Cool Cars With Awesome Features

Take a look at 10 new autos that have pushed the envelope in terms of safety, performance, and fuel efficiency.

Volvo V70
Price: $29,805

Innovation: Safety

In the event of a crash, seats automatically position themselves to minimize whiplash. And dynamic stabilization control can apply brakes to each of the four wheels independently to prevent the car from sliding on wet or icy surfaces. What's more, upcoming versions will integrate tiny cameras into the frame to detect dangers and help avoid accidents caused by driver inattention or fatigue.

Volkswagen Jetta
Price: $17,900
Innovation: Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Jetta its top rating in every individual measurement category. That's something no other vehicle in that class has ever accomplished.


Ford Shelby GT 500 Mustang
Price: $42,975

Innovation: Performance

Besides sporting the classic Ford Cobra-line racing stripes and aggressive stance, the car shares a host of technologies with Ford's retiring supercar, the GT, which costs more than three times as much. In fact, 500 horses for just about $45,000 is unheard of.

Koenigsegg CCR/CCX
Price: $722,534

Innovation: Performance
The new kings of Swede speed have released the CCX, which is street- and emissions-legal in the U.S. -- including the world's largest supercar market, California. Not to worry, the CCX maintains the CCR's incredible 245 mph speed rating.

Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI
Price: $51,825

Innovation: Fuel

Mercedes-Benz's E320 CDI, one of the first on sale here, gets between 27 and 37 mpg. And in a big luxury sedan that's quite a feat.

Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD
Price: Not yet announced

Innovation: Fuel

This new Jeep is equipped with a diesel engine. Even better, the company has previously promoted the use of biodiesel fuel – made from the likes of recycled vegetable oil or crops such as soybeans -- with its retiring Jeep Liberty CRD.

Bugatti Veyron
Price: $1.3 million

Innovation: Performance

The Veyron's factory figures are enough to make even the mildest car fan drool: 1,001 horses, 922 foot-pounds of torque, 16 cylinder engine -- the product of a Frankenstein-esque mating of two eight cylinder motors and four turbochargers. For the uninitiated, those specs mean the Bugatti can go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds and reach top speeds of 253 mph.

BMW 5 Series 550i
Price: $58,500

Innovation: Safety

Active Cruise Control, available as an option on the 5 Series sedan, uses a a three-beam radar sensor to monitor the road ahead. Unlike conventional cruise control systems, BMW's ACC system is able dynamically to adjust the auto's speed to match surrounding traffic conditions.

Lexus GS 450h
Price: $55,595

Innovation: Fuel

The GS 450h is Toyota's attempt to repeat the magic with more affluent customers who can't abide sluggish acceleration or dowdy looks. Luckily, the new sedan manages to get between 25 and 28 mpg while maintaining classic luxury features like push-button suspension adjustments and a refined cabin interior.

Saturn Vue Green Line
Price: $22,995

Innovation: Fuel

Though considered a "mild hybrid" for its moderate adoption of electric technologies, the Vue has received an EPA rating of 32 mpg, the highest highway rating ever for an SUV. The Vue squeezes extra mileage performance from better aerodynamics than other small SUVs, as well as from more traditional hybrid tricks like not using fuel while slowing down.