Introduction

The Honda Fit distinguishes itself from all other subcompacts with agile handling, zippy performance, and impressive practicality. A four-door hatchback, the Fit is amazingly comfortable, given its dimensions, even in the back seats.

The Honda Fit offers five-passenger seating and a unique second-row "Magic Seat" that either folds flat with the cargo floor, or flips up to carry tall items behind the first row of seats. The Honda Fit is available in two trim levels, the base Fit and the Sport, both are powered by a 117-hp 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive and a choice of a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. Standard safety features include front airbags, front side airbags, side-curtain airbags, four-wheel ABS and electronic brake-force distribution. Electronic vehicle stability control is now optional on the Fit Sport.

The Honda Fit is completely redesigned for 2009, which adds more interior space and new standard equipment such as telescoping steering column, active head restraints, dual vanity mirrors and a driver's footrest.

Introduction

The benchmark Toyota Camry sedan continues its reputation of safety, reliability, and quality while offering fuel efficiency, space, and power.

The Camry is a front-wheel drive, five-passenger, four-door sedan featuring four trims: CE, LE, SE, and XLE. A 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission is standard; a five-speed automatic transmission is optional. Optional for LE, SE, and XLE models is a 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting. ABS brakes, driver and front-passenger airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and side curtain airbags are standard. Stability control and traction control are optional.

The 2009 Toyota Camry is a carryover from 2008.

Introduction

The Honda Civic is one of the most reliable and popular economy compact cars in its class. For years it has set the quality and performance standard for the affordable, compact car market.

Available in sedan or coupe bodies, all but the GX and Si trims are powered by a 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder with a standard five-speed manual transmission and optional five-speed automatic. The performance-oriented Si, comes with a 197 horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-4 bolted to a six-speed manual, while the GX is powered by a dedicated natural gas version of the 1.8-liter gas engine, and a five-speed automatic. Standard safety features on all Civics include anti-lock brakes, six airbags, active front head restraints and tire pressure monitoring.

For 2009, the Honda Civic gets refreshed exterior styling and new optional tech features, while the sedan adds two new trims, a DX-VP (Value Package) and an LX-S.

Introduction

The smart fortwo with its small stature provides excellent maneuverability in the city. On the road, its exceptional fuel economy makes it a great commuter vehicle.

The smart fortwo is available in either pure, passion, or BRABUS trims. The pure is solely available in coupe form, while the passion and BRABUS are offered as a coupe or cabriolet. Power comes from a 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a five-speed automated manual transmission. Standard safety features include electronic stability program, anti-lock brakes, four-airbags, and tridion safety cell.

For 2009 the smart fortwo receives a new performance oriented BRABUS trim.

Introduction

The new Toyota Corolla is among the best of the compact sedans: reliable and economical yet refined and comfortable.

The 2009 Corolla comes in five trims: Standard, LE, XLE, S, and XRS. The principal powertrain is a 132 horsepower, 1.8-liter dual VVT-I engine, matched with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. An added powertrain, available only in XRS models, is a 158 horsepower, 2.4-liter VVT-I engine with a five-speed manual or new five-speed automatic transmission. All models come standard with front, side-impact and side-curtain airbags, ABS with brake assist, and whiplash protecting front seat active head restraints. Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control is optional, standard on XRS models.

Completely redesigned for 2009, the Toyota Corolla is now in its 10th generation.

Introduction

For 2009, Hyundai introduces their new Genesis sedan. The Genesis is designed to offer the luxury appointments of much more expensive cars, for less.

The Genesis can be had with a 290-hp 3.8-liter V6, or a 375-hp (using premium fuel) 4.6-liter V8. Both engines send power to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission that features manual sequential shift capability. Mechanical safety features include traction control, stability control, and panic brake assist. The interior features a full compliment of airbags, electronic active front headrests that provide whiplash protection, and a tire pressure monitor. Luxurious leather seats, automatic dual-zone climate control and wood trim are just some of the appointments this car offers that are typically only found in vehicles costing much more.

Introduction

The front-wheel drive, five-passenger Nissan Altima combines performance and an attractive exterior as either a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan.

The Nissan Altima is powered by either a 175-hp 2.5-liter V6 or a 270-hp 3.5-liter V6 and the transmission choices include a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). The trims on the Altima include: the 2.5 Base (on the sedan only), the 2.5 S, the 3.5 SE and the 3.5 SL (on the sedan only). Safety features include: four-wheel disc brakes, anti-lock brakes on all trims except for the Sedan 2.5 Base, six airbags, front seat-belt pre-tensioners and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The coupe's roofline is 2.6 inches lower than the sedan's and flows back into a long and nicely sculpted tail section that narrows between wide shoulders above prominent wheel arches. The suspension is tuned to provide the driver with a more nimble feel and heightened responsiveness.

For 2009, the Nissan Altima Coupe and Sedan are a carryover.

Introduction

The all new 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck delivers outstanding performance with its distinct trim levels, equipment packages and its broad range of cab styles and pickup box configurations.

The F-150 trims consist of the rugged and reliable XL, the sporty STX, the versatile and well equipped XLT, the durable FX4 and the luxurious Lariat. Each trim boasts its own unique styling, appearance and capabilities. All 2009 F-150's come equipped with a V8 engine and an automatic transmission. A 2-valve 4.6-liter V8 is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, and a 3-valve 4.6-liter or 5.4-liter V8 are mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The F-150's versatility offers 4x2 or 4x4 drive systems, three cab styles, various pickup box designs and a host of option groups and available features. The F-150 can be ordered in millions of combinations to suit specific needs and individual tastes. The King Ranch and the new for 2009 Platinum Edition package add to the refinement and distinctiveness of this pickup truck.

For 2009, the regular cab FX4 trim has been discontinued, and several new and innovative options have been offered. These include: pickup box side access steps, rear tailgate step, SYNC voice-activated mobile phone and digital music system, a trailer brake controller, a remote starter system and a host of useful Ford Work Solution options.

Introduction

The Wrangler is one of the most fun-to-drive, off-road-capable Jeeps ever made. For open-air driving at the beach or on trail or even the just on the street, the standard soft top can be folded down or the available hard top can be taken off, the doors can be removed and the windshield can be folded down.

The two-door Wrangler is configurable in either X, Sahara and Rubicon trim with standard four-wheel drive. The standard 3.8-liter V-6 engine produces 202 horsepower, and the standard transmission is a six-speed manual with overdrive. An optional four-speed automatic with overdrive is available. Electronic stability control with roll control, traction control, brake assist and hill hold control are standard on all Wranglers. The Sahara offers body colour flares, Infinity speakers, remote keyless entry, power window, security alarm and 18-inch wheels. The Rubicon features equipment that off-road enthusiasts usually add anyway, including heavy duty axles, front and rear electronic locking differentials, 32-inch BF Goodrich mud tires, sway bar disconnect system, rock rails and a heavy-duty transfer case with 4:1 low-gear ratio. The available Freedom Top three-piece modular hardtop allows panels to be removed above the driver or passenger. Other options include Dual Top Group, half doors, remote start system, front seat-mounted side air bags, and MyGIG infotainment system with navigation.

For 2009, the Sahara receives power windows and power door locks with remote keyless entry as standard equipment.

Introduction

The MINI Cooper provides the driving enthusiast with a combination of fun-to-drive performance, engineering and unconventional attitude.

The two-door hatchback Cooper features a 118-hp 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed automatic. Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, ABS, traction control and stability control. A wide variety of interior trim materials and colors are available. Features such as Xenon headlights, sport suspension, Dynamic Traction Control, power sunroof, navigation system, parking sensors, Bluetooth wireless connectivity and satellite radio are optional.

The 2009 MINI Cooper hatchback is a carryover from 2008. The redesigned convertible will appear later in the model year.

Last year, Aston Martin employees shuttled in and out of Germany as they worked to put 30,000 miles on a Vantage in 30 days. Now comes word that Aston is placing the "Project 30,000" car in the hands of school teacher Richard Meredith and travel specialist Phil Colley, who will drive it from Tokyo to London using the Asian Highway.


The six-week journey is being run in collaboration with the UN and is intended to promote road safety in Asia while raising money for charity at the same time. The car now has over 100,000 miles on its odo and is liveried with a map of the Asian Highway route on its roof and sports the make Roads Safe logo and URL on its bodywork. The only modifications made for it in preparation for the trip are a slightly raised suspension, reinforced sump guard and full spare.

If you think that driving to any point on the European or Asian mainland from Tokyo sounds like pretty a neat trick, you're not alone. We looked at the Wikipedia entry on the highway, however, and it confirmed that the AH1 portion uses a ferry line running between Fukuoka, Japan and Pusan, South Korea. While driving through 15 countries sounds like it could be rough, doing it in an Aston seems much more palatable.

More details in the press release after the jump.