2009 CHEVROLET CAMARO

What it is:GM's much-hyped return of beloved played-muscle car it discontinued in 2002.
Why it's important:The succes of the 2005 Ford Mustang showed there is money to be made in the segment.
Platform:The reanimation of the Camaro doubled as an admission that engineering of the Global RWD Arhitecture,nee Zeta,never really ceased in Australia.
Powertrain: we're expecting two V-8s-a400-hp 6,0-liter and a high-po 500-plus-horse B-8-and an entry model with a 3,6-liter V-6.Buyers can choose a six speed manual or a six speed automatic.
Competition:Ford Mustang,Dodge challenger
What might go wrong:GM elder Bob Lutz has said proposed CAFE standards may prove too tough for rear-wheel-drive vehicles to meet.At the moment,the Camarois still a go,but there's a chance the convertible may not follow a year later.
Estimated arrival and costs:The Camaro is due in early 2009,the convertible in 2010.Look for prices to run from $25,000 to $35,000.

2008 DODGE CHALLENGER

What it is:A front engine,rear-wheel-drive,five-passenger retro coupe that slavishly copies the 1970 original
Why it's important:This Chrysler's play for a piece of the pony-car market that Ford has been gobbling whole since the introduction of the 2005 Mustang that sold 160,975 units that year.
Platform:The concept rides on a shortened version of the rear-wheel-drive LX platform(Dodge Charger,Chrysler 300),but the production Challenger could be a short-wheelbase version of the next-gen LY arhitecture.
Powertrain:Look under the hood for the 6.1 liter Hemi V-8 kicking up 425 horsepower,with the anticipated option of a 500 horse,392-cubic-inch V-8,as well as a base model with a V-6.In addition to the six-speed automatic,the hope is Chrysler wild do the right thing and offer a six-speed manual in the spirit of Challengers of yore.
Competition: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro.
What might go wrong:Ford was pleasantly surprised with the succes of the 2005 Mustang,but the Challenger,Camari,and Mustang likely will be duking it out for shares of a segment that has been partly sated.
Esimated arrival and costs:The production Challenger will get spotlight treatment at the Chicago auto show in February 2008.We expect production to begin next spring as a 2008 model.
Pricing will be competitive with the Mustang and Camaro,in the $25,000-to-$35,000 range.
A convertible is not planned,but we expect an SRT performance version,perhaps launching simultaneaosly next spring.

A few more photos of the superb Dodge Challenger:

2010 ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE

What it is: The Rapide is essentially a four-door version of Astons's DB9 two-plus-two coupe.It's a more elegant,less spacious,and more expensive alternative to existing four-door high-performance luxury sedans.
Why it's important:Now that Aston Martin has been sold by Ford to a consortium headed by David Richards od Prodrive,which builds Subaru rally cars among its many ventures,the Rapide gives Aston a fourth model line that should help increase output from 7000 cars annually to 9000.
Platform:The Rapide is built on Aston Martin's VH("vertical horizontal")all-aluminium structure,stretched nearly 10 inches in wheelbase to make room for a piar of adults in back.Overall,the Rapide is 12 inches longer than the DB9.
Powertrain:As it stands,the Rapide will use a version of Aston's 5.9-liter V-12 engine that will put out 473 horsepower,up from the DB9's 444.The show car that was revealead ad Detroit in 2006 also used the DB9's ZF six-speed automatic transmission with pafflde shifters.
Competition:Audi S8,Bentley Flying Spur,Maserati Quattroporte,Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG,Porsche Panamera.
What might go wrong:The likely asking price(more than $200,000)puts the Rapide in highfalutin company,particulary since the Porsche Panamera is reputed to cost as mach as 100large.
Estimated arrival and costs:Keep an eye out for Rapide sometime in 2009,priced at about $220,000.

BMW 135 i

M3:All eyes are on the 414-hp V-8-powered M3 coupe from the '07 series arhitecture.The engine based on the 5.0-liter V-10 in the M5 and M6,features an 8400-rpm redline and an accessible 295pound-feet of torque at 3900 rpm.Our initial test produced a 0-to-60 time of 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.9 seconds at 11mph.A six-speed manual is the only transmission available when the M3 goes on sale next spring.A twin clutch transmission is expected to debut in a year.The bad news is the M3 has put on about 300 punds over its '06 predecessor ,and the base price will likely be about $7000 more.
1-series: A coupe version of the smallest BMW is the U.S-bound in 2008.Two engines will power the 1-series: a 3.0 liter inline-six with 230 horsepower will be under the hood of the 128 i and 300 -hp twin-turbo inline-six will power the 135i.A sport suspension and body kit will be standard on 135 i and optional on the 128i.Both engines will come with a standard six speed manual and optional automatic. Price is expected to start below $30,000 and top off near $40,000 for a well optioned 135i.
5-series: Exterior styling is tweaked slightly front and rear,although the big news is in the six-cylinder models.Last year's 215-hp 525i becomes the 528i,thanks to a 230-hp,3.0-liter inline-six the 255-hp 530i morphs into the twin-turbo 300-hp 535i.
All wheel drive is available in both six-cylinder models.
The V-8 powered 550i gets the styling tweaks but is mechanically unchanged.
6-series:New front and rear fascias seek to keep design fresh,and the 6-series coupe and convertible soldier on with np major mechanical changes.
Unchanged: M5,M6,X5,Z4,Z4M,3-series,7-series
Dead:525i,530i