The Lexus GS hybrid’s luxuriously-equipped interior includes hybrid-specific instrumentation such as a hybrid/gas energy monitor and a kilowatt meter in place of a tachometer. The trunk is smaller because of the hybrid’s large battery behind the rear seat.
“One of the better cars I’ve ever driven,” is how Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh describes the V8-powered Hyundai Genesis. It has a strong engine, nice ride and exceptional interior, but will it sell well under its traditionally lower-priced nameplate? 
Audi wants to woo BMW and Mercedes buyers with its new 2010 A5 and supercharged S5 Cabriolets, says contributor Peter Bleakney, and with their meaty steering, powerful performance, lots of technology and good looks, it just might do exactly that. 
Leave it to the Italians to make four doors alluring, says contributor Peter Bleakney of the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S. It’s “bold, curvaceous and enduringly beautiful,” he says, but with some extra “passione” in its Ferrari-sourced V8. 
Now in its fifth generation, the Camry-based ES 350 is Lexus’ top-selling model, says contributor Andrew McCredie. It’s “understated,” he says, but if you’re willing to “fly under the radar, it’s a luxury sedan like no other.” 
Lighter, more powerful and cleaner than the first Gallardo, the redesigned 2009 Gallardo LP 560-4 is “a true exotic in styling, performance and price” but also “amazingly easy to drive,” says contributor Dustin A. Woods. 
Porsche’s new 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission not only improves performance but helps improve fuel economy too, says contributor Peter Bleakney. Still, Bleakney would rather have the 6-speed manual transmission, “only because it is such a joy to operate.” 
Voted Best New SUV/CUV over $60,000 by Canadian auto writers, the diesel-powered ML320 BlueTec has new urea injection technology to reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions. It’s also powerful, quiet and economical, reports contributor Peter Bleakney. 
Now under the stewardship of TATA, the 2009 Land Rover LR3 gets a facelift and some more “standard features”, reports contributor Andrew McCredie. Despite having 300 horsepower, the heavy LR3 is a bit underpowered, he says.
The 2009 A4’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine gets an extra 11 horsepower and 51 lb-ft of torque, reports Contributing Editor, Chris Chase. The driver can also customize settings for the suspension, transmission, throttle response, steering ratio and power assist.
The second-generation MDX’s two cutting-edge technology systems really help it stand out in this competitive class, says contributor Bob McHugh. They are Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and Active Damper System.
Porsche’s new PDK transmission (which stands for “Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe” or Porsche double clutch) replaces the old and much maligned…Tiptronic automatic, reports contributor Haney Louka. The PDK “finally elevates the two-pedal Porsche into a seriously sporting machine,” he says. 
It may not be politically correct to appreciate an oversized, V8-powered SUV, but Peter Bleakney feels the love for the Lexus LX570, a seriously luxurious version of the U.S. Toyota Land Cruiser.
A new supercharged 333-hp 3.0-litre V6 engine replaces the previous S4’s 340-hp 4.2-litre V8 and offers 27 per cent better fuel economy, reports contributor Bob McHugh. The new S4 is “faster, more fuel-efficient, more agile and more stable,” he writes.
The IS F is the brawny yet beautiful lovechild of a union forged on the Fuji Speedway between speed freaks and luxury coachbuilders, says contributor Andrew McCredie. The only change for 2009 is a new Smart Key card.
Few vehicles can match a Range Rover Supercharged when it comes to versatility, says contributor Russell Purcell. "It offers the luxury and handling of a high-performance sports sedan...and the off-road prowess that made Land Rover synonymous with the pursuit of adventure."
The new Lincoln MKS has just about every electronic gadget, gizmo or system you could dream up, and then some, says contributor Bob McHugh. "Fortunately, what it doesn't have is a huge gas-guzzling engine," he says.
The C30’s personality leans away from the hot-hatch and more towards the touring side of the equation, says contributor Peter Bleakney. It's "a premium Euro-hatch that seems most suited to lasering along the highway or cruising smooth sweepers."
