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The Sonata hybrid is unusual in that does not employ a CVT but uses a six-speed automatic instead. This makes for much more conventional, and more pleasant, response when accelerating. It also helps the hybrid powertrain recede into the background.

"What car do you drive?" is the most common question those of us at Automobile Magazine receive at cocktail parties once people learn what we do for a living. "What car do you want to drive?" would be a more appropriate question, because the truth is, we drive everything. That's our job. So, push us, press us, cajole us for a definitive answer. We'll shift our weight from one foot to the other and dip a baby carrot into the ranch dressing. And then, more times than not, we'll admit that all we really want is a Porsche 911. Not only is the 911 the test car we are most likely to fight over, it's the car we most want to own. New or old, base model or cabriolet or Turbo. Permanently, not just for a night.

The engine downsizing game seems trite these days. We've been hearing about the inevitable replacement of large-displacement engines with more efficient, forced-induction powerplants for years. To meet the increasing demands for cleaner cars, even performance cars must follow this path, which brings us to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.