General Motors has released the first three official photographs of the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan. The Cruze will go on sale in Europe in March 2009; power choices will include 1.6 and 1.8 liter gasoline engines (112 and 140 horsepower respectively) and a 150 hp two-liter turbodiesel. GM still hasn't announced when the Cruze will go on sale in the US; the expectation is that it will come to the States in 2010 as a 2011 model and will replace the Cobalt.

Analysis: Well, it sure is a good-looking car, and I'm sure it will drive well, too. But the Cobalt was (is) a pretty decent car, and how much respect does it get? None. Zippo. Zilch. So will another name change and another restyling help Chevy's compact? I doubt it -- the problem here isn't the car, it's the public's perception. That said, maybe a few years of good experiences with the new Malibu will help matters.

Anyway -- check out the photos in my 2011 (?) Chevrolet Cruze photo gallery. -- Aaron Gold

The ZR1 is Chevrolet's newest super-Vette -- 638 supercharged horsepower, lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber construction, and a six-figure price tag. So when Chevrolet called and offered me a chance to drive it at their Milford Proving Grounds in Detroit, I was thrilled beyond belief.

How was it? Man, oh, man -- driving the ZR1 was one of the most memorable experiences of my career as an auto hack. I even got to take a quick spin -- slowly and carefully -- in the first customer-ready ZR1, VIN 00001 (picture of the car here and the VIN plate here. GM plans to add this car to their Heritage Collection.)

I went back and forth as to how to write this review -- should I relate all the fascinating technical details (this car really is an engineering masterpiece), or should I try to describe what it's like to pilot this beast? I tried to do a bit of both, but as always, I leaned towards the latter. Check out my 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 test drive and review.

I went a little snap-happy with the ol' Pentax, so along with my review you'll find a couple dozen more photos in my 2009 Corvette ZR1 photo gallery. Be sure to check out the tire smoking sequence (shortcut to the pics here, here and here). -- Aaron Gold

Photo © Aaron Gold

After just two years -- the original Fit made its US debut in 2006 as an '07 model -- Honda is already introducing a new version of their subcompact Fit hatchback. The new Honda Fit is all-new from stem to stern, but aside from the look, little has changed -- and that's actually a good thing. Get the details in my 2009 Honda Fit test drive and review. Want photos? You'll find lots of 'em in my 2009 Honda Fit photo gallery. -- Aaron Gold

Photo © Aaron Gold

First up: Cadillac has released pictures of the upcoming 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. The new CTS wagon will offer the same 3.6 liter engines (in both 263 horsepower and 304 hp versions) as the CTS sedan. Will it sell? Well, BMW, Mercedes and Saab didn't do particularly well with their small wagons -- but that was before gas cost $4/gallon. Buyers are turning away from SUVs in droves, but that doesn't mean they need less space to haul their families. Looks like General Motors may have finally gotten a break -- the CTS Sport Wagon is going to be the right car at the right time. Unless gas is at $2/gallon next spring when the CTS Sport Wagon hits the dealerships... anyway, check out more photos in my 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon photo gallery.

Next order of business: I have 2009 Honda Fit and 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 test drives ready to go, but both are still under embargo. (For those unfamiliar: The automakers often give us an early whack at driving new models, but they ask us not to publish our driving impressions or other information until a certain date, in order to give other publications a fair chance at getting an early review. That's the embargo date.) The Fit embargo lifts today (Tuesday) at 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific, and the ZR1 embargo lifts at midnight. Check back here at the blog on http://cars.about.com and be the first to read about both new cars. -- Aaron Gold

Photo © General Motors