Chevrolet Equinox 2010 Pictures

Chevrolet Equinox 2010

Chevrolet Equinox 2010

Chevrolet Equinox 2010 Pictures

For the Equinox’s second act, Chevrolet has redesigned it inside and out and now offers a four-cylinder—a 2.4-liter similar to the one in the Cobalt, Malibu, and Saturn Vue, except the Equinox’s four has direct fuel injection and a higher compression ratio (11.4:1). Output is 182 horsepower at a high 6700 rpm, and 172 pound-feet of torque gets delivered at 4900 rpm. Unlike GM’s powerful four-cylinder engines of the past, this one is smooth and emits nary a protest all the way to 7000 rpm.

With the four-cylinder and the standard six-speed automatic, the 3800-pound, base front-drive Equinox gets from zero to 60 mph in an estimated 8.7 seconds; the nearly 4000-pound all-wheel-drive model is estimated at 9.6 seconds to 60. More impressive are EPA fuel-economy ratings of 22 mpg city and 32 highway for the front-drive four-cylinder version.

Infiniti G37 Coupe 2008 Pictures

Infiniti G37 Coupe 2008

Infiniti G37 Coupe 2008

Infiniti G37 Coupe 2008 Pictures

The G37 copes with the extra heft over its sedan stablemate—and satisfies the sportier criterion—with a new 3.7-liter version of Nissan's venerable VQ V-6 engine. The boost in displacement comes from a longer stroke; both the 3.5- and 3.7-liter engines in the G-car feature a taller block than the previous generation's powerplant. The G37 takes the latest engine improvements a step further and adds variable valve timing and variable lift on the intake side, and the compression ratio increases to 11.0:1. Power is up 24 horsepower at 330, and the torque output increases two pound-feet to 270.

Infiniti FX50S 2009 Pictures

Infiniti FX50S 2009

Infiniti FX50S 2009

Infiniti FX50S 2009 Pictures

The FX50 was adopted into our fleet for several reasons. First, we’re big fans of vehicles built on Nissan and Infiniti’s FM platform, which includes the 370Z and 10Best-winning G sedan and coupe. Second, we like new, shiny stuff, and the FX has been redone for 2009, adding a seven-speed automatic transmission and, for top-spec models, a bigger and more powerful V-8. Finally, we wanted to find out how the FX’s brakes would hold up over the long haul.

Lotus Evora 2010 Pictures

Lotus Evora 2010

Lotus Evora 2010

Lotus Evora 2010 Pictures

That’s why the Evora is so much larger—21.9 inches longer, with a 10.9-inch stretch in the wheelbase—putting it on par with more mainstream sports cars such as Porsche’s 911 and Cayman. Roughly five inches shorter than a 911, the Evora still houses a similarly sized (i.e., tiny) back seat, which is optional and seems adequate for little people and children up to 10 years old.

In front, even this six-foot-five-inch driver—Lotus’s claimed design target—had to slide the seat forward a couple of inches from its most rearward position, and the amply padded, leather Recaro seats were comfortable throughout a 250-mile drive. Easing entry and exit are narrower doorsills and a seating position that is 2.6 inches higher than the Elise’s. But the footwell is still narrow enough to require a miniature dead pedal.