Photos: New models at the 2007 New York auto show

The third-generation Lexus LX is packed with technology and luxury features. Powered by a 5.7-liter V-8, the eight-seater incorporates many of Lexus' most-advanced technologies including a real-time traffic-enabled navigation system with a 9-inch screen, a precollision system, and adaptive cruise control.

The LX 570 comes standard with four-zone climate control, power third-row seats, and a nine-speaker audio system; a 19-speaker Marc Levinson audio system is available as an option. It also comes equipped with no fewer than 10 air bags.

Performance technology features on the LX 570 include an electro-hydraulic suspension with automatic height control, as well as a crawl control feature for creeping over rough terrain.

The big daddy of Hummer's lineup gets a makeover for 2008. Under the hood, the H2 gets an all-new, 6.2-liter V-8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The new power train produces an estimated 393 horsepower, 20 percent more than the existing model.

The major upgrades for 2008 on the H2 are found in the cabin. A newly designed instrument cluster, an HVAC system, and an as-standard Bose audio system. Tech options include a GPS navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The baby of the Hummer range gets a performance upgrade for the 2008 model year, in the form of a 5.3-liter V-8 engine. The resultant H3 Alpha will produce 295 horsepower and will have a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.

Buick brings back its "Super" designation for souped-up versions of its Lucerne and LaCrosse luxury sedans. The 2008 Lucerne Super features a beefed-up version of the Northstar V-8, endowing the car with a hearty 292 horsepower.

To go with its enhanced performance, the Lucerne Super gets a modification to the front grille, apparently inspired by a waterfall. Other upgrades include special alloy wheels, a leather-lined instrument panel, and a heated, real-wood steering wheel.

Carroll Shelby was on-site in New York to unveil the King of the Road version of his 2007 GT500. The KR will make use of advanced ignition timing, a cold-air intake system, and remapped throttle settings to give it an extra 40 horsepower (bringing the total up to 540), as well as better acceleration from standing and midrange. Don't get your hopes too high though; Ford plans to make just 1,000 copies of the GT500KR.

The Flex crossover is Ford's vision of the family hauler of the future, based on the Fairlane concept unveiled at the 2005 Detroit auto show. Powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the Flex has enough room for as many as seven passengers in three rows. While its boxy design represents a new direction for Ford (think stretched Honda Element), the Flex takes a number of its styling cues from the Ford Edge, such as the design of its tail lamps.

Onboard tech features abound in the Flex, which will come available with the Ford Sync entertainment system, a 2,300-song built-in jukebox, an onboard refrigerator, and seven-color, programmable ambient lighting. Other notables include a multipanel roof and a capless fuel filler system designed to reduce evaporative emissions.

Following the launch of its XC60 Concept at Detroit this year, Volvo gave the U.S. its first look at its third-generation XC70 midsize crossover here in New York. Based on the same platform as the S80 sedan, the five-seater 2008 XC70 is motivated by a 3.2-liter, inline six-cylinder engine.

One of the most innovative features of the new XC70 is its height-adjustable, integrated booster cushion, which can be set to one of two heights for kids in the back seats. Other safety features include Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), and a forward-looking, radar-based, precollision system, which notifies drivers of an imminent impact using LEDs mounted on the dashboard.

Not content with the 475 horsepower from the regular 6.3-liter CLK63 AMG, Mercedes used the New York auto show to unveil its Black Series model, tweaked to produce an extra 25 horsepower and to get itself to 60mph from standing in 4.1 seconds. According to Mercedes, the CLK63 AMG Black Series is a street legal version of the official F1 safety car.

The Black Series model distinguishes itself with its carbon fiber-trimmed front fenders, as well as new air intakes under the front bumper. The car's new AMG-branded aluminum wheels are kept under control with 14.2-inch, vented composite disc brakes on the front and 13-inch discs at the back.

The carbon fiber theme continues inside, with a graphite-trimmed center console housing the CLK63 AMG Black's tiny, aluminum shifter. For those who don't want to twiddle around with this, the car also comes with race-inspired paddle shifters on either side of the steering wheel.

The fourth generation of the Mercedes C-Class sedan will come in three incarnations: the C350 Sport, the C300 Luxury, and the C300 Sport. As the designations suggest, the C350 will feature a 3.5-liter V-6, while the C300 will come with a 3-liter plant. All 2008 C-Classes will be available with Mercedes' S-Class-inspired, 4Matic four-wheel drive system.

In the cabin, the new C-Class models get a significant upgrade in terms of technology offerings. For navigation, the old Comand navigation and entertainment interface is replaced with a far more stylish and intuitive set up, consisting of a large, bright pop-up screen whose well-designed menus are controlled via an electronic rotary controller situated on the center console. The new C-Class comes standard with an eight-speaker audio system, while a 12-speaker 450-watt Harman Kardon Logic7 system is optional.

Perhaps the most exclusive car on show in New York this year is the CL65 AMG, which was designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the AMG tuning house and will have a production run of just 40 units. The CL65 boasts a hand-built, 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V-12 engine that produces 604 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque and is capable of catapulting the four-door coupe from standing to 60mph in 4.2 seconds.

The CL65 AMG has a whole host of exclusive design elements, including a "liquid metal" paint job. According to Mercedes, the paint used to coat its body has significantly smaller pigment particles, which show off the car's lines better than conventional paint. Inside, the car features Nappa leather seats and an ocean of carbon fiber trim, onto which is emblazoned numerous reminders that this is a very-limited-edition model.

Having taken plenty of stick for the hideous front-end design of the first-generation Tribeca, Subaru went back to the drawing board and came up with something far more aesthetically pleasing. In addition to its face lift, the 2008 Tribeca gets a larger, 3.6-liter boxer engine, endowing it with an extra 11 horsepower (for a total of 256). Also new for 2008 are the Tribeca's tilt-and-slide second-row seats, providing better access to the available third-row seating. The cabin of the 2008 Tribeca remains mostly unchanged from the previous generation, with wavy interior lines surrounding driver and front passenger and a large LCD navigation screen set into the upper dash.

The svelte Infiniti G37 coupe is the successor to the highly successful G35. As its name suggests, the 2008 G37 will feature a 3.7-liter V-6 engine making an estimated 330 horsepower mated to either a 6-speed manual- or 5-speed automatic transmission. Performance technology on the G37 includes Infiniti's four-wheel active steering system and a variable valve event and lift system (VVEL) system, which combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake side to help improve performance and response.