The front-wheel-drive ES 350 has long been the most subtle car in Lexus' already hardly overt lineup—appealing to those who want a smooth, responsive, quiet, and very comfortable luxury car, with some world-class technology features inside.

For 2010, the ES 350 gets a number of changes, but it doesn't deviate one bit from its formula—all the while delivering the performance to satisfy all but real enthusiasts.

On the outside, the 2010 ES 350 gets the equivalent of a 'sharpen,' in photo-editor-speak. A new grille looks a bit larger, with a lot more chrome and a slightly different headlamp design to match, while the front corners have been...

It's about time that another automaker took on Ford's Sync hands-free communication and entertainment interface. One of the best rival systems—at least in affordable vehicles—comes from an unlikely source: Mitsubishi. The new 2010 Outlander is the first vehicle to get the handy interface.

In a way, it figures. Mitsubishi used to have a geeky reputation in the U.S. and elsewhere; many years ago now, the Japanese automaker stood out from the rest with features like all-wheel-drive, active yaw control, speed-sensitive four-wheel power steering, and high-end audio with steering-wheel controls. With recent features on offer like the excellent...

Time, as they say, has flown.

It seems like just yesterday we were nursing New Year's hangovers and saying things like "GM declare bankruptcy? Never!", and today, we find ourselves in late November, weary and bleary and kind of amazed that so much has happened so fast. We're moving deep into holiday territory now, which for blogs like this means two things: (1) a bunch of year-end wrap-ups, and (2) holiday shopping guides. We're still working on those first items (believe us, they're coming), but since we're just a week away from Americans call "Black Friday", now's  as good a time as any to start dispensing the gift-giving guidance.

Just to...