The latest trends in popular cars on the market is looking back to the past for inspiration. From the retro look of the Ford Mustang, to the VW Beetle, carmakers have been looking at their own classics for style and design. Other retro influenced designs are the now classic Chrysler PT, the Mini Cooper (based on the classic Austin Mini from the 60's) and the Chevrolet HHR, and the retro truck, the Chevrolet SSR. Some, like the Ford Mustang are run away successes. The Ford Mustang offers consumers high performance at a reasonable cost. The new bad boy in performance cars is the Ford Shelby GT-500, sporting an impressive 500hp 5.4l V-8. Promising to give the Ford Mustang a run for the money in 2008 is the Dodge Challenger from Chrysler. This retro muscle car will feature the long hood, short deck, wide stance and two-door coupe body style that distinguished the iconic Challengers of the 1970s, in the classic Challenger orange. GM is also planning a retro muscle car to compete with the brisk sales of the Mustang.

Popular hybrids on the market include the Toyota Prius, the Honda hybrid models, the Insight, Civic, and Accord, and the new Ford Escape hybrid. GM. Saturn, Lexus have all introduce hybrid models trying to tap into this growing market. The popularity of these fuel-efficient vehicles is enhanced by recent tax breaks for hybrid owners. Plus hybrids have the reverse snob appeal of being the absolute opposite of the giant, gas guzzling SUV's, and proudly displaying their owners stand on the environment.

Best selling trucks are the Chevrolet Avalanche, Toyota Truck Tacoma 4X4, Cadillac Escalade EXT, Toyota Truck Tacoma 4X2, and the Nissan Truck Frontier King Cab.

The most popular Vans are currently the Hyundai Entourage, the Nissan Quest, the Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, and the Chevrolet Uplander.

Tops selling five economy cars are Pontiac Solstice, the Scion tC, the Toyota Camry, Nissan Versa Hatchback, and the Toyota Yaris.

The most popular Sedans on the market are the BMW M5, the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the Toyota Camry, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the Toyota Yaris.

The Fastest moving Coupes are the Scion tC, BMW M3, the Ford GT, the BMW 3-Series Coupe, Infiniti G35 Coupe.

Sales trends in automobiles will probably depend as much on oil prices as on new models. The insane price fluctuations in gasoline have lead to a great deal of uncertainty for the consumer, and this uncertainty has been reflected in the rise in sales of economy cars and gas friendly hybrids.