If 2009 was not a particularly strong year for car chase/racing films, 2010 seems that it will be much more promising. Here's what we can look forward to:

 

Bitch Slap (2009): Technically a 2009 release, it has only recently finished working through the festival circuit and will open in early January. Obviously inspired from Tarantino's retro exploitation fare, with a bit of Russ Meyer thrown in as well. Some automotive content appears in the film, and with Zoe Bell, of Death Proof fame, as stunt coordinator, hopefully their will be some car chase sequences on display. You can catch a glimpse of the scenes in question in its trailer.

Release date: 8th January.

Book of Eli (2010): The Hughes brothers return with this post-apocalyptic tale starring Denzel Washington. Its trailer features a few shots of vehicular mayhem.

Release date: 15th January.

Edge of Darkness (2010): Always good to see Mel Gibson in a revenge flick, a genre he specializes in since Mad Max. Automotive action-wise, there seems to be a chase sequence in a tunnel minimally.

Release date: 29th January. Trailer.

From Paris With Love (2010): John Travolta plays FBI agent Charlie Wax in a thriller that looks like a cross between Swordfish and Ronin. There is a chase down a freeway featuring Travolta with a bazooka. Who can ask for more?

Release date: 19th February. Trailer.

Cop Out (2010): Kevin Smith directs this police comedy starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. Some evident car chase action is on show in its trailer.

Release date: 26th February.

The Bounty Hunter (2010): Another action comedy this time starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler as a bounty hunter after her who also happens to be her ex-husband. They boot around together in an Oldsmobile Cutlass and are pursued by bad guys in a SUV.

Release date: 19th March. Trailer.

The A-Team (2010): Feature film based on the 1980s television series. No poster artwork or trailers yet, but the word is a chase takes place on an air force base.

Release date: 11th June.

Knight & Day (2010):

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz team up with Cruise playing some deranged agent. Trailer features a freeway chase that bears similarities to the one in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Release date: 2nd July.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010): Fantasia meets Harry Potter. Nicolas Cage is the sorcerer in question and he applies his wizardry during a chase sequence.

Release date: 16th July. Trailer.

Inception (2010): Christopher Nolan's much anticipated next film after the success with The Dark Knight. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in this sci-fi thriller with a couple of shots of vehicles in apparent pursuit appearing in the trailer. With Nolan at the helm, always worth a look.

Release date: 16th July.

Salt (2010): Ever since Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Wanted, Angelina Jolie's star persona is increasingly associated with being a paid assassin and Salt solidifies this connection. A multi-vehicle city chase down city streets is in store for car chase fans.

Release date: 23rd July. Trailer.