By FRANK A. AUKOFER, Scripps Howard News Service

Like a slow-moving motorized infantry battalion, the Ford Motor Co. has soldiered on through the recession chaos that devastated sales of automobiles and light trucks.
All vehicle manufacturers suffered severe casualties, but only Ford among Detroit's Big Three had buttressed its force structure and did not require immediate reinforcement from the federal government.

Specifications for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid four-door sedan.
Engines: Electric motor with 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, total of 191 horsepower.
Transmission: Continuously variable.
Overall length: 14 feet 11 inches.
EPA passenger/trunk volume: 100/12 cubic feet.
Weight: 3,720 pounds.

For most people, heel and toe moves likely are associated with television's "Dancing with the Stars."
But it has an entirely different meaning to race car drivers and sports car enthusiasts, who know it as a technique for matching engine revolutions to the speed of a car while shifting a manual transmission to slow down without losing power.

Specifications for the 2009 Nissan 370Z two-door sports/GT coupe.
Engine: 3.7-liter V6, 332 horsepower.
Transmission: Six-speed manual with SyncroRev Match.
Overall length: 13 feet 11 inches.
EPA passenger/cargo volume: 52/7 cubic feet.
Weight: 3,232 pounds.
EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 18/26 miles per gallon.

Specifications for the Model: 2009 Ford F-150 Lariat 4X4 four-door pickup truck.
Engine: 5.4-liter V8, 320 horsepower, 390 lb.-ft. torque.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with high- and low-range four-wheel drive.
Overall length: 19 feet 4 inches.
Box length: 5.5 feet.
Weight: 5,628 pounds.
Payload: 1,510 pounds.

Talk about a love-hate relationship.
Hate: In 2008, sales of the Ford F-series pickup truck, the nation's most popular vehicle, plunged by more than 175,000 units in the worst year for vehicle sales in 16 years.

Specifications for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS four-door sport sedan.
Engine: 2-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged, 260 horsepower.
Transmission: Five-speed manual.
Overall length: 15 feet 1 inch.
EPA passenger/cargo volume: 87/14 cubic feet.
Weight: 3,012 pounds.
EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 22/30 miles per gallon. Premium recommended.

Though discouraged by the safety and responsibility bosses, there's an evil satisfaction that comes with the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS.
Except for a tiny rear spoiler of the sort that could be found on almost any subcompact economy car, the Cobalt SS four-door sedan looks like, well, almost any subcompact economy car.

Specifications for the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse 1LT four-door crossover utility vehicle.
Engine: 3.6-liter V6, 281 horsepower.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Overall length: 17 feet 1 inch.
EPA passenger/cargo volume: 149/24 cubic feet.
Weight: 4,955 pounds.
EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 17/24 miles per gallon.

Specifications for the 2009 Mazda6 S Grand Touring four-door sedan.
Engine: 3.7-liter V6, 272 horsepower.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode.
Overall length: 16 feet 2 inches.
EPA passenger/trunk volume: 102/17 cubic feet.
Weight: 3,547 pounds.
EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 17/25 miles per gallon.