According to the automobile ads during football games, the vehicles for 2007 will soon be gone. But, not to worry, the 2008s are already here - highlighted in showrooms across America. One of my favorites is in the Hummer family. I asked Jody Victor  to tell us about some of the vehicles for 2008.

Jody Victor: Even if you're not buying a new car this year, it's always cool to take a look at what's new. Auto manufacturers have out-done themselves for 2008 - here's a few of my favorites.

Hummer - With fuel prices steadily rising across America throughout 2007, many consumers thought spiraling fuel costs would be the death knell of big Hummer SUVs. However, the strong presence of these go-anywhere vehicles has kept interest alive enough for the company to introduce a new version of the H3 and a restyled H2 for the 2008 model year. The H3 Alpha is at the top of the H3 lineup, offering higher performance as well as increased luxury. The added performance is courtesy of a 5.3-liter V8 engine producing 300 horsepower, which gives the Alpha a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds - a 33 percent increase over the standard H3. A Chrome Appearance package - 16-inch chrome wheels, a 4.10 rear axle ratio and special Alpha identificatiion, including a prominent tailgate badge, horn pad badge and embroidered front headrests with the "Alpha" insignia also help differentiate this special H3. Meanwhile, the larger H2 and H2 SUT get fresh styling inside with some minor changes on the exterior. The instrument panel is all new, as are the seats, door trim, controls and the new rear-seat DVD entertainment system. A number of new audio systems are now available. The 2008 Hummer H2 is also available with a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 393 horsepower. Increasing towing capability to a maximum 6,500 pounds.

Jaguar - Jaguar's XJ Sedan gets a freshened exterior and revised interior for the 2008 model year. The 2008 XJ will be easily recognizable with a revised front-end design, new side power vents, a rear spoiler and a new rear bumper. Inside are new seats which are not only designed for increased comfort, but front seat backs have been redisigned to provide increased leg and foot room. Heated front seats are now standard equipment with the option of adding seat coolers. Meanwhile, a special edition XKR Portfolio will be available for the 2008 nodel year. The Celestial Black paint combined with the 20-inch polished Cremona 5-spoke alloy wheels and  polished aluminum side vents help this special model stand apart from the standard XKR. Available as coupe or convertible, the XKR Portfolio features a new high-performance braking system with the largest brakes ever fitted to a production Jaguar. The stopping power should be most welcome, given that under the hood is a 420-horsepower supercharged V8 engine that can push this sleek car to 60 mph in less than five seconds. Meanwhile, Jaguar has announced that the X-Type will no longer be sold in North America.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be checking them out soon!

Joe Victor

Even though most cars at any car show are concepts or design studies, some should make it onto the roads of the world. I asked Jody Victor  to give us his picks from the recent Tokyo show.

Jody Victor: Ah - the concepts - the wilder the better! But there were some very usable, even practicle, concepts at the Toyota show. Here are my picks for vehicles that manufacturers should actually put into production.

Suzuki Kizashi2 - Compared with the original Kizashi concept shown September 2007 in Frankfurt, the Kizashi 2 has more conventional headlights and grille, wider flared wheel arches to accommodate larger tires, and revised side window shapes. The progressive styling, and the 3.6-liter V6, strongly suggest a fastback or crossover body style and upscale positioning for this compact, exec-sized car.

Volkswagen space up! - Not necessarily exactly as is, with the show car's tricky pillarless construction and suicide doors - but the shape is cute and the packaging brilliant, with an engine under the rear floor and very adaptable seating layout.

Honda CR-Z - Showing that hybrids don't have to be dull, Honda's CR-Z gets sleek styling with matching performance, but remains eco-friendly with its low-emission, highly fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. The logical successor to the Small Hybrid Sports Concept shown in Geneva earlier this year, the CR-Z looks like it could easliy move into production with little changed from the concept.

Subaru Exiga Concept - The Exiga Concept is described by Subaru as a "7-Seater Panoramic Touring" with a panoramic glass roof and theater seating that provides good viewing for all seven occupants. With looks similar to a larger Legacy wagon, the Exiga concept is powered by Subaru's turbocharged 2.0-liter horizontally opposed boxer engine with Symmetrical AWD and a 5-speed automatic transmission. The interior incorporates high-quality leather and a blue panel that stretches across the instrument panel, which houses eight monitors that display views from exterior cameras or entertainment for passengers.

Mitsubishi Concept ZT - It looks production-ready, and is believed to be a prototype for the next-generation Galant. Underhood is a 2.2-liter "clean diesel" engine, said to offer "the acceleration of a 4.0-liter gasoline engine and the economy of a 1.6-liter." The engine uses lower compression ratios compared to conventional diesels, meaning it can be made of lighter materials. Thanks to ultra-high-pressure direct injection it still burns fuel cleanly. Transmission is a dual-clutch "SST" gearbox feeding an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system. That technical sophistication and the car's premium appearance could make for a competitive edge that it's competent but bland predecessors never had.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be looking for these new cars in the future.

Joe Victor

Heading to the racetrack may not be your first thought when thinking of buying a new Cadillac, but the new for 2008 CTS's performance and balance are simply that good. I asked Jody Victor to give us a rundown on this new model.

Jody Victor: The original Cadillac CTS - which debuted in 2002 as a 2003 model - was a game-changer for Cadillac. At a time when the automaker's product lineup was aging and losing appeal, the CTS not only offered a fresh design, but appealed to a whole new segment of buyers. Featuring a brash exterior and driving dynamics to challenge in the ultracompetetive segment dominated by the BMW 3-series, it could be said the CTS brought Cadillac back from the dead.

The CTS was the first salvo in what is now a totally revised Cadillac product lineup. At first glance, the 2008 CTS may not be as polarizing as the original, but closer examination reveals a dramatic exterior, and an interior that takes the CTS to a whole new level of refinement.

Motivation for the rear-wheel-drive CTS is provided by a 263-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, and excellent engine that delivers the equivalent performance of the optional V6 in the previous-generation car. An optional 304-horsepower direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 ups the fun factor, but leaves room for a CTS-V to join the lineup. Either engine is available with an Aisin 6-speed manual, or Hydra-Matic 6L50 6-speed automatic transmission. A first for the CTS, all-wheel drive is now an option, but only on automatic models.

The redesigned 2008 Cadillac CTS features a larger, more vertical grille and a wider stance. Inside, the CTS delivers one of the most beautiful interiors ever from General Motors. A combination of luxury and sport, it's supported by flowing shapes and high-quality materials. The center stack dominates the design, flowing up and out to surround front-seat occupants, cockpit style.

Thanks, Jody! We will definitely check it out!

Joe Victor

Apparently some very curious and brave test drivers took a fleet of new Land Rovers up into the Andes Mountains just to see how well they would respond to the terrain. I asked Jody Victor to tell us about it.

Jody Victor: The trek began in Salta, Argentina close to the Andes Mountains, and South America's highest navigable mountain pass. The vehicle for their use was the newly revamped for 2008, Land Rover LR3. The 4.0-liter V6 has been dropped, making the sole engine a 300-horsepower 4.4-liter 32-valve V8 in SE or HSE trim. The LR3 interior has also been polished and features new walnut trim, plush new finishes on the center console and other interior pieces.

The chair-like front seats, which appear ready for a moonshot, are capped with headrests that seem familiar in a Volvo sort of way, and are now available in posh, pleated leather. The passenger seat gets an eight-way power adjustment, and a powered, tilt-telescoping feature has been added to the steering column.

The dolled-up interior is a tasteful complement to the already sharp exterior. The blunt nose and chunky lines appear perfect for shouldering rhinos from your path, or deflecting the occasional shopping cart. In Argentina's arid, desolate, and puma-infested northwest, the LR3 proved a luxurious conveyance in truly formidable conditions.

Terrain Response is a massively comprehensive but exceptionally simple way to preset the vehicle for all sorts of driving conditons. The large Terrain Response dial has five positions: General; Grass/Gravel/Snow; Mud/Ruts; Sand; and Rock Crawl. Each mode has been optimized for the particular conditions, varying the parameters of throttle response, start-gear selection, traction and stability control, ride height and differential lock.

With the Andes filling more and more of the view out the windshield, and the Terrain Response dial clicked to the appropriate setting, they clawed their way through mudded tracks, miles of deep sand, and boulder-strewn riverbeds. From the helm, their only sense was of control and consistent forward motion.

In General mode, the LR3 remains a supremely capable all-wheel-drive machine, and its traction and stability systems are always active, adapting to whatever conditions you encounter.

Thanks, Jody! What a great vehicle!

Joe Victor

Even though we know concept vehicles are sometimes just that, "concepts" that are way out there - maybe never going beyond the prototype - that's also what makes the wildest ones the most interesting. I asked Jody Victor to pick his favorites from the Tokoyo Motor Show where they feature some of the most outlandish concept vehicles on the planet.

Jody Victor: The concept vehicles I chose just captured the kid in me or, hope for the future, or maybe even tickled my funny bone - so here they are.

Nissan Pivo2 - The PIVO2 looks like it'd be a perfect mascot car for a baseball team, with its spherical passenger compartment sitting on a 4-wheeled platform. The wheels can be turned in any direction and the passenger compartment itself can spin 360 degrees. Very cute but don't look for this car driving down public roads anytime soon.

Suzuki X-Head - This cross-utility vehicle from Suzuki is a car to satisfy all of your Tonka toy fantasies. It is functional, fun and dependable, says Suzuki. Its greatest attribute is its ability to transform into many guises. By changing the load bed, X-Head can become a camper for two adults, stylish urban mobility in fashion guise or able to respond to emergencies in extreme environments when in Rescue mode.

Mazda Taiki - Look closely enough and Mazda's Takai just about bridges the gap between fantasy and reality. Takai looks like the kind of car that a superhero comic illustrator might draw in a 25th century cityscape - yet at the same time it looks as though it just might work. It's all about line rather than technology, although there's bound to be some of that under the swoopy skin, too.

Suzuki BiPlane - This modern take on a '70s drag bike aims to capture the sensation shared by airplanes and bikes. The aerodynamic concept is inspired by the elevating feel riders get when accelerating through a long straightaway - like an aircraft taking off. Biplane is powered by a 1,000cc, liquid cooled, 4-stroke DOHC, V-four engine, and it will certainly turn heads

Thanks, Jody! We'll have to check them out on www.msn.com!

Joe Victor