Audi TT

Although sleeker, stretched and more streamlined than its predecessor, the all-new Audi TT doesnt seem as proportionally balanced as the first-generation model that dates back to 1998. The rear deck has been minimized so significantly that it all but disappears from view when looking at the car from the front three-quarter angle.

The sense of symmetry in the first-generation TT has been replaced with a forward-crouching stance, though the roofline on the new model is familiar. The new TT is 137 mm longer and 78 mm wider than its predecessor.

The broad, gentle curve of the hood is perhaps one of the most attractive and alluring surfaces on the car. The larger front grille and restyled headlights are consistent with the latest Audi design language.

Interior styling evolves circle motifs of the previous model with brushed aluminum trim and nicely stitched leather as before. The center stack is more squat and wide with three vents instead of two. The controls for the HVAC appear more intuitive than the fussy buttons of the old model.

Mazda CX-9

Mazda was quick to point out that the all-new 2007 CX-9 SUV isn’t simply a stretched version of the previously unveiled CX-7, although that’s exactly what it looks like. The distinction is that the CX-9 is based on Mazda 6 architecture while the CX-7 is based on the smaller 3.

The CX-9 was designed specifically for North America and to that end it’s big, with seating for seven in three rows. One innovative interior design feature that should appeal to the young couples with kids that Mazda is targeting with the CX-9 is the ability to access the third row without having to remove a child seat installed in the second row, thanks to a class-leading wheelbase and second-row seats that slide forward.

Mazda officials at the vehicle’s unveiling on Thursday in New York said that the styling is more reminiscent of a sporty sedan than an SUV, in keeping with the company’s 'Zoom, Zoom' brand heritage that emphasizes sportiness. The CX-9 differs most clearly from the CX-7 in its unique headlight design with angular turn signals floating above them; larger front air dam below the grille; and less pronounced wheel-arch flares.

Bentley Continental GTC

The windscreen on the new 2007 Bentley Continental GTC convertible is two degrees more upright than that of the Continental GT coupe upon which it’s based. The impetus for this change was aesthetic, not structural. "It’s because the GT has a very fast and rounded DLO and if you just chopped the roof off, it looks like the A-post is going to fall back," says exterior designer Raul Pires. Other than the windscreen angle and the roof, everything on the Continental GTC forward of the B-pillar is identical. The rear bumper and taillights are straight from the coupe as well. The wedge shape of the GT coupe has been massaged for a "more elegant horizontal attitude," Pires says. Close attention was paid to minimizing shut lines in the redesigned boot area.

Seven bows instead of the usual five prevent a tent-look in the folding fabric bonnet. Padding was also added to make the surface taught and smooth. The rear seats were moved inboard to accommodate the folding top, which required removal of the center console found on the coupe, says interior designer Robin Page. Stitching on the leather tonneau cover and floating rear armrests are among details he added to enrich the design.

Suzuki XL-7

Angular headlamps are the most striking feature of the all-new Suzuki XL-7, which borrows GM engineering. Their look was inspired by the diagonal eye holes on masks of Japanese Samurai armor, called Yoroi, said Masayasu Date, Suzuki exterior designer and design team leader. This headlamp design was challenging to usher through because it was at odds with engineering goals that require ever-larger headlamps to comply with government regulations and company standards, he said.

Sharp creases over the wheel arches start at the front and disappear toward the rear, mimicking a Japanese brush mark. Minimizing the front overhang was crucial for a sporty look. “That’s why we rounded the fascia as much as possible and then transitioned it into the fenders,” Date said.

The arcing roofline was retained from the previous XL-7 and flows into the taillamps. The XL-7 stems from Suzuki’s Concept-X that debuted at the 2005 Detroit auto show.

Jeep Patriot

The 2007 Patriot is Jeep’s second new compact car-based SUV derived from the Dodge Caliber. While the previously unveiled Compass embodies a new and progressive 'Jeep modern' philosophy, the new Patriot embodies a 'Jeep rugged' philosophy, says John Sgalia, director of design.
 
It looks like a shrunken Jeep Commander, particularly from the rear. The front fascia is reminiscent of the Jeep Liberty with Jeep’s signature seven-slot grille, round headlights and robust bumper.
 
The front seats are two inches higher than on the Dodge Caliber, "which speaks to the Jeep lifestyle –not to be sunken or hidden, but to be overt and out in the open," Sgalia said. In keeping with Jeep’s rugged image, the interior features soil-repellant seat fabric and a removable, washable vinyl rear cargo floor. Other interesting interior elements include an optional rear dome lamp that can be removed and used as a flash light, and speakers in the liftgate that swing down to face rearward when the liftgate is open (part of an optional stereo system).

Jeep Wrangler Ultimate

Jeep’s four-door Wrangler Unlimited is the culmination of design exercises in the 1997 Jeep Dakar, 2004 Jeep Rescue and 2005 Jeep Gladiator concept vehicles that explore added space and utility.
 
The Wrangler Unlimited’s wheelbase is 20.6 longer than that of the standard 2007 Wrangler to accommodate a pair of rear doors. There are two sets of doors owners can swap out: one that extends to the roofline to be used with a multi-piece hard top and another with no window frames to work in conjunction with a soft top.
 
A body-color B-pillar and longer rear roll bars further distinguish the Wrangler Unlimited from the standard Wrangler. The longer wheelbase allows enough interior space for five occupants, but hampers off-road capability. 
 
The hard top can be removed in sections and the soft top has a sun-roof-like feature. A lockable, under-floor storage area is particularly useful given the convertible design. 

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