Take the time to click through a few recent automotive headlines and it quickly becomes clear that, by and large, the auto industry has survived the meltdown of 2009.The first quarter of 2010 saw automakers such as Ford, Hyundai, Subaru and even recall-riddled Toyota post double-digit sales increases for the first time in more than a year. Behind the larger success stories, other automakers are reporting increased dealer traffic, something that was unthinkable a few months ago.
All of that good news breeds optimism, and as a result we're beginning to see a wave of new models just on the horizon. Domestic automakers such as Chevrolet and Ford are slated to release eagerly awaited vehicles such as the Volt and Fiesta, respectively, within the next few months, while Nissan is looking to introduce its all-electric Leaf. The trend of high-quality small cars and technology-laden fuel savers will be continuing in 2011, and that's good news for consumers everywhere.
To give you a more complete look at all the latest vehicles coming down the pike, here's a comprehensive overview, listed by automaker, of what's new and what's been slightly modified or "refreshed" for the 2011 model yearCar 2011 Model Year Overview.

Acura

Since abandoning its quest for a V8, rear-wheel-drive platform and leaving the mighty NSX-successor to rot in the land of the never-produced, Acura may seem to have lost its way. The former leader of affordable luxury in America has been eclipsed by the likes of Lexus, Infiniti and even Cadillac in both styling and emotion. That's not to say there's nothing to look forward to from Honda's luxury wing. Quality-oriented families can rejoice in the addition of the new TSX wagon, for starters.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon
Manufacturers are hoping that wagons will soon gain traction in America as a stylish alternative to SUVs and minivans, and Acura is looking to capitalize on the trend with its TSX Sport Wagon. The company brought over the European-market Honda Accord Wagon, bolted on an Acura fascia and called it a day — but that's a good thing. Power is likely to come from the company's 2.4-liter 204-horsepower 4-cylinder engine.
Availability: Falll 2010
Price: Around $32,000
Read:  Acura TSX Sport Wagon Debuts in New York
WHAT'S BEEN REFRESHED . . .
2011 Acura TSX
Earlier in the year, Acura made quite a bit of noise about the possibility of a hybrid TSX. The company hasn't mentioned any details since those first reports surfaced in January 2010, but at the time Acura seemed confident that the fuel-saver version would be on the street by 2011. Given Honda's experience with integrated motor assist, a hybrid TSX shouldn't be too much of a stretch.
Availability: Early 2011?
Price: Around $33,000
Compare: Acura TSX vs. Infiniti G37

Aston Martin

Last year was a busy one for Aston Martin. After launching the Rapide sedan and the One-77 , this relatively small carmaker should have modest offerings in 2011. That said, the company will introduce its smallest and most fuel-efficient vehicle, called the Cygnet. The pint-sized Aston Martin isn't what you'd expect from the high-end automaker.
WHAT'S NEW . . .
2011 Aston Martin Cygnet
Based on the lowly Toyota iQ micro, the 2011 Aston Martin Cygnet is what would happen if you turned the company's engineers loose on your daily driver. The interior has been swaddled in hand-crafted amenities and the car now boasts very Aston front and rear fascias. Unfortunately the performance remains the same. Expect a tiny 1.3-liter engine with around 100 horsepower to be at the heart of the car.
Availability: Early 2010?
Price: Around $33,000
Read:  More on the Aston Martin Cygnet
2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Aston Martin has been kind enough to give American buyers something to look forward to next year — it has decided to sell the V12 Vantage in the United States. Using a 6.0-liter V12 engine with 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, the car will be available as a Carbon Black edition exclusively in the US. Expect all the joy of the V8 Vantage with the punch of four extra cylinders.Car 2011 Model Year Overview.
Availability: Late 2010
Price: Starts at $119,500
Review: Aston Martin V12 Vantage