MotorMouths

A little crisper, a little sharper, a bit more responsive, the 2012 model is the GTC fine-tuned.

Bentley goes to great lengths to impart a special feeling with the Mulsanne, and nowhere is that more evident than in the interior. In most cars, we note the quality of the plastics; in the Mulsanne we couldn’t find any plastic.

The new Mercedes AMG E63 marks only incremental progress, but when you’re at the peak of the performance-sedan mountain, there’s only so much higher you can go.

The 2011 Fiesta has great looks, high-quality interior, and brilliant handling. Oh, and it has Bluetooth. And here you thought the big news was that Ford didn’t take the bailout money. Sheesh.

It might surprise a lot of people to learn that the S350 BlueTEC is powered by a diesel engine. With unimpeachable luxury bolstered by all-weather capability and surprising economy, it certainly seems like the smart-money choice among big-money Benzes.

The SLK is a distillation of Mercedes’ best-known qualities into a nimble, open-air machine for two — a car with which to reward yourself.

Even with the extra edge brought by the HS package, the California remains true to its mission, which Ferrari executives describe as “delivering Ferrari performance in a comfortable way.”

The Subaru BRZ is very much a sports car, and it’s the kind we don’t see much anymore: light, lithe, fun, and affordable.

Although their model designations have not changed, the CL550 and CL63 AMG both have new, smaller V-8 engines, but never fear, plutocrats, they’re nonetheless significantly more powerful than their predecessors, thanks to the miracle of turbocharging.

The Charger stands tall as the classic-style American sedan it always should have been, but that it was hard to imagine it could be.

What buyers of the ActiveHybrid 5 get for their extra money is the performance of a turbo six with the economy of a four-cylinder. They get it in a car with very few compromises, and no dilution of driving pleasure. Maybe that will be enough.