With car sales still slow in recovering from their historic lows, it's no surprise that automakers are having more trouble than usual moving their more stale products off dealer lots. For some of these cars, Intellichoice is likely a better price guide than the Monroney sticker, and yet, they all come with that new-car smell and, presumably, a full warranty. We perused through Automotive News sales reports for the first two months of 2010 and found eight examples of vehicles you probably never thought you could still buy new.inline_mediumwraptextright28469419/features/news/1003_eight_vehicles_you_probably_didnt_know_you_could_still_buy_new1003_11_z+mercury_sable+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

When I emerged from my apartment this morning, a few neighbors could be seen grimly scraping their windows and preparing for another slushy, icy commute. Poor peasants. I simply climbed into my Range Rover Sport, flipped on the front-windscreen heater (not to be confused with a lowly defroster), provided a squirt of heated washer fluid, and turned the Terrain Response dial to snow-and-gravel mode. Within minutes, I was bombing toward downtown Ann Arbor at a 50-mph clip, my forward view obstructed only by the faint wires of that very handy heated windshield. This, my friends, is the Michigan-in-February equivalent of cruising the Pacific Coast Highway in a BMW M3 convertible.inline_mediumwraptextright27219686/reviews/editors_notebook/1003_2010_land_rover_range_rover_sport_supercharged1003_01_z+2010_land_rover_range_rover_sport_supercharged+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

As this issue goes to press, General Motors is busily off-loading its last 450 new Pontiacs, most of them G6s. It's hardly a fitting final act for a brand that gave us some of the twentieth century's most memorable cars - the GTO, the Trans Am, and the Grand Prix, to name but a few. But Pontiac could have met a similarly ignoble end six decades ago, and thus never have even lived to see its glory days, if not for the success of one man, Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen, and one car, the 1959 Pontiac Bonneville.inline_mediumwraptextright27042746/features/collectible_classic/1004_1959_pontiac_bonneville1003_17_z+1959_pontiac_bonneville+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Cadillac's 110-year trek from its initial existence as the Detroit Automobile Company has been a long, hard trip. From rising to be the "Standard of the World" it fell to the depths in the Cimarron era and is again on the way up, attaining, if not yet the pinnacle of the motor industry, at least genuine respectability. The XTS Platinum concept shown in January closely foreshadows a promising new addition to the range that will replace both the front-wheel-drive DTS and the rear-wheel-drive STS. It benefits from an exquisite interior equal to any luxury car's but suffers a major weakness: the pug-nose, front-wheel-drive look imposed by the transverse-engine platform.inline_mediumwraptextright26875931/features/by_design/1004_cadillac_xts_platinum_concept_design_analysis1004_01_z+cadillac_xTS_platinum_concept+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The diesel engines we've been promised for the past few years are finally hitting the U.S. market. Anyone who has travelled to Europe probably noticed that about half of the vehicles on the road were powered by diesel engines. The current crop of European diesels headed to America are incredibly clean and refined with virtually no noticeable diesel traits other than superior fuel economy.inline_mediumwraptextright32628900/green/reviews/1003_2010_bmw_x5_xdrive35d1003_01_z+2010_bMW_x5_xDrive35d+rear_view.jpgTrue

At a press conference at its ultra-modern facility in Woking, England, McLaren Automotive took the wraps off its MP4-12C supercar -- actually, it was Vodafone/Mercedes/McLaren F1 team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button who did the honors. The two have already test-driven prototypes , and put in orders for their personal cars. Being an F1 driver has its perks.

The Cadillac CTS coupe is a car for realists. Sure, it looks like a concept car that took a wrong turn leaving the convention center, but, in fact, it's an entirely logical and even conservative step in a brand renaissance that's changing course. After a decade in which Cadillac reached for the stars with sexy halo models and pie-in-the-sky concepts like the Sixteen, General Motors' luxury division is adjusting its ambitions to reflect new realities. So, whereas Cadillac's last two-door car, the now-defunct, Corvette-based XLR, was an ambitious, low-volume sports car with an oversize price, the CTS coupe is a natural progression of the brand's most successful model. Since it shares its sheetmetal from the cowl forward and almost all of its mechanical components with the CTS sedan and wagon, the coupe is an easy way for GM to target a segment currently dominated by BMW, Infiniti, and Audi.inline_mediumwraptextright26855348/reviews/driven/1004_2011_cadillac_cts_coupe1004_04_z+2011_cadillac_cTS_coupe+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Spyker, the ten-year-old Dutch automaker, is one part plucky and four parts crazy. Its first effort, the C8 Spyder, was something of a rich Dutchman's Dodge Viper - a rough-edged brute of a sports car with an interior inspired by World War I fighter planes. Having built about 260 cars without showing a profit, Spyker went out and bought a notoriously troubled premium car company, Saab.inline_mediumwraptextright32322555/reviews/driven/1004_2010_spyker_c8_aileron1004_02_z+2010_spyker_c8_aileron+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Given the LS has always been the ultimate Lexus, I've come to expect nothing less than the utmost in luxury, refinement, and technology at a reasonable price tag. I didn't, however, expect it to be a relentless force in deep snow.inline_mediumwraptextright27217817/reviews/editors_notebook/1003_2010_lexus_ls460l_sedan1003_04_z+2010_lexus_lS460L+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Just over a year ago, Subaru was a niche automaker known for quirky vehicles that often lacked direct competitors. Led by the Forester for 2009 and then with the Legacy sedan and Outback wagon for 2010, Subaru's product offerings have recently fallen in line with mainstream markets. Sales are still small in comparison to Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, but the company's products have proven to have serious appeal. While the auto industry hemorrhaged sales in 2009, Subaru's volume and market share increased.inline_mediumwraptextright28401619/reviews/driven/1003_japanese_crossover_suv_comparison1003_01_z+2010_subaru_outback_mitsubishi_outlander_suzuki_grand_vitara+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

What a quick little crossover! Honda's first-ever U.S.-market turbo is a pretty good one, generating gobs of mid-range torque and providing a swift kick in the back when taking off from a light. I'm not so fond of the RDX's inability to put down all this power, as evidenced by frequent wheel spin at launch accompanied by a bit of torque steer. Opting for SH-AWD would likely render this complaint moot, and would put the price of this loaded Acura at $38,430 - about the same as a base Audi Q5 lacking features like navigation and Xenon headlights.inline_mediumwraptextright28439632/reviews/editors_notebook/1003_2010_acura_rdx_tech1003_11_z+2010_acura_rDX_tech+front_three_quarter_view_snow.jpgTrue

Going into the 2010 season, we at Automobile Magazine were convinced that US F1 -- the first American Formula 1 team in a generation -- was going to be the motorsports story of the year. We were right. We just didn't realize that the story was going to be the team's implosion before the season even began.inline_mediumwraptextright28291513/features/racing/1004_us_f1_the_winning_formula1004_01_z+uS_f1+checkered_flag.jpgTrue

The Automobile Magazine test fleet has been blessed with a variety of diesel vehicles lately. From the mighty Ram 2500 with a Cummins down to a mere Jetta TDI wagon, we've sampled the vast majority of vehicles currently on sale in the U.S. with diesel engines since January. Although the GL is at the top of the list in terms of price, it comes in mid-pack in terms of the overall experience.inline_mediumwraptextright28331698/green/reviews/1003_2010_mercedes_benz_gl350_bluetec1003_02_z+2010_mercedes_benz_gL350_bluetec+driver_side_view.JPG.jpgTrue

BMW's unique 5 Series Gran Turismo may combine the passenger space of an executive sedan with the versatility of a wagon, but there are still some customers who simply desire a standard wagon. For them, BMW has crafted the new 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring.inline_mediumwraptextright28425895/features/news/1003_2011_bmw_5_series_touring1003_08_z+2011_bMW_5-Series_touring+driver_side_view.jpgTrue

This June marks a golden anniversary in Corvette lore: fifty years ago, the first Chevy sports cars took on the epic challenge of racing twice around the clock at LeMans. Three privately prepared cars were entered by the wealthy American sportsman Briggs Cunningham and one driven by John Fitch and Bob Grossman scored fifth place in the GT class with an eighth-overall finish and a average speed just under 98 mph. Crashes and an engine failure sidelined two of the Cunningham Team cars but a fourth 1960 Corvette fielded by Lloyd Casner's Camoradi team was tenth overall.inline_mediumwraptextright28425262/features/racing/1003_chevrolet_corvette_racing_history_then_and_now1003_01_z+2010_Corvette_ZR1_and_Corvette_C6R_ALMS_Race_Cars+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Cadillac's SRX has grown beyond its sporty wagon pretensions and is now targeting the heart of the luxury crossover market. The strategy seems to be working, as it's already selling much better than the outgoing model (which, we should note, won a few Automobile Magazine All-Star awards in its time), and yet, it seems Cadillac isn't quite ready to give up on having some high-roof fun. To that end, the premium model featured here has ditched the wheezy base 3.0-liter V-6 and standard front-wheel-drive configuration in favor of a turbocharged, 2.8-liter V-6 producing 300 hp and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive - the same setup found in the Saab 9-3 Aero and Opel Insignia OPC. Given these macho specs, we thought it was time to measure the SRX against the best in its class, which, in our estimation, means the Audi Q5. The Q5 won our three-way crossover shootout last year and has since become a well-regarded member of our Four Seasons fleet for its sporting demeanor, handsome exterior, and, yes, Audi-like interior. Does it have what it takes to fend off the brasher and more powerful Cadillac? Read on for our impressions.

Ford's aging Crown Victoria is barely relevant to most consumers, but cabbies and police officers across the country will bemoan its demise once production ceases next fall. The Transit Connect van may satisfy the livery fleets, but to appease law enforcement officers, Ford crafted its new 2012 Police Interceptor.inline_mediumwraptextright27176507/features/news/1003_2012_ford_taurus_police_interceptor2012-ford-police-interceptor-in-action.jpgTrue

What is it with Acura giving up on great names? This car should, by all rights, be called the Legend Type-S. Except that Acura has abandoned both of those monikers. Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT? That sounds like something an inebriated math teacher would mutter before drifting into unconsciousness.inline_mediumwraptextright32320167/reviews/driven/1004_2010_acura_tl_sh_awd_6mt1004_01_z+2010_acura_tL_sH-AWD_6MT+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

As I approached the Infiniti FX50 in the parking garage, I was relieved to see Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires mounted to the massive twenty-one-inch wheels. With six to ten inches of snow expected that night, I wanted a vehicle capable of dealing with the white stuff and the long trip home.inline_mediumwraptextright27086108/reviews/editors_notebook/1003_2010_infiniti_fx50_awd1003_05_z+2010_infiniti_fX50_aWD+passenger_side_view.jpgTrue

Months in fleet: Five
Miles to date: 8993 milesinline_mediumwraptextright26874410/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1003_2010_subaru_outback_3_6r_limited_march_update1002_03_z+2010_subaru_outback_limited+side_view.jpgTrue

One year ago was the nadir. February 2009 was the low point last winter, when auto sales all but ground to a halt. So the fact that February 2010 sales are up versus last year is good, but it's not saying much. What's more encouraging is that the percent gain over one year ago was pretty healthy: 13%. That's much better than January's 6% increase over similarly sickly 2009 totals, and close to December's 15% gain over year-ago figures. But while December sales are always goosed by the year-end deal-a-thon, February's boost seems more organic. Particularly since it was achieved despite an ongoing publicity nightmare for Toyota and, for much of the country, several days of bad winter weather. The only real qualifier for February is that it did reflect increased fleet sales (up from a very low level last winter) - and the fact that the February's annualized sales rate of 10 million vehicles is still far off the 17 million of just a few years ago.inline_mediumwraptextright24626542/features/news/1003_2010_february_auto_sales0908_04_z+2010_ford_fusion_sport_aWD+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

If small cars are particularly adept at changing direction, you might assume that small car companies can react to customer demands quickly, too. In the case of Tesla Motors, that assumption is correct. A host of updates to the Tesla Roadster addresses almost every concern we had after spending a week with the electric sports car - this Silicon Valley company is clearly listening to what people have to say.inline_mediumwraptextright32384862/green/reviews/1004_tesla_roadster_2_0_sport1004_03_z+tesla_roadster_2_0_sport+side_view.jpgTrue

It's rare to have an Audi without Quattro pass through our garage. As all-wheel drive has become synonymous with the brand, it seems a front-wheel example of any Audi is an oddity. I happened to take this front-wheel-drive A3 TDI home on the night of Michigan's biggest winter storm. With a set of Michelin winter tires on, though, I hardly noticed that I had only two wheels to power through the slippery spots. Aside from the torquey engine occasionally spinning the front wheels, the A3 was composed and stable through thick city slush and at highway speeds.inline_mediumwraptextright27080960/green/reviews/1003_2010_audi_a3_tdi_fwd_s_tronic_premium1003_01_z+2010_audi_a4_tDI_fWD_s-Tronic_premium+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

GMC has always been about "Professional Grade" trucks, but the Denali trim level takes it up a notch or two -- it's the package for people who work hard but like to do it in style, too. Now, the folks in the big trucks will get their own pampering as GMC reveals the new 2011 GMC Sierra Denali Heavy Duty.inline_mediumwraptextright28350700/features/news/1003_2011_gmc_sierra_heavy_duty2011-GMC-sierra-denali-heavy-duty-front.jpgTrue

The Venza is a perfectly nice five-passenger tall wagon, as far as space, appointments, and utility are concerned. I just don't understand why Toyota is building it. The company already had an overfull quiver of hatchback crossover things, so why add the strange-looking Venza to the bunch? Well, it turns out that Toyota sold a very respectable 54,410 Venzas last year (nearly as many as Scion's 2009 brand total), so I guess there's the answer. It saddens me, though, that consumers apparently prefer the bulky Venza alongside competent RAV4s, Highlanders, Matrixes, 4Runners, et al. instead of a more carlike, more efficient, and no longer offered Camry station wagon.inline_mediumwraptextright27087650/reviews/editors_notebook/1003_2010_toyota_venza_awd1003_01_z+2010_toyota_venza_aWD+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue