Maserati's answer to the German luxury saloon domination is the Quattroporte. The Pininfarina-shaped four-door premiered at the 2003 Frankfurt show and is expected to sell here from June, 2004, at around $300,000. Australia will get just 30 examples of the 298kW V8, most of which are already sold.

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Ferrari revealed the replacement for its oldest model, the 456M, at the 2004 Detroit motor show - and it's called the 612 Scaglietti. The Pininfarina-penned 612 features an all-aluminium chassis and bodywork, making it 60kg lighter and 60 per cent more rigid than its current 2+2, plus a 402kW 5.7-litre V12.

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Malaysian maker Proton will use an all-new Wira, codenamed Wira Replacement Model, to revitalise its flagging range around June 2004. As this spy pic shows, Wira's successor will offer more style via a Hyundai Coupe-like tail and two-tone dash. Expect 1.6 and 1.8-litre engines.

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The ageing Nimbus gets the chop for the stylish Grandis, a seven-seat people-mover in the mould of the more expensive Honda Odyssey. Boasting Mitsubishi's new corporate styling, the front-drive Grandis will be powered by a new 121kW 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Expect prices to start from $45,000.

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Longer, lower and wider, Audi's second-generation A3 three-door hatch will go on sale here in 1.6 and 2.0-litre direct injection guise from June. While a 3.2 V6 quattro version is expected to go on sale in August (the five-door is due in early 2005), three-door pricing should open under $40,000.

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Ford's answer to the Commodore wagon-based Holden Adventra is the $500 million Territory all-wheel drive wagon. Based on the BA Falcon but 60 per cent new, Territory goes on sale June 1, though test drives can be had from May. TX and Ghia variants will be available from launch, with a mid-spec TS version to be added late in the year. At $38,990, the rear-drive TX is just $2455 above the base Falcon XT wagon. AWD and seven seats cost extra.

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Officially on sale from May 31, the limited-edition Monaro CV8-R makes its second appearance, this time exclusively in Pulse Red paint. CV8-R offers a 245kW 5.7-litre Gen III V8, 18-inch alloys, sunroof and many cosmetic touches. Both manual and auto versions will be $60,990. Just 320 will be built.

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