Auto News 5

For most manufacturers, 2009 was a wretched year they'd like to forget, but Hyundai has been able to capitalize on the economic misery and grab a big chunk of market share. Where will additional gains come from in 2010? One place is likely to be the small SUV arena, where Hyundai's Tucson has been an underachiever, selling fewer than one-tenth as many as the segment-leading Honda CR-V.

A diminished Tokyo auto show had much less wackiness - instead, our favorite concepts were two small sports cars solidly grounded in reality.

Months in Fleet: Nine
Miles to Date: 31,967inline_mediumwraptextright23526259/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/0912_2009_bmw_750li_december_update0906_02_z+2009_bMW_750Li+rear_three_quarters_view.jpgTrue

Bob Shaw is one lucky fellow. After rearing a family, running a thriving steering-wheel business, and conquering some setbacks to his health, Shaw focused his energy on that universal aspiration - constructing the car of his dreams.inline_mediumwraptextright26832256/features/great_drives/0912_bob_shaw_excalibur_rs0912_03_z+excalibur_rS+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Subaru bills the 2.5GT as its "enthusiast" model, and although it's not quite as fun as a WRX, it is by far the most enjoyable Legacy I've sampled in many years. There's no discounting the power offered by the turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four, but mating it to a six-speed transmission is simply brilliant. Other midsize cars may offer manual transmissions, but they're only available on lower trim models that focus more on thrift than on thrust.inline_mediumwraptextright27444079/reviews/editors_notebook/0912_2010_subaru_legacy_25gt_limited0912_03_z+2010_subaru_legacy_25GT_limited+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Details have now emerged of Fiat's plan for Chrysler, which slashes the current lineup while bringing Fiat-based new cars and reintroducing Alfa Romeo to America.