Those of you who have looked at purchasing the 2009 Jetta TDI (to be released in August) – but decided against it might want to reconsider. Volkswagen is inviting all consumers to purchase their new car not only for its excellent fuel economy – but also for the fact that anyone who purchases it will be given a large Federal Tax Credit.

There have been several rumors circulating that have indicated that the 2009 Pontiac G8 GT was going to include a six-speed manual transmission as an option, but Pontiac’s communications manager Jim Hopson has set the record straight. The only transmissions to be offered will be a 5L40 five speed automatic unit for the base models, and a 6L80 six speed automatic for the V8 models.

In Europe and other markets, Honda offers its Accord with both 2.0 and 2.4L gasoline powered engines, as well as a 2.2L four-cylinder i-DTEC turbo-diesel. This same car is to be offered in the U.S. as the Acura TSX.

 Thundering out of the Mercedes-AMG  plant in Affalterbach, Germany, the C63 AMG dominates the C-segment that has previously been led by the BMW M3. To go after the likes of the M3, RS 4, and Lexus IS F, would appear to be a very long and misguided shot, but Mercedes pulls it off and then some.

 Perhaps the most anticipated event on a luxury car enthusiast calendar is the release of a new X series Jaguar. While beautiful and luxurious, the lines of the Jag has went virtually unchanged over the past few years. For 2009 Jaguar dropped the old lines of the X series and completely redesigned the new XF in an attempt to set a bold statement that Jaguar is the definition of luxury and style for a new era of luxury car enthusiast.