Hemisphere Horace on 2040-parts.com

Mazda Verisa

Mazda has refreshed the Verisa, a B-segment car sold in Japan. Based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, the Verisa is a tall hatchback that parallels the (European) Ford Fusion in concept, if not aesthetics. The Down-Road-Graphic has a clean contemporary look, with minimal grille area and restrained use of brightwork, while surfaces are given greater volume and a more substantial feeling than the Fusion.

Future products: Leaf EV is just the start of Nissan lineup overhaul

The next 18 to 24 months will bring a major renewal of Nissan Division's lineup. In the coming weeks, the brand will see four new products released or revealed: the Juke crossover, electric Leaf sedan, redesigned Quest minivan and an ambitious but perhaps polarizing convertible Murano crossover. Late next year, Nissan will begin showing a string of restyled high-volume car lines, including the Altima and Versa.

Best of the Best for 2012: Audi A7 and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Each year, hundreds of new cars and trucks pass through the Autoweek garage for evaluation by our editors. We bring our enthusiast eye to what we'll admit is a relatively enjoyable task of sorting through all of those test cars, looking for those few stellar models that deserve additional consideration for our top honors. For the second consecutive year, we've applied all of that accumulated knowledge and seat time to pick Autoweek's Best of the Best/Car and Best of the Best/Truck for 2012.