Five of the most significant cars of 2009

The car industry, nay, the entire economy, is on the brink of implosion - yet the automotive class of 2009 means business. Despite the fiscal apocalypse that was 2008, the coming year is already shaping up to be one of the best yet for the ardent car lover. Amid tales of record sales slumps, repossessions, unsold cars sat unused by the thousands and the imminent collapse of the entire US car industry, brand new models were still being scheduled.

So, while 2009's crop of new metal might not be flying off the forecourts come 2010, there's still a lot to get excited about. And what's more, three of our top five are bona fide performance cars - there's not a single reactionary electric city car in sight, either.