MotorMouths

With the 2013 SL, we’re back to added muscles, broader shoulders and a more forceful face. Needless to say, the SL is comfortable with the top up, but the surprise is how cozy it is with the top down.

No, the Rapide is not Aston’s answer to Porsche’s Panamera. The German car is a true 4-seater. The English machine is more a generous 2+2 with extra doors. It’s a handsome and elegant transformation of the DB9 and Aston design heritage into a 4-door sports car.

You won’t get the rush from the F Sport that you’d get with an AMG or M. Then again, you’ll have a perfectly good time in the LS 460 F Sport and, given the common sense needed to drive quickly on public roads, you’ll likely have just as much fun and might be as quick.

The Subaru BRZ is aimed directly at those who want a sports car but don’t have Porsche money in the bank. Getting right to the driving—look out, Miata. Mazda finally has real competition.

With the added power of the Veloster Turbo and only a minimal penalty in fuel economy, an important barrier for some potential buyers vaporizes. For some that still won’t be enough thanks to one fact: the Veloster’s polarizing exterior design.

If you’re considering a more space efficient hybrid vehicle, you’d be cutting yourself short if you didn’t give the new Ford C-Max a chance. It’s not a sports car, but a C-Max can be fun to drive. Pricing is aggressive and aimed squarely at the Prius v.

Is the new Cadillac ATS as good as a BMW 3 Series? Remember “the same, only different?” The pair does share quite a bit—in everything from overall size and drivetrains to intent. They are remarkably close.

Rushing down our favorite driving road on the Monterey Peninsula (sorry, I won’t tell you which it is…) the XJ Supersports feels about the size of the smaller XFR.

The Escape is a visual great leap forward. Fundamentals of the interior are spot-on for what you’d like in a small SUV. No one could fault Ford for not providing plenty of upfront tech. Ford wasn’t afraid to put us on some demanding twisting roads and the Escape was right at home.

Warning to Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Mazda and Nissan: Your corporate lives just became more difficult. The Camry, Accord, Fusion, Malibu, Mazda6 and Altima now have to contend with the new 2011 Sonata.

The Malibu Eco acquits itself reasonably. This is a cruiser, with a nice ride and quiet environment. Anyone considering a comfortable competent sedan would be making a mistake if they didn’t give the new Malibu Eco a chance.

VW has big plans for the future, with sales goals well above its current rate. To meet those goals, it is aiming right at the U.S. market and the new Jetta seems to be a commendable start.