Two words describe the new 2006 cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles: power and utility.

From the new-generation Honda Civic to the sporty Chevrolet Corvette, many new 2006s come to showrooms bristling with more power than ever. The Corvette Z06, for example, is the fastest production ’Vette in history. Its 505-horsepower, 7-liter, LS7 V8 combined with just 3,200 pounds of weight helps the two-seat coupe zip from zero to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds.

Even the economical Civic now has 197 horsepower in its Civic Si hatchback, up from 160 in the previous model.

Along with the power trend, plenty of 2006 models offer versatile seating and cargo room. Mitsubishi returns to the pickup truck market with the 2006 Raider, Subaru has its first seven-passenger vehicle in the B9 Tribeca, and Dodge creates a whole new idea of rear-seat room with its Ram Mega Cab.

A closer look at all the vehicles, from Acura to Volkswagen:

ACURAThe 2006 TSX comes with refreshed styling and a 205-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with i-VTEC, up from 200 horses in the ’05 car. Acura’s large RL sedan offers a new option package that can detect an impending frontal crash and works to lessen the impact by automatically tightening seat belts and slowing the vehicle.

BUICKThe revision of Buick’s sedans is complete in the 2006 model year with the introduction of the new, full-size Lucerne. It’s the first Buick car with V8 power in more than a decade. (Buick has an SUV with V8.) Specifically, the 4.2-liter V8 in the top-level Lucerne produces 275 horsepower. There’s also a base, 197-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6. Available with five or six seats, the front-wheel-drive Lucerne becomes the premium Buick sedan as the Park Avenue is retired.Also, Buick’s Terraza minivan offers a new, uplevel, 235-horsepower, 3.9-liter V6.

CADILLACThe biggest car at Cadillac, the full-size DeVille, is restyled and renamed for 2006.The new DTS has a front end that resembles the edgy styling of other Cadillacs, while the rear is streamlined and formal. There also are new, ergonomic seats, new interior and upgraded suspension tuning. Buyers continue to choose between two versions of a 4.6-liter Northstar V8 offering horsepower of up to 291.Cadillac’s two other new models are high-performance variants of current cars. The 2006 STS-V is a 469-horsepower, five-passenger sedan with supercharged, 4.4-liter Northstar V8, while the XLR-V is a 440-horsepower two-seater with the same supercharged V8. Meantime, all-wheel drive is available this year on the STS with V6, and the CTS-V sedan has a new, 400-horsepower, 6-liter V8.In the first half of calendar 2006, Cadillac plans to debut the new-generation Escalade SUV.

CHEVROLETA new, retro-styled, tall wagon called the 2006 HHR is dramatically designed with styling cues from the 1949 Chevrolet Suburban. But this is no SUV. The five-passenger HHR is front-wheel-drive and rather compact in size, has modern amenities such as an iPod integrator, and is offered with 143- and 172-horsepower Ecotec four-cylinder engines.Chevy’s other retro-styled vehicle, the SSR pickup truck, gets more power for 2006 with a 400-horsepower, 6-liter V8.This is the same engine that’s used for the new, mid-size TrailBlazer SS with 395 horses, up from the 300 horsepower found in lesser TrailBlazers with 5.3-liter Vortec V8. It’s easy to spot the sporty, five-passenger TrailBlazer SS: It wears big, 20-inch, flangeless wheels.Performance is the news for the 2006 Corvette, too, as the Z06 coupe returns with race-bred suspension, lightweight body and 505-horsepower, 7-liter V8.Also for 2006, the mid-size, five-passenger Impala sedan and Monte Carlo coupe are restyled, front and rear, and get new engines and updated interiors. The base engine now is a 211-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6, while the uplevel powerplant is a 242-horsepower, 3.9-liter V6.Meantime, the 2006 Monte Carlo SS and new Impala SS come with a 303-horsepower, 5.3-liter V8 with Displacement on Demand technology that automatically deactivates certain engine cylinders when they’re not needed in some driving conditions. This helps boost fuel economy. SS models of the Malibu and Malibu Maxx are added for 2006, too, with 240-horsepower, 3.9-liter V6.Last but not least, there are supercharged, 2006 Cobalt SS sedan and coupe models with 205-horsepower, 2.4-liter, Ecotec engine.

CHRYSLERThe PT Cruiser is updated for 2006 with a new interior and a 230-horsepower, 2.4-liter, high output, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. Previous peak horsepower was 220.

DODGEGet ready for a really big truck. The new Dodge Ram Mega Cab has the largest pickup cab ever. Twenty more inches of cab length over a four-door Ram Quad Cab help provide 145.2 cubic feet of interior space. And it’s put to good use, with the Mega Cab featuring the first reclining rear seats in a regular production pickup truck. Indeed, there’s a full 44.2 inches of rear-seat legroom, more than what’s inside a Maybach, limo-sized sedan. Power comes from a gasoline, 345-horsepower, 5.7-liter, Hemi V8 or 325-horsepower, 5.9-liter, high output turbocharged, Cummins inline six-cylinder diesel.The 2006 Charger, a full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan with aggressive styling, bowed in May. Now, there a 425-horsepower SRT8 version with 6.1-liter Hemi V8. The Charger SRT8 also comes with sport-tuned suspension, lowered ride height, Brembo performance brake calipers, new front fascia and deeply bolstered sport seats.Another new model is the 2006 Viper SRT10 coupe. It joins the Viper SRT10 convertible that was introduced in 2003 and has the same 500-horsepower, 8.3-liter V10.In other news, Dodge adds a fuel-thrifty engine cylinder displacement system on its 345-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V8.Look for a replacement for the Neon small car in summer.

FORDA second Ford sedan joins the mid-size family car segment in 2006. The five-passenger Fusion has new, rather formal-looking styling and two engines. Its 160-horsepower, 2.3-liter, Duratec four cylinder can be had with a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the uplevel, 210-horsepower, 3-liter, Duratec V6 is paired with a six-speed automatic. The front-wheel-drive Fusion also will be offered with all-wheel drive in fall 2006.The best-selling SUV in the country, the Explorer, is revamped with more power, lower emissions, more comfortable ride, quieter interior and a bolder look. A new, optional, 4.6-liter V8 produces 292-horsepower and is mated to the Explorer’s first-ever six-speed automatic transmission. This is 53 more horsepower than in last year’s Explorer with V8.And Ford reports both the new V8 and the Explorer’s 210-horsepower, 4-liter V6 put out fewer emissions than typical Ford V8s and V6s.Other features of the new Explorer include stronger brakes, a new frame, and revised front and rear suspensions.The full-size Ford F-150 SuperCrew adds a 6.5-foot-long pickup bed during the new model year, compared with the 5.5-foot bed available for 2005.A street appearance package that gives a more customized, aggressive look is available for 2006 Focuses in ZX trim.Meantime, buyers of the 2006 Mustang with V6 can opt for a “Pony Package” that adds bigger wheels and tires, a sport suspension and custom grille, among other things.In light of government studies showing the rollover dangers of full-size vans, Ford is adding AdvanceTrac and its Roll Stability Control to its 12- and 15-passenger E-350 Super Duty Extended Length vans.And for the second time in 10 years, the Thunderbird is gone from the Ford lineup.

GMCThe full-size Savana van has more power for 2006, thanks to a new, 250-horsepower, 6.6-liter, Duramax, turbo-diesel V8.GMC also has two new, lower-priced, base models of the Sierra Crew Cab pickup. The Sierra 1500 SL Crew Cabs are available with two- or four-wheel drive. Starting manufacturers suggested retail price, including destination charge, is less than $29,000. The Sierra line also adds an extended cab with short-length pickup bed for 2006.Meantime, the Envoy mid-size SUV gets fuel-saving engine cylinder deactivation for all models with 300-horsepower, 5.3-liter, Vortec V8. The Envoy XUV, which had a slide-away roof over its SUV cargo area, is no longer offered.

HONDAThe new model year brings a new, eighth-generation, Honda Civic small car. Sold as a coupe and sedan, the 2006 Civic rides on a new platform, has new styling and new, four-cylinder powertrains that are more efficient and more powerful than their predecessors. For the first time, a Civic — the sporty Si coupe — has nearly 200 horsepower, up from 160 horsepower as a 2005 model.And the gas-electric Civic Hybrid is more thrifty with fuel than it was in 2005, with an estimated 51-mpg rating for combined city/highway driving. All 2006 Civics also come standard with active front head restraints and side curtain airbags for the first time.The Accord’s look is refreshed in front and back, and its four-cylinder and V6 engines are more powerful than before. Honda’s mid-size Pilot SUV has subtly updated styling and a new navigation screen that includes, for the first time, an integrated camera at the back of the vehicle to help a driver see what’s behind.

HYUNDAIThree of Hyundai’s seven vehicles are replaced this model year with new-generation versions that have more power and more standard safety features.The five-passenger Sonata sedan is bigger, inside and out, than its predecessor and is styled with a more upscale look. Two engines — a 162-horsepower, 2.4-liter four cylinder and a 235-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 — have more power than the Sonata engines they replace.Also notable: The 2006 Sonata, an early model-year introduction, was the first mid-size, mainstream sedan in America with six standard airbags — two frontal bags, two seat-mounted side airbags for front-seat passengers, and two curtain airbags for front and rear seats — as well as standard active head restraints to minimize whiplash, electronic stability control, traction control, antilock brakes and electronic Brake Force Distribution.Hyundai’s most expensive sedan, the XG350, is gone, replaced in 2006 by the new Azera. This large, luxury-appointed sedan has a 3.8-liter V6 capable of some 265 horsepower, up from the 194 horses in the XG350. The Azera also has the same standard safety features that the Sonata has, plus rear seat-mounted side airbags.Hyundai’s small car, the Accent, is larger and offers 1.5 more inches of rear-seat legroom for 2006. The Accent also comes standard with six airbags. It’s sold only as a sedan.

JEEPFor the first time, a Jeep has three rows of seats and can carry seven passengers. The 2006 Jeep Commander, 2 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee, is a four-wheel-drive SUV that can be had with amenities including dual “skylights” of tinted glass above the second-row seats and a power sunroof over the front-row seats. There are three engine choices: a 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6; 235-horsepower, 4.7-liter V8; and 330-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The V8 includes a multi-displacement system that can automatically deactivate some engine cylinders to reduce gasoline consumption in certain driving situations.

KIAThe Rio, the smallest Kia sold in America, is all new for 2006.For the first time, the front-wheel-drive Rio has six standard airbags, including curtain airbags, which are a rarity in the low-priced, subcompact car segment. There’s new styling, a longer wheelbase and wider track for improved handling and ride, an upgraded interior with increased passenger room, and a new, 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing.Also for 2006, Kia makes leather seats, heated front seats, sunroof and automatic-dimming rearview mirror standard on every Amanti.

LINCOLNZephyr was the name of a lower-priced luxury car introduced by Lincoln in 1936 for new Lincoln buyers. The name returns in 2006 on a new five-passenger, mid-size sedan that’s also intended for buyers who haven’t bought a Lincoln before. The Zephyr has Lincoln’s waterfall grille in front and light-emitting diode (LED) taillamps. The interior has premium highlights, such as a large swath of matte silver trim around the center dashboard controls and LED cabin lighting. The car is powered by a 210-horsepower, 3-liter, Duratec V6.For 2006, the Lincoln LS comes only with a 280-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8 with automatic transmission. The V6 has been dropped.Also leaving showrooms starting in the 2006 model year: the Aviator mid-size SUV. But the Aviator name is expected to return on a new Lincoln crossover vehicle sometime after the 2006 model year.

MAZDAThe third-generation MX-5 Miata, the world’s best-selling roadster, highlights a busy year at Mazda. It comes with a new, 170-horsepower, naturally aspirated, 2-liter four cylinder, improved safety features, new styling and a bit larger interior than its predecessor. The car’s manually folding soft top is easier than ever to operate.The automaker also adds the Mazda5, the smallest vehicle to be sold in the United States with second-row sliding doors. Powered by a 157-horsepower, 2.3-liter four cylinder, the Mazda5 is more compact in size than a minivan, looks like a cross between a tall wagon and a van, and has six seats arranged in three rows.The 2006 Mazdaspeed6, the fastest accelerating and most advanced sport sedan Mazda has built, also is new. Based on the Mazda6 sedan, the Mazdaspeed6 is powered by a 274-horsepower, 2.3-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine and comes with standard all-wheel drive.Meantime, regular Mazda6 sedans and wagons are refreshed with new front and rear fascias.

MERCURYMercury’s compact SUV, the Mariner, adds a gas-electric hybrid version. Based on the five-passenger Ford Escape Hybrid, the Mariner Hybrid is expected to be one of the most fuel-efficient sport utilities on the road, with a combined city/highway rating of some 31 mpg. It’s powered by a 2.3-liter, Duratec four cylinder augmented by an electric motor-generator. Peak horsepower is 155, and the Mariner Hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive.Also for 2006, Mercury adds its first new mid-size sedan in a decade. The new Milan (pronounced like the city in Italy) is offered with a 160-horsepower, 2.3-liter, Duratec four cylinder and a 210-horsepower, 3-liter, Duratec V6, and can seat up to five people. Among the premium features not normally found on base, mid-size sedans are Milan’s standard light-emitting diode taillamps and six-way, power drivers seat.Sharing the platform and engines of the new Ford Fusion, the Milan joins the slightly larger Montego in the middle sedan segment formerly occupied by the Sable. Note, though, that Milan and Montego are sold only as sedans, while the Sable had a wagon, too.The Mountaineer mid-size SUV is substantially revised for the new model year with new interior, updated exterior, a 210-horsepower, 4-liter V6 that’s improved for smoother power delivery and a new, 292-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8. The V8 is mated to a six-speed automatic for the first Mercury SUV with a six-speed gearbox. Power-operated, automatically retracting, side running boards are a novel factory option on the new Mountaineer.

MITSUBISHIA new-generation Eclipse sport coupe, a return to the pickup truck segment and a new Lancer Evolution highlight Mitsubishi’s 2006 model year.The 2006 Eclipse is a fourth-generation model that rides on a new, more rigid platform than its predecessor and is restyled with a clean, yet expressive look. The front-wheel-drive four-seater is slightly roomier than its predecessor and has more safety equipment, including six standard airbags. The base, 2.4-liter four cylinder produces 162 horsepower, while the uplevel engine is a 263-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6. Note: The convertible version of the new Eclipse won’t be out until sometime in calendar 2006.Mitsubishi’s 2006 Raider mid-size pickup truck is based on the Dodge Dakota but has styling all its own. The Raider also is the only import-badged, mid-size pickup that offers a V8. Specifically, it’s available with a 230-horsepower, 4.7-liter V8 as well as a 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6. Torque is the real differentiator, with the V8 providing 290 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm vs. 235 in the V6. The Raider is available in extended and double cab bodies and with or without four-wheel drive.Lastly, there’s a sporty new Lancer Evolution IX. Besides a racy interior with Recaro bucket seats, Momo steering wheel and aluminum-finished pedals, the Evolution IX has a road rally-tuned suspension, full-time all-wheel drive and a 2-liter, turbocharged four cylinder with 286 horsepower.

NISSANNissan vehicles get mild updates for 2006. The 350Z with six-speed manual transmission and 3.5-liter V6 now has 300 horsepower, but automatic tranny models remain at 287 horsepower. Front and rear styling updates also are made on the Z as well as on the Murano crossover vehicle.

PONTIACThe first two-seat convertible at Pontiac since 1940 debuts as the 2006 Solstice. Already a darling of auto shows, the rear-wheel-drive Solstice is an eye-catching roadster with a wide track and 170-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Ecotec engine. Best of all, starting MSRP, including destination charge, is $19,995 for a manual transmission model.Pontiac also gets its first official SUV in 2006 and drops the Aztek. The five-passenger, mid-size Torrent is based on the Chevrolet Equinox and uses the same platform and 185-horsepower, 3.4-liter V6. Suspension is tuned a bit to the sportier side than in the Equinox, though. The Torrent is available with front- and all-wheel drive.Pontiac’s G6 sedan is joined by a coupe and hardtop convertible during the 2006 model year. The G6 sedan now also is available with an entry, 165-horsepower, 2.4-liter, Ecotec four cylinder, while the G6 GTP sedan and coupe get a new, 240-horsepower, 3.9-liter V6. The same 3.9-liter V6 generates 227 horses in the G6 convertible.

SAABFor the first time in its history, Swedish carmaker Saab has an SUV. The 2006 Saab 9-7X is based on the mid-size Chevrolet TrailBlazer but has front styling that’s all Saab. The five-passenger 9-7X comes with automatic all-wheel drive and a choice of engines: a 290-horsepower, 4.2-liter, inline six cylinder, or a 300-horsepower, 5.3-liter V8. The V8 includes displacement-on-demand technology that disables some engine cylinders during certain driving situations, thus improving fuel economy by up to 5 percent.Also new is the 9-3 SportCombi, a mid-size, sporty wagon with turbo power. The wagon’s base engine is a 210-horsepower, 2-liter, turbocharged four cylinder, while the uplevel powerplant is a 250-horsepower, 2.8-liter, turbocharged V6 that’s also available in the 2006 9-3 Aero sedan and convertible.

SCIONToyota’s youth brand makes mild changes for 2006. Scion’s xA sedan is refreshed with new front styling. The xA, tC coupe and xB all get interior upgrades that include a new audio head unit that works with a newly available iPod connector.

SUBARUSubaru has big news, debuting its largest crossover SUV yet. The 2006 B9 Tribeca is the first Subaru to offer seven-passenger seating. While it’s based on the platform of the Subaru Outback, the Tribeca is longer, wider, taller and heavier than the Outback. Power comes from a 250-horsepower, 3-liter, boxer, six-cylinder engine. But the Tribeca doesn’t look like any current Subaru. A new face that’s intended to recall Subaru’s heritage as a maker of aircraft highlights the front, and the all-wheel-drive Tribeca’s profile is more akin to that of a Lexus RX 330.A less aggressive version of the new Subaru face comes to the 2006 Impreza line, where engine power also is upgraded. In addition, handling and traction are improved in the top-of-the-line Impreza WRX STi, with a revised all-wheel-drive system.Meantime, engine power is increased in some models of Legacy, Outback and Forester, and the 2006 Forester has freshened front and rear styling.

SUZUKIThe spotlight for 2006 is the new-generation Grand Vitara SUV. With updated, clean styling, more safety features, and new unibody construction with built-in ladder frame rather than the old body-on-frame structure, the Grand Vitara now looks modern and travels with new sophistication. It’s still a five-passenger compact SUV available with or without four-wheel drive. But it’s now a bit wider and longer than its predecessor, and power comes from a standard, 2.7-liter V6 that has 185 horsepower, compared with last year’s 165 horses.In other news, Suzuki’s Forenza sedan and wagon are refreshed with new front and rear fascias.

TOYOTAIn the 2006 model year, Toyota adds a second gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Available with two- and four-wheel drive, the 2006 Highlander Hybrid uses the same 268-horsepower hybrid system with 3.3-liter V6 that’s in the Lexus RX 400h SUV. But with a starting price of $33,595 including destination charge, the less luxuriously appointed Highlander Hybrid is also some $15,000 less than the Lexus hybrid. Fuel economy, typically a priority for hybrid buyers, is rated at 33 miles a gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for a two-wheel drive Highlander Hybrid. That’s higher than even a four-cylinder, gas-only Highlander.The Toyota Echo small sedan will be replaced next spring by a version of the Yaris car that Toyota sells in Europe. Meantime, Toyota’s most affordable SUV, the compact RAV4, is re-engineered for a third generation with more power, including a first-ever V6, and a larger interior.

VOLKSWAGENA larger, newly styled and more powerful Passat debuts. Available with a 200-horsepower, turbocharged four cylinder and a 280-horsepower, 3.6-liter VR6, this sixth-generation Passat has 2.4 more inches of rear-seat legroom. And with a starting price, including destination charge, expected around $23,000, the Passat promises to remain the most affordable German mid-size sedan on the market. A Passat wagon also will join the 2006 lineup later in the model year.A new Passat option: A Dynaudio sound system is offered for the first time in the United States. Eight airbags are standard in the new Passat, as is stability control, active head restraints and antilock brakes. VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive will be added as a choice on the front-wheel-drive Passat early in calendar 2006.The New Beetle is mildly restyled, adds standard stability control and gets a new standard engine. The 2.5-liter five cylinder can produce 150 horsepower.