Get ready, because 2011 is going to be an electric year – where the car market is concerned anyway. The 2011 model lineup comprises a range of revolutionary electric cars (and the other usual suspects), both for the US and Australian markets.

Vehicles such as Nissan’s all-electric LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt (an electric vehicle incorporating a small gas engine) should be available for sale later this year, while at the turn of the New Year the market will welcome the electric Ford Focus sedan and Ford Transit Connect commercial van. Other models to join the 2011 model range are the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell (electric vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology), the Honda CR-Z (sporty two seater with a gas-electric hybrid system), Volkswagen’s hybrid Touareg SUV and Porsche’s hybrid Cayenne SUV.

At the moment its difficult to judge how much demand the new technology will cultivate. However, all automakers are competitively steaming ahead with scheduled release dates, particularly with stringent fuel economy standards and an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base.

Other new hot-selling subcompacts will also be hitting the Australian pavement in 2011, including the new Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Scion iQ, and Fiat 500. Other luxury cars and minivans will also be improved in the gas mileage department, with several automakers lowering vehicles to improve aerodynamics and enhance fuel economy. Specifically, Honda has lowered its Odyssey and modified the engine to boost highway mpg’s. The replacement of steel with aluminium and carbon fiber in order to reduce weight, as well as the incorporation of six, seven, and eight speed transmissions by several automakers, have also contributed to enhanced efficiency.

Here’s the complete roundup.

ACURA:
1. TSX
• Entry level small car
• Refreshed front and rear fascia styling
• New grille, updated tail lights
• Improved engine and transmission
• Raised gas mileage (no figures available)
• New acoustic glass windshield
• Thicker rear side glass and improved underbody sound insulation (to reduce noise)
2. RL
• Large luxury sedan
• New six-speed auto transmission
• Improved acceleration and gas mileage (no figures available)
• New front fascia and grille

AUDI:
1. A8
• Big sedan (pricing not yet announced)
• Luxury interior
• Sporty driving characteristics
• Comes in normal / long wheelbase versions
• Aluminium space frame (to reduce weight, improve handling and retain safety)
• LED headlamps, cornering lights, LED turn signals
• Lots of safety features, including automatic braking
• Changeable character – sporty or comfortable
• 4.2-litre V8 engine with 372 horsepower OR 12-cylinder 500 horsepower engine (both have direct fuel injection)
• 17 mpg (city) or 27 mpg (highway)

2. A7
• Combined a sporty coupe, sedan and utility
• Sleek five-door
• Sloping back for that coupe look
• 19 cubic foot luggage compartment (can be further expanded by folding down the rear backrests)
• 3-litre supercharged gasoline engine
• Turbodiesel and other engines still being developed
• Pricing not yet announced

3. Audi will also alter existing models
• A4 2.0T Quattro, A5 2.0T Quattro Coupe, Quattro Cabriolet – All gain a new eight speed auto transmission
• Transmission will allow for smoother acceleration, responsive downshifts, improved gas mileage

BENTLEY:
1. Mulsanne
• Distinctive premium model (flagship sedan)
• Traditional Bentley elegance
• Refined performance
• 1950s-style S-Type front design
• High-tech features including a multimedia system (with 60G hard disc) and SATNAV
• 6.75-litre V8 with 512 horsepower
• Eight-speed auto transmission
• Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters
• Base price = $285,000

2. Continental Range:
• Entire range gains ability to run on E85 ethanol (US customers)
• Supersports Convertible joins the 2011 range

BMW:
1. 3 Series
• Coupe gains updates, including slight styling changes, upgraded stereo, new single turbocharged 300 horsepower inline engine (for the 335i)
• New sport package – twin turbocharged 320 horsepower engine
• Series starts from $43,535

2. 5 Series
• All new 5 Series Sedan (longer and wider than its predecessor)
• Top of the range 550i gains a 4.4 litre V8 with 400 horsepower
• 535i has an inline 6 cylinder engine with 300 horsepower
• Three transmission options
• 5 Series starts from $52,775

3. 6 Series
• Production ends after 2010
• Series will be reintroduced at some point, but a date has not been confirmed.

4. 7 Series
• At the top of the lineup – the 2011 Alpina B7 Sedan
• Has a 4.4-litre V8 with 500 horsepower
• 0-60km/hr sprint of 4.5 seconds
• Twin front and rear spoilers
• Electronically adjustable suspension
• Improved stability and performance at high speeds
• Starts at $122,875

5. ActiveHybrid 7
• Combines a turbocharged V* with an electric motor
• Combined output = 455 horsepower, with 15% better fuel economy than the 750i.
• 26mpg (highway)
• Starts at $103,175

BUICK:
1. Regal
• Midsize sedan
• European-esque handling
• 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine
• Six-speed auto transmission
• 30mpg (highway)
• Turbocharged version available later
• Standards: 18 inch alloy wheels, XM Satellite Radio, USB port, MP3 auxiliary jack, Bluetooth, OnStar Safety communications system.
• Starts from $26,245

2. LaCrosse:
• Luxury sedan
• 2.4-litre four cylinder engine (standard for CX and CXL front-wheel models)
• Electric power steering for the four cylinder models (raises fuel economy, cuts engine drag)

3. Lucerne:
• Big sedan gains standard traction control

CADILLAC:
1. CTS
• Sleek two door coupe added to the range
• 556 horsepower V8 engine in the CTS-V coupe
• Regular coupe gets the 3.8-litre V6 with 304 horsepower
• Touch pad door entry (adds to ‘aerodynamic’ appearance)
• Standard model priced from $38,165, CTS-V starts from $63,465

2. STS
- Loses the V8, gains the 3.6-litre V6 engine

CHEVROLET:
1. Cruze
• New small compact, with the room of a midsize
• Good fuel economy – eco version = 40mpg (highway)
• Lots of standard equipment/safety
• 1.8-litre four cylinder engine or a 1.4-litre turbocharged power plant
• 10 airbags
• Pricing starts at $16,995

2. Volt
• Rechargeable electric car
• Can go up to 40 miles on electric power
• 1.4-litre four cylinder engine extends the range to 300 miles

3. Silverado
• 6.6-litre turbo diesel engine
• Gets aerodynamic alterations/reduced wind noise
• Great towing capacity
• Electronic trailer sway control
• Hill start assist
• Auto braking
• Pricing starts at $27,965

4. Camaro:
• 3.6-litre V6 with 312 horsepower
• Gains heads-up instrument display

5. Corvette
• Gains paddle shifters (for the six speed auto)

6. Impala
• Standard 3.5-litre V6 gains E85 ethanol capability

7. Malibu
- Sedan gains an efficient six-speed auto for all models

8. Equinox
• Crossover gains flex-fuel capability (for the optional V6 model)

CHRYSLER:
• Chrysler has not announced all models’ details.
• However, the CEO has promised 15 new (or profoundly updated) models before 2011 begins

1. 300
• Big sedan gains major updates including exterior sheet metal, revised interior styling

2. Sebring
• Midsize sedan gains refinements, including noise reduction features, elimination of plastics internally, and an updated body

DODGE:
1. New SUV
• New SUV to replace the Durango
• Based on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Different body, same chassis and engine as the Jeep (standard 290 horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 or optional 360 horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8)
• Pricing and specs yet to be announced

2. Charger
• New version probable, but no specifics yet

3. Avenger
• Significant updates including engine quieting, interior revisions and new exterior sheet metal.

FIAT:
1. 500
• Minicar, available in 4 models
• Standard 500 equipped with 1.4-litre four cylinder engine
• Ragtop convertible, Abarth version and fully electric models also available
• Further pricing, spec, equipment and fuel economy details are yet to be released.

FORD:
1. Fiesta
• Energetic subcompact
• A sedan model will be offered in the US, but not in Australia for now
• 40mpg (highway)
• 1.6-litre four cylinder engine
• New features include keyless entry and capless refueling
• Pricing starts at $13,320

2. Focus
• Redesigned compact
• Will go on sale in 2011 as a 2012 model
• Sedan and five-door hatchback models
• Electric version will be introduced (100mg and a 7 hour charge)
• No pricing details have been released

3. Edge
• Crossover has been refreshed
• New engines – 2.0-litre EcoBoost I-4, 3.5-litre V6, 3.7-litre V6
• New features include Hill Start Assist, MyFordTouch, 8-inch screen with personalized controls
• Pricing starts at $27,220

4. Mustang
• Gains a 5.0-litre V8 engine with 412 horsepower
• Gains six speed manual and auto transmissions
• Retuned steering and suspension
• Pricing starts at $22,145

5. F-Series
• New 385 horsepower 6.2-litre V8
• Pricing starts at $28,020

6. Transit Connect:
• Electric version for 2011
• Charged via standard outlet
• Estimated range of 80 miles
• No pricing announced

HONDA:
1. CR-Z
• Two passenger hybrid
• 122 horsepower 1.5-litre four cylinder engine
• Integrated electric system
• Normal, sport, economy driving modes
• 35mpg (city) 39 mpg (highway)
• EX model also available – includes Bluetooth, aluminium shift knob/pedals, premium audio system, and more
• Coupe starts at $19,200

2. Odyssey
• Fully redesigned
• Lower, sleeker, wider appearance
• New side “lightning bolt” panels
• Lower wind drag/increased fuel economy – 19mpg (city) and 28mpg (highway)
• 3.5-litre V6
• Starts at $27,800

3. Accord
• Midsize vehicle gains new internal/external styling, better fuel economy, and new leather-trimmed interior.
• Four-cylinder Accord = 23 mpg (city) and 34 (highway)

HYUNDAI:
1. Sonata
• Midsize sedan becomes gains a turbocharged version of the current 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
• Hybrid electric version to be introduced later this year
• Pricing starts at $19,195

2. Elantra
• Compact vehicle’s details have not been released yet, but massive updates are expected

3. Coupe
• A new (secret) sporty coupe is to be unveiled in 2011
• Minimal details known, but will be a front-wheel-drive hatchback based on the Veloster concept