MotorMouths

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG might look like the SL Gullwing of the 1950s, but it’s clearly meant to challenge the best of today’s exotic sports cars, like the Audi R8, the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

The 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is a fantastically compelling machine. It is fast, has a truly brawny engine, handles with precision, and is super practical. And, to our eyes at least, it looks great.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63’s straight-line performance is captivating, but it is the precision of its handling that really leaves you in awe. It weighs nearly 2 tons, but it feels like a much lighter performance machine.

The new 2013 Porsche Boxster is still a Boxster — nimble, communicative and sharp. But it now adds measures of comfort and efficiency in a combination few others can match.

The bottom line is simple: The new 2013 Porsche Boxster is still a Boxster — nimble, communicative and sharp. But it now adds measures of comfort and efficiency in a combination few others can match.

By retaining the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo’s high levels of performance and road-holding while combining them with a sizable reduction in weight and big gains in fuel economy, the Cayenne Turbo proves you can have your cake and eat it, too.

If you’re shopping in this range you’ll probably want things like better handling, a little more motor and maybe some extra legroom. The 2012 BMW 650i Convertible delivers on all those things, at least in the front seats.

It’s going to take more wheel time to fully appreciate the changes BMW has made to the 135i to create the 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe. On the strength of what we’ve seen so far, it fully deserves the M-car billing.

If you’re shopping in this range, you’ll probably want things like better handling, a little more motor and maybe some extra legroom. The 2012 BMW 650i Convertible delivers on all those things, at least in the front seats.

The 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman clearly pushes the limits of the Mini brand. It’s not as driver-oriented as existing Mini models. But what it lacks in overall dynamic behavior it more than makes up for in terms of space.