The Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto Show gave car fans a nice peek at some of the hottest new models in the auto industry.

In case you missed this year's show, here are some of the highlights:

On display was the Nissan GT-R, or "Godzilla" as it's nicknamed, a premium sports car that will be available on a limited basis in the United States.

"We set out to make the fastest car we could make," said Nissan's Peter Bedrosian.

Apparently, they did pretty well. Nissan says that in its track tests, the GT-R posted a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

The GT-R has a twin-turbocharged, 480 horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 engine.

But don't be scared by that, Bedrosian said.

"We saw that some people were intimidated driving a supercar, so we wanted to take away that fear and produce something that has lots of technology [for] average drivers," he said.

Nissan benchmarked the Porsche 911 Turbo in creating the GT-R, he said.

With two front seats and two seats in a relatively snug rear area, the GT-R can be an everyday driver as well as a great track car, Bedrosian said.

"We also have seen lots of collectors as buyers," he said.

The GT-R carries a sticker price of about $70,000, but only 1,500 will be sold in the United States.

Nissan also unveiled, with a bit less fanfare, the latest version of its Maxima sedan.

With this version, Nissan hopes to return the Maxima to its heritage of being a four-door sports car, the company said.

The latest design features bolder fender flares, a rectangular grille and optional 19-inch wheels.

Nissan said "liquid motion" was the design theme used in creating the new look.

It will be available in dealerships in early summer, Nissan spokeswoman Julie Lawless said.

In the pickup truck category, the king gets a makeover.

Ford's F-150, the best selling vehicle in the world, takes on some changes designed to hold on to that position amid increasing competition.

Ford adds a platinum trim package for more luxury, and lengthens its Crew Cab version by 6 inches, among other changes.

General Motors trotted out its latest Corvette product.

Corvette, maker of some of America's favorite speed machines, is touting its ZR1, which comes with a bodacious 6.2-liter V-8 engine.

The new ZR1 will zoom into the marketplace this summer.

GM has also redesigned its Pontiac Vibe compact crossover wagon.

It has a starting price of $15,895.

Pontiac has aimed the Vibe at economy, functionality and style for those who don't want a traditional SUV and perhaps are also seeking something a little off the beaten path of crossovers.

It gets great gas mileage —- around 30 mpg on the highway —- and there is a front-wheel-drive version as well as all-wheel-drive.

There's also a GT performance model.

The base model has a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

There's an optional four-speed automatic.

In another nod to gas mileage concerns, GM showed off its Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric concept vehicle, which is scheduled to be ready in 2010.

Chrysler's Dodge brand isn't going to stand idly by and let Ford take all of the pickup truck headlines.

The company is rolling out its newest Ram truck and talking about its unique features, syle, increased power and improved fuel economy.

The front end is more tapered but aggressive, and some models have chrome highlights on the grille.

Dodge also says that better engineering has made the Ram more aerodynamic, making it sit lower to the ground, for example.

Ride quality has been improved, Dodge says, thanks to a new multilink rear suspension.

Like Ford, Dodge is making its interior a little ritzier, with features such as heated steering wheel and second-row heated seating.

Dodge also has rolled out its only crossover, the Journey.

The Journey, which offers an optional third row of seating, comes with a handsome interior and creative storage compartments.

For instance, the front passenger seat flips up to reveal a large bin that can carry stuff like laptops and books.

A dual glove box and tray in the instrument panel also are available.

The second row features storage in the floor with removable bins that can be rinsed out.

There's a refridgerated "Chill Zone" beverage storage bin in the glove box and many cup holders and map pockets.

When you opt for the third row seating, you can also get a rear DVD video system with CD/MP3 capability, rear temperature controls, and a MyGig Multimedia infotainment system that combines entertainment, information and communication functions, along with navigation with real time traffic data.

The engine is a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder that has EPA ratings of 19 city, 25 highway.

Optional is a 3.5-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Prices for these crossover vehicles start at just under $20,000.