IRVINE, CA – The Top 10 Fast Lane Four Cylinders were named by the expert editors from Kelley Blue Bookwww.kbb.com, a provider of new- and used-car information.

Call it a sign of the times: In an era when relentlessly high fuel prices and increasingly stringent emissions requirements put a serious squeeze on displacement and cylinder counts, greater numbers of automakers are rallying behind the battle cry “Four is More” when it comes to creating performance cars with a 21st-century twist.

KBB.com editors do not deny the new generations of enthusiast-grade “four-bangers” lack the visceral kick and deep-throated exhaust rumble of bigger and more cylinder-rich V-type engines. However, their finely-crafted combinations of variable valve and/or camshaft timing and direct fuel injection - generally teamed with either supercharging or turbocharging - deliver a synergistic blend of adrenaline and efficiency that represents a more-than-fair tradeoff.

“Many car shoppers may be surprised at the sheer number of performance-oriented new cars available today that boast ‘only’ a four-cylinder engine,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Even more surprising is the amount of power and performance elicited from many of these four-bangers, providing a satisfying alternative for enthusiasts who also may be looking to save a little cash at the gas pump.”

Each member of the kbb.com editors’ field of overachievers complements its sophisticated muscle with suitably upgraded chassis components, dedicated cosmetic touches and an impressive roster of standard and optional features. Lest any doubts linger about these vehicles’ formidable potential, check out the coupes, roadsters, sedans and hatches that constitute kbb.com's 2010 Top 10 Fast-Lane Fours, presented in alphabetical order in the Latest News story on kbb.com.

Select Choices from kbb.com's 2010 Top 10 Fast-Lane Four-Cylinders List (listed alphabetically)

For the remaining 2010 Top 10 Fast-Lane Four-Cylinders choices, including full editorial commentary and reasoning behind each of the editors’ vehicle picks, visit the Top 10 Fast-Lane Four-Cylinders story in kbb.com's Latest News section at www.kbb.com/FastFours2010.