsepower will emerge closer to the Detroit auto show next month.What we do know is that all trims of the 2009 will have a new interior, standard all-wheel drive, stability control, four-wheel disc brakes, ABS and side-curtain airbags.No prices have been announced, but when the 2009 Forester arrives this spring we'd expect prices to remain close to the current range of $21,195 to $27,895.

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2008 Smart ForTwo Micro Hybrid

It's all about green in Frankfurt, it seems — that is, besides the Lamborghinis and Bentleys on parade. Smart, which will introduce its new ForTwo in the U.S. early next year, rolled out a hybrid version of that car. It's called the ForTwo Micro Hybrid — you know, because it's small.Smart sells a diesel version of the ForTwo in Europe, but because the hybrid runs on standard gasoline it has a much better chance of making it to the U.S. if the Smart launch goes well. The company is saying the hybrid will get 8 percent better fuel economy overall; in heavy city driving it could get up to 20 percent better mileage.Smart hasn't released EPA numbers for the ForTwo yet, but it said it will likely get a combined rating of 40 mpg. That means the Micro Hybrid would get around 43 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway, at a cost of just 500 Euros more than a basic ForTwo coupe. Even at a roughly 1.4 conversion rate, that's not a bad deal to be green ... and small.

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2009 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid

In addition to having one of the longest model names you'll find, Saturn's 2009 Vue Green Line 2 Mode Hybrid also has the second application of GM's two-mode "full" hybrid system, which first appeared on the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon and has since spread to other full-size GM SUVs and pickups. This makes it the first instance of 2 Mode in a front-wheel-drive model, too.Saturn boasts that this car is the world's most efficient V-6 SUV, which is a fudge, because the only other hybrid V-6 SUVs are larger: the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and its Lexus sister, the RX 400h. More impressive is the claimed 50 percent improvement in mileage over the gas-only Vue. Less impressive, however, is the fact that they're comparing it to the gas-only Vue XR V-6 — which has exhibited disappointing fuel economy to start with — not the four-cylinder Vue or the other Vue Green Line.Wait? There's another Vue Green Line? Yes, Saturn will continue to sell the existing Green Line, a "mild" hybrid that improves efficiency by roughly 10 percent by turning off the engine at stoplights and some other basic hybrid tricks. The original Green Line uses a four-cylinder gas engine. The new 2 Mode version uses a direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6; it seems an odd choice when you note the results Ford and Toyota have had in hybridizing four-cylinders. Then again, the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids use 6.0-liter V-8s rather than the model line's base 5.3-liter. They must know something we don't. ...As in the larger trucks, 2 Mode can propel the Vue using electric power, gasoline power or some combination of the two. Unlike Toyota and Ford systems, its two 55-kilowatt electric motors work with a four-speed automatic transmission.Of the 50 percent combined-mileage increase, Saturn says the greater benefit is in city driving, where it says drivers will see an improvement between 55 and 75 percent; the highway mileage boost is 15 to 25 percent. Certified EPA mileage figures haven't been given yet, but these percentages would turn the Vue XR FWD's 16/23 mpg city/highway and 19 mpg combined ratings to roughly 25 to 28 mpg city and between 26.5 and 28.75 mpg highway, with a combined rating of almost 29 mpg.For comparison, the four-cylinder Vue rates 19/26 and 22 mpg combined. The current Vue Green Line is rated 25/32 and 28 mpg combined. So why pay what's sure to be a considerable premium for the 2 Mode when the simpler Green Line's combined mileage is so close? Saturn says the point is that the 2 Mode delivers this mileage with no sacrifice in acceleration (0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds) or towing (3,500 pounds).

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