The patron saint of gearheads must be smiling upon us. Hot on the heels of the announcement that we’ll be able to buy the Fiat 500 by the end of the year comes word that Alfa Romeo is planning a return to these shores.

Download Alfa Romeo Returning to the U.S.

One of the most impressive vehicles brought by Renault at the Geneva Motor Show is the R-Space concept, a simple, sensuous and welcoming family vehicle that express Renault’s new design philosophy in the MPV segment.

Download 2011 Renault R-Space

In what is apparently becoming an annual celebration of their partnership with the French National Rugby Team, Renault has once again released a special edition line of their Clio and Megane vehicles, which they’ve been calling the "XV de France" Editions.

Download 2011 Renault Megane and Clio "XV de France" Editions

"Oh my god, is that for real? It's like a grown-up Big Wheel." "It's a Mini monster truck." The Mini Countryman elicits all sorts of responses from bystanders. So far, they're only positive, but at the same time you get the feeling no one takes the pint-sized crossover seriously. Other companies might cringe at the thought of their products being compared to toys, but Mini revels in it. A vehicle like the Countryman was never meant to be just another car; it's all fun all the time.

Download First Test: 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4

Your opinion of the Mazdaspeed3 depends on the cars you coveted in high school. Were they the European thoroughbreds, the ones with equal amounts of heritage and performance? Were they Detroit's finest, with rear tires as wide as their torque plateau? Or were they economy cars, the ones with 15-inch wheels shod in R-compound rubber for weekend autocross duties, the ones that constantly needed a bit of fiddling with a laptop plugged into an OBD-II port, the ones that had a stack of Sport Compact Car issues integrated as a load-bearing part of their frame?

Download Verdict: 2010 Mazdaspeed3

It's time to officially put the wagon on the U.S. endangered vehicle species list.
Just this year, we learned that Volvo's new V60 won't be making the trip stateside, nor will the BMW 5 Series Estate. But despite the bad news, Cadillac is boldly going where other U.S. automakers are no longer going with its new CTS Sport Wagon. And the Germans, bless their hearts, continue to bring over (at least for now) models like the Audi A4 Avant quattro. Alas, we recently said farewell to a 2009 Avant quattro after just over a year in the MT fleet.

Download Verdict: 2009 Audi A4 Avant Quattro

Subaru executives readily admit that their "anywhere, any time" all-wheel-drive rides aren't always the prettiest. Nevertheless, the little automaker from Tokyo, Japan, has been on a tear.

Download 2012 Subaru Impreza

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is a car with almost no competition on the market. But things are about to change now that Mopar has announced the Ram Runner Stage II for the annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari which takes place April 16-24. The Ram Runner Stage II kit will be available for any 2009-2011 Ram 1500 models starting next month. Prices will be as follow: pre-runner stage II lift kit - $13,270; off-road front bumper - $1,250; off-road rear tire carrier $1,010; off-road front fenders $1,020; off-road rear fenders - $1,350.

Download 2012 Dodge Mopar Ram Runner Stage II

Hennessey isn’t just about creating uber-sexy vehicles like the Venom GT. In fact, a lot of their projects entail tuning up existing models and then slapping on an HPE title coupled with the appropriate horsepower number. The latest vehicle to be blessed with the alphanumeric title is the 2009-2011 Dodge Ram and its new HPE500 designation.

Download 2009 - 2011 Dodge Ram HPE500 by Hennessey

The employees over at Classic Recreations have the best job ever. During their time at the office, they get to take the best looking classic Mustangs and turn them into modern interpretations of what they once were. All of the classic looks of some of the best looking muscle cars of all time get to keep their exquisite designs, while getting juiced up and buffed out for their grand re-entrance into society. Classic Recreations have already gifted us with their modern take on the 1967 Shelby GT500CR and now they are astounding us once again with the 1967 Shelby GT500CR Venom. The Venom takes the standard GT500CR and adds a bit of edge and even more power to create a muscle car that can literally stop our hearts.

Download 1967 Shelby GT500CR Venom by Classic Recreations

Speedriven released recently released the details of their latest Mercedes projects, called the EV12. The EV12 is based on an older version of the Mercedes E-Class and is powered by a V12 engine. As you can see in the photos, the new Speedriven Mercedes-Benz E-Class has undergone an extensive engine modification, it now outputs 700 hp at the rear wheels. They tested the Mercedes EV12 on ALSA’s dyno.

Download Speedriven EV12 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

So here's the latest fantasy the marketing wonks would have you believe: Mountain-Dew-guzzling adrenaline junkies buy vehicles like the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier, to suit their (over)active lifestyles. Seriously. That's what they want you to think. Get one of these trucks and in no time you'll be winning triathlons, paddling down Class V rapids and mountain biking over volcanoes.

Download Full Test: 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

It's a little disquieting to think there are people out there in the community at large who feel that the 6.2-liter Lamborghini Murciélago is a little under-endowed with a mere 570 horsepower at its disposal. Still, it's a fact that upstarts like the Koenigsegg CC8S can deliver more punch, not to mention hypercars like the Porsche Carrera GT, the Ferrari Enzo and the outlandish Bugatti Veyron. Lamborghini, once the exemplar of automotive extremity, found its flagship out-muscled by some prêt-a-porter Mercedes-Benz models. Corrective action was required and the 640-hp 2006 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 is the result.

Download First Drive: 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

When it comes to convertibles, it's very hard to get them 100-percent right. This statement becomes a near fait accompli when said convertible springs from a nearly flawless (and flexless) coupe, such at the Bentley Continental GT.

Download First Drive: 2007 Bentley Continental GTC

Inside Line's long-term test vehicles seldom make it out of California. Even less frequent are the times these Interstate commuters even stray from the West Coast. The addition of a 2007 Toyota Camry to our fleet and the appearance of a new Detroit editor on our staff changed all this.

Download Long-Term Test: 2007 Toyota Camry

Toyota recalled 3.8 million cars because of faulty floor mats that may cause the accelerator pedal to stick to the floor.

Download Toyota Recalls 3 Million Cars with Dangerous Floor Mats