7 performance cars for less than $30,000 part two: Honda Civic Si vs. Volkswagen GTI

It's hard to fathom, but it's been more than a decade since the peak of the sport-compact craze saw modified Honda Civics cluttering the streets. Enthusiasts salivated over a Type R that wasn't (and still isn't) available on our shores, instead having to settle for the Si. Fast-forward to today and the debut of the ninth-generation Civic for the 2012 model year brings a new Si.

Toyota Yaris Facelift revealed

The 2014 Toyota Yaris (pictured) gets a new look It’s only a few months since the Toyota Yaris got a series of updates for 2014, but despite that Toyota has rolled out a full facelift for the Yaris which will arrive in Toyota showrooms this summer. Building on the styling of the new Toyota Aygo, the new Yaris gets a cosmetic makeover on the exterior including the same cross shape nose with a central Toyota logo, new upper and lower grills, LED tail lights, diffuser in the back bumper and a new shape number plate surround. Inside, Toyota say they’ve invested a lot of work to make the cabin of the Yaris better and given it a greater feel of roominess and dynamic appeal, more choices of equipment and trim and a more upmarket feel.

Porsche Panamera designer focused on rear-seat passengers

There's no mistaking it for anything but a Porsche, but with four doors and four full seats, the Panamera is like no previous Porsche. Styled by a team of in-house designers under the direction of Michael Mauer, the Panamera is 195.7 inches long, 76.0 inches wide and 55.8 inches tall--making it slightly shorter but wider and lower than the Maserati Quattroporte, with which it shares a coupelike profile. As with all such silhouettes, "the real challenge is giving the rear-seat passengers enough headroom," says Mauer.