Auto News 5

During the economic nightmare that was 2009, carmakers watched their sales slide off a cliff -- all carmakers but one that is: Subaru. Instead of plunging sales, 2009 marked the third consecutive year of Subaru sales growth; giving it a record market share in the process. So far in 2010, Subaru has done even better. For 2011, Subaru hopes to keep the momentum going, with updates to its performance side of the brand -- the WRX and STI.

Photographer Michael Alan Ross has been a car guy -- or maybe that's car kid -- since age four, and he has been shooting cars since he was nine. More recently, Ross met the owner of a 1932 Ford roadster with a land speed record at Bonneville, and their conversation led Ross to make his first of three trips to the salt for the annual Speed Week. "It was like stepping onto the face of the moon," he says of his first experience at the Salt Flats. "To stand in the middle of 46 square miles of salt is a pretty amazing experience."

Hyundai's corporate work ethic and frugality have resulted in a strong emphasis on developing and manufacturing key components in-house. By avoiding the hybrid technology used in the Sonata Hybrid's chief competitors-the Ford Fusion, the Nissan Altima, and the Toyota Camry-the company has smartly dodged the licensing fees of patented technology and tapped existing hardware for its first gasoline/electric car.

The styling of the 2011 Jaguar XJ doesn't excite me, but I also don't find it offensive. Get behind the wheel, though, and the XJ elicits strong emotions. The 470-hp supercharged V-8 is so smooth and so authoritative. As usual, though, Jaguar's expertise in chassis tuning is what really shines. Steering and handling are confident while the ride is comfortable. Surrounded by a band of lovely dark wood, the cabin combines old-school luxury with modern style. Even with the dark cloud of Jaguar reliability hanging around, it's easy to understand why someone would own this dynamic hero.