Ferrari FF 2012

Ferrari made a shooting brake, all-wheel-drive car and the automotive world split into three camps: love it, hate it, and meh. The latest details on the Ferrari's FF all-wheel drive system may not change that fact, but it's sure to intrigue all camps--and spark endless rounds of debate, particularly with fans of the equally-new Lamborghini Aventador.

What's the deal with Ferrari's new system? It uses two separate transmissions for the front and rear axles--and it's only all-wheel drive in first through fourth gears, despite the presence of seven forward gears in the primary gearbox. The front transmission is driven off a conical gear at the front of the engine, and has two speeds that span the ranges of the first four gears in the main box.

Ferrari says the torque delivered to the rear wheels (remember, gear multiplication/reduction) in fifth through seventh gears is easily handled by the rear wheels alone.

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Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro has a long-running love affair with musclecar fans, nearly as long as that of its rival ponycar.
Introduced in 1967 as a response to the stunning success of the Ford Mustang, the Camaro has had its ups and downs in more than 40 years on the car scene. Paired until recently with a companion Pontiac Firebird, the Camaro has been offered in five different generations as a two-door sports coupe, with V-6 or V-8 power and rear-wheel drive. Special editions have included the Camaro RS, Camaro SS and Camaro IROC-Z, and convertible and T-top body styles. Until 2002, GM had built the Camaro in each model year for 35 consecutive years, but GM decided to kill the musclecar in 2002, ending production of the composite-bodied Camaro in Canada.
The Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro have a rivalry that goes back decades, and with the all-new Camaro introduced last year, it's resulted in a new arms race. For 2011, the base direct-injected V-6 engine has been re-rated to 312 hp (GM says they were conservative before, but it lets them one-up the 2011 Mustang's 305-hp V-6). The 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 used in base LS and LT versions of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro LS and LT actually moves the Camaro quite quickly—fast enough for most tastes, if the Camaro's looks are your main motivator for buying.

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BMW 5-Series

The BMW 5-Series mid-size sport sedan has been completely redesigned for 2011, and it's more of a driver’s car than the outgoing 2010 5-Series—or most other mid-size luxury sedans—while still upping the technology ante and not forgetting about the comfort and luxury that matters.

There's no wagon version of the 5-Series model this time around; instead, the striking 5-Series Gran Turismo blends some station wagon and SUV cues into a shape that's not quite sedan or crossover. In the Gran Turismo, the elevated backseat space is excellent—limousine-like by most accounts—and the tailgate can be opened in two different ways. Powertrains for the GranTurismo are essentially the same, but a different suspension setup means it doesn't handle nearly as well as the 5-Series sedan.

Despite being predictably conservative with the 5-Series, BMW has made the new model feel a little sportier and more expressive than the 5-Series it’s replacing. When you take advantage of all of the technical achievements that are available with the Sport Package or as options—you don’t have to drive fast or aggressively to enjoy them—you get a true sport sedan that will greatly satisfy you, your passengers, and your inner tech geek.

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