Here come the 2015 -- make that the 2016 -- cars

The cork has yet to pop on the new year's bubbly, but that isn't stopping automakers from showcasing vehicles for the following model year in 2016. They include high-performance cars from Ford and Cadillac and mini-SUVs from Honda and Mazda. Redesigns include a Volvo SUV and an Audi coupe.

Until the 1970s or so, new model years began precisely on Oct. 1 with ceremonial unveiling of the next year's cars. But after years of tinkering with their production schedules, car makers now introduce new models in any way they think can garner some attention.

Among the 2016 models already being touted, sporty cars are well represented, including the redesigned Audi TT pictured above in its convertible form. This third-generation TT, first shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will have a turbo-boosted engine of about 220 horsepower. One Car and Driver reviewer praised the new TT for its quick acceleration and the high design of its interior.

Here's a closer look at five other 2016 vehicles making their debut.

Shelby GT350 Mustang

The late, and legendary, car designer Carroll Shelby transformed the original Ford Mustang into a high-performance powerhouse in 1965. Now Ford is launching the Shelby version of the sixth-generation Mustang. The Shelby Mustang features the most powerful naturally non-turbocharged engine Ford has ever produced -- a mighty 5.2 liter V-8 that puts out more than 500 horsepower. It is paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

Ford says handling is geared for speed on the track or back roads, with the stiffness of the chassis increased by nearly a third over the previous model. And when you need to slow this powerful Shelby down, its brakes have the most stopping power of any Ford vehicle ever offered.

Inside, special sport seats are designed both to work well during high-speed track runs and for everyday driving. On the dashboard, chrome and bright materials have been minimized to avoid glare that could distract the driver.

Cadillac ATS-V

General Motors is bringing out its own 2016 high-performance model in the luxury Cadillac line. The first-ever ATS-V will be available in both sedan and coupe versions. The ATS-V will be powered by a twin-turbocharged, 455-horsepower six-cylinder engine.

Like all the Cadillac V-series models, the ATS-V is designed to perform well on the track in addition to being comfortable for daily driving. The chassis has been stiffened for better handling, and the driver can choose among different settings for touring, sport and track. For smooth, quick stops, the ATS-V uses Brembo high-performance brakes.

Inside, the ATS-V features a 5.7-inch three-window instrument panel for clear, quick readouts. The seats are 16-way performance seats with adjustable bolsters that help hold driver and passenger in place during hard cornering.

Volvo XC90

While GM and Ford are introducing track-ready models, Volvo is characteristically emphasizing safety in its redesign of its XC90 SUV. The company says it is introducing the first-ever system aimed at preventing injuries in so-called run off road accidents where the car leaves the road due to bad weather or driver inattention. This type of crash causes half of all U.S. traffic fatalities, according to Volvo.

The new system in the XC90 tightens the seat belts sharply when it detects the car leaving the road. A redesign of the seat and seat frame to absorb more energy is aimed at reducing spinal injuries, the most common type in such accidents. "By keeping the occupant in an upright posture while cushioning the impact, the vertical forces he or she is exposed to can be reduced by up to one-third," said Lotte Jakobsson, a safety specialist with Volvo.

The control system inside the XC-90 is new. In place of the numerous buttons and switches on the old version, the new SUV has a 9.3-inch central screen, and the look is clean and elegant. The seven-passenger SUV has plenty of luxurious wood and leather surfaces.

Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V joins a growing class of mini-SUVs that seems ready to kick-start sales in this category. Other competitors will be the Mazda CX-3 (see following slide) as well as the Jeep Renegade and Chevrolet Trax.

Going on sale in the spring, the 2016 HR-V is based on the same mechanical platform as the Fit, the smallest vehicle Honda sells here. The HR-V also shares the Fit's Magic Seat equipment that lets the rear seat fold down to offer an impressive 58 cubic feet of cargo space.

The HR-V will be powered by a four-cylinder, l.8-liter engine that produces 138 horsepower, coupled with either manual or a mileage-boosting continuously variable automatic transmission. (No EPA mileage estimates are yet available for the new mini-SUVs.) The HR-V will come with considerable standard equipment, including a rearview camera for safer backing up. It also will have power windows and mirrors, a tilt steering wheel and Pandora radio.

Mazda CX-3

The CX-3 resembles a smaller version of the compact CX-5, often praised by reviewers for its sleek design. Inside, the uncluttered CX-3 dashboard features an iPad-like display for phone, music and other system details.

But the CX-3 shares the same mechanical platform as the subcompact Mazda2 car. It will be powered by a 2.0-liter engine with Mada's fuel-saving Skyactiv technology, although Mazda has not yet announced the official horsepower numbers for the engine. A six-speed automatic transmission will be standard, and all-wheel drive will be available as an option.

The CX-3 will begin U.S. sales in mid-to-late 2015 after a sales roll-out in Japan next Spring. Car and Driver describes the CX-3 as "a fun and feisty runabout promising taut handling paired with edgy styling."