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Each time I drive the Civic, I am enamored of the whimsical blue-lit split-level gauges in front of me. That, and the low cowl and wide expanse of glass. They are touches that help explain why owning a Civic - for those who don't care about having a mind-bending driving moment - still feels like a special experience long after the new smell wears off.

For the time being, the new, 265-hp Audi TTS is the hottest TT ever built, but perhaps you think it's not quite hot enough. If so, you'll be happy to hear that the 2009 Audi TT RS - an even more powerful version of Audi's shapely TT - has been introduced at the 2009 Geneva motor show.

Maserati's new model is for those who like the sportiness of the GranTurismo S, but didn't like the feel of the electrically-actuated gearbox. The 2009 Maserati GranTurismo S automatic adds a six-speed ZF automatic transmission for a smoother driving experience.

For those who hanker for an off-road crossover but don't want a Q5, Audi offers this: the 2010 A4 Allroad Quattro.

Following the sales success of the retro-styled Fiat 500 in Europe, the company is quickly following up with a drop top variant- the 2009 Fiat 500C. Do you think the folks over at Mini are getting nervous yet?

In a press release about Volkswagen's new BlueMotion technologies, the company announced that it would be showing a Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid prototype at the 2009 Geneva motor show. VW will follow up the concept with a production model. When it enters production in 2010, it will be the world's first hybrid SUV to have 3.5 metric ton (about 7,700lbs) towing capacity.

If your car or truck needs a new set of tires, consider going green. We don't mean colored tires; several manufacturers have tried colored tires, and it's never caught on. We're talking tires that are specifically designed to have low rolling resistance to enhance fuel economy.

Walk the aisles of any large auto parts store and you'll find dozens of motor oil brands that range from the majors (Mobil) to discounted, no-name house offerings. Choices within each brand include a staggering array of different base oils, formulations, and additive packages that meet an equally staggering array of performance levels (API CJ, SM, etc.).

Volvo is no longer the only Swede to offer a jacked-up all-road wagon. The 2010 Saab 9-3x, making its debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show, is essentially an outdoorsy form of its 9-3 Sportcombi.

We've now passed the six-month mark with our 420-hp Four Seasons Jaguar XF Superchaged, and its dual personality continues to vex us: lovely styling and first-rate vehicle dynamics made this car a 2009 All-Star, but a seemingly endless list of quality problems has seriously marred the ownership experience. When the XF first arrived in our fleet in August, staff members lined up to sign it out, so enamored were we. Web editor Phil Floraday even complained that it took four months before he had his first chance to actually get behind the wheel. Nowadays, however, there is a general reluctance to sign out the XF for any trip of more than a hundred miles, for fear that something might break.

The natural reaction to any spike in gasoline prices is a search for creative alternatives--anything that might help us balance our budgets and maintain our lifestyles. E85 ranks high on the list of alternative fuels but is fraught with controversy. Cutting through the fact and fiction is a complex process.

After a long wait, America is finally getting the Nissan Cube. The first version launched in Japan in 1998 and stayed around until 2002. It lacked the unique design of the second-generation Cube that was sold from 2002 through 2008. We had a Japan-spec version of that car in the office last year and loved the funky styling, small size, and tight turning circle. The latest Cube keeps most of the cute styling of the last version but loses some of the odd features such as the column-shift automatic transmission and an electrically powered rear axle that gave the Cube four-wheel drive at low speeds.

As a long time VW fan, I was hoping the Routan wasn't going to be what logic tells you it is; a warmed over Chrysler minivan. I'm sorry to say that all my fears were accurate. Sure, the seats are more comfortable and offer more support. Additionally, the dash materials and gauges are slightly better. But in the end, there's no hiding from the fact that the Routan is based on a vehicle that is lackluster at best. The creaks and groans that afflict our long-term Town & Country are present in the VW as well. This base, 3.8-liter engine is low on power, and the sounds it emits would make any longtime VR6 fan sad.

The odometer of our Four Seasons Volkswagen Jetta TDI passed the 10,000-mile mark several weeks ago, but the car continues to plug away trouble-free, which is particularly notable given VW's deserved reputation for questionable reliability. The conditions through which the Jetta has been plugging have been quite demanding of late, since Michigan's winter has been particularly brutal. And although the turbo-diesel powerplant has proven its advantages as far as fuel economy and range are concerned, the engine has to run for about fifteen minutes before the vents start blowing warm air into the cabin. "Thank goodness for heated seats," road test editor Marc Noordeloos scrawled with shivering hand.

It's all about derivatives these days. If they're not decimating your 401(k), they're invading your neighborhood car dealership. Although its similarity doesn't come across as well in photographs, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis coupe is a dead ringer for the Infiniti G37 coupe. In fact, it might as well be badged the Designer Imposter Infiniti G37.