<i>TOP 5</i> MOST EXCITING & INTRIGUING SOON-COMING AMERICAN CARS

Given the circumstances, it's readily believable that the Ford Motor Company is actually excelling in the United States at the moment. Erasing debt amidst tumbling sales in a restructuring environment ain't easy. Ford's doing it anyway.

Chrysler is in tough shape. New products aren't about to arrive in Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep showrooms. The Cerberus-owned automaker needs Fiat badly. And shareholders who own large chunks of the business feel their shares are actually worthless; both figuratively and literally.

General Motors is on a product upswing while struggling mightily to get a handle on a terrible financial scenario. GM's recent plunge into second place on the global automotive manufacturing ranking list - behind Japan's Toyota - is simply symbolic of the problems facing GM. Second spot may sound smaller; but this is a huge company which needs to shed excess costs (read: jobs, factories) in order to survive the summer.

On that product upswing note, however, the domestic auto industry looks wonderful. To a certain extent, considering Chrysler's forlorn state, the new cars coming out of GM and Ford factories over the next few months are really, really nice. Keep reading, and you'll find The Good Car Guy's Top 5 Most Exciting & Intriguing Soon-Coming American Cars below. All of these cars will be available this year. Click each vehicle title for more pics and info.

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#5 - BUICK LACROSSE: For the guy who says he's a representative of young first-time car buyer's, admitting a Buick onto a list like this might seem like heresy. Just think about it, though. Buick's Enclave has made headway; and The Good Car Guy didn't simply act surprised by the Enclave's first impression - the Enclave was named to the first Good 12 Supersize. Now imagine if the very good-looking LaCrosse can do the same thing in the sedan category. Starting out as just a pretty face, the LaCrosse has the potential to impress 40 year-old American Toyota Camry XLE V6 buyers as much as 40 year-old Chinese buyers who wanted the Buick to begin with. We shall see.

#4 - GMC TERRAIN: Add the Chevrolet Equinox alongside as a veritable entry on this list, too. Relatively fuel efficient, high-class in appearance, laid out smartly inside, and priced right, the Terrain (and Equinox) look like the kind of vehicle you could buy to be different - but smart at the same time. Does your cul-de-sac really need another Honda CR-V?

#3 - CADILLAC CTS SPORT WAGON: Let's be truthful. The wagon version of Cadillac's very impressive smallish sedan could be a sales bomb. Americans, buying American luxury wagons? I mean, c'mon. Yet the CTS Sport Wagon is a beauty. It'll also drive just like the regular CTS; which is to say, wonderfully. Measuring the success of this vehicle will be difficult. Cadillac wants the CTS Sport Wagon to help garnish the Caddy image abroad with help on the volume side from North America. Regardless, the Cadillac Sport Wagon is intriguing, to say the least.

#2 - FORD TAURUS: Could it really be true that a vehicle named to The Bad 8 of 2008 could circle the wagons and come back as a possible Good 12 winner for v3.0? The nice exterior design matches the splendid interior well. Engines hungry for a little accelerative fun (especially in the SHO) help make its case. And Ford's commitment to remove the dull and import a little mirth and merriment could put the Taurus over the edge. Really, you'd choose the..... yawn... Toyota Avalon over this?

#1 - CHEVROLET CAMARO: Yes, it seems like the standard predictable response to the question of new and exciting American cars. But ain't it the truth? Say what you want about the image of this car or how Chevrolet could have designed a better exterior. The first time you spot a new Chevrolet Camaro SS on the road, you'll crane your neck to get a better view. You'll use every mirror at your disposal to spot the Camaro in the traffic behind you. And you'll wish you're Responsible Button could be extinguished for four or five years in order to allow for some V8 rumble in your garage on Monday mornings.