Auto News 5

Nissan's smallest sedan appeared at the New York auto show with a long list of changes, but the 2012 Versa looks more like an evolution of the old car than a full-fledged redesign. The car wears revamped styling inside and out, and is said to be more fuel-efficient than its predecessor.

At a brand-new, gleaming-white dealership in Manhattan’s Tribeca, Maserati took the wraps off the latest addition to its stable: the GranTurismo MC coupe.

It's interesting how $4-a-gallon gas can change things. While there aren't many rational people that would argue that expensive gas is a good thing, it has certainly has been good for the subcompact segment. Until a few years ago, the segment was populated by the literal and figurative bottom-feeders of car companies, with hard plastics; skinny tires; underpowered, buzzy engines; and very few amenities. Not anymore. Honda's cleverly packaged Fit set the pace and was followed by Ford's Euro-engineered Fiesta, and the Mazda2. Suddenly, leather, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, and other niceties formerly reserved for the luxury class became available on these "entry-level" models. Hyundai's Accent went from being a competitive option to one that was looking increasingly dated in the face of newer, more stylish competitors.

The 2012 model is the ninth iteration of the Honda Civic, which made its fortuitous debut just ahead of the 1973 gas crisis. Of the Civic's many redesigns since then, some have been major rethinks while others have been stay-the-course refinements. This latest redo definitely falls into the latter camp.