Redesigned and New 2008/09 Models for the 2008 Season

Susan Frissell

Updated January 29, 2008

As another year comes bulldozing its way around the corner, we’re ramping up for all the Auto Shows across the country and internationally. They begin in the fall of the year and carry on into the better part of the new year, with many exciting introductions. These are a few of what we can expect for 2008.

The public no longer has to wait for the magical month of September to see the new models. Today-and for many years now-manufacturers introduce new and redesigned vehicles throughout the year.

Some of what we’ll see for 2008 and 2009 include the following:

Ford Mustang Bullitt (fall)
Infiniti G37 Coupe
Infiniti EX35 (small luxury SUV)
Nissan Rogue
Pontiac G8 (early 2008)
Saturn Astra
Saturn Vue Green Line (2-mode hybrid, late in year)
Scion xB
Scion xD
Smart fortwo
Toyota Sequoia
VW Jetta TDI (March ’08)
Volvo C30
Volvo V70/XC70

Biding adieu to some of the has-beens of the past few years:

Buick Rainier, Buick Rendezvous, Buick Terraza
Chevy Monte Carlo
Ford Five-Hundred (now the Taurus), Ford Freestar minivan, Ford Freestyle (now Taurus X)
Honda Accord Hybrid
Hummer H1
Mazda6 Wagon, MazdaSpeed6
Mercury Montego (now Sable), Mercury Monterey
Nissan Murano (back in 2009)
Pontiac GTO, Pontiac Montana SV6
Saturn Ion, Saturn Relay
Scion xA
Suzuki Aerio

While the ForTwo SmartCar will be the vehicle to watch, there are many redesigns for the new year, as well. ForTwo is in showrooms now and if you can believe the press, most, if not all, are already spoken for. People were signing up online during the past several months, able to “hold” a ForTwo SmartCar for just $99. Pricing is so promising and the car itself, a desirable little commuter that the rest of us just have to get in line for the second coming.

Acura: A possibility of a redesigned TSX sport sedan in 2008.

Audi: The new Q7 SUV appeared in 2007, with a diesel version coming this year. The TT coupe and roadster reappears after a one-year hiatus as a 2008 model. Audi also launced a new A5 crossover model, and a S5 performance version.

BMW: The 5-series gets reworked, with a 300 horsepower twin turbo V8 in the 535i and 535xi, and the six-cylinder gets more horses and a rebadged, the 528i. The 1-series appears as a new model in the U.S. market.

Buick: The Enclave SUV joined the lineup in 2007 as a ’08 model; a first for Buick that has done very well. LaCrosse sedan gets a performance version, bringing back the Super nameplate from the past

Cadillac CTS gets a new look with more refinement. More horsepower is added (263 hp)and options include a 304-hp., 3.6-liter engine with direct injection, AWD, swivel headlamps and a 40-gigabyte hard drive for the audio system.

Chevrolet introduces the all-new, much updated Malibu to fight the ever-popular Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. New styling and an updated interior give Malibu the edge it’s lacked in the past and just may be able to give these two appliances a run for their money. Buyers can choose from a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or 3.6-liter V6 engine, and a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Later in the year, they will introduce a hybrid version. Tahoe arrives in fall 2008 with a hybrid 2-Mode powertrain version.

Chrysler: Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans get a whole new look for 2008: Squarer than their predecessor; resembling the original. One of the few minivans available (Ford and GM have killed theirs), Chrysler should do well, with a little competition from the Koreans. Now seating up to seven, Caravan and Town & Country offer Swivel ‘N Go, a new option with two center-row seats that turn to face the passengers in the rear seat. A table fastens to the floor for eating or card playing. This fifth generation minivan is available in one size (121.2 inch wheelbase). A new 4-liter V6 engine with 6-speed automatic fuels the vans and the center console slides and is removable. A dual DVD entertainment system plays more than one media at the same time and Sirius TV plays Disney Channel, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon Mobile. You’ll never want to leave the car.

Dodge Challenger SRT8 will finally make its debut as a street car, along with a redesigned Dodge Ram for 2009. The Avenger returned to replace the aging Stratus and offers four trim levels, two V6 engines and a four-cylinder engine. Viper returns for 2008 after a one-year hiatus, with 600 horses. The Dakota pickup has been redone with the longest and largest cargo bed in its class. Its V8 engine gets more horsepower and is flex-fuel capable. The Ram gets two new versions: a heavy-duty 4500 and 5500 series.

Ford: The slow-selling Five-Hundred sedan becomes the Taurus once again. The Freestyle becomes the Taurus X. The Escape SUV gets a small redesign. The Ford Focus gets its first redo since its introduction in 2000. The exterior is changed just a little and the SYNC communication and entertainment system is added, featuring MP3 players and mobile phone features. Available in coupe and sedan, the wagon and two-and-four-door hatchbacks have been discontinued. Taurus/Mercury Sable stable mates are back (in the form of the Five-Hundred and Montego). Rebadged for 2008, these sedans get new front and rear styling, a 3.5-liter V6 engine and more standard equipment.

GMC: Yukon SUV gets a 2-Mode Hybrid version.

Honda: A coupe has been added to the Accord lineup for 2008, with a new optional engine: 3.5-liter V6, 268 hp., as well as two four-cylinder engines.

2009 Hummer H3T which somewhat resembles a pickup will be introduced at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.

Hyundai: The all-new Veracruz SUV was introduced in 2007, and for 2008, the new Genesis luxury sedan joins the lineup.

Infiniti: A redesigned G35 appeared in late 2007; a knockout of a car. For ’08, the G35 coupe is redesigned and rebadged the G37 (larger engine). The QX56 SUV is freshened up for ’08, and the all-new EX35 crossover wagon was introduced in the fall.

Jaguar: A new sedan, the XF replaces the S-type (boo-hoo!) during the 2008 model year.

Jeep: Nothing new for 2008, with the exception of a redesigned Liberty SUV.

Kia: Rondo crossover wagon debuted in late 2007 as a 2007 model, and the Soul will be available as a 2009 model. A new model, the Borrego will appear during 2008.

Land Rover: The Freelander disappears, and the LR2 is added. Similar to the L3, L2 is a smaller SUV that seats five and a six-cylinder engine.

Lexus: The LS460 sedan was redesigned for 2007, and a hybrid powertrain version added for 2008, the LS 600h L, priced at $104,000. The RX 350 midsize SUV was restyled as a 2008 model. A new version of the full-size SUV LX will appear later in 2008, with a 5.7-liter V8 engine.

Lincoln: You’ll know your Lincoln’s not by name, but by acronyms: The MKX (crossover), MKZ (sedan) and MKS (expected to come in ’08) are now in the lineup.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan is now available in C300 Sport and Luxury versions with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that uses premium gasoline or E85 ethanol. The C350 Sport comes with a 3.5-liter 268 horsepower V6 engine. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on the C300 Sport and a 7-speed automatic on the others. The C is longer by 3.9 inches and wider by 1.7 inches.

Mercury: Mariner SUV has a restyle and more standard features, as well as a hybrid model. The Montego was renamed Sable, just as Ford’s Five-Hundred was rebadged Taurus.

Mini: With just a few changes made in 2007, there’s no real big news at Mini.

Mitsubishi: The 2008 Lancer, built on the redesigned Outlander platform arrived in late 2007 with more than 50 new features, a new 2.0-liter engine with 152 hp. and CVT. During the next year, a performance Lancer Evolution will debut with a redesigned Outlander SUV.

Nissan: The high-performance GT-R is the big news at Nissan, along with redesigned trucks (longer bed for Titan), a coupe version of the Altima and a new model, the Rogue, sporting a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, Xtronic CVT and AWD. In 2009, Nissan will reintroduce the Murano.

Pontiac: The new G8 sport sedan will be in dealerships early this year, replacing the Grand Prix. With a V6 engine (261 hp), consumers can also opt for a 6.0-liter V8 engine with 360-horsepower. Vibe has been redesigned for 2008.

Porsche: Cayenne SUV has been redesigned for 2008 with a more powerful V6 and 4.8-liter Turbo V8 with a 500 horsepower.

Saab has reworked the 9-3 series and plans to introduce an all-wheel-drive version soon.

Saturn was very busy in 2007 with its new and revised models. A redesigned Vue is available for 2008 and gets a hybrid powertrain. The Astra compact hatchback (related to the 2007.5 Opel Astra sold in Europe) was new in the U.S. for 2007.

Scion has enlarged and restyled the popular youth-mobile, the xB and given it more power (55 hp).

Subaru‘s redesigned Tribeca SUV was reintroduced in mid-2007 and replaced the 2006 B9 Tribeca. Tribeca has been restyled with better visibility, a rear-vision camera . Available in either a five-or-seven-passenger vehicle, the 3.6-liter horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine now runs on regular gas.

Suzuki Equator pickup will be introduced at Chicago’s Show, accompanied by the already-on-the-street subcompact 2008 SX4 sedan.

Toyota’s Highlander is now in its second generation and includes a hybrid-powertrain version. Highlander is longer (4 in.) and wider (3 in.), on an all-new platform with second-row sliding and reclining seats. Third row seating is standard and Highlander now has seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knee and all rows have side curtains. Horsepower has been increased by 55 hp. A redesigned Matrix will appear early this year, as well as redesigned Land Cruiser and Sequoia full-size SUV’s.

Volkswagen will introduce a new crossover, the Tiguan and is planning on a minivan effort with Chrysler. Named the Routan, VW will be getting back into the minivan business they left years ago.

Volvo introduced its compact C30 sport hatchback in summer of 2007 as a 2008 model. This sporty little car is a hoot to drive and represents a whole new market for Volvo in the U.S. The XC70 crossover has been redesigned.

Don’t miss this year’s 2008 Chicago Auto Show. It is the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Auto Show and promises to be an extravaganza. Open to the public February 8 through February 17, 2008. Go to www.chicagoautoshow.com for information, times and tickets.