Auto company executives know that car buyers this recessionary year are serious about value, safety and improved fuel mileage.
So it's no wonder that some retail prices on new, 2010 models — such as the Ford Taurus and Toyota Prius — have held steady from 2009 even though both cars have substantial changes.
It's also not surprising that safety features continue to be added as standard — not optional — equipment on many new vehicles.
For instance, both Chevrolet and GMC add curtain air bags, which provide head protection in side crashes, as standard equipment on all their respective Colorado and Canyon pickup trucks for 2010.
Car shoppers will find that engines in many new vehicles are more fuel efficient than ever this model year.
As an example, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse will offer a fuel-thrifty four-cylinder engine. The mid-size LaCrosse sedan never offered a four banger before.
Even Mercedes-Benz is taking a new approach to fuel efficiency in 2010 with the introduction of two hybrid models.
Alas, there's also a somber side to the 2010 model year. The number of vehicle nameplates being discontinued from production totals more than 15 and is the highest one-year dropoff in decades. Among the names disappearing with the new model year are the Dodge Durango, Pontiac Solstice, Suzuki XL7, Honda S2000 and Mercury Sable.
Here are details of the 2010 model year:
ACURA
Look closely at Acura's new-for-2010 ZDX. If you only take in the overall shape, you might miss that this coupe-shaped vehicle with hidden rear door handles has four doors. Due out at the end of the 2009 calendar year, the five-passenger ZDX crossover sport utility vehicle is powered by a 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and comes standard with Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. Pricing hasn't been announced.
Meantime, Acura adds a V-6 to its TSX sedan for the first time. The 201-horsepower, four-cylinder engine remains, but the 3.5-liter, V-6 offers 280 horses. The four-cylinder, 2010 TSX starts around $30,000 retail, with destination charge included, while the TSX with V-6 starts at more than $34,800.
Acura's two SUVs — the RDX and MDX — are updated for 2010 with bolder grilles, subtle rear styling changes and interior refinements. In addition, the RDX is available for the first time with two-wheel drive. This means starting retail price for an RDX falls to below $34,000.
ASTON MARTIN
Sold off by Ford Motor Co. in 2007, the Aston Martin brand made famous by movie spy James Bond is busy following through on the company's first four-door car. The four-seat Rapide, displayed as a concept car at auto shows in recent years, earned high praise for its seductive looks. Finally, it will be out early in calendar 2010 as a production model. The Rapide will come with a 470-horsepower, 5.9-liter V-12 and a price tag expected to be around $250,000.
That's nothing, however, compared with Aston Martin's oh-so-exclusive One-77 supercar. The One-77 coupe, already sold out, will go to just 77 buyers around the world, who will get an exotic car with a carbon fiber chassis, a 700-horsepower, 7.3-liter V-12 and aluminum body. Price: $1.7 million.
Meantime, the Aston Martin DBS adds a convertible for 2010. The DBS Volante has striking looks, a 510-horsepower, 5.9-liter V-12 and standard six-speed manual transmission. Just watch the Volante's two back seats. They are snug, even for teen-agers. Starting retail price is more than $285,000.
AUDI
Perhaps the most riveting news is the addition of a V-10 to the sleek, exotic-looking Audi R8 supercar. The all-wheel drive R8 has been sold so far with a 420-horse, 4.2-liter V-8 that surely doesn't lack power. But the new, 5.2-liter V-10 produces 525 horsepower and can propel the two-seat R8 from standstill to 60 miles an hour in less than 3.9 seconds.
It'll cost you, though. Starting retail price, including destination charge, with the V-10 is $147,200.
In 2010, Audi becomes the first automaker in the United States to have an entire model lineup with a direct injection engine system. It boosts performance and fuel economy by carefully metering fuel going into the engine.
In other news, there's a lower-priced, base Audi A5 now, because a 2-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine is among the offerings. The powerplant produces 211 horsepower in the base A5 coupe, which starts at $36,825.
The Audi A3 adds a fuel-thrifty, 2-liter, diesel, four-cylinder engine for the first time in the States, which boosts government fuel economy ratings to 30/42 mpg.
The Audi A6 sedan gets a more powerful V-6. The 3.2-liter V-6 for this five-seater adds Audi Valvelift System (AVS) to help it generate 265 horses in 2010.
Meantime, the A8 in 2010 will no longer be available with W-12 engine, and the S8 is discontinued.
BENTLEY
The maker of distinctive — and large, expensive — autos put its Bentley Continental GT on a diet and reworked the car's interior, its 12-cylinder engine and suspension. The result is the fastest production Bentley ever. In fact, the company says its Continental Supersports two-seater rivals a Ferrari.
Powered by a 621-horsepower, 6-liter, twin-turbocharged W-12 engine, the Supersports has been timed going 0 to 60 mph in some 3.7 seconds. Top speed is 204 mph.
Intriguingly, Bentley engineers also massaged the engine software so the engine can operate on E85 fuel, a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. Premium gasoline continues to work fine, too.
Fuel economy for the Continental Supersports still is poor, though, at an estimated 12 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
Starting retail price is north of $265,000.
Also in 2010, the already striking Bentley Continental GTC open top car gets the Speed treatment. This means the GTC Speed convertible has 48 more horses — for a total of 600 — from its 6-liter, twin-turbocharged W-12 engine compared with a "regular" GTC.
The GTC Speed can be had with optional ceramic brakes and has some subtle exterior updates to distinguish it. Starting retail price is more than $237,000.
In 2010, there's only one Bentley Azure, the T, and its 6.8-liter, turbocharged V-8 produces 50 more horsepower than before, for a total of 500. Torque is even more astounding at 738 foot-pounds. Price, if you have to ask, is more than $350,000.
Lastly, Bentley drops the Arnage for the 2010 model year as the company prepares for its new flagship sedan, the Mulsanne, in calendar 2010.
BMW
Think of BMW's 5-Series Gran Turismo as a blimped-up, mid-size sedan with a rear hatch. Based on the 5-Series sedan, the 2010 5-Series Gran Turismo is longer, wider and taller. Even the wheelbase is stretched. And the Gran Turismo has a hatchback rear end. Three engines are available, including a 3-liter, twin-turbocharged diesel six cylinder and a 400-horsepower, 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8.
And for the 2010 model year at least, BMW will retain its 5-Series station wagon, alongside the new Gran Turismo.
In other news, BMW adds M versions to its X5 and X6 lines in the 2010 model year. Both X5 M and X6 M get a 555-horsepower, 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8.
Unfortunately, the federal government's fuel mileage rating for each of these new M models is a dismal 12 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.
Lastly, all 7-Series sedans get an eight-gear automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive becomes available. The 12-cylinder engine in the top-of-the-line 7-Series is a new, 544-horsepower, 6-liter, twin-turbocharged powerplant.
BUICK
The Buick LaCrosse sedan is restyled and during the model year will add a new, more fuel-efficient base engine that's a 2.4-liter, direct-injection, Ecotec powerplant generating 182 horsepower. Officials say the four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission will boost the LaCrosse's fuel mileage rating to 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, one of the best for the segment. The move marks the first time the LaCrosse has a four banger under the hood. Other LaCrosse engines are V-6s.
Buick also updates all Lucerne sedan models with fog lamps and new rocker panels.
CADILLAC
The nation's largest automaker, General Motors, decided to shed some of its car brands as it emerged from bankruptcy in July. But GM held tight to its luxury brand Cadillac.
For 2010, Cadillac adds a first-ever station wagon to its entry model, the CTS. Called the CTS Sport Wagon, it has already been selling in Europe. In the States, it's offered with a choice of 3-liter, direct injection V-6 capable of delivering 270 horsepower or 3.6-liter, direct injection V-6 generating 304 horsepower.
A power liftgate is standard, the interior is like that of the CTS sedans, and buyers of the Sport Wagon choose from among three suspension settings. The Sport Wagon also is available with all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.
Starting retail price is $40,655.
Cadillac's SRX crossover SUV is the other big news at the start of the 2010 model year.
The mid-size SRX is redone and rides on a new, improved chassis. Styling is updated, and buyers choose from among two, relatively small displacement engines — for Cadillac. The 2.8-liter, turbocharged V-6 capable of producing 300 horses will arrive around the middle of the model year. In the meantime, the SRX is being sold with the standard, 265-horsepower, 3-liter, direct injection V-6. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The five-passenger SRX has a starting retail price of $34,155.
Elsewhere at Cadillac, the Escalade large SUV offers improved fuel mileage from its 6.2-liter V-8, thanks to the addition of Active Fuel Management technology. The software automatically turns off some engine cylinders when they're not needed, thus saving on gasoline.
The Escalade gas-electric hybrid models this year get a new, 3.08 axle ratio that improves fuel economy.
CHEVROLET
Chevy's big looker for 2010 is already out. The revived, rear-wheel-drive Camaro coupe debuted in summer and boasts V-6 as well as V-8 engines, a distinctive, low-slung styling and surprisingly decent gasoline mileage.
Indeed, the Camaro's federal government highway mileage rating is 29 mpg when the car is fitted with the base, 3.6-liter V-6 that generates a healthy 304 horsepower.
The uplevel engine is a 426-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8, and both manual and automatic transmissions are available.
The 2010 four-seat Camaro, the first new Camaro in seven years, has a starting retail price of just over $23,000.
Chevy revised its Equinox crossover SUV for 2010, giving it distinctive styling that borrows from the Chevrolet Malibu and Traverse. Inside, there are new standard and optional features, including a 40-gigabyte hard drive to store music.
And there are two new Equinox engines: The 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter, direct fuel-injection, Ecotec four cylinder that's also being put in the Buick LaCrosse and a new 3-liter, direct injection V-6. The only transmissions are six-speed automatics.
Best of all, the Equinox with four-cylinder engine becomes the base model with a lower starting retail price — $23,185 — than the lowest-priced Equinox of the 2009 model year, which started at more than $25,000. Last year's Equinoxes had V-6s only.
The four cylinder also improves the Equinox gas mileage ratings — to a high of 22 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway for two-wheel drive models.
Chevy's mid-size pickup truck, the Colorado, will be available with a V-8 for the first time. The Colorado's 5.3-liter V-8 produces 300 horsepower, which far surpasses the 185 horses of its four-cylinder engine and the 242 horses of its five-cylinder engine.
This V-8 is available only on the Colorado's crew cab models. But all Colorados add head curtain air bags as standard equipment this year.
The 5.3-liter V-8 already is offered in the Silverado full-size pickup truck, and for 2010, a fuel saver mode and 3.08 axle ratio are standard, too, as Chevy makes engine adjustments to boost fuel economy.
Also this year at Chevrolet, side air bags become standard on all Corvettes, and all 'Vettes with manual transmission get standard launch control.
The 1.6-liter, Ecotec, four-cylinder engine remains in the Aveo lineup, but horsepower is bumped to 108 from 106. At least the starting retail price hasn't changed from the 2009 model. It's still $12,685, including destination charge.
The 6-liter, Vortec V-8 in the Chevy Suburbans adds variable valve timing, which improves responsiveness and efficiency.
The mid-size Chevy Trailblazer SUV is discontinued.
A final note: The Volt plug-in gas-electric hybrid car, frequently in the news, is more than a year away from showrooms.
CHRYSLER
Now owned by Italian car company Fiat, the Chrysler brand is keeping its retro-styled, five-passenger PT Cruiser for a while longer.
The news this past summer reversed a January decision to stop production of the smallest car wearing a Chrysler badge. But note that the reversal does not affect the PT Cruiser Convertible, which was dropped in the 2008 model year.
Elsewhere for 2010, the exterior is freshened slightly on both the Sebring coupe and convertible, while the Chrysler 300C adds standard key-free ignition and rear park assist system.
And all models of the Town & Country minivan add anti-whiplash front head restraints.
The Aspen full-size SUV is no longer offered.
DODGE
America's Dodge brand also got a new, Italian owner — Fiat — this year. And while things get sorted out by the new owner regarding future product plans, Dodge has scheduled the introduction of new crew cab models of the Ram heavy-duty pickup truck.
Engine choices for the 2500/3500 Rams include a 350-horsepower 6.7-liter, Cummins Turbo Diesel six cylinder that meets air emission standards in all 50 states and delivers 650 foot-pound of torque.
The trucks' suspension also is retuned for a better ride and better load handling.
In other news, the gross combined weight rating for the light-duty Dodge Ram 1500 is boosted to 15,500 pounds this year when the truck is fitted with 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and 3.92 rear axle ratio on the 140.5-inch wheelbase model.
The Dodge Caliber gets a new interior for 2010, and suspension is improved for better ride and handling in the Dakota pickup.
In addition, the Grand Caravan minivan, Nitro SUV and Journey crossover SUV add front-seat anti-whiplash head restraints for 2010.
The Durango SUV is discontinued.
FERRARI
As if the 599GTB Fiorano isn't hot enough, Ferrari offers a $30,095 option package that makes it even hotter.
The Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione package adds carbon fiber to the interior, fancy wheels, retuned exhaust, stiffer springs and different shock absorbers.
Of course, you have to buy the car first, and its starting retail price is more than $300,000.
FORD
The Ford Taurus family sedan is bigger and restyled this model year, and the high-performance Taurus SHO — now with a 365-horsepower, 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged, EcoBoost gasoline V-6 rather than a V-8 — returns to the lineup.
Ford kept the starting retail price for the Taurus steady at $25,995, even while adding space and comfort to the four-door car for this model year.
The standard engine is a 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter, Duratec V-6, and there's a long list of available high-tech features including cruise control that uses radar to automatically slow the Taurus on the highway if it's closing on a vehicle ahead too quickly.
There's also a MyKey feature that lets parents restrict or set warnings on some activities when teens are behind the wheel. For example, MyKey can limit radio volume and activate speed warning alerts.
Also this year, the Ford Fusion is restyled and updated. The result is a mid-size sedan with attractive looks, an improved interior and a more powerful four-cylinder engine than before.
The base, 2.5-liter four banger cranks out 175 horses, and if that's not enough, a 263-horsepower, 3-liter V-6 is available for the Fusion.
Fusion also adds a gas-electric hybrid model for 2010, and its gas mileage rating of 41/36 mpg from the federal government is noteworthy because it puts the Fusion Hybrid and its sibling Mercury Milan Hybrid sedans at the top of mid-size sedans in fuel mileage in the country.
Starting retail prices are $20,345 for the gasoline-only Fusion and $28,350 for the hybrid.
Another new model in 2010 is the F-150 SVT Raptor full-size pickup truck. It's a high-performance, off-road truck with a 310-horsepower, 5.4-liter V-8 and later, an even more powerful 6.2-liter V-8. The inspiration for the sporty Raptor comes from desert race trucks.
Small business owners or anyone with an offbeat taste in vehicles will want to check out the 2010 Ford Transit Connect. It looks like a delivery van, but it's a much smaller, handier size.
The Transit Connect is powered by a fuel-thrifty, 136-horsepower, 2-liter four cylinder and starts at $21,475, including destination charge.
Ford's well-known Mustang is freshened for 2010 with mild upgrades, inside and out. Suspension is revised a bit as well.
The Mustang GT's 4.6-liter V-8 adds 15 more horses, for a total of 315 horsepower.
The styling updates to the regular, 2010 Mustangs carry through to the high-performance Shelby GT500, where horsepower from the 5.4-liter V-8 now peaks at 540 and torque climbs to 510 foot-pounds. Suspension and clutch also are revised.
The 2010 Edge gets engine refinements that improve fuel mileage, while the 2010 Escape can be had with an electronic system that parallel parks the car by itself with a touch of a button.
Trailer Sway Control is added as standard equipment on Ford's Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac and Expedition SUVs this year to help keep trailers being towed behind the vehicles stable.
The Flex crossover SUV, meantime, adds the availability of a 355-horsepower, 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged, EcoBoost V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission.
Ford's smallest car, the Focus, gets standard electronic stability control, traction control and antilock brakes on all models.
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