Some of the coolest cars at the New York Auto Show

Some of the coolest cars at the New York Auto Show


Here's a Jeep SUV that rockets from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds with a 465 horsepower 6.4-liter engine. Top speed, should you have the opportunity to try it out, is 155 miles per hour.
Besides the 45 horsepower output increase, Jeep's parent company, Chrysler, also promises fuel mileage that's about 13 percent better than the previous SRT8.

Nissan's introduction of a new Versa compact is fortuitous now that gas prices are on the way up fast. Nissan didn't just dress up the old Versa either, they say. Instead Nissan created a whole new vehicle from top to bottom.The Versa's known for being roomy but this one boasts even more trunk space and is 150 pounds lighter, Nissan says.

� VW unleashes the New Beetle

At first glance, the 2012 New Beetle looks like... a New Beetle.But this version's been toughened up with "less flower, more power," as Volkswagen's lead designer said at the car's unveiling. The new New Beetle is longer and a little lower than the old car, giving it a slightly more menacing look. But only slightly. It is, after all, a Beetle. It also has improved fuel economy and a sharper handling, VW says.

The redesigned Chevrolet Malibu didn't have its unveiling in New York, its debut was at the Shanghai Auto Show, happening simultaneously. The new Malibu is wider than the current car for more shoulder room. It's also got sharper body creases and a more marked hood bulge.For now, at least, the Malibu will be available only with four-cylinder engines that offer improved fuel economy. Possibly the most interesting feature in the new Malibu is a storage bin in the center of the dashboard. It's cleverly hidden behind a computer screen, which folds up out of the way to let you access your stuff.

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

In this race car version of the Nissan Leaf, performance is pretty strong, but not for long. The Leaf Nismo can go from from zero to 62 miles per hour in a little under seven seconds. On the downside, the fun only lasts for about 20 minutes before the battery runs down.

Just to keep things fresh, Ford Motor Co. is doing a makeover on the Ford Taurus for the 2012 model year. Ford expects this new version to get at least 31 miles per gallon on the highway.Ford also promises sharper reflexes and a slightly more aggressive appearance on the performance-oriented Taurus SHO, shown here.

The Chrysler 200 is, fundamentally, a massively reworked Chrysler Sebring. There's got to be convertible version since that's long been a popular option on the Sebring model.

 

Lexus LF-Gh concept

This Lexus hybrid concept car "explores" design features that will appear on future Lexus vehicles. One factor that Lexus designers will, no doubt, be collecting feedback on is the "spindle grill," as they call it.The design team wanted to explore how seemingly contradictory design themes could blend together, according to Lexus. "They came up with a design that unites hard and soft; and energetic and soothing elements," Lexus said in announcing the car.

� 800-horsepower Mustang on the way

If you want to buy a Ford Mustang that can put out up to 800 horsepower, here it is. While you're at it, we strongly suggest buying a few extra sets of back tires.To make the Super Snake, Shelby starts with a 550-horsepower Ford Shelby GT500 built at Ford Motor Co.'s Flint, Mich., factory. The technicians in Shelby's Las Vegas plant then add the necessary parts to boost power output to 750. The full 800 horsepower machine requires some additional work beyond that.

by money.cnn.com