The Lexus GS450h is proof that there is such a thing as too much torque. The hybrid system teams up with the 3.5-liter V-6 to produce V-8 levels of power to the tune of 340 horses. The problem is that the accelerator pedal is so sensitive that the torque is available at the slightest -- and I mean the slightest -- twitch of a toe. That may sound cool, but it's actually extremely annoying in this Lexus and makes the GS hybrid very difficult to drive smoothly at steady speeds. Surging to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.2 seconds (according to Toyota) is pretty impressive for a largish luxury sedan that's EPA rated at 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.inline_mediumwraptextright0033266391/green/reviews/1005_2010_lexus_gs450h1005_05+2010_lexus_gS450h+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue

Giulietta is an important name in the Alfa Romeo lexicon. The first one (1954-1963) brought Alfa Romeo into a price range accessible to ordinary mortals, but the car had idiosyncrasies such as twin camshafts that kept it above the then norm. It also had a well-located live rear axle and was a delight to drive, whether as a four-door sedan, a tidy wagon, or any of the dozens of coachbuilt sport models. The Giulietta Sprint coupe (examined in this column in January 2008) put Carrozzeria Bertone into the big time, and Pinin Farina's Giulietta Spider showed the world that a small sports car could do without clumsy side curtains and a leaky top and still be "pure."inline_mediumwraptextright0028860985/features/by_design/1006_alfa_romeo_giulietta_design_analysis1006_01+alfa_romeo_giulietta+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue

Ten years ago, spending six figures on a Chevrolet Corvette probably meant you were either a hardcore racer, delusional, or both. But now you can walk into your local Chevy dealer and drop more than $100 large on a brand-new ZR1 without anyone even so much as batting an eye.

Months in fleet: two
Miles to date: 8341inline_mediumwraptextright0033293439/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1005_2010_suzuki_kizashi_sls_april_update1005_01+2010_suzuki_kizashi_sLS+side_view.jpgtrue

It arrived thirteen years after the Ford Model T, but the 1922 Essex Coach proved that there was still room for more revolution with the automobile. While Henry Ford brought motoring to the masses, Hudson's Essex brand put the comfort and dignity of a closed cabin within reach of the common people. At its debut, the Coach cost $300 more than a comparable open-air Touring model, but the price soon fell to the point that the closed car was actually cheaper. Sales took off, and Hudson's affordable companion brand led the company's sales.inline_mediumwraptextright0027286988/features/collectible_classic/1005_1937_terraplane_series_71_deluxe1005_01_z+1937_terraplane_series_71_deluxe+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue

It's always exciting to have a convertible in the spring when the sun is shining and the temperature starts to climb. With a Mercedes, you can actually enjoy top-down driving even if the temperature is in the 40s thanks to heated seats, good aerodynamics that help push wind around the passengers, and the Airscarf feature. Airscarf is a pair of heat vents at the bottom of the headrests that can blast warm air on your neck, which really takes the chill off a cold morning or evening. It's a bit of a gimmick, but the results are quite nice for those who like to drive with the top down as much as possible.inline_mediumwraptextright0033265005/reviews/editors_notebook/1005_2011_mercedes_benz_sl5501005_06+2011_mercedes_benz_sL550+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue

Months in fleet: six
Miles to date: 16,257inline_mediumwraptextright0029061958/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1005_2010_audi_q5_3_2_april_update1005_06+2010_audi_q5_3_2+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue

Ever notice how anyone driving slower than you is a moron and everyone passing you is a maniac? Funny, me too. That same logic tends to show up in car reviews - any easy-to-tame car is brandished as boring. Worse, if the driver runs out of talent before the car runs out of grip, it's an evil bastard. The Ferrari 599GTO solves this by being one of the fastest, most perfectly balanced, and most capable cars in the world - and at the same time, its absurdly high limits are totally approachable. It makes good drivers very fast; it makes great drivers set world records.inline_mediumwraptextright0029050897/reviews/driven/1005_2011_ferrari_599gtoferrari-599-gTO-front-view-4.jpgtrue

The first thing I noticed about this Mini is its adorable cream, black, and silver color scheme, which I love. The second thing I noticed is that this Mini Camden Edition talks to you! Start the car and a male/female trio starts chatting through some unseen speaker. It all starts as soon as you insert the flat round key and push the start button. Usually the woman chirps in first with some sort of comment like "All systems go!" and an admonition to fasten your seatbelt. All of them have British accents. Here's a sampling of other conversations I got to listen to. They can be switched off, but I was curious to see how large of a conversational vocabulary is built into the car; quite large, it seems:inline_mediumwraptextright0029004970/reviews/editors_notebook/1004_2010_mini_cooper_camden_edition1004_04a+2010_mini_cooper_camden_edition+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue

Congratulations to the budding Warren Buffetts and the junior Steve Jobses who preserved their slice of the entrepreneurial pie while the world's economy crumbled. Those of you anticipating a reward for a job well done are shopping on the appropriate page.inline_mediumwraptextright0028832119/reviews/driven/1006_2011_bmw_alpina_b71006_01+2011_BMW_alpina_b7+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue