The Most Anticipated 2011 Cars

Autumn is the traditional start of the new model year for the auto industry, and the theme for 2011 is unmistakable: small, fuel-efficient cars.  The 2011 offerings reflect America’s changing priorities after a spike in gas prices in 2008 and tough new emissions rules enacted by the U.S. government.

Of course, there are some high-profile debuts, most notably the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, perhaps the most-hyped car in history, and the Nissan Leaf all-electric, both due in November. While the Leaf runs on battery power alone, with a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge, the Volt has a backup engine to recharge the battery for longer trips and to relieve what General Motors calls “range anxiety.” GM recently revised the Volt’s range on battery power to 25 miles (from 40) but it doesn’t really matter if you’ve got the gasoline engine to keep you going.

But assuming you didn’t already put down a deposit on one of these plug-ins, you’ll find plenty of other green choices on dealer lots.

Most are fuel-sipping compacts or subcompacts, like the Chevrolet Cruze, hitting dealerships now, or the overhauled Ford Focus, which goes on sale early next year. The Cruze replaces the ho-hum Chevy Cobalt, which just couldn’t compete with other small cars in its class. It offers two fuel-efficient engines capable of up to 40 miles per gallon. It also offers a range of new safety features, including 10 standard airbags, and a more refined interior. The big question is whether Americans accustomed to discounts will pay $17,000 to $23,000 for a small Chevrolet.

Ford Motor has already been testing the theory of small premium cars, with some success. The new Focus is the next step in Ford’s effort to remake its car lineup, and it can’t arrive a moment to soon. The current Focus has grown tired and hasn’t kept up with the competition. It now sells for less than the smaller Fiesta subcompact, which went on sale earlier this year. Ford hopes Focus buyers will follow the pattern set by Fiesta owners, who’ve been willing to spend more for extras like leather seats, premium stereos and wireless connectivity.

Some of the new models for 2011 are really tiny, like the bulb-shaped Fiat 500, which will be sold by Chrysler dealers early next year, and the Scion IQ, a teeny two-door designed for urban dwellers. It’s about the size of a Smart ForTwo, and only half as ugly.

Meanwhile, Minis are getting bigger. The new Countryman is the largest Mini yet, and meant to look like an SUV, even offering all-wheel-drive. It still looks like a Mini; hopefully, it’ll drive like one, too.

Even larger vehicles like the redesigned Ford Explorer and the Honda Odyssey minivan are emphasizing improved fuel economy. The redesigned Explorer, with new engines and a more fuel-efficient car chassis rather than a truck platform, promises to deliver a 30% improvement in gas mileage. Honda says a new six-speed automatic transmission will help the next-generation Odyssey achieve up to 28 mpg on the highway.

One exception to the small car trend is the Hyundai Equus, the largest and most luxurious car yet from the Korean carmaker. At $60,000, it won’t sell in big numbers, but it should be an eye-opener for people who still think Hyundai is a joke. The folks at Mercedes and Lexus better pay attention.