The 28th annual 10 Best Cars competition hosted by Car and Driver named its winners in the January 2010 issue. The list was condensed from 58 models, which were mainly comprised of the 2009 Best 10 and those that are going to be released not later than January of next year. There were three areas to consider in the selection process: 1) How well does this car perform its intended mission? Does a given luxury car, for example, ride harshly? Does it sacrifice rear-seat headroom for an aggressive tumblehome? 2) Is this a highly engaging, fun-to-drive vehicle in its category? Does it compel the driver to get in and enjoy it? And 3) What kind of value does it represent? How much goodness does it deliver for its price? (The target price was $35,000 to $80,000 cap)

Basing on those requirements, the nominees were resized to:

Acura TL 6-sp manual • Acura ZDX • Audi A5 2•0T • Audi A6 3•0T • Audi S4 • Audi S5 Cabriolet • Audi TTS • BMW Z4 • BMW 3-series/M3 • Buick LaCrosse • Cadillac CTS/CTS-V • Chevrolet Camaro • Chevrolet Corvette/Grand Sport/Z06 • Ford Fusion/Fusion hybrid • Ford Mustang/Shelby GT500 • Ford Taurus/Taurus SHO • Honda Accord • Honda Fit • Honda Insight • Hyundai Genesis coupe • Infiniti G37 • Jaguar XF/XFR • Kia Forte/Forte Koup • Kia Soul • Lexus HS250h • Lexus IS convertible • Lincoln MKS EcoBoost • Lotus Evora* • Lotus Exige S 260 Sport • Mazda MX-5 Miata • Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed 3 • Mercedes-Benz E-class • Nissan Cube • Nissan 370Z • Pontiac G8 GXP* • Pontiac Solstice coupe* • Porsche Boxster / Cayman • Porsche 911 Carrera • Subaru Legacy • Subaru Outback • Suzuki Kizashi • Toyota Prius • Toyota Venza • Volkswagen Golf*/GTI

After further evaluations, the 10 Best Cars 2010 are……

• 2010 Audi S4
• 2010 BMW 3-series / M3
• 2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V
• 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
• 2010 Honda Accord
• 2010 Honda Fit
• 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
• 2010 Mazda 3 / Mazdaspeed 3
• 2010 Porsche Boxster / Cayman
• 2010 Volkswagen GTI

Guess who takes the center stage this month in best deals? Nothing but the mouth watering Cadillac XLR-V! As stylish as ever, it stands proud during a photograph as if to say ‘now, you know who really rules!’

One of the first things you might notice in the XLR is its parallelism. It is designed and styled using lines that make it all the more exclusive and grand. The side mirrors also stand like flags on each of the car’s mirror side, while its hard top is also stylish in its retractable form.

Performance-wise, it sports 4.6 L Northstar V8 and 4.4 L Northstar SC V8 that will surely take you to joyride all through out your ownership to it!

The first time I saw a picture of Covini C6W, I thought it was just an edited picture or something close to that. All because the sporty and unconventionally boxed car is equipped with 6 wheels, which I think is absurd. But it turned out that the car is alright. The fact is, it is not even just a concept vehicle but actually hit productions! It was launched as the first six-wheeled supercar in the big auto industry. It sports a powerhouse that can make more than 400 horsepower and achieve 300 km/h! The car is really amazing, but there is a catch: the driving public finds it unfitting.

The Covini C6W is simply something unique. But apparently, not many wants to drive a non-conventional looking ride, even if it’s a supercar! The waning number of market for this vehicle forced its designer and manufacturer to come up with something more enticing than a 6-wheel car. Result: the Covini C6W will be just another memory in the history of our auto industry gone wild..

Maybe in the early years, Chevrolet Corvair looks grand and envious. These days though, it looks exotic to me. Digging the wiki over the net, I found out that the model is one of GM’s greatest failures. Curiosity takes me back to its history. The vehicle was supposed to make it big but was not properly supported, invoking the consumer advocates of its time to review it unfavorably that led to its demise.

The Corvair was definitely among the most stylish models in the 60s but was equipped with an erring suspension system. That is what started the problem, which was easily eyed by Ralph Nader, a consumer advocate who also wrote the famous ‘Unsafe at Any Speed’ book. GM took two defining solutions; 1. Redesign the suspension system, and 2. Stalk Nader to dig up dirt. Eventually, the advocate realized what’s going on and went public; hurting GM the worst.

I haven’t thought that with all the auto shows and reviews that an automaker can get prior to production, there will still be unsuccessful models that will become heap of junks around the maker’s plant. Good example to this is the General Motor. This is probably among the most successful makes in the auto world and who would have though that they will also have a share of these misfortunes?

Fact is, GM has a giant heap of junkies on the many plants they have around the world. I don’t know who is liable to these but there should be none of these given the planning and researching before every model finally hit the plants. Each of these unsuccessful models have their own share in the glooming economy of the maker.

Among the well engineered and lavishly produced models from GM are Chevrolet Corvair and Vega, Cadillac Cimarron, EV1, Pontiac Aztek, Saturn L-Series, and Hummer H2. Massive advertising has even proved to be futile. So what do they do with those? Why don’t they sell them in much lower prices so they can at least get their capitals back and make the vehicles useful?

I believe all automobiles are equipped with the important safety features we need when hitting the road. But sometimes, crumple zones and seat belts are not enough. That is why Anti-Locking Brake Systems are also added in cars. Still, there is the need to better all these. That is what you get from the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure of the all-new 2009 Honda Civic EX-L!

The ACE helps to redirect the crash loads away from the passenger compartment, making even the worst accidents on the road a little less horrifying. How does it work? By design, all the corners of the vehicle act as absorbers. They take the brunt of the impact during collisions even with larger automobiles!

On top of the innovative safety features this sleek vehicle has, it is also very affordable at $20,855! Also, it is equipped with sporty accessories we always dreamt to have in our rides. But the most important thing is that the vehicle is reputed for reliability for all these years.

Heard that Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT sedan that can hit 60 mph? Well, if it is all about that performance, I’d save my 130 grand and buy myself the 17-grand worth Cobalt! But of course, there are so many things to take into consideration. One is the prestige one can get from owning an expensive car and yes, the brand of the ride.

Cobalt is powered with a turbocharged 4-cylinder block that can make as much as 260 horsepower. It is also rated at 30 mpg highway EPA. And its handling is really superb net of the teeth rattling effect that is usually felt on sport tuned suspensions of many automobiles. It seems that the harder you drive, the better its grip on the road becomes. The coupe is also powered with 5-speed manual transmission, making each short throws effective.

Exotically priced at $17,995, we will surely feel loved and sheltered with the new Subaru Impressa 2.5i 2009 edition! Who wouldn’t want to own a coupe with its all-wheel drive versatility and fun? Aside from that, it is designed and styled to compete with the modern major cars we have in the industry today. That way, we won’t feel any less than any of the brass ones we bump on everyday. But more importantly, Subaru is reputed for its reliability so we get the best value for our hard earned dollars!

Impressa is really impressive when it comes to performance. At bargain price, you can enjoy the ride especially when the going gets tough! Thanks to the flat engine it is equipped with. It is made to work and get into places where most automobiles are not capable of!

I remember my first automobile, which was company-released hatchback, and I hated it for being one! It might be practical with all the cargo room but not stylish as everyone would want for a ride. If only Honda have though of Fit much, much earlier then I should have gotten myself spacious and beauteous ride instead. The Fit is what we have known in the early years as hatchback. But this time, access is a lot easier and more importantly, it really is sporty!

The Fit sports a 4-cylinder engine that makes as much as 117 horsepower. That may not be so much for enthusiasts but is good for its friendly price of $16,260. Aside from its block, we can expect quality handling and smooth shifting all through out revving this ride up.

This cutie will be very useful to commuters like students, the young professionals, and those that loves sporty feel with all the youthful designs.

When someone owns a car, our first impression is that he or she is rich and fabulous? Sad to say but we have been wrong all these times. Fact is, we can both own a roomy and very functional Fit, Impressa, or Cobalt SS from 16 grand to 24! And these cars are produced by world-class auto makers like Honda, Subaru, and Impressa so there is no reason to doubt their performance and capacities.

Today, you can even visit your Honda dealer and find the 5- door electric blue car at $16,260 MSRP! Or, if you want something more car-appearing, the Subaru Impressa will be a good catch at $17,995. But me, I’ll prefer something more executive than these cute vehicles with the Chevrolet Cobalt SS. It is best value at $24,095!