Back in the day—say, the 1950s and 1960s—car companies would routinely introduce new colors on existing models, or special versions—to stimulate buyers during cold winter months, and to begin to rev up the old sales machine for the coming spring.

After a long absence, it looks like the practice is back, only with one heck of a lot of fun because the cars in question are all from Volkswagen, purveyors of cool wheels with attitude.

The three all-new 2010 models are the  …

Forty years ago, an all-new sports car hit the pavement for the first time—and started a revolution.

That car was the original Datsun 240Z, and it became an instant hit, also igniting a new segment of the market at the time for small, powerful Japanese sports cars.

This week, at the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan’s set to display its  370Z 40th Anniversary Edition, which is scheduled to go on sale in late February 2010. Nissan says that the 40th Anniversary Edition starts …