2011 Model Year Overview - Part 3

While there are no true standouts in Part 3 of our 2011 Model Year Overview, that doesn't mean you should breeze through these machines as if they don't exist. There is some notable sheet metal coming down the pike from automakers in the latter third of the alphabet. Mercedes-Benz is adding to its storied E-Class lineup with a wagon and convertible. MINI is shaking up its offerings with a utility vehicle. What, you say. Yes, the house of the mighty mite is putting out an SUV, a small SUV, but a sport ute nonetheless. And Nissan is refocusing its efforts on small and efficient, by releasing a tiny yet stylish utility vehicle and an all-new hybrid.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz isn't about to slow down its parade of new and refreshed models. In 2010, the company focused on fuel economy and small SUVs, with vehicles such as the S400 Hybrid and GLK. Next year, it will focus on driving emotion. The company's Gullwing successor has proved itself worthy of taking the throne, and the new E-Class Wagon proves that having a family doesn't mean giving up on style.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
Mercedes-Benz is swelling the ranks of its E-Class with the addition of two new models, one of which is the E-Class Cabriolet. The new 4-seat convertible is built with comfortable driving in mind no matter what the weather. It has an insulated power soft-top instead of a heavier retractable hardtop, making the cabin is quiet and comfortable with the roof in place. Power is provided by either a 5.5-liter V8 engine with 382 horsepower or a 3.5-liter V6 with 268 horsepower.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Starts at $56,850

Read:  First Drive - 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
We don't know too much about the upcoming 2012 CLS-Class other than Mercedes-Benz will likely move the car from the current E-Class platform to an all-new set of bones. Despite the switch, styling is expected to stay fairly close to the current CLS, with just a handful of fascia and fender changes to set the two apart. A hybrid CLS may show up soon after launch.
Availability: Spring 2011
Price: Around $74,000

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Few cars are more iconic than the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The Silver Arrow is looking to honor the ahead-of-its-time coupe with the all-new SLS AMG, a car that is as powerful as it is tail-happy, er, beautiful. Aside from the striking gull-wing doors, the most significant hardware on the car is the robust 6.3-liter V8 engine. With 563 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, the SLS AMG is nearly guaranteed to go down as a Mercedes-Benz legend.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Around $183,000

Read:  First Drive - 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

View Pictures:  2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon
The second vehicle to join the E-Class family is the new E-Class Wagon. Mercedes-Benz seems keen to test the American public's supposed new love for long-roof vehicles, and will offer the car with heaps of styling borrowed from the already handsome E-Class sedan. The updated wagon will be equipped with the same 3.5-liter V6 engine and Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $56,200

WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class will be available with an all-new engine for 2011. Buyers who opt for the CL550 4MATIC will find an all-new twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter V8 under the hood. The engine produces 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, even while being a full liter smaller than the outgoing powerplant, and should return up to 15 percent better fuel economy.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Starting at $110,400

2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
The R-Class hasn't exactly been the sales success that Mercedes-Benz had hoped for, but that may be set to change. The company is slated to release a refreshed version of the car that has styling more in line with the rest of the company's products. That means a more conservative front fascia, grille and fenders, along with a slightly massaged rear bumper.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Around $50,240

Mercury

Next year we will see one fewer domestic automaker on the map. Parent company Ford has decided to shut down the oft-neglected Mercury once and for all. The brand had stumbled along as a harbor for rebadged Ford products for at least a generation, and after years of directionless operation it was only a matter of time before Mercury went the way of Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Saturn. Call it another casualty of the automotive collapse of 2009.

MINI

Parent company BMW stumbled onto a wildly successful recipe with MINI. The small cars are popular simply because they haven't changed much since they hit the market in 2001. While we've seen a few different takes on the classic Cooper shape over the past few years, 2011 will bring something new to the MINI table: a crossover.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 MINI Countryman
It's hard to imagine a direction more contrary to the MINI mantra than the CUV/crossover path, but that's exactly what the automaker has come up with in the new Countryman. The vehicle boasts five doors, including the rear hatchback, as well as an all-wheel-drive system. Both are firsts for the brand. Expect to see the same selection of 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engines — both turbocharged and naturally aspirated — as found in the current Cooper lineup.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $30,00

Read:  First Drive - MINI Countryman

View Pictures:  MINI Countryman

WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .

2011 MINI Clubman
For 2011, the Clubman will get reworked, complete with stylish new details and added pedestrian protection. It will pack either a 1.6-liter 122-horsepower naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine or a 1.6-liter 180-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder. Inside, the long-roof Clubman will also boast a new high-resolution LCD screen mounted in the middle of the large speedometer. It will be good for playing video from a mobile device such as an iPod.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $21,800

2011 MINI Cooper
MINI has given the Cooper a slight warm-over for the 2011 model year. The hatchback now wears a moderately reworked front fascia that boasts chrome-bezel intake ducts mounted low in the bumper on S trims, and the company says that the new nose offers better pedestrian protection than the previous design. Behind the new face sit a variety of engine options, from a 1.6-liter 122-horsepower naturally aspirated 4-cylinder to a 1.6-liter 180-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Around $20,100

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi is slowly working its way up from the also-ran list of automakers from Japan. The company's product portfolio is beginning to move away from a line of economical vehicles with bland styling into a group of attractive and capable offerings. The newest addition to the Mitsubishi family, the 2010 Outlander, is a competent small SUV with an impressive interior and unstoppable all-wheel-drive system.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Mitsubishi is joining in the electric-vehicle party with the all-new i-MiEV. The city car will feature a top speed of around 80 mph, so there's no worry of getting run down if you have to tango with interstate traffic. Range is expected to be 80 to 100 miles on pure electric power, and a 63-horsepower electric motor provides the propulsion. Expect to spend up to 14 hours to top off the batteries on a 110-volt outlet, though.
Availability: Fall 2010
Price: Around $30,000

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Like the regular Outlander, the new Sport is front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. The base ES model has a 5-speed manual; a continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters is optional on this trim level and standard on the up-level SE. Inside, all Sport models have soft-touch materials on the doors and instrument panel. The up-level SE model has features such as automatic climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front seats and a keyless entry system as standard.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: $19,000

Nissan

Nissan is getting ready to make big waves in 2011. The company is set to bring one of the first all-electric cars to market: the Leaf. The success or failure of the car will have a huge impact on the future of the EV market all over the world, so other manufacturers are keeping a close eye on Nissan's experiment. Combined with a low operating cost and overall price, it's hard to imagine the Leaf failing.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric car that has no internal-combustion engine. Instead, an 80 kilowatt electric motor can propel the vehicle up to 90 mph. Though range will change depending on accessory use, terrain and the number of passengers in the vehicle, Nissan says that the Leaf is capable of driving up to 100 miles on a single charge — a range that should cover the commutes of 95 percent of Americans. The federal government will issue a $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of the Leaf.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Starts at $32,780 ($25,280 after tax credit)

Read:  First Look - Nissan Leaf

2011 Nissan Juke
Nissan is bringing a new take on the CUV to market for 2011 called the Juke. The high-riding, 4-door hatchback is about as far from conventional as you can get. If you look closely, it's easy to pick out familial styling cues from models such as the Murano, but the design is anything but derivative. A 180-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine resides under the hood coupled to a continuously variable transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission.
Availability: On sale now
Price: Starts at $18,960

Read:  Nisan Juke Debuts in New York

2011 Nissan Quest
Not to be outdone by the 2011 Honda Odyssey, the 2011 Nissan Quest will be all-new. The completely redesigned exterior is a little boxier than its predecessor, but should allow for quite a bit more room inside. The clean sheet metal is both stylish and modern - two descriptors typically not associated with minivans. Power is likely to come from Nissan's jack-of-all-trades 3.5-liter V6 engine, though Nissan hasn't released power or fuel-economy figures yet. Expect to be able to buy the Quest in either front- or all-wheel-drive configurations.
Availability: Early 2011
Price: Starting at around $26,000

WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .

2011 Nissan Rogue
The Rogue will wear updates similar to those of the 2011 Murano. An all-new front fascia with a slightly more aggressive look is the biggest change, though Nissan has also added a redesigned rear spoiler and plenty of chrome accents around the vehicle. New, flashy trim along the bottom of the doors helps to distinguish the model further from its 2010 counterpart.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $20,810

2011 Nissan Murano
The Nissan Murano will wear quite a bit more flash for 2011. The front fascia of the CUV has been resculpted to keep the design fresh, and dabs of chrome along the roof rack and hatch help give the vehicle some character. Power comes courtesy of a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 250 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Nissan has also increased the number of trims available on the Murano by one; buyers can now opt for the well-appointed SV trim.
Availability: Fall 2010
Price: Around $28,500

Porsche

When Porsche minted the Cayenne back in 2002, brand purists revolted. The mere thought of an SUV in the sports-car maker's portfolio was sacrilege. Fast-forward eight years and the Cayenne is one of the company's most popular models. Porsche is set to rework the truck for 2011 and its taking the opportunity to strike off in a new direction once again with a hybrid option.

WHAT'S NEW . . .

2011 Porsche Cayenne
Starting next year, Cayenne buyers will have five trims from which to choose. Those include the powerful Cayenne Turbo and the new, more efficient Cayenne S Hybrid. In Turbo trim, the SUV packs a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 engine with 500 horsepower. Meanwhile, the all-new Cayenne S Hybrid comes with a more-than-capable combined 380 horsepower from a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine and an electric motor. That setup is said to yield a remarkable 28.7 mpg.
Availability: Fall 2010
Price: Around $45,500

Bing: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo
Porsche has upped the ante in a big way with its 911 Turbo. The car is now capable of a blisteringly fast 3.2-second zero to 60 mph run, thanks to a new turbocharged 3.8-liter 500 horsepower flat 6-cylinder engine. The company's PDK double-clutch transmission takes care of shifting duties, and the suspension has been completely retuned with aluminum in place of steel for the major components.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $132,800

Review: Porsche 911 Turbo

WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .

2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder
The Porsche Boxster has made the joy of owning a German sports car a reality for plenty of buyers thanks to its entry-level price, but the model is starting to show its age. To keep things fresh in eyes of enthusiasts everywhere, the company has rolled out the Boxster Spyder for 2011. With 176 fewer pounds than the standard car and 320 horsepower from a 3.4-liter flat-six engine, the car should be considerably quicker than the standard Boxster.
Availability: On sale now
Price: $61,200

Read:  First Drive - Porsche Boxster Spyder

Ram Trucks

Chrysler shocked analysts in 2010 by deciding to split the popular Ram Truck name from Dodge. The result is a brand that is dedicated to producing high-quality work trucks ranging from full-size quarter-ton pickups to one-ton chassis-cab beasts. While we haven't seen exactly what Chrysler has in store for its new brand, it's practically guaranteed to become one of the company's most successful nameplates. In 2010, Ram Trucks brought in elements such as a high-quality interior, plenty of power and convenient options like Ram Box storage to the 2500/3500 HD range. At this point it looks as if the company's focus for the 2011 model year will be an all-new slew of commercial-grade trucks.