2011 Model Year Overview

BMW

BMW is hard at work saving gas. After eschewing both hybrids and electric vehicles in favor of clean-diesel engines for years, the German automaker has dived into the battery-powered world headfirst. Consumers may have to wait awhile before seeing any of those models on the streets, though. In the meantime, a new CUV and a wave of refreshed models are hitting dealerships right now.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 BMW X1
Built on the 3-Series platform, the X1 is the newest addition to BMW's stable of high-riding utility vehicles. Once the CUV arrives here in the United States, expect it to come in both two- and all-wheel drive. Reports say BMW will first offer the X1 with the company's workhorse 3.0-liter inline six, which generates 258 horsepower. Eventually, other options may surface.
Availability: Mid 2011
Price: Around $33,000

Read:  X1 Coming to America

2011 BMW 335is
As a rule, BMW hasn't created special, lustworthy models just for the U.S. That's set to change for 2011, though. The company has bestowed a new "is" version of the 335 on American shores, and the result is a whole lot of performance at a budget price. The car features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine that has been massaged to produce 320 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Engineers also equipped the vehicle with a standard M-suspension, so buyers can look forward to solid track manners.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $50,525

Read:  First Drive - BMW 335is

2011 BMW 5-Series Sedan
The BMW 5-Series has gone through yet another generation change for 2011, and the result is a car that attempts to toe the luxury performance line a bit better than the 2010 car. A turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine delivers a healthy 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque in base trim, while a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 dishes out the goods higher up the option list. Look for new styling, too.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Starts at $49,600

Read:  First Drive - 2011 BMW 5-Series

2011 BMW 740i/Li
It's been a long time since BMW has bestowed the 7-Series with an inline 6-cylinder engine, but that's exactly what the company has done for 2011. The new 740 and 740Li will come standard with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with 315 horsepower, in order to improve the model's fuel efficiency. The move should help the car retain its performance figures while helping to reduce BMW's environmental impact. In an environmentally uncomfortable coincidence, a 500-horsepower Alpina B7 variant is now available, starting at $122,875.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $70,150

2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7
In 2011, BMW will continue its foray into hybrid drivetrains with the all-new ActiveHybrid 7. The company partnered with rival Mercedes-Benz on the development of the car's hybrid system, and the result is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine and an electric motor good for 455 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The giant car manages 20 mpg combined while maintaining premium performance figures.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $102,300

Bing: BMW ActiveHybrid

WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .

2011 BMW X5
BMW is attempting to shake the dust off its X5 by offering the SUV with a slew of new engine choices. The base X5 xDrive35i is equipped with a turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine with 305 horsepower, while the X5 xDrive50i boasts a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with a somewhat ridiculous 407 horsepower. Both engines are now mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Starts at $47,600

Review: 2011 BMW X5

Buick

Parent company General Motors is keen on reinventing Buick, and the brand is set to build on the success of 2010 models such as the LaCrosse and Enclave with a handful of new creations for 2011. Expect to see a new side of Buick as the company attempts to go after a much younger audience for the first time in years. The result may very well be an entry-level luxury brand capable of competing in a market dominated by Japanese automakers.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Buick Regal
At the front lines of GM's efforts to convince buyers that this isn't the Buick of old is the all-new Regal. Based largely on the Opel Insignia, the Americanized version will initially get its power from a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 184 horsepower, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Soon thereafter, GM plans to introduce a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder option with 220 horsepower and a 6-speed manual transmission. That's right — a manual in a Buick.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Around $26,000

Compare: Buick Regal vs. Mazda Mazda6 vs. Honda Accord

Cadillac

Cadillac is on quite a roll — something it hasn't experienced since the late '60s. Its "do-no-wrong" streak of styling and performance is on par with some of the best manufacturers from Germany, and 2011 doesn't look to break the trend. With the addition of the attractive CTS Coupe and powerful CTS-V Sport Wagon, Cadillac showrooms won't be a bad place to spend time next year.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
Cadillac hasn't produced a coupe since the Coupe Deville sauntered off into the sunset back in 1993, but that's set to change. The long-awaited CTS Coupe is hitting showrooms in a big way. The car will initially boast the same 3.6-liter 304 horsepower V6 engine as the sedan, though later the company plans to offer the same supercharged 6.2-liter V8 found in the CTS-V sedan.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $38,165

WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
Cadillac has finally decided to give the lovely CTS Sport Wagon a shot of adrenaline. The company will offer the long-roof with the same menacing supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine found in the CTS-V sedan, which means 556 horsepower will be on tap, as well as a slew of brake, suspension and interior upgrades.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $65,000

View Pictures:  Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

Compare: Cadillac CTS-V vs. BMW M5 vs. Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

Chevrolet

Chevrolet is set to continue building momentum in 2011. The company is still fighting hard to overcome the stigma of bankruptcy and massive government intervention, though a fresh wave of products is doing much to improve the brand's image. Vehicles such as the Camaro, Malibu and Equinox are selling better than the company's forecast, and models such as the upcoming Cruze are set to join that trend.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet is hoping to turn over a new leaf in the compact world with the 2011 Cruze. Where cars such as the Cavalier and Cobalt couldn't stand against the likes of Honda's Civic, this new compact is inexpensive, efficient and stylish — all the things Civic enthusiasts want. Chevrolet is offering the Cruze with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with 138 horsepower. Both engines will be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Around $15,000

Read:  Chevrolet Cruze First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Until now, buyers of the Chevrolet Camaro had to take their muscle car as a hardtop only. For 2011, GM's engineers are set to introduce the new convertible version to take on the comparable Ford Mustang Convertible. Expect the engine program to mirror that of the standard Camaro, including the 3.6-liter 304-horsepower V6 and the 6.2-liter 426 horsepower V8.
Availability: Spring 2011
Price: Around $30,000

Read:  Pony Car Throwdown

2011 Chevrolet Volt
General Motors is doing its best to bring the world's first viable extended-range hybrid to market with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Capable of cruising up to 40 miles on all-electric power, the Volt uses a small internal combustion engine to take care of any range-anxiety woes past that distance. GM has a lot riding on the Volt, including years of research and millions of dollars in development costs, but the low cost to charge and the impressive EV range should make it appealing to "green"-minded buyers.
Availability: Fall 2010
Price: $40,000

First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Video: Test Driving the Chevrolet Volt

WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .

2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Chevrolet is also taking the time to breathe a little life into its Corvette Z06. The car will continue to produce 505 horsepower from the same mammoth 7.0-liter V8 engine, though some of the car's vital details have changed. GM has blessed the sports car with a free-flowing exhaust, and buyers can now opt for a Z07 package that will introduce features such as carbon-ceramic brakes, 20-spoke wheels and magnetic selective ride control.
Availability: Fall 2010
Price: $74,285

Read: Latest Chevrolet Corvette Reviews

Chrysler

While General Motors is beginning to show signs of life after dragging itself through Chapter 11, Chrysler is taking a little longer to heal. The company isn't parading the same flurry of new models as its Detroit-based counterpart. Instead, Chrysler is limping along with many of the same products that have been in showrooms for the past two years, relying heavily on incentives until a fresh wave of Fiat-based cars can come to save the day.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Chrysler 200
This sedan is essentially an extensive redesign, inside and out, of the Sebring. It will offer a choice of two gasoline engines: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Both engines will be available with a 6-speed automatic transmission; the 4-cylinder gets a standard 4-speed automatic. Rated at 283 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, the Pentastar should provide more than enough grunt for this mid-size luxury sedan, and a 6-speed auto 'box should make for relatively respectable fuel economy numbers, too.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: TBA

2011 Chrysler 300
Chrysler is hoping to get the company back on the right track by with an all-new 300. Expect to see massive improvements in terms of interior quality and fuel efficiency. That means one of Detroit's thirstiest models may topple the 30 mpg mark for the first time. For fans of the now-iconic styling of the 300, the base lines will likely stay on, with the addition of a new rear end and other style cues.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $28,000

Compare: Chrysler 300 vs. Toyota Avalon vs. Ford Taurus

Dodge

Dodge is still reeling from a significant cash crunch caused by Chrysler's bout with bankruptcy. (And we're still reeling from the alliterative aspects of the former sentence. -Ed.) As a result, we won't be seeing too many new models roll through the factory doors anytime soon. The company does have one significant addition to the showroom, though: the 2011 Charger. Dodge has a lot riding on its remade sedan, and Americans are eager to see exactly where their tax dollars from the automotive bailout went.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Dodge Charger
Dodge is keeping its lips sealed as far as details go about the next-generation Charger, but we're guaranteed the car will top government standards for fuel consumption and emissions. That's thanks partly to a new 8-speed transmission that should make the most out of the company's efficient new Pentastar V6 engine. The car will continue to be rear-wheel-drive, and odds are that a few performance variations will likely hang around to help the Charger live up to its iconic name.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $26,000

2011 Dodge Durango
The Durango nameplate has returned to the Dodge stable, and in a big way. The newly -imagined crossover carries three rows of seating, aggressive styling and a 7,800-pound towing capacity when equipped with the optional 5.7-liter V8 engine. The Durango is also available with a 3.6-liter V6. Dodge hasn't released specific output for either power plant yet. Similarly, there's no indication of what to expect in terms of fuel economy. We're guessing close to 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway in V6 trim.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $29,000

MODEL YEAR OVERVIEW INDEX

Acura - Dodge
Ferrari - Mazda
Mercedes-Benz - Volvo