2011 Subaru WRX STI

The current Subaru WRX STI and Impreza WRX are two favorites for many automotive sports car enthusiasts. Power and handling is first-class, with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-wheel drive providing incredible grip no matter road or weather conditions. Improving something so perfect seemed in many ways impossible.

Not for the engineers at Subaru. Weight saving is one of the best ways to increase performance and the WRX STI was put under the microscope. Anything that could be shed to aid in performance was eliminated. Upgrades for the 305 horsepower WRX STi include JDMI STI Spec wheels and a Nürburgring-tuned JDMI STI suspension.

Improvements for the Impreza WRX Limited add High-intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, leather-trimmed seats and SIRIUS satellite radio. Driving fast, while maintaining complete control of your sport sedan, just became a little more fun.

2010 Saab 9-3X

The New York auto show will serve as the North American debut of Saab's new 9-3X. In the vein of Volvo's XC70 wagon and Subaru's Outback wagon, Saab's 9-3X is "a rugged all-rounder designed to take outdoor enthusiasts to the start of their adventure," according to the Swedish company. And with more people feeling the need to step down from large SUVs and crossovers, the 9-3X wagon appears to be on the right track.

Its styling says "take me slightly off-road," with front and rear bumpers, side skirts and flared wheel arches finished in a dark gray, grained material intended to give better protection should the 9-3X owner take the car off the beaten path and encounter mud or loose stones. The car also features skid plates with a matte-aluminum finish, front and rear.

The 9-3X backs up its tough looks with a 1.4-in.-higher ride height and Saab's high-tech Cross Wheel Drive (XWD) system, which we first saw on last year's limited-edition Turbo X. This active system uses an electronically controlled Torque Transfer Device (TTD) to vary power between the front and rear axles. The rear axle also comes standard with a limited-slip differential.

The 9-3X will come to the U.S. with Saab's tried-and-true 2.0-liter dohc turbocharged 4-cylinder with 207 bhp. Both a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed automatic transmission will be offered.

Saab says the 2010 9-3X, which was developed and will be manufactured at Saab's Trollh?ttan, Sweden, headquarters, should go on sale in the U.S. by the fourth quarter of 2009. Prices will be announced later this year.

2010 Volkswagen GTI

Vehicle Summary
The Volkswagen GTI carries on as the high-performance brother to the new Golf, which replaces the Rabbit for 2010. The new GTI gets a completely restyled exterior and interior, but mechanically it's essentially the same as its predecessor.

Vehicle Overview
The Volkswagen GTI carries on as the high-performance brother to the new Golf, which replaces the Rabbit for 2010. The new GTI gets a completely restyled exterior and interior, but mechanically it's essentially the same as its predecessor.

The GTI is available as a two- or four-door hatch with an optional Autobahn Package that's mostly interior upgrades. The GTI's competitors include the Mazdaspeed3, Subaru WRX and Mini Cooper S. The new GTI arrives at dealerships in the fall of 2009.

Exterior
The GTI is based on the VW Golf, and both get a new exterior that makes them look more angular and menacing. The GTI has some unique features, including a thin, blackened honeycomb grille with two red outlining stripes; different front and rear bumpers; side skirts; and GTI badging.

In the rear, the dual tailpipes are now placed closer to the sides of the vehicle, and there's a standard rear spoiler over the hatch. The GTI sits lower to the ground than the Golf. There's a choice of 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels.

Interior
The GTI gets a new dashboard, door paneling, racing-inspired steering wheel and instrument cluster.

The GTI can seat four comfortably, or five in a pinch. Bolstered and ribbed sports seats are standard up front, and there's a 60/40-split bench in the rear. Seating surfaces have a retro plaid design — VW calls it "Interlagos" — on the cloth trim. Leather is optional.

The standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter have red stitching. Other standard features include a new 10-speaker audio system with a touch-screen interface, satellite radio and cruise control. The Autobahn Package includes a power sunroof, leather seating surfaces and sportier-looking front seats.

Under the Hood
The 2010 GTI has mostly the same mechanicals as the 2009 model. The GTI is equipped with a sport-tuned suspension and a 200-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 207 pounds-feet of torque.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, and a six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox is optional. The DSG includes launch control, a sports mode, and a sequential-manual shift mode with steering-wheel-mounted paddles for better performance and control.

New equipment on the GTI includes an electronic limited-slip control system that helps control wheelspin during sharp turns.

Safety
The GTI comes standard with antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system. Side curtain airbags and front side-impact airbags are standard. Optional rear side-impact airbags are available on the four-door GTI.