The auto industry may be coming off its worst year in recent memory, but you’d never know it from driving a crop of dozens of new cars, as we just did during our annual All-Stars competition. The level of excellence was high, and the competition was keen – so much so that thirty-nine cars received votes for the ten All-Star spots. In the end, though, our balloting produced a list of true standouts that span a wide range of the automotive spectrum.inline_mediumwraptextright27473782/features/awards/1002_2010_automobile_all_stars1002_21_z+2010_automobile+all_stars.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2010 Automobile All Stars – Our 10 Favorite New Cars – Automobile Magazine

We’re accustomed to seeing eight- and twelve-cylinder engines nestled beneath the hood of a BMW 7-series, but it’s been a long time — nearly a decade, in fact — since we’ve seen BMW’s flagship powered by a six-cylinder.inline_mediumwraptextright31995846/features/news/0912_2011_bmw_740i_and_740li2011-BMW-740i-front-three-quarter.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2011 BMW 740i and 740Li – BMW Luxury Sedan News – Automobile Magazine

BMW’s electric “Megacity” vehicle may be approximately five years away from reaching production, but that’s not stopping the automaker from toying with electric vehicles to develop, test, and refine the technology. After sending nearly 600 electrified Mini Es into the world, BMW will prepare a second batch of test cars, which will closely resemble the Concept ActiveE shown here.inline_mediumwraptextright2010 BMW ActiveE Concept31724178/green/news/0912_2010_bmw_activee_conceptP90054926.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2010 BMW Concept ActiveE – BMW Hybrid Coupe Concept – Automobile Magazine

Waiting for a new take on the M roadster? You’ll have to make do with the 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is. It may not wear that fabled “M” badge, but the new range-topping Z4 model is faster than the last Z4 M models produced.inline_mediumwraptextright27768961/features/news/0912_2010_bmw_z4_sdrive35is1001_05_z+2010_bMW_z4_sdrive35is+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is – 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage, New Car Reviews, Concept Cars – Automobile Magazine

Myriad intriguing technological innovations and new engines and transmissions mark the sixth generation of BMW’s 5-series. Developed in parallel with the 7-series, it shares all suspension components, resulting in a switch from struts to a multilink layout in front. Most suspension components, the front fenders, the doors, and the hood are aluminum. The optional active steering uses electric – instead of hydraulic – assistance for additional fuel economy benefits.inline_mediumwraptextright31746612/features/news/1002_2011_bmw_5_series_6_series_four_door_coupe1002_01_z+2011_bMW_5-Series+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Months in Fleet: Ten
Mileage to Date: 35,876inline_mediumwraptextright16947706/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1001_2009_bmw_750li_january_update0904_03_z+2009_bMW_750Li+rear_view.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2009 BMW 750Li – January 2010 Four Seasons Review – Automobile Magazine

There’s little we would change about BMW’s 3-series, and we’re glad to see the automaker apparently agrees. For 2011, its 3-series coupe and convertible models are refreshed, although the modifications are subtle, to say the least.inline_mediumwraptextright27825637/features/news/1001_2011_bmw_3_series_coupe_and_convertible1001_05_z+2011_bMW_3-Series_coupe_and_convertible+front_view.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2011 BMW 3-Series – BMW Luxury Sport Coupe and Convertible – Automobile Magazine

The history books would have you believe that the West was once a wild place. But if you’re braving the sweltering California desert and happen upon a little town called Palm Springs, you’d never know it. The dusty bandits, merciless bounty hunters, and untamed renegades are long gone, replaced by air-conditioned cafés, opulent galleries, and swanky day spas. The only weapons in use are those rumbling under the hoods of the many exotic and classic cars cruising the boulevard. The desert people clearly favor Cadillacs over Caterhams, though – luxury rules the West now.inline_mediumwraptextright31921479/reviews/driven/1001_2010_bmw_760li_mercedes_benz_s63_amg_porsche_panamera_turbo_video1002_02_z+2010_mercedes-Benz_s63_aMG_bMW_760Li+porsche_panamera_turbo.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: BMW 760Li, Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, Porsche Panamera Turbo – YouTube Video – Automobile Magazine

The history books would have you believe that the West was once a wild place. But if you’re braving the sweltering California desert and happen upon a little town called Palm Springs, you’d never know it. The dusty bandits, merciless bounty hunters, and untamed renegades are long gone, replaced by air-conditioned cafés, opulent galleries, and swanky day spas. The only weapons in use are those rumbling under the hoods of the many exotic and classic cars cruising the boulevard. The desert people clearly favor Cadillacs over Caterhams, though – luxury rules the West now.inline_mediumwraptextright27714478/reviews/driven/1002_2010_bmw_760li_mercedes_benz_s63_amg_porsche_panamera_turbo_comparison1002_01_z+2010_mercedes-Benz_s63_aMG_bMW_760Li+porsche_panamera_turbo.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: BMW 760Li, Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, Porsche Panamera Turbo – Luxury Sport Sedan Comparison – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: BMW 760Li, Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, Porsche Panamera Turbo – Luxury Sport Sedan Comparison – Automobile Magazine

More than any other BMW product, the 5-series must walk a fine tightrope to balance the company’s reputation for sport sedans and luxury cruisers. That responsibility, to be all things to all people, is a particularly tough job for the 5-series, but with new engines, a fresh look, and refined adaptive dynamics, the new 2011 BMW 5-series is eager to battle the diverse competition in the mid-size class from Lexus and Mercedes-Benz to Infiniti and Audi.inline_mediumwraptextright27841597/reviews/driven/1001_2011_bmw_5_series1001_03_z+2011_bMW_5-Series+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: 2011 BMW 5-Series – BMW Luxury Sport Sedan Review – Automobile Magazine