• Looks like: The Hyundai Veracruz and Toyota Prius had a lovechild on the set of "Blade Runner"
• Defining characteristics: Configuarble interior for six
• Ridiculous features: Scalloped A-pillar
• Chance of being mass-produced: Nearly 100%; Hyundai says this is green-lit for the American market

Usually when we tackle concepts we look at the exterior packaging first. Not with the HED-5 i-Mode; this is one time when the guts of a concept are far more interesting than the skin. The six-passenger crossover may be futuristic-looking, but that’s not as interesting as the engine under its hood.

Hyundai has chosen the L.A. auto show as the place to not only display its all-new hybrid powertrain system, but also its future gasoline engines, starting with the 286-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the i-Mode. That’s a lot of horsepower for a turbo-four, normally reserved for high-performance cars like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Hyundai says turbocharging will improve fuel efficiency by 15-20%, but we’re not sure what it’s using as the baseline, as it compares this engine to six-cylinder engines as well. Hyundai says it will put the new turbo in various production models soon, but it’s obviously not spilling the beans yet on the whats and whens.

The i-Mode itself, while green-lit, doesn’t yet have a definitive date to hit the U.S. market.

If photos of the 370Z make it look like the spitting image of its 350Z predecessor, the similarities are even greater in-person. This Z assumes the same stance, complete with oversized rear fenders and vertical door handles. Aside from the reshaped headlights — Nissan calls them “boomerang” shapes, but hardcore nerds might see a Star Trek symbol — the most noticeable changes are the front and rear bumpers, which seem busier than before. Gone are the old Z’s vertical reflectors on each side of the air dam; the air dam itself, by contrast, has a bit more going on. Ditto for the lower rear bumper.

Inside, quality has improved decisively over the outgoing Z, with stitched wrappings around the A/C and climate controls. Inboard kneepads, a clever feature on the old Z, are still there, as are power seat controls mounted next to the seat cushions themselves. Don’t eat and drive – those crevices will collect crumbs like the Tennessee Titans collect wins.

The seats themselves feel more comfortable than I remember the old Z’s being; alas, the steering wheel still doesn’t telescope, although it carries the gauge pod along with it when you tilt it. Nissan’s short-throw shifter feels as perfect as ever, and we’ll be interested to see how that downshift rev-matching feature works.

More live shots below.

Mazda usually brings a healthy dose of sportiness to the segments it competes in, and that's the case with the redesigned 2010 Mazda3. If the current 3 is the automotive equivalent of Dr. Jekyll, then the redesigned 2010 model, with its gaping grille and angular vents in the front bumper, is Mr. Hyde. It's a little creepy, actually. The lack of a conventional bumper may make the front more vulnerable to scrapes from inconsiderate parallel parkers, too.

The cabin features a new dashboard design that has more flowing lines than its predecessor. It can have a high-mounted navigation screen above the center dash vents that's controlled by buttons on the right side of the steering wheel.

There's a mix of premium and run-of-the-mill materials in the cabin.

The upper portion of the dashboard has high-grade trim, and there was nice stitching on the door armrests of the model I sat in. The available seat heaters also have five settings rather than the more common one or two. However, there was also pretty basic flat-black plastic trim surrounding the power-window switches, and a fuzzy headliner.

On the whole, the Mazda3 looks sharp and is nice enough on the inside to hold its own with the majority of compact cars available today. Let us know what you think of that front end in the comments.

• Competes with: GMC Yukon Hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
• Looks like: Lexus is upgrading its stable of hybrid models
• Drivetrain: 295-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 teamed with electric motor and continuously variable automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2009

Green drivers who like a little luxury will be impressed with the redesigned RX 450h. The hybrid crossover gets the same redesign as its gasoline sibling, the RX 350, but it also gets an upgraded hybrid powertrain.

The new system pumps out more power — 295 hp — than both the 2010 RX 350 and the 2008 RX 400h it's replacing. Unfortunately, Lexus didn’t provide mileage figures; all it's saying is that the new RX 450h is more efficient than the outgoing model, which got 27/24 mpg city/highway in the front-wheel-drive model and 26/24 mpg in the all-wheel-drive model. Lexus says the new all-wheel-drive version will generate more power from its regenerative braking system because it's connected to all four wheels.

Like the RX 350, navigation will be optional, as will be features like a pre-collision system and adaptive front lighting. The hybrid will also feature optional LED headlights. More photos below.

After a full day at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show, have no fear: We happily report that our exhaustive, extensive, unrelenting coverage will continue tomorrow. Still, if you want to get all the best takes from the first day of L.A., check out our full coverage, which includes manufacturer-photo galleries and sets of up-close pics from our own staff photographer, Ian Merritt. He spent the day covering every angle, bumper and headlight design he could get close to. If you've been dying for more photos, these are the links you need. We will be posting more coverage here on the blog throughout the night and morning. So say tuned.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2010 Ford Mustang
2010 Ford Fusion
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid 2010 Mercury Milan
2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
2010 Lincoln MKZ
2009 Nissan 370Z
2009 Nissan Cube
2009 Kia Soul
2009 Audi Q5
Mini E

• Competes with: Acura MDX, Infiniti FX35
• Looks like: Lexus took a page from Toyota for its redesigned crossover
• Drivetrain: 275-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: February 2009

Lexus’ wildly popular RX SUV has been withering on the vine, waiting for a redesign, for some time now. Lexus has finally delivered with an all-new 2010 model that shares a lot with the new Toyota Venza crossover. The new RX is slightly longer and wider than the 2009 model, and it packs a more powerful V-6 engine that produces 275 hp, versus the 270 from last year's engine.

While the look outside seems like an organic upgrade from the past, the interior is radically different. The dashboard features swoopy curves around the controls and center LCD screen, and the shifter is mounted smack in the middle of the center stack of controls. Like many competitors, a square-ish control now manages the navigation system, but if it becomes too bothersome there's voice activation as well. The navigation system is optional.

The RX comes standard with 18-inch wheels and optional 19s. Owners might wonder why they get shortchanged compared to Venza owners who get 20s standard on V-6 models.

Mileage numbers weren’t released, but we assume the RX 350 will match the Venza’s above-average 19/26 mpg city/highway for front-wheel-drive models and 18/25 mpg city/highway for all-wheel drive. A hybrid RX will also be offered, and we’ll have more information on that in another post.

• Looks like: The Hyundai Sonata sedan's innards
• Defining characteristics: A new hybrid powertrain and battery
• Ridiculous features: None
• Chance of being mass-produced: 100%

We’re not sure why Hyundai is calling this a concept, because it’s already said a Sonata Hybrid will hit dealerships in the U.S. in 2010. That’s big news not only because this will be Hyundai’s first hybrid in the U.S., but because it will use a lithium-polymer battery that’s unlike any nickel-metal-hydride-powered hybrid currently on the market, or any lithium-ion-powered hybrids planned for the near future.

Hyundai says the lithium-polymer battery is more efficient and lighter than other battery technologies, and that’s two things you might like in a fuel-efficient car. Plus, it’s less expensive to make than lithium-ion batteries. The battery is part of a system featuring a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, regenerative braking, a six-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW electric motor.

Hyundai hasn’t said what kind of fuel economy to expect from this system, but we assume it will be on par with the Toyota Camry Hybrid, if not better.

Nissan announced today that the redesigned 370Z coupe will start at $29,930. The car comes in base and Touring trims, and spokesman John Schilling said Nissan will announce full pricing for the car in a few weeks. The new price represents a $1,420 increase over the 2008 350Z coupe — the '09 350Z is available only as a convertible — but new standard features include an electronic stability system and steering-wheel audio controls. Both were previously optional.

The Z goes on sale in January, with a convertible version to follow.