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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

Nissan's Leaf is highly important, a true milestone in automotive history. Essentially, it's the first electric car from an established manufacturer that is seriously intended for imminent production. Yes, I know about General Motors' EV1, which was our 1997 Design of the Year. But you couldn't buy it. You could only lease it and, ultimately, had to give it back to be scrapped. Most of the electric cars I've seen in fifty years in the automobile business were funny little Renaults stuffed full of lead-acid golf-cart batteries, which transformed nimble four-door sedans into heavy, slow two-seat city cars. A few electric conversions are available now-Peugeots and Minis-but they're basically existing small cars that have been clumsily repurposed in half-hearted gestures toward being "green."inline_mediumwraptextright26339858/features/by_design/1002_2010_nissan_leaf_design_analysis1002_03_z+2010_nissan_leaf+front_three_quarter_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

The Honda Element's dog package is a win-win for both Honda and dog owners. For Honda, it's a way to attract some attention and customers to an appealing but aging model with minimal engineering investment. For dog owners, the affordable $995 package offers both the whimsical and the practical. For instance, the heavy-duty rubber floor mats with the dog-bone pattern are both fun and useful. The seat upholstery now has subtle drawings of dogs woven into it (don't worry, it looks cool and you'd hardly notice it). Most important, there's a comfortable and safe fabric kennel for your pooch that sits on a raised platform in the rear cargo area, and there's a slide-out ramp so that small or old dogs can prance right on up into the kennel (which is like a tent) and plop themselves down onto the cushy bed. A built-in, spill-resistant water bowl and an electric fan offer relief during hot weather.inline_mediumwraptextright26594423/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_honda_element_ex_4wd1001_06_z+2010_honda_element_eX_4WD+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue