Fall is an exciting time at the Car Show blog! It's when we get to see the new 2012 models for real. It's like the smell of fall: you get a whiff of gasoline, an engine rumble, and the party is just beginning.

I'm going to start with the Camaro ZL1. It's a sleek, sexy thing and I'm partial, having owned two earlier models. The first one was love at first sight - it was red of course. It provided a low-to-the-ground ride along with a big enough engine to cause the car body to throb with the turn of a key. That was as good as it gets if you can't afford a Corvette. By the time I needed to trade it in, Chevy had made the Camaro a little safer. The driver sat a little higher and it didn't turn on a dime like earlier versions, either. That was always a tempting practice, but not the smartest at any age.

Now it's 2012 and the Camaro is back.

You get three options according to the Chevy web site. There's the basic coupe, a convertible, and "special editions" to choose. Price ranges vary along with their design. Color choices include red (of course), silver, and black. With 550 hp under the hood, it has older models - with a modest by comparison 425 hp - beat all over the highway. You may want to hold off on buying this one for a teenager. Besides, it's going to be just too much fun, I think, that adults won't be able to resist.

What's on your wish list in vehicles for 2012? Even if it's a budget-buster, it's always fun to dream a little.

Photo © GM Company