By Al Vinikour
MotorwayAmerica.com

It’s one thing for a family to boast a third-generation of something (like military officers, doctors, lawyers, etc.). But it’s rather rare for a family to produce a ninth generation — particularly when it concerns one of the world’s most popular and recognized products.

By now you’ve no doubt guessed I’m referring to the all-new 2012 Honda Civic. Since its launch as a 1976 model and through the 2010 model year, Civic has amassed a cumulative sales figure of 8.8 million in the United States alone.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Being a segment leader for a year is a noteworthy achievement and shows an automaker’s ability to provide a product that people desire. Being a segment sales leader for decades is quite another thing, demonstrating that an automaker is savvy enough to indefinitely stay ahead of the competition.

So it is with Ford and its F-Series pickup.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Hyundai broke into the U.S. car market with a roar in 1986 when it sold more than 100,000 sub-compact Excels at a bargain-basement price.

Although the South Korean automaker — which starting building cars in the late ’60s — had gained an instant foothold, its North American existence was threatened with shoddy build quality and unreliability. Hyundai eventually got things sorted out, and in an effort to overcome its dubious reputation it initiated an unprecedented-for-the-time 10-year, 100,000-mile drivetrain warranty.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Although we had not driven General Motors’ revolutionary extended range electric car in the first months of its new life, we had reached the conclusion that its cost far exceeds the benefits it provides in gas savings.

We reasoned that numerous vehicles from established hybrids to the new plug-in hybrids soon to hit the market to the new high-mileage compact vehicles now in showrooms provide considerably more bang for the buck than the Volt, which is also of compact size.

There is still much truth in that opinion, at least for time being.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

A decade ago the thought of Porsche building a four-door sedan was, well, just crazy. The mention of such a move was sacrilege.

It was about that time that the Porsche sport utility vehicle — which too was much maligned, but  has proven a giant success for the German sports car builder — hit the market. The popularity of the Cayenne SUV paved the way for the Panamera sedan, which arrived in 2009 as a 2010 model and has given Porsche another shot in its sales arm.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Lexus LS 460 has been rather derogatorily called soft and unexciting — devoid of passion and driving dynamics — when compared to the more sports-orientated luxury cruisers such as the Jaguar XJ, BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes S-Class.

As members of the automotive writer clique we find ourselves among the ranks of the BMW 7-Series and Jaguar XJ aficionados who enjoy a more engaging ride. That’s 180 degrees from the average Lexus customer who cries out for powerful, plush, soft and quiet.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Fans of the Hyundai Sonata were no doubt thrilled last year when they first caught a glimpse of the stylish, trend-setting 2011 sedan. But for some, their enthusiasm may have waned when they learned there would be no V-6 engine available to compete with the bigger engines in the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The CX-9 entered the marketplace the same year as the much ballyhooed GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave although the GM assemblage has gone through some changes. The Outlook is gone with the rest of Saturn and the Chevrolet Traverse now fills out the GM threesome.

And as with the GM segment entries, the CX-9 carries on in a very acceptable and rewarding manner based on the two weeks we spent in a loaded 2011 Grand Touring all-wheel drive model.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

If horsepower isn't everything in your driving life, but you crave luxury and style in your motorized transportation even on a modest budget, we have a suggestion. Give the all-new 2011 Infiniti G25 a test drive.

It's what you might call G37 light, Infiniti's answer to the Lexus IS250, the Mercedes C300, the Acura TSX and the BMW 328i. It has the same interior, exterior and similar standard features as the G37 and is available in three trim levels — G25, G25 Journey and G25x Journey AWD.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The new mid-sized Optima sedan is a game-changer for Kia; from its cutting-edge styling to its fuel-efficient drivetrain to its lively driving demeanor Optima can go head-to-head with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima.

Audacious of us to say you say. Well maybe. But once you’ve experienced the Optima, maybe not. Forget everything you have heard or experienced about Kia in the past — just wipe it out of your mind. Leave your preconceptions at the door. It is a new day.