MotorMouths

There is a void in the old person automotive continuum. Some other company will have to create a big lumbering car to cruise down Florida’s roads seeking out Early Bird Specials. Well, that old Buick has arrived — it’s the 2011 Toyota Avalon.

The Hyundai Veloster is a sporty compact car that defies logic and description. It provides a mixed bag on the performance side, but iIt has a very distinctive look, like nothing else on the market.

Introducing an all-new vehicle, something that has never been tried or sold before, takes money and gumption. Chevrolet has shown both. The Volt is world-beater. Mother Nature might be the first to buy two.

Ram has already created a world-class 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty set of trucks, and the Power Wagon is the all-star of big rigs, proving some stars do break the mold.

With its four-wheel drive capability, comfortable second row and high riding position, the Pilot seems ideal for people who want all of those SUV qualities without its detriments, such as a harsh, noisy ride and poor gas mileage.

The 2011 Toyota Highlander can be a repairman’s assistant, a school bus, a daily driver and grocery-getter all on the same day. It may not be the most exciting vehicle, but that’s just because the people who drive it find their excitement off the highway.

The 2012 Mazda5 is fun, functional and most people who buy it probably go sky-diving. It may not handle exactly like a car or offer the room of a bigger minivan, but it doesn’t have to.

The point of any hatchback is providing the best of both worlds. The Mazda3 hatchback remains one of the best in that world. It combines just the right combination of zoom and room.

The CTS-V Wagon gives you a stylish car that you can take to the opera, to a family reunion and grocery shopping. But on an uninterrupted stretch of road you can sit back, hit the accelerator and see how long it takes to lose that car in your rearview mirror.

The new Lincoln MKT’s incredible 3.5-liter direct injection turbocharged V-6 tosses around V-8 kind of numbers; in fact, they’re better than many V-8s.

Call it a crossover, call it a uni-body constructed vehicle or call it an SUV. Just don’t underestimate it. The Durango can tow, haul and carry the heavy loads. What everyone will notice right away, however, is how crisp and clean the exterior looks.

Mini drivers seem unencumbered by so many of life’s tethers that weigh most down. The Countryman opens its four doors to a whole new segment of buyers: People who need to carry their families along for the ride.