Auto News 5

Every now and then something weird and wonderful comes our way. The Aptera 2E scores over the top in weirdness and, assuming a number of ifs can be fulfilled, it has the potential to be a wonderful alternative to humdrum automobiles.

The Audi R8 GT is a slightly more powerful, slightly lighter version of the R8 5.2 FSI coupe, which isn't exactly short on power (525 hp) or overweight (3583 pounds) to begin with. Perhaps that's why Audi only managed to bump peak horsepower to 560 and drop the curb weight 152 pounds for the GT.

Months in service: Five
Miles to date: 14,751

Fret not when another British sports car maker slips under the waves. Since England is the cradle of two-seat entertainment, whenever an automaker like Triumph or TVR succumbs, some up-and-comer arrives to fill in. In the land of fish and chips, creativity isn't so hindered by balance sheets and business plans.

Mini has pulled off the icon revival act of the century by growing a new and vastly superior subcompact sports car from a few well chosen genes of the original. This old/new hybrid took root at the start of the decade, matured with the introduction of a second-generation design in 2007, and gained momentum in the teeth of the recession. After a peak sales year in 2008, the current 100 US Mini dealers expect to move 45,000 cars in calendar 2010 thanks in part to an impressive 18-percent rise in September sales over 2009 volume.

Months in fleet: eleven
Miles to date: 30,281

Desire isn't the only factor that dictates the cars we own
Our most vivid, gasoline-fueled dreams are often sidetracked by more practical realities-financial, familial, and otherwise. Take heart, though, because there has never been a better selection of prodigious yet pragmatic performers. To suggest the way an enthusiast might ascend the automotive ladder in life, from his (or her) twenties to his thirties to his forties, we gathered three pairs of cars with increasing price tags and increasing capabilities. Then we turned the keys over to a gearhead who fits the target demographic and is ready to climb the ladder.

Months in fleet: Eleven
Miles to date: 35,145