MotorMouths

A little crisper, a little sharper, a bit more responsive, the 2012 model is the GTC fine-tuned.

Sporting a new powertrain, a revised look, and a simplified driver interface, this fast machine is every bit as impressive but much more livable than before. It has always been an impressive performer, but it now also has the polish one expects in a $100,000 coupe.

Bentley goes to great lengths to impart a special feeling with the Mulsanne, and nowhere is that more evident than in the interior. In most cars, we note the quality of the plastics; in the Mulsanne we couldn’t find any plastic.

The new Mercedes AMG E63 marks only incremental progress, but when you’re at the peak of the performance-sedan mountain, there’s only so much higher you can go.

The 2011 Fiesta has great looks, high-quality interior, and brilliant handling. Oh, and it has Bluetooth. And here you thought the big news was that Ford didn’t take the bailout money. Sheesh.

The Equus is offered with a single powertrain, and it’s impressively strong. This grandly proportioned sedan mimics the dimensions and the features of established high-zoot rides. And it does so for thousands less.

It might surprise a lot of people to learn that the S350 BlueTEC is powered by a diesel engine. With unimpeachable luxury bolstered by all-weather capability and surprising economy, it certainly seems like the smart-money choice among big-money Benzes.

The TT was best described as a sporty car — it is, after all, based on the Volkswagen Golf. But this is a machine that wants to be characterful, minimalist, high-performance sports car. And in RS form, it is exactly that.

The SLK is a distillation of Mercedes’ best-known qualities into a nimble, open-air machine for two — a car with which to reward yourself.

Ford wants buyers to buy a Fusion because they want a Fusion, not because it’s the best deal. Seductive styling, better fuel economy, a premium-feeling chassis, and up-to-the-minute technology are all supposed to impart a sense of greater value.

Even with the extra edge brought by the HS package, the California remains true to its mission, which Ferrari executives describe as “delivering Ferrari performance in a comfortable way.”