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It's hard not to be infatuated with Fiat's 500. The original Fiat 500 started selling in 1957, with almost 4 million cars being produced in less than 20 years. Since its debut as a concept at the 2004 Geneva auto show, the new Cinquecento has been a sensation around the world, and more than a half-million have been sold since its initial launch in 2007. Now, thanks to Chrysler's having fallen under the umbrella of the Fiat group, the 500 has made it stateside. So when it came to time to order a new car for our Four Seasons fleet, we had to get our hands on this modern interpretation of an endearing icon.

If you are simply trying to get the most for your $50,000, the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec makes a ton of sense -- more power than a BMW 550i or Infiniti M56 for the price of a 535i or M37. The ten-spoke wheels add a welcome touch of menace to the quiet exterior, and the hushed 5.0-liter V-8 sounds pretty good when you really wail on it. Even at full throttle, though, it can't drown out the sound of Hyundai knocking a glass ceiling. The automaker has hit many homeruns over the past two years -- including the Genesis -- but it still has something to learn when it comes to getting people to spend close to $50,000. The 5.0 R-Spec is nice, of course. It's fast, luxurious, and well put together. So is the $35,000 Genesis 3.8. The important difference is that the 3.8 competes in a price range where many buyers really want a practical, luxurious, nondescript looking sedan. For $45,000 to $50,000, I think people want to feel a bit special.

How should automakers improve the range of electric cars? Smart believes it has the answer with an even more eco-friendly version of the Fortwo Electric Drive for the Frankfurt Motor Show. Called the Forvision concept, the Smart has unusual components like plastic wheels and a semi-transparent roof which help trim vehicle weight and reduce the need for climate control.

There's a new way to get sunburned in a Ferrari, as the Italian maker of exotics has announced the 458 Spider, a convertible version of the 458 Italia. The Ferrari 458 Spider is mechanically identical to the Italia coupe.