Auto News 5

The vehicle that established the sporty-SUV subsegment bolsters its position for 2011 with a minor update that sends more power to the engine room.

As Acura approaches its twenty-fifth year of existence, it finds itself looking up at a glass ceiling. The brand has grown well beyond its "Honda plus" roots, and yet it still trails competitors such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus in both sales and prestige.

This is about as close to driving nirvana as semi-affordable cars venture. The powertrain, chassis, and operator interfaces are honed to near perfection. The 2+2 accommodations are functionally useful, the trunk is amply sized and well proportioned. Searching diligently, I did find a trivial flaw: the left-front floor mat that had torn free of its attachments to foul the clutch pedal at the bottom of its travel. As a service to my fellow critics, I repaired that fault with an expeditious driveway correction. Nevertheless, as much as I respect this and most other BMWs, I'd give serious thought to Cadillac's new CTS coupe before I spent $40,000 for a 335i.

Alfa Romeo, the Italian brand known to car enthusiasts but a deep secret to most Americans, celebrates its 100th birthday on June 24th. Preparations are underway for Alfa to return to the US market, a move repeatedly announced throughout the past decade. But this time, Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne seems serious. In two years, Chrysler will be building and selling Alfas and within four years, Marchionne hope this brand will be an Italian-American BMW.