Cars carrying the bow-tie badge of Chevrolet range from fuel-efficient commuter vehicles and refined family sedans to slick coupes and America's sports car, Corvette. This year, the line expands to include a new small-scale car called Cobalt, which divides into coupe and sedan formats. And expect a new C6 - that's Chevy's code name for a sixth-generation platform underpinning Corvette cast as a racy two-seat convertible or sleek hatchback coupe.

Chevrolet's affordable mid-size sedan emerged last year as an entirely new car cast on GM's Epsilon platform with contemporary body styling and innovative features in the five-seat cabin. There's a fold-flat seatback for the front right bucket and a rear split bench that folds down for flexibility when arranging passengers and cargo. Engine options include the EcoTec 2.2-liter four-cylinder worth 140 hp or a 3.5-liter V6 racked at 200 hp. Each plant connects strictly to a four-speed Hydra-Matic 4T45-E automatic transmission with clever shift-it-yourself button on the side of the shifter stalk. Three trim levels - base Malibu, Malibu LS and top-grade LT - are available, with a factory-installed remote starter package on the list of options, along with curtain-style air bags. For 2005, new side-impact air bags for front seats are standard for Malibu LS, while a sport appearance package adds alloy wheels and body-color side moldings.

Think of Maxx as a comfortable four-door similar to Malibu's sedan, only the wheelbase gets more inches in length to add space to the rear of the cabin and there's a cascading back door in hatchback format for easy access to the cargo bay. The backbench seat slides almost seven inches fore and aft to vary the space for people and goods - and increase backseat legroom to 41 inches. The back of the right front bucket also folds forward to form a flat horizontal surface, and backs of the rear bench, divided into two sections, fold on the same plane.

Long cargo items may be stacked on top of these folded seats and extended from dash to trunk bulkhead. To shed extra light into the rear compartment, there's a fixed skylight overhead with retractable sunshade. Standard powertrain for Maxx is Malibu's up-level 3.5-liter V6 producing 200 hp through a four-speed automatic transmission. Malibu Maxx LS gets new side-impact air bags as standard gear for 2005 issues, and there are audio and entertainment packages available, such as a six-disc CD changer, DVD-based video entertainment system for backseat riders, OnStar telecommunications and the XM satellite radio service.

The Impala line of sedans ranks among the best-selling passenger cars in America with a mid-size structure but full-size cabin space and seats for the whole family. It's also the most popular Chevrolet. Two trims - base Impala and upscale LS - support V6 powertrains. The base trim uses a familiar 3.4-liter plant from GM that produces 180 hp. An optional 3.8-liter V6 reaches to 200 hp. Yet Impala SS (Super Sport) puts a supercharger on the 3.8-liter six to produce 240 hp. The sport-tuned SS rides on speed-rated tires capping 17-inch aluminum wheels. A monochromatic black SS also stocks twin exhaust pipes in bright stainless steel, fog lamps up front and a six-gauge package in the instrument panel. All Impalas for 2005 carry a new generation of GM's OnStar telecommunications with hands-free voice recognition capability.

In two-door coupe format, the Monte Carlo sits on the platform of Impala and contains many of the same mechanical components, yet follows its own tack for exterior styling and interior features. The volume model - Monte Carlo LS - totes a 3.4-liter plant that delivers 180 hp and earns high fuel economy figures. A new trim - Monte Carlo LT - has GM's 3.8-liter V6 that reaches 200 hp. And the Monte Carlo Supercharged SS puts a blower to the 3.8-liter plant for a boost to 240 hp through a heavy-duty Hydra-Matic 4T65-E four-speed automatic. Like Impala SS, Monte Carlo Supercharged SS carries stronger suspension components and larger wheels and tires, with large-diameter discs for brakes and an anti-lock braking system (ABS). (CONTINUED...)