Ah, spring, the time when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love, or in some cases, to a shapely, fun-to-drive new car -- an automotive "spring fling" -- that might turn into a permanent love affair.

Naturally, expensive luxury cars -- like the 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, priced about $280,000 -- have no trouble filling the bill.

But you don't have to be rich to have fun. The newest small cars, like the Fiat 500 -- which Chrysler will offer in the United States later this year -- are shedding their old "econobox" images, and are distinctively styled and fun to drive.

Here are seven great "spring fling" cars we found at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. They range from high-end to low-end, but they're all high on emotional appeal.