Future Cars

Acura's TSX stable is about to get bigger, as the automaker is planning to add a Sport Wagon to the mix. Why? Because the folks at Honda's luxury brand believe there are people out there who love the performance and sporty styling of the TSX, but want more space for, say, their golf clubs and mountain bikes. The increased rear cargo space will include integrated under-floor storage bins and a removable side panel to allow transport of "wide" items.

While the new A6 can't be called a radical departure from the Audi design philosophy, the fact that it's a logical progression of it is no bad thing. It looks like the offspring of a mating between the A4 and A8; it proffers obvious cues from both. The headlights are slightly more aggressive, and feature optional LED lighting. In addition to being much better looking than its predecessor, the new A6 is lighter, too. The A6 is also expected to be available with a gas-electric hybrid powertrain.

Sportbacks tend to be polarizing, but if you're going to love the idea of an elongated front and a short rear deck, the all-wheel-drive Audi is easy to covet. The flowing lines are made up of super high-strength steel and a high percentage of aluminum, which keeps the weight down and makes the supercharged 300-horsepower V6 engine even more potent. And Audi does its usual impeccable job of poshing up the interior. That is especially welcome in the roomy back seats, which are even more spacious than in the sporty A6, on which the A7 is based.

This ultrasexy land rocket is billed as the fastest road-going Ferrari ever built. It can reportedly sprint from zero to 62 miles per hour in a scant 3.35 seconds, and has a top speed in excess of 208 mph. Only 599 copies will be produced, and each will cost around a half-million bucks. The 599 GTO also features Ferrari's high-tech Magnetorheological Suspension Control system and carbon ceramic-disc brakes.

The initial 500 lineup will include Pop, Sport and Lounge trims, all with Fiat's 1.4-liter 101-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. The Pop is a well-equipped base trim; the Sport gets a sport-tuned suspension and sporty visual cues; and the Lounge adds luxury amenities. All get seven airbags standard. Differences between the European and the upgraded American version include a larger fuel tank, an available 6-speed automatic transmission, changes to the rear axle and suspension, a more comfortable interior, and improved heating and ventilation.

The 2012 Focus will be offered as a 4-door sedan or 4-door hatchback. Both body styles will feature Ford's Kinetic Design styling language, which the company says communicates energy, vitality and a dynamic spirit. On the Focus, that translates to an attractive car with highly sculpted flanks. Compared with the current model, Ford says the new Focus will have improved comfort, agility, stability and steering precision.

While the new Civic will have more flair than ever before, it won't lose any of the maturity that made previous versions such a hit. At first glance, the new design might seem like only a mild update because it has the steeply raked windshield and overall shape of the existing model — what Honda calls the "one-motion mono-form." The front-end styling isn't a huge departure, either. But the car is indeed all new. It's more compact on the outside but no less roomy on the inside.

The Countryman combines the capabilities of a small crossover with the classic go-kart feel and footprint of a MINI. It offers more room inside than any other car in the automaker's stable — in fact, it is the largest car to ever wear the MINI nameplate, measuring more than 13 feet in length. Available in base or Cooper S guise, the Countryman will be well equipped, with stability control as well as a limited-slip differential. Four-wheel drive will be optional.

The Veloster features an odd, 2-plus-1 door layout — a regular, long, coupe-style door on the driver's side of the car, and a 2-door, conventional-hinge layout on the passenger side — and best-in-class seating and cargo capacity. Its design also incorporates several motorcycle motifs, including wraparound windows reminiscent of a helmet visor and a center console shaped like a sport bike's fuel tank. Propulsion is provided by an all-new 1.6-liter 138-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, which acts like an automatic but shifts quicker and helps to improve gas mileage. The automaker estimates highway fuel economy in the 40-mpg range.