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With the addition of this turbo four engine option, the Sonata-which also includes a normally-aspirated four and, soon, a hybrid-now offers a complete model lineup that should compete well with the heavy hitters in its class. While the non-turbo four-cylinder is refined and offers adequate power, the turbo is just as smooth and refined and despite the additional 74 hp and 83 lb-ft of torque, it sacrifices very little in terms of economy. To me, the Sonata turbo offers the most appealing combination of refinement, style, performance, price, and economy in its class. It's as refined as the Camry and Accord in terms of interior quality and performance, it has styling as distinctive as that of the Mazda 6, and a turbo four-cylinder engine that, in this segment, was previously only available in the Subaru Legacy.
- Jennifer Misaros, Production Editor

With November now on the books, the auto industry heads into the final, year-end selling season with a head of still-cautious optimism -- but optimism nonetheless. In November, automakers chalked up another solid sales increase over 2009, this time 17 percent; that's an improvement on October's 13 percent uptick. For the third month in a row, the annualized selling rate topped 12 million units. By comparison, 10.86 million light vehicles were sold in 2009. This month, nearly every automaker enjoyed buoyant sales, with the large and notable exception of Toyota, which was down slightly. See below for more details. And, with car shoppers apparently cracking open their wallets, brace yourself for an onslaught of end-of-the-year sales ads, as carmakers battle fiercely for their share of an increasing pie.

For 2011, that doyenne of decadence, the Mercedes-Benz CL coupe, has undergone a bit of restyling at the front and rear, although the more substantive changes are under the long hood. Both the CL550 and the CL63 AMG have new, smaller V-8 engines (although that's not reflected in their names). But never fear, masters of the universe. Despite the downsizing, the new engines are significantly more powerful than their predecessors.