Turbo Boost

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The situation is similar at GM, though it will launch a Cadillac two-seater (price: an estimated $80,000) and a combo roadster-truck, the Chevrolet SSR, both for next year. Producing a sports car in the sub-$40,000 segment is not part of GM's public plans, at least not yet. While the prototype of its Pontiac Solstice was a hit with critics at auto shows, GM has not said whether the car will be produced.

Part of Detroit's reluctance stems from years of neglect of the car market. Most of Detroit's cars rest on dated front-wheel-drive platforms (the car's foundation), which can't be easily re-engineered into sports cars. To make its Crossfire, Chrysler modified a platform that its sister brand, Mercedes-Benz, is phasing out. Foreign automakers have rolled out profitable models partly because they spent decades investing in platforms that can flex: Audi's TT sits on a modified Golf platform; BMW's Z4 started out with a 3-Series bed.

Although Nissan is recording strong orders for the 350Z, it's too early to tell whether the car will drive showroom traffic and sales of other vehicles. "It's bringing us a wider range of buyers," says Kevin Worfe, a Nissan dealer in Austin, "but we aren't seeing the effects on volume yet." For new owners, however, the car seems to be performing robustly. David Beverly says he got into a race last week with a BMW, clocking 115 m.p.h. before backing off. "I'm not 18 anymore," he says, "but it was heart-throbbing."