NY Show: Subaru Revises 2011 Impreza STI and Presents New Four-Door Sedan Variant

[Updated with 'live' pics from the show] For the first time ever, Subaru is offering its top-of-the-line Impreza WRX STI in two body styles with the return of the four-door saloon model that's aimed directly at the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X.

In addition to the new sedan model that's distinguished by a large rear wing, the 2011 Impreza WRX STI features a series of improvements including revised suspension tuning, lighter 18-inch wheels and cosmetic tweaks.

Up front, the revised Impreza WRX STI hatchback gets sharpened bumper corners and wider, blacked-out fog lamp nacelles, a newly designed front grille with black base and blacked-out wing highlights.

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North American 2011 Hyundai Equus Debuts in New York, Takes on Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class

It's clear that Hyundai is leaving no stone unturned these days in its quest to dominate the automobile market in every segment. At the New York Auto Show, the South Korean automaker introduced the North American production version of its all-new flagship model, the 2011 Equus that's already on sale in its home market.

Hyundai is pitting the Genesis sedan's big brother against rivals such as the Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S 550, but at a much lower price as the Equus will launch in the U.S.A. this summer with a starting price in the mid $50,000 range.

"We've applied the lessons in engineering excellence we've learned with Genesis to the Equus, while adding a new level of customer experience that will further differentiate our take on luxury from the traditional premium brands," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America.

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NY Show: Five-Axis Beefs Up 2011 Scion tC Coupe

For those that found the second-generation Scion tC far too timid-looking, Toyota's tuning partner Five-Axis prepared a special version of the car to demonstrate the many ways in which the all-new coupe can be customized with internal and aftermarket accessories.

The Five Axis Scion tC show car features a four-inch wide-body conversion and a unique House of Color custom formulated exterior paint appropriately named, Bloodshot.

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Kia Debuts Forte Five-Door Hatchback in New York

Also making its world premiere at New York Auto Show today is a hatchback variant of Kia's Forte (also known as the 'Cerato' in certain markets). The five door model joins the current four-door saloon and two-door (Koup) coupe versions of the Forte.

Stylistically, the hatchback conversion of the Forte is far less adventurous than you'd expect from a company that has churned out some interesting designs lately including the Optima and Sportage.

We don't have photos of the interior yet, but Kia's release makes word of a revised center console, new paddle shifters for the automatic transmission and the addition of a push-button start.

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Hyundai Reveals 2011 Sonata Hybrid, gets 39mpg Highway, can Reach Speeds of up to 62mph in Electric Mode

Hyundai's big reveal for the New York Auto Show was the all-new 2011 Sonata Hybrid that will compete head-on with the likes of the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid when it arrives in U.S. showrooms later this year.

The newest member of the Sonata family features a series of unique styling cues that set it apart from its conventional brethren. These include a new fascia with a small upper grille and a gaping-mouth (Peugeot-like) lower grille, revised headlamps and a redesigned bumper.

At the back, there's a reshaped bumper with sharp creases at the corners and revised tail lights. The so-called 'eco-spoke' alloys and beefier rocker panels round off the exterior tweaks that are said to help reduce the drag coefficient from the standard Sonata's 0.28 to 0.25.

Interior changes are limited to the unique trim and color choices, and the Hybrid Technology Display featured on a 4.2-inch LCD screen located between the odometer and tachometer.

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All-New Nissan Quest Minivan Teased, Coming in Early 2011

Nissan may have dropped the Quest from its 2010 lineup, but the minivan is set to get a second chance in life with the release of an all-new model that is set to go on sale in early 2011. The Japanese firm teased the next-generation model with a somewhat cryptic photo and a 'Spartan' press release that you can check out after the jump.

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Scion Presents Customized 2011 iQ at New York Auto Show

As a possible precursor of things to come, Toyota displayed a customized version of the all-new 2011 Scion iQ prepared by Five Axis at the New York International Auto Show.

The car's exterior appearance has been beefed up with an aero kit that includes front and rear aprons, side skirts and fender extensions that allow the use of eye-catching 18-inch alloys wrapped in 215/40R18 Yokohama tires.

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