Like most model years, the 2009 season began early. Not so long after the New Year's holiday in January, a handfeul of 2009 models began to trickle onto the market. Through the spring and into early summer, that trickle expanded into quite a flurry. Naturally, many more models are expected as September approaches.

Rapidly rising gasoline prices through the first half of 2008 have prompted considerable change in attitude among automakers, as well as car-shoppers. Smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles are now the hot items, while large SUVs and pickup trucks, popular for so many years, are now more likely to be shunned at dealer lots. This turnaround is clearly reflected in the decision of Automotive Lease Guide, which predicts residual values for new vehicles, to dramatically alter its estimates. Because lessors rely intently on those residual-value predictions, that can affect the entire vehicle-lease market. Chrysler, in fact, has already announced that is dropping out of leasing entirely.

Below is a summary of the new and redesigned cars and light trucks that went on sale as early 2009 models, amplified by dozens more that are due to appear prior to or during autumn 2008. Despite growing concern about fuel economy, many models are getting more powerful engines for 2009. Quite a few automakers who tout greater horsepower are also promising improved gas mileage for their stronger engine (or at least, no reduction in mpg estimates).

Acura: Honda's luxury division launched the redesigned TSX sport sedan in the spring as an early 2009 model. Next comes the abundantly reworked, larger TL sedan, which should go on sale in late summer, delivering more power than ever. Two TL versions will be offered: base sedan and TL SH-AWD, the latter featuring a bigger engine and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. The 2009 edition of Acura's MDX sport-utility vehicle went on sale in the summer. Additional Acura information will be available later.

Audi: Exterior/interior freshening is evident on the Audi A3 hatchback, and leather seating surfaces become standard on all A3 models. Hill Hold Assist is now standard on the manual-shfit 2.0T edition, as well as the Stronic version. Audi's magnetic ride is a new A3 option. In the A4 series, the Cabrolet adds standard Bluetooth connectivity and Sirius satellite radio. Audi has dropped the Cabriolet's S Line Package, because its exterior appearance is now standard.

Shift paddles no longer are standard on the A5 3.2. Adaptive cruise control is newly available for the A5 and S5, and auxiliary audio input is standard. Audi's "flagship" A8 sedan gains a parking assist system with rearview camera, along with a powered rear sunshade, power door closers, and power trunk opener.

A brand-new Q5 wagon arrives at Audi dealerships in the first quarter of 2009. So does a Q7 3.0 TDI sport-utility vehicle with a 50-state "clean diesel" engine. Late in 2008, new TTS coupes and roadsters debut. Meanwhile, TT models gain standard Sirius satellite radio and Hill Hold Assist. A manually-operated fabric top is now standard on TT 2.0 roadsters. Finally, the R8 supercar adds a six-CD changer and Bluetooth connectivity.

BMW:Three reworked products debuted in the spring, but they were officially late 2008 models rather than '09s: the next-generation high-performance M3 and the brand-new, smaller 1-Series coupe and convertible. Next up was the all-new 2009 X6 "Sport Activity" wagon, flaunting a striking coupelike roofine and the choice of twin-turbo six-cylinder or V-8 power. A redesigned 7-Series sedan is expected to appear at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008.

Buick: Introduced for 2008, Buick's Enclave crossover wagon gets a new direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6 engine for 2009, which produces 288 horsepower, driving a six-speed automatic transmission. A more powerful 3.9-liter V-6 goes into CX and CXL editions of the Lucerne sedan, rated at 227 horsepower.

Cadillac: Following up on the totally redesigned CTS for 2008, Cadillac is launching a super-performing CTS-V with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that promises an estimated 550 horsepower. Later, this GM division plans to add a wagon version of the CTS - a body style unfamiliar to Cadillac owners. Cadillac's big Escalade SUV adds a Hybrid version, intended to deliver 50 percent greater gas mileage in city driving.

Chevrolet: Biggest news from Chevrolet is the revived Camaro, but that won't emerge for a while yet, as a 2010 model. Meanwhile, the ZR1 badge is returning for the Corvette sports car, packing a supercharged V-8 engine that promises a whopping 635 horsepower. A lower-priced convertible also joins the Corvette lineup. Brand-new for 2009 is the Traverse crossover wagon, related to the Malibu sedan and containing three rows of seats.

Chevrolet's compact Cobalt has added an SS sedan body style, with the same turbocharged engine as the SS coupe. All Cobalts now have GM's OnStar emergency/communications system. The hatchback version of the subcompact Aveo, called Aveo5, gets a freshening inside and out, also with standard OnStar. Side-impact airbags now are standard in the Impala sedan, and a new 5.3-liter V-8 is available for the Colorado pickup truck. A Hybrid powertrain now is offered for the Silverado pickup, similar to the one available in Chevrolet's Tahoe SUV.

Chevrolet continues to get plenty of publicity for the plug-in hybrid (gasoline/electric) Volt that debuted at Detroit's auto show in January 2007, even though the required battery technology did not yet exist at the time of unveiling. Production is expected for 2010. Rather than propelling the car, as in conventional hybrids, the small gasoline engine will be used to recharge the battery. General Motors has claimed that if the real-world Volt coupe is driven fewer than 40 miles per day and plugged into an electrical outlet at night, it could operate using little or no gasoline.

Chrysler: No dramatic change is expected from the Chrysler brand for the 2009 model year.

Dodge: After launching the performance-focused SRT8 version of the brand-new retro-derived Challenger this past spring, Dodge is preparing a full line of Challengers for sale. Rather than performance, Dodge will be focusing at least partly on fuel economy.

Early in 2008, Dodge launched a new model: the Journey crossover wagon.

Ford: Flex is the name of Ford's brand-new model for 2009. Boxy in profile like the Scion xB and Honda Element, the Flex is much larger: just about the size of a Chevrolet Tahoe full-size SUV, though not nearly as tall. A 3.5-liter V-6 produces 262 horsepower, working with a six-speed automatic transmission.

GMC: Most V-8 versions of the Yukon SUV and Sierra pickup get a six-speed automatic transmission for 2009, promising improved fuel economy. A more potent direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6 goes into the Acadia crossover wgaon. Canyon pickups gain a new V-8 engine option: a 5.3-liter unit rated at 300 horsepower.

Honda: In this time of revitalized interest in small, fuel-efficient cars, Honda is preparing to unveil a next-generation version of the subcompact Fit. The 2009 Fit reaches dealerships in late August. Earlier in 2008, Honda launched a redesigned Pilot sport-utility vehicle.

Hummer: H3, the smaller Hummer model, adds a new H3T model with a five-passenger crew cab and 5-foot cargo bed. Side shields are included with the H3T's 32-inch tires.

Hyundai: Rather than focus on small cars, as some automakers have been scrambling to try, Hyundai turned to the near-luxury end of the spectrum, releasing an upscale Genesis sedan. Not only does the Genesis have rear-wheel drive, rather than Hyundai's familiar front-drive, but a V-8 engine is available - a "first" for the South Korean manufacturer. A mildly reworked Sonata midsize sedan also went on sale early in the 2009 season.

Infiniti: Nissan's luxury division unveiled a reworked version of the FX35 and FX50 crossover wagons for 2009. Formerly called FX45, the V-8 model gets a new 390-horsepower, 5.0-liter engine. A 303-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 goes into the FX35. The new seven-speed automatic transmission includes Adaptive Shift Control and can be equipped with paddle shifters. Only all-wheel drive is offered with the V-8 engine.

Jaguar: Biggest news from Jaguar was the sale of the long-lived British automaker to Tata, an Indian vehicle manufacturer. Second was the debut of the XF sedan, which replaces the S-Type.

Kia: Some critics suggest this is a strange time to be introducing a relatively large SUV, but Kia has high hopes for the Borrego wagon. Among other features, the Borrego is available with a V-8 engine - a "first" for the South Korean automaker.

Land Rover: Information on 2009 Land Rovers will be available later.

Lexus: Outside mirroros on the SC 430 luxury hardtop convertible now incorporate turn signals. A new Luxury Package available for the massive LX 570 sport-utility vehicle includes semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats, Bubinga wood trim, a "cool box," and 20-inch alloy wheels. Additional information on 2009 Lexus models will be available later.

Lincoln: A new "flagship" sedan dubbed MKS has joined the Lincoln lineup for 2009. place on sale in summer 2008, the full-size MKS contains a 3.7-liter V-6 engine that generates 273 horsepower on regular-grade fuel, with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Mazda: Major news from Mazda is the arrival of the redesigned Mazda 6 midsize sedan, called "all-new" for 2009. Measuring 6.1 inches longer than its predecessor, the 2009 Mazda 6 rides a wheelbase 4.5 inches longer and is 2.5 inches wider. Mazda 6i models get 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while "s" sedans hold a 3.7-liter V-6.

Mercedes-Benz: Among the first to take advantage of the new "cleaner" diesel fuel available in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz has introduced a trio of BlueTec diesel-powered SUVs for 2009. Unlike prior diesel models from Mercedes-Benz, these SUVs can be sold in all 50 states.

Mercury: Not only does Ford's Mercury division have no new products for 2009, there appear to be none in the pipeline for upcoming years. Naturally, this shortfall has prompted critics to wonder how much longer the Mercury brand is likely to last. A more powerful four-cylinder engine, said to be more fuel-efficient and mating with a six-speed automatic transmission, goes into the Mariner compact SUV.

Mini: Information on 2009 Mini Coopers will be available later.

Mitsubishi: Following up on the launch of the redesigned compact Lancer for 2008, Mitsubishi is offering a Ralliart edition for the 2009 model year. The midsize Galant sedan gets a modest reworking and revised lineup, adding a new four-cylinder Sport and Sport V6 models. A sporty Ralliart edition again rounds out the Galant linep. Endeavor and Raider models will not be available until well after the 2009 model year begins.

Nissan: No doubt about it, the limited-availability GT-R sports car is the star of Nissan's show this year, even if few enthusiasts have even seen one as yet. Nissan also has a redesigned Maxima sedan on sale. Dramatically different in appearance from its predecessor, the 2009 Maxima is little-changed in dimensions. The 3.5-liter V-6 engine has gained 35 horsepower, working with a three-mode continuously variable transmission (CVT). Because the Maxima was so quiet, engineers had to create a virtual exhaust sound for periods when the car is accelerating.

Pontiac: During 2008, Pontiac replaced the front-drive Grand Prix with a new, larger rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan. Late in 2008, a high-performance GXP model will join the G8 lineup, with a 400-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine.

Like the similar Toyota Matrix, the Pontiac Vibe earns a new look inside and out for 2009. The GT edition is revived, along with an all-wheel-drive model. Early in 2009, Pontiac will launch a solid-roofed coupe variant of the Solstice, which has been offered only as a convertible.

Pontiac offers a Korean-built equivalent to the subcompact Chevrolet Aveo in Canada, and is likely to bring it to the American market as the G3.

Porsche: Information on the 2009 Porsche models will be available later.

Rolls-Royce: Joining the mammoth Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan is a new convertible - a successor to the Corniche models of the past. Evolved from the 100EX experimental convertible that appeared at auto shows, the Phantom Drophead Coupe can accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 5.7 seconds.

Saturn: Fuel economy is evidently on the mind of the Saturn folks, who are adding a four-cylinder version of the Aura sedan. With its six-speed automatic transmission, the new Aura four earns a fuel-economy estimate of 33 mpg in highway driving (22 mpg in the city). A 2Mode Hybrid version of the Vue crossover SUV will emerge early in 2009. Meanwhile, a new direct-injection, 3.6-liter V-6 goes into Outlook models.

Scion: Except for a $100 price increase on the xD model, no 2009 information is available as yet from Toyota's youth-focused Scion division.

Smart: Introduced to the U.S. market during the 2008 model year, the "smart" car isn't likely to change much for a while. Dubbed ForTwo, the mini-sized two-seater has been popular for some years in Europe and elsewhere, including Canada, but took a while to reach America. Mercedes-Benz launched the smart, revised a bit to suit American tastes. Sales are handled by the Roger Penske organization, rather than directly from Mercedes-Benz.

Subaru: A massively redesigned Forester "crossover" wagon debuted as an early 2009 model, in the spring of 2008. Subaru also will offer a 265-horsepower WRX model for 2009, along with a new 2.5GT edition of the Impreza.

Toyota: Venza is the name of Toyota's next brand-new model. Details will be available later. Meanwhile, Vehicle Stability Control, Brake Assist, traction control, and front-seat active headrests are added to the standard-equipment list of Toyota's top sedan: the Avalon. The retro-look FJ Cruiser SUV adds roll-sensing curtain airbags and active headrests. Privacy glass on the rear and quarter windows is new on the big Land Cruisers.

Volkswagen: A brand-new Tiguan crossover wagon debuted in the spring as an early 2009 model. Expected during the 2009 model year is a new Passat CC coupe model. Volkswagen also will launch its Routan minivan as a 2009 model.

Volvo: The Swedish automaker is preparing to place a completely new XC60 model on sale for 2009, joining the XC70 wagon and XC90 SUV. Additional details will be available later.

Please check often for regular updates to What's New, continuing through the 2009 model year.