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.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Chrysler 300 created a much ballyhooed styling statement back in 2004 when it hit the marketplace as a 2005 model with a revolutionary blocky, masculine, gun-slit window retro look. The 300 is the Godfather as compared to the PT Cruiser’s soldier.

Although it’s now time for a complete makeover, the uniqueness of the original long since gone, Chrysler — not long out of bankruptcy and working to regain its footing as Fiat has taken operational control — elected to do only a refresh for the 2011 model year. And as refreshes go, this one is a dandy. It should serve the flagship Chrysler sedan well until the next all-new 300 arrives in a couple of years. By doing so it has avoided the feared mid-life crisis.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We were pleased when word came that we would be piloting a 2011 Lexus LX 570 over the winter holidays. The LX, we mused, would provide a perfect luxury atmosphere for four adult passengers on a 140-mile round trip with plenty of cargo capacity large enough for our luggage and a load of gifts.

What we didn't know ahead of time was that a winter storm would necessitate negotiating 10-inches of new-fallen snow on the highways. In fact, a good-old fashioned northern snow storm wasn't even remotely anticipated because the southeastern section of North Carolina seldom sees the white stuff, and when it does it's usually nothing more than a dusting.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Infiniti’s FX line, introduced in 2003, may be best suited for the sports car addict who just can’t let go, but who needs more space for passengers and cargo. Infiniti has claimed for years that the FX35 — and its more powerful twin, the FX50 — is a cross between a sports car and a sport utility vehicle. After revisiting the FX for the first time in several years, we find the description is apt.

This unusual creation with its curvaceous lines that still is wearing well nearly a decade after it was introduced fits nicely into the modern ‘rounder-is-better’ design world.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Acura TSX Sport Wagon is a charming addition to the Acura lineup and is the beneficiary of spectacular timing, its greatest attribute being its fuel-sipping 4-cylinder engine rated at 30 miles to the gallon in highway driving, just as a new era of rising pump prices began accelerating.

A selling point certainly for a very pleasant and entertaining entry-level luxury hauler as gas prices again take a bigger bite out of the family pocketbook. Perhaps that’s why Acura decided not to put its V-6, an optional choice in the TSX sedan, in the newly minted wagon.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

A bold, modern design combined with cutting-edge performance sets the 2011 Jaguar XJ Supersport models apart from most other luxury sedans. In fact, the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 under the hood of both our short and long wheelbase test cars proved so thrillingly fast that we began to wonder if we had looked at the horsepower numbers correctly while doing our initial research.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Ford Explorer is the archetype of the modern mid-sized sport utility vehicle. The truck-based body-on-frame Explorer was an instant hit in 1991 replacing the smaller Ford Bronco II truck, and it became the industry standard for the booming SUV market during the last decade of the 20th Century. Like the Chrysler minivans in the ’80s, it was the pattern from which dozens of rival models were designed.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The 2011 Cadillac CTS coupe is an excellent example of form over function; and the form is nothing short of beautiful. The head-turning good looks trump an assortment of aggravations

So when we weigh both sides of the equation, beauty wins out just proving how shallow we are. This is not to say that the CTS coupe doesn’t have a host of other outstanding attributes. It does. For example, it is a supreme road carver with wonderful handling qualities. It has solid performance from the 3.6-liter V-6 engine making 304 horsepower. And the cabin is an example of elegant, standout design. Its ride comfort is pleasing even to curmudgeons.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The hybrid luxury cars now on the market generally offer the power of a big V-6 or a V-8 engine, but at only a modest savings in gas consumption while commanding a premium price. Payback time is forever, if ever.

Additionally it is seldom can you find a luxury sedan with great fuel economy without compromising performance, and at an attractive price. This makes the 2011 entry-level luxury Lincoln MKZ a very unusual sedan — a vehicle that literally stands alone in its uniqueness.

By Al Vinikour 
MotorwayAmerica.com

Often times we auto journalists test vehicles with heavy content of hazardous driving safety features, but in the middle of summer when there’s no chance to try them out under stressful conditions.

As my Grandfather Sam used to tell me, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” His sage words came back to me this winter when I was putting a 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic five-passenger sedan through a test period. I had to get my taxes done at my accountant’s office, which is about an hour from where I live.