Do you know the way to CAFE?

Look at what's next from the world's automakers. They weren't waiting for the 2020 Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards or even stricter, looming European Union CO2 standards to design smaller, more fuel-efficient models.

For cars, the most influential introduction of the new millennium has been the Mini Cooper, which proved that Americans do like small, premium-priced hatchbacks if they're stylish, well-appointed, and offer lots of personalization. Compact and midsize cars that have grown larger every four or five years have paved the way for the Scions, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and soon, the European Ford Fiesta replacement, presented in concept form as the Verve and heading our way in a couple years.

The Mini and Europe's higher car prices combined with the ever-shrinking U.S. dollar paved the way for the BMW 1 Series, which pushes the popular 3 Series up in price and prestige. Meanwhile, it turns out Europeans like sport/utility vehicles nearly as much as we do, only they like them smaller, because of tighter spaces and $6- to $8-per-gallon fuel prices. Mercedes-Benz is the latest to enter the BMW X3 category, one that's quickly becoming populated with rival compact luxury SUVs, though they remain more popular in Europe than in the States for now.

Even the more conventional cars and trucks in this roundup illustrate their makers' efforts to increase fuel efficiency while maintaining performance. The teens will mark a new decade for enthusiasts, as hybrids and turbodiesels proliferate. The good news is it doesn't look like a repeat of the bad, old 1970s.

2010 Ford Verve

"The best jazz is played with Verve" is an old record company slogan, and so the name fits this car. Ford's Fiesta replacement is in the same size category as Honda's Fit/Jazz, with sleeker styling reminiscent of the U.S.-market Civic. This sedan is tailored for Americans, with a big Blue Oval nose badge and a contemporary notchback that might as well be a hatch. A gas direct-injection four of about 1.6 liters should provide acceptable power. Verve three- and five-door hatchbacks launch in Europe this year; a 2011 Verve sedan (with framed doors, unlike the concept) is due in the U.S. in 2010. Ford may sell the three-door hatchback here, as well.

SUM UP: The U.S. gets Ford's next hot small car, as usual, two years after Europe. Can Ford keep it up to date?

2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

While competitors rush to market with compact and curvy crossovers, Mercedes-Benz's GLK-Class mimics the GL and iconic Gelaendewagen's upright profile and chiseled lines. Mercedes claims the five-passenger SUV will be as off-road-capable as its ML-Class, thank largely to a new 4matic AWD system. It gets a new, 170-horsepower, 2.2-liter Bluetec turbodiesel four and at least one gas engine we can confirm: the 268-horse, 3.5-liter V-6. Both will be paired with the 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. Mercedes previewed the GLK as a concept at Detroit after the production version made an unintended public debut during filming in New York of the movie, "Sex and the City." The 2009 GLK goes on sale in October.

SUM UP: GLK looks more off-road-active than chief competitor BMW X3.

2009 BMW 1 Series Convertible/tii

The first glimpse of the 1 Series came, appropriately, in 2002. BMW unveiled the CS1 convertible concept at the Geneva motor show that year. Six years later, the ragtop's scheduled for a May on-sale date. Unlike its big brother 3 Series convertible, the 1 has a real softtop; no folding metal. Expect the same engines as in the coupe, the 130i's 230-horsepower, 3.0-liter and 135i's 300-horsepower twin-turbo six. As for the tii concept that first appeared at Tokyo last October, BMW has yet to confirm production. It was shown with an unmodified 300-horse turbo engine and with lightweight, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic hood, mirror caps, airdam covers, trunklid spoiler, and rear-bumper inlay. A hood stripe contrasts with the carbon-fiber look, then changes to black to contrast with the paint color of the rest of the body. And there's lots of rich Alcantara inside.

SUM UP: The convertible looks cute; the tii is more our kind of car.