Best car of 2010

This year, for the 28th running of our annual 10Best competition, the rules were simple. First, we raised the price cap from $71,000 to $80,000 (roughly three times the average transaction price of a new car) in the belief that 80 grand is the current point of automotive excellence’s diminishing returns. Cars get more expensive than that, but they don’t get much better. More important, raising the cap makes eligible nominees in two other vital categories: luxo-sport GTs and luxury sedans. Never mind that only two new cars qualified (and one was about to be replaced in a few months, so we left it out).

Second rule: As is the norm, we invited back 2009’s 10Best winners and all the new or significantly altered cars for 2010. Every qualifying vehicle must be on sale no later than January 2010, ergo the complete absence of vaporware.
In all, we hosted a total of 58 automobiles at our secret base hidden amid the farm plots of southeast Michigan. We flogged the cars for a week over our long-standing route, which serves up everything from smooth curves to pockmarked apexes to first-gear corners to high-speed straights to elevation changes.
There, we sought answers to the following questions: 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 cars on the following pages max out in all three areas. These are the machines that have cracked the greatness code. The overwhelming consensus in our results, arrived at by a diverse array of drivers and their biases, has convinced us that these are the 10 worthiest cars on the American road. And their average base price of just over $35,000 was far below our $80,000 cap.
The Nominees
The nominees are listed below. They consist of all-new cars, 2009 10Best winners (called out in bold), cars that were not available for the 2009 competition, and those with significant updates. All cars must fall under our base-price cap of $80,000 and be on sale in January 2010.
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

                                                             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

Scream 4

The horror series that reignited the genre and grossed more than $500 Million worldwide is back! From Kevin Williamson, creator of the original SCREAM trilogy, the new film sees the return of cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, along with a group of new stars, who can hopefully stay alive long enough to figure out the new rules to this one-of-a-kind horror franchise.

HD Shakira - Islands New Song 2010

J Randall Feat. Akon - Oo La La (New Song 2010)

Beastly

The Manhattan-set and modern-day take on "Beauty and the Beast" tells the story of a handsome rich kid with a mean streak. When he ditches a date, a curse is placed upon him, turning him into everything he hates. The grotesque transformation leaves him with the seemingly impossible task of finding true love to break the ugly spell.

The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings

Story

The plot of The Witcher 2 is intended to be less linear than that of the first game, and is supposed to feature "three independent plot lines" which lead to multiple endings.
The Witcher 2 is set almost immediately after the first, and follows from the attempt on King Foltest's life which occurred in the final cutscene. Geralt will once again face the mysterious witcher-like assassins, who appear to be connected with a character named in previews as the Kingslayer. In a trailer, the Kingslayer is seen speaking to Iorveth, a human-hating elf. The Kingslayer displays a head which he claims belonged to King Demawend of Aedirn, and says that if Iorveth is prepared to help, more kings will also fall.
Other plot elements which have been referenced (but which do not necessarily correspond to the three plot lines mentioned) are Foltest's moves to capture the stronghold of the rebellious Baroness La Valette and "Geralt’s personal theme, in which he’s looking for his own identity".
According to a fact sheet released for the game, Geralt's travels "will lead him up the river Pontar into the turbulent borderland between Temeria, Kaedwen and Aedirn". A town named Flotsam, situated on the border between Temeria and Aedirn, will feature.

Characters returning from the first game include Triss Merigold, Zoltan, and Dandelion. A new character to be introduced is Vernon Roche, a member of the Temerian military who has been sent to help Geralt. Though it is not not known where in the narrative it will take place (if at all) it may be speculated that Geralt will face off against a dragon. (may be speculated from the original, leaked, gameplay trailer from September '09 which shows a dragon along with another of the mysterious assassins). Also a concept piece shows what looks like some form of dragon in the background of it, the only living thing in view. (to the right hand side)

 Demonstrated segment

A small segment of the game's early stages has been covered in some detail by previews and videos, apparently having been used as a demonstration for the media. In the final game, some or all of it may vary depending on player choice.
The segment begins with Geralt, Triss, and Roche on a ship, presumably on the Pontar river. They disembark and head into a forest, with Triss and Roche arguing. They are interrupted by the sound of someone playing a flute, and notice Iorveth watching them. Roche and Iorveth know each other, at least by reputation, and are hostile. A fight begins, with Iorveth signalling archers to attack — Triss is able to establish a shield to protect them (seen in the trailer), but is weakened by the effort, and needs to be carried by Roche. The shield renders Iorveth's archers useless, but enemies can still pass through the shield on foot, and Geralt must hold them off alone while the three slowly make their way to safety.
At some point after this, the three are admitted to the town of Flotsam, where they find a public hanging in progress. Two of the four people waiting on the gallows are Dandelion and Zoltan, the latter of whom turns out to be an informant that Roche was looking for. Geralt moves to save them, arguing with the guards (with some support from the townspeople) and then fighting them. The town's leader then arrives and speaks with Geralt — the two unnamed prisoners are hanged, but Dandelion and Zoltan are spared, with the town official telling Geralt to speak with him later to hear a proposal.
Geralt can later visit a nearby elven ruin which the rescued Dandelion informs him of. This involves fighting their way through a stretch of forest, and then fighting looters at the ruins. Triss accompanies him, and when they find themselves trapped after a fall, there is an opportunity for a love scene (possibly the one depicted in the trailer, as it supposedly takes place in a ruined bathhouse).
At some point later still, Geralt accepts the town official's quest and must fight a large monster that Geralt knows as a tentadrake, which may also be depicted in the trailer.