By RICHARD WILLIAMSON, Scripps Howard News Service

2009 VOLKSWAGEN CC VR6 SPORT
TYPE: Front-drive, four-passenger, compact sedan.
PRICE: $38,300 base, (invoice $36,393), $41,630 as tested.
WHERE BUILT: Emden, Germany.
KEY RIVALS: BMW 3-Series; Mercedes-Benz C-Class; Infiniti G37; Pontiac G6; Hyundai Genesis; Toyota Camry; Nissan Maxima.

2009 VOLKSWAGEN CC VR6 SPORT
TYPE: Front-drive, four-passenger, compact sedan.
PRICE: $38,300 base, (invoice $36,393), $41,630 as tested.
WHERE BUILT: Emden, Germany.
KEY RIVALS: BMW 3-Series; Mercedes-Benz C-Class; Infiniti G37; Pontiac G6; Hyundai Genesis; Toyota Camry; Nissan Maxima.

General Motors is on the verge of bankruptcy because it "builds cars that nobody wants to buy." If you haven't heard that line in the bailout debate, you haven't been listening.

2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO TYPE: Rear-drive, two-door, four-passenger, compact coupe. PRICE: $22,995 for V6 LS; $30,995 for V8 SS. WHERE BUILT: Oshawa , Ontario , Canada . SALE DATE: March 2009. KEY RIVALS: Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger.

If General Motors weathers the financial storm, its Chevy division should begin delivering thousands of new Camaros next spring.While some model intros are facing delays, GM, so far, is sticking with its plan to send 2010 Camaros to buyers in the first quarter of 2009.

Volvo touts the new XC60 as "the safest Volvo ever built."If only the same could be said of the company.The Swedish automaker whose name is synonymous with survival competes with the elite in an economy growing increasingly cruel to the premium auto industry.

2009 VOLVO XC60TYPE: All-wheel-drive, four-door, mid-size crossover wagon.WHERE BUILT: Ghent, Belgium.PRICE: TBA.KEY RIVALS: Acura RDX, BMW X3, Infiniti FX35.POWER: 3-liter, turbocharged, 281-horsepower inline 6-cylinder engine; six-speed auto transmission.FUEL ECONOMY: TBA.

2009 TOYOTA FJ CRUISERTYPE: 4-wheel-drive, four-door, five-passenger, compact SUV.PRICE: $24,910 base.WHERE BUILT: Tokyo, Japan.KEY RIVALS: Jeep Liberty, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hummer H3.POWER: 4-liter, 24-valve, 239-horsepower, DOHC V6; five-speed auto transmission.FUEL ECONOMY: 15 mpg city, 18 highway.

If the Mini had a mother, it would be the FJ Cruiser.The two-tone Toyota stands out in a crowd with its white top and bright body, defying a trend of increasingly racy, car-like sport utility vehicles.

2009 BMW 750ITYPE: Rear-drive, four-passenger, full-size luxury sedan.PRICE: TBA.KEY RIVALS: Mercedes Benz S-Class, Audi A8POWER: 4.4-liter, twin turbo, DOHC, 32-valve, 400-horsepower V8; six-speed Steptronic auto transmission with adaptive transmission control, electric range and mode selectors, steering-wheel shift controls.