New York 2011: the duffers

Not too many people in New York own a car. Maybe that's why this is the show where all the hatefully dull cars are quietly unveiled. None of these will be coming to Britain and, heck, you can be glad you're not American.

The Chevrolet Malibu. GM’s new mid-sized car isn't bad; it just looks boring. But it's actually a rebodied Insignia, so it'll probably be pretty good. GM would have been in a right fix if it had managed, as it planned in 2009, to sell off its European division, or it wouldn't have the engineering smarts to develop these things. Next!

Nissan's Versa is about the cheapest new car in the US. And boy does it show. Look at those mean little wheels and the miserable lumpen tail-end. Next!

On the other hand, maybe being American isn't so bad after all. This show was also the venue for the launches of insanely hot versions of the Chevy Camaro and Jeep Grand Cherokee (above).