Recession? What recession? Of the cars below, only the 2010 Ford Taurus qualifies as a non-luxury or niche vehicle. At a time when many automakers are talking about restraint and the importance of good decision making, the Lexus HS250h and Cadillac Converj bravely show the world that badge engineering is alive and well. Whether these cars hint at happier financial days ahead or are just another example of carmakers failing to grasp the marketplace remains to be seen, but they sure are shiny, aren't they?

10.) 2010 Buick LaCrosse: Crushing Brand Perceptions

9.) 2010 Jaguar XKR Revealed With 510 HP

8.) 2010 BMW Z4 Slips Onto The Stage

7.) Volkswagen Bluesport Concept 42 MPG Roadster Officially Revealed

6.) Chrysler 200C EV Concept: Shockingly Attractive Mid-Size

5.) Lexus HS250h: A Prius For The Country Club

4.) Audi Sportback Concept Previews 2009 Audi A5 Sportback

3.) Cadillac Converj Concept: A Volt For Cadillac

2.) Subaru Legacy Concept: Subie Previews New Legacy Look

1.) 2010 Ford Taurus: A Flagship Returns

The Audi Sportback Concept is also relevant for its design language. Check out the sexy LED strip headlamps — expect to see something similar on future production models — and the new interior, that's warmer and more luxurious then attractive but severe Audis of old.

The press release follows:

DETROIT, Mich., Jan 11, 2009 - Debut in Detroit: Audi is unveiling the Sportback concept show car at the 2009 North American International Automobile Show. With systematic refinements to the brand’s characteristic design elements, the five-door model offers a glimpse at the Audi's future design vocabulary. With its pronounced coupé-like silhouette and large rear hatch, the 4.95 m long (16.24 ft), 1.93 m wide (6.33 ft) and only 1.40 m high (4.59 ft) vehicle is boldly progressive for the luxury class.

The technology of the Audi Sportback concept is markedly futuristic. Power is provided by the world’s cleanest diesel technology: the 3.0-liter V6 TDI clean diesel almost completely eliminates nitrogen oxides. This engine already meets the emissions limits of all 50 U.S. states and the EU6 standard scheduled to take effect in 2014. And numerous measures to ensure top efficiency mean that the Audi Sportback concept is expected to achieve impressive fuel consumption figures of 5.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (39.87 US mpg).

Driving dynamics in a new guise – the idea

Since its introduction in 2004, the concept of the Sportback has established itself in the compact class. The success of the A3 Sportback has exceeded even the expectations of its makers – far more customers choose the four-door model with the large rear hatch than its three-door sibling.

But it is far more than two additional doors that sets the A3 Sportback apart from the base model. It is characterized by the sporting elegance of a coupe, the versatility of a five-door model, sophisticated technology and pronounced sportiness – driving dynamics in a new guise.

It also offers even more space and variability thanks to a tail end that is a total of 54 millimeters (2.13 in) longer that of the three-door model.

The launch of the first production Sportback marked the second time that Audi started a new trend in the automobile market. The development of the first Avant models in the seventies laid the foundation for a new class of automobiles far beyond the matter-of-fact utility of the classic station wagon. The marked accentuation of a futuristic and dynamic design, high-quality equipment and extreme variability have been the distinguishing features of every Audi Avant from the very beginning.

The Audi Sportback concept show car is now rolling up to the starting line with a dual mission: As suggested by the name, it symbolizes the Sportback principle in its purest form in the combination of elegance, sportiness and variability.

And the show car also signals the company's determination not to limit Sportback versions to the compact segment. As previously indicated by the Audi A1 Sportback concept – the star of the 2008 Paris Motor Show – the brand with the four rings is going to dramatically expand the number of Sportback models on the market.

Design

The design of the Audi Sportback concept is characterized by an almost monolithic clarity and a vast reduction of the number of lines. The roof, shoulder and sill lines appear to have been drawn with a single stroke. The window strip of the coupé with its four frameless doors was kept pronouncedly flat. Viewed from the side, the softly contoured wheel wells over the 10-spoke, 21-inch wheels reinforce the impression of the precisely defined surfaces of the body.

One feature familiar from the two-door Audi A5 coupé is even more boldly accentuated here: The markedly horizontal shoulder area emphasizes the orientation of the vehicle body to the road. This effect is further reinforced at the front and rear by the broad, flat LED light units. The shape of the almost fragile-looking side mirrors is inspired by the upturned tips – the “winglets” – of modern jet wings.

The show car also offers a new interpretation of the single-frame grille. The decision not to use vertical struts and the low overall height emphasize the sporty basic proportions of the vehicle front. Also particularly striking is the modified outer contour of the single-frame grille as also featured on the A1 Sportback show car. The flattened top edges lower the visual center of gravity and provide a striking look for the front end.

The aerodynamically designed air intakes under the headlights function as air deflectors which guide the required cooling air precisely into an intake duct. They have the stylistic effect of accentuating the impression of width.

The tail of the show car is also evidently related to the A5 coupé. The high top edge of the rear hatch gives rise to a strikingly clear surface below the rear lights.

The low separating edge and the horizontal lines – another characteristic feature – underscore the width and therefore the sporty nature of the Audi Sportback concept. The four tailpipes integrated into the body and an air deflector in the diffuser insert are cues borrowed from the sportscar sector.

The interior design is tidy and downright purist yet elegant at the same time. The large glass roof underscores the width and feeling of spaciousness. In the driver-oriented cockpit, the air vents, instrument cluster and retracting MMI monitor are outlined by a filigree aluminum border.

As with the exterior, the interior is characterized by the emphasis on horizontal lines and large surfaces. Especially the wide center console – stretching from the dashboard to the back – seems to be a pure expression of function.

The flat display of the MMI system is realized as a retractable system in the show car. When the ignition is activated, it extends horizontally from a slot above the central air register before moving in an elegant arc into a vertical, easy-to-read position.

The high quality of the materials and manufacturing-level fit and finish are obvious when looking around the interior of the Audi Sportback concept and when touching the surfaces. The interior trim is almost completely in leather: from the headlining, dashboard, doors and the entire seat upholstery all the way through to the trunk, with the leather stitching underscoring the vehicle’s design language. The large wood trim strips on the instrument panel, center console and doors are machined from oak blockboard and sport a delicate horizontal pattern of light and dark lines.

With its surfaces of piano lacquer and brushed aluminum, the MMI control unit also adds to the exceptional exclusivity of the interior. The attention to detail even extends to the door opener: Its shape is a nearly perfect reflection of the distinctive lines of the small rear side window – giving the interior and exterior formal unity.

Four sporty seats await the driver and passengers. The diamond-shaped stitching of the leather surface is reminiscent of a classic GT tradition. Shoulder, head and leg room are reminiscent of a premium-class touring car. With a volume of 500 liters (17.66 cubic feet), the trunk is generously sized and is also appointed with high-quality materials.

Drivetrain

The developers at Audi chose the world’s cleanest diesel technology as the unit best befitting the Audi Sportback concept show car. The six-cylinder 3.0 TDI clean diesel is equipped with a system for the effective reduction of nitrogen oxides. The diesel engine development engineers at Audi have combined an entire package of innovative measures for this latest TDI generation: The piezo common rail system with an injection pressure of 2,000 bar, highly efficient exhaust gas recirculation and optimized turbocharging result in significantly reduced raw engine emissions. One of the highlights are the combustion chamber sensors that enable even more precise regulation of the combustion processes in the engine – this is the first time that such sensors have been installed on any engine in the world, marking yet another Audi innovation.

The status of the new-generation TDI as the definitive clean-running, high-tech diesel is sealed by the downstream exhaust emission control system, which reduces emissions by up to 90 percent. The system uses AdBlue, a biologically degradable, waterborne additive that is injected in small amounts upstream of the DeNOx catalytic converter. In addition to the catalytic converter, the exhaust emission control system comprises the metering module, the AdBlue tank and heated lines, as well as an extensive system of sensors. The additional oxidizing catalytic converter and the highly efficient, regulated diesel particulate filter round off the comprehensive emission control system.

Thanks to their extremely low emission levels, these modern direct-injection diesel engines can be put into service anywhere in the world, even in the U.S. state of California, which has the world’s most stringent emissions limits. Compared with the fleet average of the gasoline engines typically found in the U.S., the TDI boasts a fuel-efficiency advantage of up to 40 percent. The diesel technology thus makes a greater contribution than any other type of engine to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. Audi will offer this engine in the U.S. and Europe beginning in 2009.

As in the U.S. version of the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, the V6 also produces 165 kW (225 hp) and 550 Nm (405.66 lb-ft) of torque in the Audi Sportback concept. Power is transferred to the wheels via Audi’s most modern transmission: the new 7-speed tiptronic. The quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system ensures that the torque generated by the powerful TDI is also converted effectively into propulsion and dynamism under any conditions.

Weighing just 1,800 kilograms (3,968.32 lb) and with a drag coefficient of 0.30, the coupe will accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in less than seven seconds and reach a top speed of 245 km/h (152.24 mph).

The Audi Sportback concept’s average fuel economy according to the European ECE standard is only 5.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (39.87 US mpg), and its CO2 emissions no more than 156 g/km (251.06 g/mile). These sensationally low figures for a large model have been achieved by extensive efficiency-optimizing measures.

For example, this model’s electromechanical power steering only consumes energy when the steering is turned, not when driving in a straight line.

The TDI engine features an innovative temperature management system. When the engine is warming up, part of the coolant flow is diverted – another way to improve efficiency, since it helps the engine to warm up quicker. This means significant practical savings, because many journeys are fairly short. The fuel pump also runs only when there is a demand for fuel, and therefore uses less energy.

The 7-speed S tronic transmission is a very efficient unit with a wide spread of gear ratios. For the first time, it has been equipped with transmission oil heating, so that it reaches its intended operating temperature much earlier and therefore has a lower level of internal friction.

When coasting, the Audi Sportback concept – like the Audi A4 and Audi Q5 production models – recuperates energy. This boosts the output of the alternator and is used to charge the battery. This energy, which in effect costs nothing to recover, is fed back into the vehicle’s electrical system when needed. An automatic start-stop system shuts the TDI engine down to save energy, for instance when waiting at a traffic signal.

And when it is on the move, tires optimized for low roll resistance cut fuel consumption significantly without incurring any disadvantages in the performance area.

Driving dynamics

The Audi Sportback concept show car took the basic architecture and many components of its suspension from the brand’s latest and most successful model family: the very dynamic A4/A5 model series. The dynamic suspension sets standards here, as well, combining precision and dynamism with high stability and superior poise. The suspension mountings, steering, wheels and brakes have been developed for top performance and numerous aluminum components are used to keep unsprung masses to a minimum.

The new five-link front suspension makes a major contribution to the car’s dynamic character. By moving the differential further forward and the clutch further back, the design engineers were able to reposition the front axle 154 millimeters (6.06 inches) further forward. The result is an optimal distribution of weight between the front and rear axles.

The front suspension is made up of five links per wheel – a support link and a control arm at the bottom and two control arms at the top. The fifth link – the track rod – connects the steering box and the pivot bearing. All these links are made of forged aluminum, ensuring low unsprung masses, ultra-precise wheel control and a high level of crash safety. The anti-roll bar fabricated from a high-strength tube saves additional weight. The backbone of the rear axle is a subframe with high flexural and torsional rigidity.

If sporty handling is to be combined with a high standard of ride comfort, the unsprung masses must be kept as low as possible. Audi has pursued this approach for all the rear-axle components. The upper control arms and the track rods are of forged aluminum. Their high rigidity ensures that toe and camber angles change very little when dynamic forces act on the wheels.

The CDC (continuous damping control) shock absorbers, similar to those that Audi already uses on the luxury Q7 SUV with air suspension, are twin-tube, gas-filled hydraulic units with an additional external valve and connecting pipe. Their operation can be continuously varied.

An electromagnetically energized, proportional-action valve regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the inner and outer damper tubes. A smaller flow cross-section makes the damping characteristic firmer, a larger one makes it softer.

The control unit applies adaptive operating characteristics within the mode the driver has chosen via Audi drive select. It adapts to match the driver’s driving style and the road conditions. Even from the comfort mode, the shock absorbers can be switched in an instant to a firm setting if desired, though not to the absolute limit. They are fitted in conjunction with sports suspension springs, which still provide a good level of ride comfort, even off-road.

The control unit selects the optimum damping force for the current driving situation, for instance firmer damping to prevent body roll and pitch when cornering fast or braking, or lower damping force where the surface under the wheels is hard and uneven.

The show car marks the first time that Audi has used electromechanical steering in a car with a longitudinal engine. Its primary advantage is that, unlike conventional power steering systems, it only consumes energy when actually steering. On average, this means a fuel saving of 0.2 liters per 100 kilometers, depending on driving conditions.

The electromechanical steering of the Audi Sportback concept also enables the coupling with the parking steering assistant for fully automatic steering when parallel parking.

The Audi Sportback concept is equipped with ceramic brakes on all four wheels for effective deceleration even under the most demanding conditions. Compared with conventional steel disks, ceramic brakes not only last four times longer, up to 300,000 kilometers (186,411 miles), but also offer high resistance to fading. The significant reduction in weight also leads to advantages in terms of comfort and handling, thanks to reduced unsprung masses.

On the front axle, 380-millimeter (14.96-inch) ceramic disks are fitted in combination with 21-inch wheels. The rear disks have a diameter of 356 millimeters (14.02 inches). The elaborate cooling duct geometry of the ventilated brake disks ensures optimal cooling of the brake disks. Firm grip on the brake disk is guaranteed at the front by 6-piston monobloc aluminum brake calipers, and at the rear by floating-caliper brakes.

Audi A1
Starting at the bottom of the grid, the Audi A1 will maintain the currently planned 1.4 TFSI, but will get an 86 HP 1.2-liter TFSI good for a little less power but will be quite a bit easier on European wallets.

Audi S4
It seems the B8 Audi S4 will be returning to its twin-turbo V6 roots, as early as this coming November. News of this respite from V8 shenanigans comes with virtually all positive notes, considering the engine is to displace 3.0 L but grunt out 330 HP, only 10 shy of the current iteration. Add in lighter weight and the same treatment for the Avant versions and everyone's happy.

Audi S5
In September 2010 the S5 will be dumping its current V8 mill for the same twin-turbo 3.0 L TFSI V6 in the S4. This will be a cut in power, but like we said about the S4, it's not giving up much and will lighten up that porky bottom line. What's perhaps more interesting is the introduction of an Audi RS5. It will retain the same 4.2-liter V8 in the current S5, but gets a whopping increase in power up to 450 HP. With such power on tap it's a good thing there will be a new 7-speed to keep it in check.

Audi S5 Sportback
The previously unknown S5 Sportback will be on sale as of September 2010 and will get the 3.0 L twin-turbo TFSI mated to a 6-speed manual, or a 7 speed auto. We're beginning to see a theme here with S-line engines, aren't you? Hopefully this new engine won't have many teething problems.

Audi A7 Sportback
Being called the Audi A7 "Sportback" leads us to believe this as-yet unseen and unheard of version of the A7 will have a certain wagony-goodness to it, but who knows. Perhaps it'll be a big old five door, swiping the hardware from the Skoda Superb. Anyway, we digress. The A7 Sportback gets a 2.8L FSI, a 3.0 L TFSI, and a bevy of oil burners. And now what's this? An S7 Sportback? Why yes, yes it is. And this one gets a 4.0 L TFSI with 395 HP! While that's no RS6 Avant, it's nothing to sneeze at.

Audi R8 Spyder
When we got the first images of that Audi R8 V10, we couldn't even speculate on a release date for the thing. Now we know the plan is for the hardtop version of the upgraded V10-powered R8 to roll out in June of 2009, and those wacky Germans are going to hack the top off and give you the R8 Spyder in March, 2010. The lesser 4.2 L V8 will follow a little later for the Spyder, just in case you were interested.

Audi Q7
While there's no earth shattering engine news on the Audi Q7 front, these docs report a facelift for the bulky-UV coming in August of next year. So, you know, if the looks are what keep you from taking the plunge, maybe wait a year and see if you like the changes.

There's an exhaustive breakdown of models, engines, and dates over at Audiblog, the original leakers. Good stuff fellas, now all the surprises are gone, thanks a lot (no, really). [via WCF]