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It’s bound to happen. Somewhere at Porsche’s headquarters in Zuffenhausen, a secretary will sign the DHL delivery slip for an enormous crate sitting in the parking lot. When a crew of overall-clad Porsche workers finally dismantles the box, the gift inside will be revealed: a 2010 Aston Martin Rapide with a pretty red bow on the windshield and a teensy, handwritten card that says, “Now zis is how you build a four-door, suckers. —Bez.”inline_mediumwraptextright26780900/reviews/driven/1002_2010_aston_martin_rapide1002_03_z+2010_aston_martin_rapide+side_view.jpgTrue

The third generation of Audi's aluminum-spaceframe flagship, the A8, has now been unveiled. The standard-wheelbase model, seen here, and the long-wheelbase variant (set to debut in a few months time) will both arrive at North American Audi dealers this fall, for the 2011 model year. An enhanced powertrain, an innovative new electronics interface, and an evolved design are highlights of the new car.

Can we have another one of these for a year? I'd not been in an R8 since our V-8 Four Seasons V-8 model left late last summer, and quickly recalled just how much I loved it.inline_mediumwraptextright26756345/reviews/editors_notebook/1002_2010_audi_r81002_01_z+2010_audi_r8+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

I eagerly await Toyota's return to building proper sports cars with the FT-86. But in the meantime, this Scion tC is one or two improvements away from being a fantastic enthusiast's bargain.inline_mediumwraptextright32173503/reviews/editors_notebook/1002_2010_scion_tc1002_01_z+2010_scion_tC+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Months in fleet: three
Miles to date: 8978inline_mediumwraptextright31468371/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1001_2010_audi_q5_32_january_update0911_04_z+2010_audi_q5_3_2+rear_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

I drew Lincoln's flagship when I requested something, anything, with all wheels driving to get me through an impending storm. I foolishly drove the MKS into the teeth of a Michigan snow squall to attend a Cadillac-LaSalle Club meeting in a town an hour away. Much to my chagrin, this car ate up the slippery pavement and wriggled its way through slow-moving traffic as if it were equipped with spiked treads. Actually, it was equipped with ordinary all-season radials instead of the real winter tires that are most appropriate for our crappy weather. While accelerating from stoplights and while cruising at the speed limit, this car demonstrated impeccable traction and stability. During heavy throttle indulgences, the 355-hp EcoBoost V-6 causes the front wheels to hunt and peck for the right path, but that's a minor fault considering the adverse circumstances I encountered. On several occasions, it struck me that a return to Colorado's Loveland Pass in the dead of winter would be the real acid test for the MKS (see 6versus8.com). With EcoBoost eliminating the loss of power attributable to altitude and an all-wheel-drive system where the front wheels do most of the work, I think this car climbing a snow-covered mountain might finally overcome BMW's 5-series (even one optioned up with awd).inline_mediumwraptextright32131146/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_lincoln_mks_ecoboost1001_01_z+2010_lincoln_mKS_ecoBoost+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

There didn't seem to be a lot more that Ferrari could do with its V-8 berlinetta lineup. Over the past decade, the cars got better and better, further cementing Ferrari's role as the producer of the world's most desirable sports cars. The startlingly good 360 Modena began it all back in 1999, and each successive iteration of the mid-engine masterpiece from Maranello raised the bar: The 360 Challenge Stradale. The F430. The 430 Scuderia. And, most recently, the hyperfocused Scuderia Spider 16M. These cars became the backbone of Ferrari's resurgence by translating the automaker's hard-fought Formula 1 racing expertise into products that tantalized auto enthusiasts everywhere, rewarded the lucky few who owned them, and strengthened the ethereal aura around the brand. Ferrari created the gold standard in sports cars, a lineup that competitors as varied as the Ford GT, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Porsche 911 GT3, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage sought to assail. But in the tussle for sports car supremacy, Ferrari always managed to end up at the top of the heap.inline_mediumwraptextright32007216/reviews/driven/1002_2010_ferrari_458_italia1002_01_z+2010_ferrari_458_italia+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Nissan's Sentra SE-R is a bit of an anomaly as a bridge between the compact and sport compact segments. At 177 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, it's at least 23 hp shy of being considered a true sport compact. Rather than a Honda Civic Si, the SE-R compares more closely to cars like the Mazda 3 and Kia Forte with their optional engines.inline_mediumwraptextright32132889/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_nissan_sentra_ser1001_01_z+2010_nissan_sentra_sE-R+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

It's no secret that Spyker is looking to become into a more grown-up automaker, what with its unprecedented bid to take control of Saab from General Motors. But even if that effort fails, we can expect to see more from the plucky Dutch sports car builder in the form of the new C8 Aileron.inline_mediumwraptextright27885418/reviews/driven/1001_2010_spyker_c8_aileron1001_03_z+2010_spyker_c8_aileron+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The Honda Accord Crosstour is a spectacular example of automotive social media marketing gone wrong. When the car was revealed on Facebook, virtually everyone posted horrible things about it on Honda's page. One of the (very) few people to say something positive turned out to be a Honda employee, and the social media crowd had a field day with that bit of news. The debacle certainly got the Crosstour name out quickly, but it might give reason to think about the notion that there's no such thing as bad publicity.inline_mediumwraptextright27867883/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_honda_accord_crosstour_exl_4wd1001_01_z+2010_honda_crosstour_eX-L_4WD+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

When you're seated in the back of the BMW 5-series Gran Turismo, it's not hard to imagine that you're in a car from the future. Your surroundings are very swoopy, the confines cozy but very open-feeling, thanks in large part to the glass all around you. If you need a break from the future, watching a movie or reclining a heated/ventilated rear chair for a nap is simple.inline_mediumwraptextright26664962/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_bmw_550i_gran_turismo1001_07_z+2010_bMW_550i_gran_turismo+rear_interior.jpgTrue

Months in Fleet: Ten
Mileage to Date: 34,966inline_mediumwraptextright30620718/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1001_2009_dodge_ram_1500_january_update0909_01_z+2009_dodge_ram_1500+top_view.jpgTrue

In the long history of hype, the Chevy Volt is the consummate media star. From its 2007 show debut, to its evolution into a practical production design, to its current status as GM's Hail Mary savior, the Volt hauls a Peterbilt's worth of baggage. Now that we've had an opportunity to drive a developmental prototype using both electrical and combustion forms of energy conversion, it's time to see if the Volt really deserves all the attention heaped upon it for the past three years.inline_mediumwraptextright27882928/green/reviews/1001_2011_chevrolet_volt_integration_vehicle1001_02_z+2011_chevrolet_volt+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Miles: 4,768
Months in Fleet: Oneinline_mediumwraptextright26435405/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1001_2010_volkswagen_gti_january_update0912_05_z+2010_volkswagen_gTI+rear_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Months in fleet: 11
Miles to date: 21,745inline_mediumwraptextright25604660/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1001_2010_nissan_gtr_premium_january_update0910_02_z+2010_nissan_gTR_premium+side_view.jpgTrue

I suspect this is a rare bird because only a few outliers would knowingly select two doors and six gears in a Honda costing well over $20,000. Nonetheless, it's good to see this brand tip its hat in the enthusiast's direction. Overall, I'd give the Accord coupe an A-minus for execution and a B for value. High points are the stylish envelope, beautifully finished interior, and reasonably roomy rear seat. Practically every control function feels liberally lubricated and friction-free. The most noticeable exception was a slightly heavy shift effort moving across the H-pattern. Hints of gear whine while cruising and notable impact harshness on frozen roads also took the edge off the Accord's perfect score.inline_mediumwraptextright32093004/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_honda_accord_coupe_exl1001_05_z+2010_honda_accord_coupe_eX-L+side_view.jpgTrue

Our Four Seasons fleet was busy during the month of January as the Detroit auto show drew several contributors to Southeast Michigan. Our Mazda 3 landed in the hands of columnist Jamie Kitman, who had a significant attitude change toward the spunky compact in just two days of driving.inline_mediumwraptextright25451993/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1001_2010_mazda3_s_sport_january_update0910_03_z+2010_mazda3_s_sport+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Months in fleet: Three
Miles to date: 5260 milesinline_mediumwraptextright27791611/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1001_2010_subaru_outback_36r_limited1001_01_z+2010_subaru_outback_36R_limited+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Goodbye, XLR & STSinline_mediumwraptextright27866698/reviews/driven/1001_2011_cadillac_cts_coupe1001_07_z+2011_cadillac_cTS_coupe+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue