Published: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Updated: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

It would be understating the obvious to say that the automotive industry has never had a model year quite like 2009.

Two of the three Detroit-based automakers emerged from bankruptcy and Chrysler became a satellite of the Italian Fiat organization. Meanwhile nearly every other manufacturer experienced at least some belt tightening amidst slumping auto sales.

The public became part of the roller-coaster ride, partially from skyrocketing fuel prices, and partially because government became involved in an industry that has always done its own thing. We went from being customers to having very clear-cut feelings about how the automakers should be running themselves. For some people and manufacturers, that has been a bitter pill to swallow.

Other than the forced reduction in the number of General Motors and Chrysler dealerships, the biggest body blow was the announcement that a couple of well-known General Motors brands - Pontiac, and Saturn - would close down, while Hummer and Saab were being sold off.

Even in our fast-paced world, change of this magnitude is jarring, but to forward-leaning optimists, the 2010 model year presents new challenges along with new models that highlight meat-and-potatoes functionality. The industry focus is now on delivering products with superior fuel economy along with greater usable carrying capacities. A check on a majority of new-for-2010 vehicles, some of which offer new or improved gasoline-electric hybrid propulsion, not to mention more efficient engine/transmission combos, certainly bears this out.

Still, there is no shortage of eye candy despite all that has occurred over the past 12 months. Automakers inherently understand that to earn the business of new-vehicle shoppers they must continually provide more of what buyers want in concert with what various government regulatory agencies demand. If there’s just one constant it’s that we as buyers can easily be inspired to make purchases for reasons other than the bottom line. No matter what, Automakers need to push all the right emotional hot buttons with new designs and gotta-have-it features. To that end, you’ll find an expanded crop of convertibles and other sportier looking models while at the same time fewer minivans and traditional full-size sport utility vehicles, which continue to experience declining popularity in spite of their immensely practical natures. Popularity, as always, is proving to be king in this business. What are the new trends? You’ll need to read on to find out, but if 2009 was a year of rescue and reorganization, 2010 is shaping up to be a period of rehabilitation and, hopefully, revival. The choices remain many and varied and their overall efficiencies make them the best yet.

Now it’s your move.