Foreign car makers are offering vehicles to fit every niche in the hope of having something for everyone. This has led to a dizzying proliferation of models with wide choices in sizes, price levels and options.
Like the products of the American Big Three automakers, import cars are coming in two or more equipment levels, each with its own options.
With foreign cars, however, what you see is usually what you get. Dealers can seek a specific car, but they can't order a custom-built vehicle from the factory.
For the models below, FWD stands for front-wheel drive; RWD is rear-wheel drive and 4WD is 4-wheel drive. Alphabetically, here are the 1992 imports:
Acura
Integra: FWD, 4-seat subcompact hatchback coupe and sedan. 1.8-liter 4-cyl engine. Legend: FWD midsize 5-seat coupe and sedan. 3.2-liter V6 or 3.5-liter V6, both mounted longitudinally. 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. NSX: RWD 2-seat mid-engine sports coupe. 3.0-liter V6 engine mounted transversely. 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Vigor: New in '91 FWD 5-seat sedan. 2.5-liter inline 5-cycle engine.
Alfa Romeo
164: FWD compact 5-seat sedan. 3.0-liter V6 engine, 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. 4-wheel antilock disc brakes. Spider: RWD 2-seat sports convertible. 2.0-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual transmission.
Audi
80: FWD 5-seat compact sedan. 2.3-liter 5-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The Coupe Quattro has been discontinued. 100: FWD midsize 5-seat sedan offered in three equipment levels (100, 100S and 100CS). 2.8-liter V6 engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Antilock disc brakes and driver air bag. An S4 model will replace the 200 Quattro early in 1992, when the '92 V8 Quattro will also be announced.
3 Series: Extensively redesigned, the 325i compact sedan is bigger and roomier than before. 2.5-liter inline 6-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Antilock disc brakes. A coupe will be introduced early in 1992, as will new 2- and 4-door versions of the 4-cycle 318i.
5 Series: RWD midsize 5-seat sedan. 2.5-liter inline 6-cycle engine or 3.5-liter inline 6 with 2 or 4 valves per cycle. 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmission. Antilock brakes.
7 Series: RWD large 5-seat sedan. 3.5-liter inline 6 cycle engine or optional 5.0-liter V-12. Four-speed automatic transmission. Antilock brakes. 750iL has remote phone operation.
850i: RWD 5-seat luxury coupe. 5.0-liter V-12 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission. Antilock brakes. Voice-activated phone dialing and phone controls.
Ferrari
348: RWD mid-engine 2-seat coupe and Targa (convertible with overhead bar). 3.4-liter V8 engine, 5-speed manual transmission.
Testarossa: RWD mid-engine 2-seat sports coupe. 5.0-liter V8, 5-speed manual transmission.
Accord: FWD 5-seat compact coupe, sedan and wagon. 2.2-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Driver air bag.
Civic: FWD 4-seat subcompact, 2-door hatchback and 4-door sedan are bigger this year. Wagon has been discontinued.
CRX: New design predicted for spring is still 2-seat FWD, but with more power. Driver's air bag, antilock brakes on upscale model.
Prelude: FWD, 2+2 seating. Redesigned and re-equipped. S model has 2.2-liter 4-cycle engine, Si has 2.3-liter 4. 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. Variable assist power steering, 4-wheel disc brakes, driver's air bag, stereo cassette with power antenna.
Excel: Restyled inside and out. FWD subcompact 2-door hatchback and 4-door sedan, 4 seats. 1.5-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual transmission, 4-speed automatic.
Elantra: FWD subcompact 5-seat sedan 1.6-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Sonata: FWD compact 5-seat sedan. 2.0-liter 4-cycle engine. 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Infiniti
G20: FWD subcompact 5-seat sedan. 2.0-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. 4-wheel disc brakes.
M30 coupe and convertible: RWD 2+2 with 3.0-liter V6 engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Q45: RWD midsize 5-seat sedan. 4.5-liter V8 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission. 4-wheel antilock disc brakes.
Isuzu
Stylus: FWD 4-seat subcompact. 1.6-liter or 1.8-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Jaguar
XJ6: Large RWD 5-seat sedan. 4.0-liter inline 6-cycle engine, 4-speed automatic transmission. 4-wheel antilock disc brakes.
XJ-S coupe and convertible: RWD luxury sports cars. Coupe has seating, convertible, 2 seats. 5.3-liter V-12 engine, 4-speed automatic.
ES 300: FWD compact 5-seat luxury sedan. 3.0-liter V6, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, driver airbag.
LS 400: RWD midsize 5-seat luxury sedan. 4.0-liter V8 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission. 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, driver airbag.
Coupe: RWD 4-seat luxury sport coupe. 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, driver air bag. SC 300 has 3.0-liter inline 6-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. SC 400 has 4.0-liter V8, 4-speed automatic.
Mazda
MX-3: New FWD subcompact 2+2 sports coupe. 1.6-liter 4-cycle engine or 1.8-liter V6 with 4-wheel disc brakes. 5-speed manual transmisson.
MX-5 Miata: RWD 2-seat sports convertible. 1.6-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual transmission.
RX-7: RWD 2-seat coupe and convertible. 1.3-liter rotary engine. New model coming in spring.
929: RWD 5-seat luxury sedan. 3.0-liter V6 engine, 4-speed automatic. Solar-powered ventilation.
Mercedes-Benz
190E: RWD 5-seat compact luxury sedan. 2.3-liter 4-cycle engine or 2.6-liter inline 6. 4-speed automatic transmission. Six-cycle model offers a package that has faster steering ratio.
300, 400 and 500 Class: RWD 5-seat sedans and one coupe. 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, airbags. Two inline 6-cycle engines, 2 V8s and one 5-cycle turbocharged diesel.
S Class: RWD large luxury sedans. Double-glazed windows, power door-closing. Inline 6 now has four valves per cyclinder like the two V8s. 5-speed automatic transmission. 600 SEL limousine has V-12 engine. All have antilock brakes, air bags, free maintenance for four years.
SL sports coupe: RWD 2-seat with soft and hardtops. 300 has 3.0-liter inline 6 and 500 has 5.0-liter V8. 5-speed automatic.
Mitsubishi
Galant: FWD 5-seat compact sedan. 2.0-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Diamante: FWD 5-seat luxury sports sedan. 3.0-liter V6. 4-speed automatic transmission. Antilock brakes.
Sentra: FWD 4-seat subcompact 2- and 4-door models. 1.6-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed.
NX 1600/2000: FWD 2+2 seat subcompact coupe. 1.6- or 2.0-liter 4-cycle engine. 5-speed manual transmission. 4-wheel disc brakes. New options are T-bar roof for 1600 and power window/lock and cruise control package for 2000.
Stanza: FWD 5-seat sedan. 2.4-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Maxima: FWD compact 5-seat sedan. 3.0-liter V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission. Heated outside mirrors, optional driver air bag.
240SX: RWD 2+2 notch and hatchback sport coupes. Convertible coming in spring. 2.4-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
300ZX: RWD 2-seat or 2+2 sports coupe, plus a convertible in the spring. 3.0-liter V6 engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Porsche
968: RWD 2+2 coupe, 2-seat convertible. Replaces 944. 3.0-liter 4-cycle engine with variable valve timing, 6-speed manual or 4-speed.
911: RWD with rear-mounted 3.6-liter flat 6-cycle engine or 3.3-liter turbocharged version. 6-speed manual or 4-speed transmission. 2+2 sports coupe, cabriolet or Targa. The upscale Carrera offers RWD or 4WD.
928S4 and GT: RWD 2+2 sports coupe with 4.2-liter V8 and 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Unchanged for 1992.
Rolls-Royce
Silver Spirit: RWD 5-seat luxury sedan. 6.8-liter V8 engine, new 4-speed automatic transmission.
Corniche/Bentley
Continental: RWD 4-seat convertible has new power top with heated rear window. 6.8-liter V8 engine, new 4-speed automatic.
Bentley Coupe/Mulsanne/Turbo: The sporting Rolls with the diffident grille. Same specs as Spur except that driveline, suspension, brakes and steering have been tweaked to excite the personal driver.
SAAB
900/900S: FWD 5-seat 2- and 4-door hatchback sedans and convertible. 2.3-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel disc brakes. No changes for 9000: FWD 5-seat 4-door sedan. 2.3-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual transmission or 3-speed automatic. A 9000CD Turbo Griffin Edition will come only in "eucalyptus green" with aluminum wheels, tan leather interior, a phone, CD changer and three years' free maintenance.
Subaru
Justy: FWD 4-seat minicompact 2- or 4-door hatchback. 1.2-liter 3-cycle engine with 4-speed manual.
Loyale: FWD subcompact 4-seat sedan and wagon. 1.8-liter 4-cycle flat opposed aluminum engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Legacy: FWD compact 5-seat sedan and wagon. 2.2-liter flat 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Three equipment levels. LS has foregoing plus automatic transmission and driver's air bag standard. LSi adds a compact disc player.
SVX: 4WD 4-seat sports coupe. 3.3-liter flat 6-cycle engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, antilock brakes, driver's airbag.
Toyota
Tercel: FWD, formerly minicompact, now subcompact. 4-seat coupe and sedan. 1.5-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Paseo: FWD 2+2 sports coupe based on Tercel. Twin overhead cam version of same engine, same gearbox choices.
Camry: New and bigger body built on Lexus ES 300 platform. FWD 5-seat compact sedan. 2.4-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Optional 3.0-liter V6 is same engine as in Lexus ES 300, has 4-wheel disc brakes. Top XLE level has V6, automatic and leather. Former wagon discontinued, new one coming.
Cressida: RWD compact 5-seat sedan. 3.0-liter inline 6-cycle engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, disc brakes.
MR2: RWD mid-engine 2-seat sports coupe. 2.2-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual transmission. Disc brakes.
Celica: FWD and 4WD coupe and FWD convertible. all 2+2. 1.6-liter 4-cycle engine plus 2.2-liter 4 in GT and GTS. 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Supra: RWD 4-seat luxury coupe. 3.0-liter inline 6-cycle engine. 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Volkswagen
Fox: FWD subcompact 4-seat 2- and 4-door sedans. 1.8-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual transmission.
Golf and GTI: FWD 4-seat 2- and 4-door hatchback Golf with 1.8-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic tr;ansmission, and 2-door hatchback GTI with 2.0-liter 16-valve 4-cycle engine and 5-speed manual transmission..
Jetta: FWD 4-seat subcompact sedan. 1.8-liter, 2.0-liter 16-valve and 1.6-liter turbodiesel 4-cycle engines, 5-speed manual and 3-speed automatic transmissions.
Passat: FWD compact 5-seat sedan and wagon. 2.0-liter 4-cycle engine or 2.8-liter V6 with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Cabriolet: FWD 4-seat convertible. 1.8-liter 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission. Power steering, power windows. Driver's air bag.
Corrado: FWD 2+2 sports hatchback coupe. 1.8-liter supercharged 4-cycle engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, disc brakes, heated outside mirrors.
Volvo
240: RWD 5-seat compact sedan and wagon. 1.8-liter 4-cycle engine, 4-speed plus electric overdrive manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. Disc brakes.
740/760: RWD midsize 5-seat sedan and wagon. 2.3-liter 4-cycle engine, 4-speed automatic.
940/960: RWD large 5-seat sedan. 3.0-liter inline 6-cycle engine, 4-speed electronic automatic transmission with winter, sport and economy modes.
Domestic models will be featured in Sunday's auto section.