Holden’s replacement for its unloved Viva, Chevrolet's Cruze, was launched at the 2008 Paris motor show. Built on GM’s small Delta platform, Holden is likely to offer sedan and wagon body styles alongside the five-door hatch. Engines should include 1.6 and 1.8-litre petrols and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

read more about the Holden Cruze

BMW will launch its new Z4 Roadster range in May. Available like its 3 Series Convertible sibling with a two-piece retractable hard-top. The new Z4 two-seater line-up opens with a 2.5-litre Z4 sDrive23i, followed by the Z4 sDrive30i 3.0-litre petrol six. The range top Z4 will be the sDrive35i, 3.0-litre twin-turbo six.

read more about the BMW Z4

Mini's green machine will undercut the price of small hybrids when it goes on sale. Powered by a direct-injection 80kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine, BMW claims the Cooper D is Australia’s cleanest car, with CO2 emissions of 104g/km. It will also be the first non-hybrid with idle-stop engine technology.

read more about the Mini Cooper

Ford revealed a vital mid-life makeover for the Territory SUV at the Melbourne show. Featuring revised exterior styling, interior improvements and extra equipment. Major design changes include a new bonnet, front bumper, grille, headlamps, and tail-lights. Ford has dropped the regular Turbo model.

read more about the Ford Territory

Ford's Ranger one-tonne utility comes in for a major exterior and equipment overhaul across a revised model range. The Thailand sourced PK-series Ranger incorporates radical new headlights, three-bar grille, new front bumper, redesigned bonnet, and new tail-light clusters. Engines continue unchanged.

read more about the Ford Ranger

Renault is expected to launch the next wave to its Laguna III range in April 2009. Debuting at the Melbourne International Show, with the addition of a petrol hatch variant, and an all new Estate models to complement its diesel hatch range launched in mid 2008.

read more about the Renault Laguna

Nissan's redesigned 350Z coupe is earmarked for a local introduction mid-2009, powered by a 245kW 3.7-litre V6 via Nissan’s new seven-speed automatic transmission or standard-issue six-speed manual gearbox. The 370Z will be wrapped in evolutionary styling, riding on a shorter wheelbase.

read more about the Nissan 370Z