MotorMouths

The 2012 Golf R is a great vehicle for point-and-shoot driving. By opting for the GTI’s turbo four, VW has made the Golf R more nimble than the nose-heavy R32. However, the turbo takes a bit more time to spool up into its sweet spot.

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, with its gullwing doors and guttural-sounding V-8 engine, is more than just a blast from the past, it’s a blast to drive on both road and track.

Mechanically, the FF, with its innovative approach to on-demand all-wheel-drive, is everything you would expect from Ferrari. Should Ferrari have built such an all-season GT entry? It’s a debate that will go on in Ferrari circles for some time.

The competent suspension, responsive handling and good engine performance is only half the story. The 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD is a handsome and daresay charming alternative to upscale import and domestic compact sedans.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC has the feel of a machine perfect for the gentleman racer, with the emphasis on gentleman.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost is easy to hustle down the road quickly; and yet, it handles and rides with a unique, almost inexplicable isolation from the world around you.

Bentley has done a terrific job of keeping all the great attributes of the Continental GT — especially the sharp styling and a high-quality interior — while making the handling and performance even more responsive.

Like the original Gullwing, the Mercedes-Benz SLS is a sports car, with a little GT mixed in. It’s the kind of car that is not only track-ready, but also has road trip written all over it.

The 2013 Maserati GranTurismo Sport can be an everyday driver and yet has this sporting side that can handle whatever challenges you care to throw at it on a weekend getaway. If what you seek is something out of the ordinary, it’s well worth putting on your short list.

Despite the similarities to the Phantom, the Ghost has a personality all its own, due largely to its underpinnings, which are courtesy of the 7 Series from parent company BMW. This lineage gives the Ghost a unique blend of a limousine’s body with a driver’s spirit.