MotorMouths

We’re thrilled to see Acura invested in toning down its over-the-top styling in favor of lines that are significantly more palatable. Here’s hoping that the 2012 TL will be the new face of things to come from Acura.

Would we put our money down on the barrel head for a 2012 TTS? No, but if you have no intention of really beating on the coupe, have no need for an extra 95 horsepower and all the heroics the power entails, the middle child of the TT line isn’t a bad place to spend time.

A shockingly artful exterior matched with a comfortable interior and an engaging driving experience equals a compelling case for the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe. Graded on a curve, it’s a luxury sports coupe that gets the sporty right but falls short on the lux.

The engineers at GM have done an impressive job of keeping the traditional convertible gremlins at bay with the topless Camaro, and the result is a car that asks buyers to make few sacrifices for the joy of open-air driving.

The Cruze manages to do more than nail all of the basics of transportation. For the first time in GM’s history, it’s created a compact car that’s a pleasurable place to spend time in.

The 2010 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is a vehicle that has all of the right bones, but none of the followthrough to be really worth it.

For all of the bellyaching that we could work up over how long it takes to fully charge the Volt, GM has done an amazing job of building an EV that drives just like any other vehicle on the road.

It pays to remember that the Chrysler’s new sedan carries a base MSRP of $19,995. That means for all of its foibles, the 200 is a good value instead of just a cheap car. For us, that’s the most impressive change of all for Chrysler’s small sedan.

Given the blatant similarities between the 200 and the Avenger, Yours Truly would just as soon drive the Chrysler in V6 trim. Both carry identical price tags and the 200 is a marginally more attractive package.

This beast is everything that’s right with the American muscle car. While it may not be fit for track duty, on the street, the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 is a force to be reckoned with.

It’s nothing short of amazing how much Dodge has managed to change the Journey in such a short period of time. With a little more work in the fuel-economy and exterior styling department, this could be an unlikely top-runner in a hotly competitive segment.

For 2011, Ford has given the Edge a detailed once-over, plopped a few new engine options under the hood and given the interior the kind of remake that doesn’t typically pop up mid-cycle. If the rest of the segment was hoping to catch up, it can keep dreaming.