Road and Driver

The CTS-V coupe is without a doubt the coolest member of the CTS family so far, although the upcoming CTS-V wagon might change my mind about that. The CTS-V sedan debuted about two years ago, perhaps a bit too quietly, but the V coupe should remind us all of how cool any flavor of CTS-V is.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe - Editor’s Notebook - Automobile Magazine

It was difficult, as we arrived in balmy San Diego, to drum up much excitement over the drive that lay ahead. Not because we were about to drive a minivan, mind you, but because that minivan, the Honda Odyssey, is already so darn good. The current iteration, which dates back to 2005, is still the best in its class. By a good margin. What drama could there be regarding the new one? How about this: In an attempt to draw younger families into the shrinking segment, Honda is proclaiming the new Odyssey to be “the minivan redefined.” To which our natural response is: redefined how? And why? Was Honda about to ruin a good thing in order to attract customers who would otherwise purchase one of the brand’s four crossovers? As if that’s not enough, we learned that engineers had the audacity to retune the Odyssey’s steering for less effort. (Cue foreboding music.)

Photo Gallery: 2011 Honda Odyssey - First Drive - Automobile Magazine

We’ve already seen this gas-electric powertrain in the Ford Fusion Ford Fusion and the Mercury Milan, but Lincoln is upping the level of luxury with the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. With hybrid credentials and a plush interior, the gas-electric MKZ is targeting a new breed of luxury buyers that avoid conspicuous consumption for more restrained products that also reflect a social conscience. The Lexus HS250h is the only direct competitor in the mid-size luxury-hybrid space, and Lincoln thinks it has a significantly stronger proposition with MKZ’s better fuel economy and lower price.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - First Drive - Automobile Magazine

Will pushrod engines last forever? Probably not, but in April, General Motors announced that it’s investing $890 million in a new, fifth-generation small-block V-8. Although the announcement didn’t state that pushrod-operated valves are part of the deal, you can take that assumption to the bank.

Photo Gallery: Pushrods in Perpetuity - Automobile Magazine

Things had been plugging along pretty well. Not great, mind you, but decent. The spring was looking hopeful; June fell back a bit; but then we saw a mild comeback in July. Which is why the August drop-off caught industry watchers by surprise. The annual sales rate, 10.8 million units, was the slowest since February and a sharp comedown from July’s pace of 11.6 million units.

Photo Gallery: August 2010 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

Bentley’s iconic shape?
Is the Continental GT for Bentley what the 911 is for Porsche-an iconic shape that is only massaged, never fundamentally altered? The cars’ owners seem to think so, and Bentley has apparently taken those sentiments to heart, in the first redesign of its bestselling coupe.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental GT - First Look - Automobile Magazine

The new Infiniti M is one sexy, sultry machine. It looks tight, taut, and ready to pounce. It really makes a strong design statement, which is exactly what Infiniti should be doing. The interior is especially enticing, with an ambience that is at once ultramodern yet traditionally posh. I dare say that Infiniti and Jaguar are now leading the way in cabin design, a mantle once held by Audi. Or, at least, they are the equal of Audi.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Infiniti M37 - Editor’s Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Ben Bowlby, the evil genius behind the radical DeltaWing race car, ought to be decked out in combat fatigues, with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder. Or maybe dressed in a stiff Russian suit and one of those funky hats Lenin used to wear. He is, after all, the most dangerous revolutionary in the world of motorsports, the creator of a car that not only looks unlike anything ever raced on a track before but also threatens to render everything on the track today instantly obsolete.

Photo Gallery: DeltaWing Race Car Concept - Automobile Magazine

After the demise of the Dodge Magnum, it’s refreshing to have a wagon offering from a domestic manufacturer. It’s likely that the CTS wagon will find very few takers — if the slow-selling Magnum and the now-redesigned wagon-like first generation Cadillac SRX are any indication — but in my opinion, this CTS wagon looks great and is hard evidence that Cadillac is willing to take chances to regain its world class status.

Photo Gallery: 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Premium - Editor’s Notebook - Automobile Magazine

So these two Swedes, Volvo and Saab, walk into a bar. Long story short: Plenty of crazy stuff happens before they depart, worse for wear and unable to walk out under their own steam. But, praise Thor and the other Norse gods, they’re still with us now.

Photo Gallery: What’s next for the Swedes - Automobile Magazine