Robert Hall

Really...must have been an early '11 release..seems like it's been around since last year... According to Wikipedia, the US version of the new Sonata was unveiled at the 2009 LA Auto Show, sales in the U.S. began in early 2010. Thought it was old.

Yes, that's what it's called in NA also...for some reason, I can never remember the name of that one.

The Sonata was all new for '10, so it wouldn't have been eligible for '11. The one you missed is the most obvious besides the Volt--the Leaf! The Volt is a worthy winner, though..it's different and potentially a big deal..

GM probably payed MT a premium on the advertising to get the award..isn't that how it usually works?

Maybe just rounding up then, to make the next version sound new.

Saw the new Kia compact CUV whose name escapes me..neat looking, bright red..walked around it. Pretty distinctive..

I don't like some of the details of the Jag like the strange rear end (the odd taillights and c-pillar trim) and the cheesy dash design (looks out of place in a luxury car with the tacked-on gauge pod and tacked-on bulgy center vents)...I find the new A8 dash much nicer, w/ more wood and better integration of vents, etc.

Very cool..I've been impressed with much of what M2 has put out so far..

I put 'arguably' as some could argue the new A8 or 7 series are more advanced. I still prefer the S-class..and it's the only one with a hood ornament, which is a little luxury detail I like...

The S-class is still arguably the best-of-breed and the standard bearer in the premium full-size lux niche, though. The Audi A8, Lexus LS, BMW 7-series, and Jag XJ are all newer, but the Jag has some seriously ugly design elements inside and out, IMO. Whether or not eventually Cadillac plays in this space or is content to compete w/ Lincoln is all up to GM.

Yeah..cars from 1950 today look so ancient compared to 1960 cars...(I wonder if it seemed that way to observers in 1960?). 1960 cars don't look today quite as dated when compared to 1970 cars, likewise lesser for 1970 compared to 1980, or 1980 to 1990, etc..much more gradual evolution of styling in subsequent decades, with a couple big shifts--downsizing and squaring starting in the late '70s, followed by roundness replacing square in the late '80s. I can remember excitedly waiting w/ anticipation for the September issue of Car & Driver (and later, Automobile magazine)...the 'Charting the Changes' section was always chock full of new and interesting changes for the coming model year, lots of surprises usually. Nowdays, with everything on the internet months or years in advance, new car announcements are ho-hum and old news by the time they get to the print rags...not to mention that many new cars aren't introduced in the fall, but at random times during the year..

Seems strange to talk about cornering and Buick in the same context...I think of Buicks for smooth, quiet, more about the ride than the handling...kind of like Lincoln or Lexus.

That bidet sounds nice...I like the features..I've read elsewhere Hyundai is working on a 10-speed automatic for MY 2016.

Still just a Hyundai, though.

This reminds me of buying an old partially built model kit off ebay, some parts loose, some parts missing...but this in 1:1 scale w/ a lot more parts!

Yes, unfortunately in profile it's hard to see much of any change.

Generally, yes. But with the 1 hr daily commute (25 miles each way) it gets very tiring. Plus that fact I don't want to be here (I want to leave AZ, but that isn't practical right now), makes for a lot of frustration...plus the tech job market is weak here compared to other large metros..still regretting leaving Denver.

The last month has been intense at work...pushing hard to meet deadlines...had the quarterly production install Friday night (pulled an all nighter that night). It's been exhausting, 4 60+ hr weeks in a row...and I don't see it letting up soon, as we are chronically understaffed--the department has lost a net of 6 people in the last 6 months, but the upcoming quarters still have a lot of work to be done, and they seem to be under a hiring freeze (cheap bastards, considering they are one of the few big banks that's profitable). To make matters worse, on Thursday (was a bank holiday for me), my team lead dropped dead of a heart attack at 34 while at cricket practice. He'd been putting in probably 50-75 hr weeks here the last 5 years. Did the job kill him? Don't know, seemed healthy and fit. Everyone is still in shock I think over this. The expectation of long hours are part of the package in trade for a six-figure salary and 4 weeks vacation, but I do have days where I question if it's worth it...maybe I should quit and go back to contracting, which is less stressful than being an employee in this kind of work environment... I've been plagued by insomnia the last month, cranking up my sleeping pills and antidepressants...looking forward to a few days off at Thanksgiving..need to reevaluate what I'm doing.

Something about the curvature of the roof and the back glass gives me an impression of the ancient Studie...though I don't think I've ever seen one of those in person. I don't see any Mini resembalance, since the Mini has it's pillars hidden in black..the Ford has the chrome and very thin pillars. 50 Studie

The CTS-v is more of an M5 competitor, though, not a 550i competitor. The CTS-v has a performance oriented interior in gray w/ vile carbon fiber and the aggro body work--they should offer a regular V8 model w/ the normal fascias and interior in luxury car trim (w/ wood, etc) to be comparable. BMW has the 550i and M5; Mercedes the E550 and AMG E63. Different styles, different tuning.

Nice...took me almost 9 years to reach 100k w/ my Jeep. Up to 122k now.

Saw a white Dodge Dakota convertible yesterday..first one of those I've seen in a while. Parked in front of it was a tastefully done '80s Grand Prix lowrider..bright blue, very clean condition.

It would be cool to see a production car like that here..I love the greenhouse. Is it just me, or does something about the glass treatment remind one of the Studebaker Starlight coupe from around 1950?

I was being sarcastic. But it is clearly futuristic, definitely doesn't reference anything from the past. It's a modern city vehicle..there are consumers that a car like this is perfect for.

Maybe they will do an Evo version w/ AWD. And Chevy can do a Spark SS, and Ford a Ka RS. Microperformance for teh future!