Out of the all year-end lists we compiled, picking the top sedan of the year was quite honestly the most difficult of them all.

First of all, the choices are limitless compared to the other segments. Second of all, 2010 has been characterized as a year when sedans - be it entry level ones or luxury types - have become as popular as ever. And lastly, picking one over another has become a matter of preference - and to a certain extent, budget constraints.

For our list, we’ve narrowed it down to five models, all of which are worthy of being hailed as 2010’s top sedan. In this list, three are of German descent, one is of Japanese origin, while the other is British-born. From our hints, you can probably surmise which models made it, but for the sake of suspense, we’re not going to spoil anything.

5th. Infiniti M

Infiniti’s new luxury model, the Infiniti M, actually made its debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, although it qualifies on our ‘Best of 2010’ because it was officially released in showrooms at the early part of this year.

For the newest model, Infiniti offers two different powertrains for the M luxury class: a base level M37 with a 3.7-liter VVEL V6 engine that produces 330 horsepower and a higher-in-the-clouds M56 that comes with a 5.6-liter VVEL Direct Injected V8 engine, producing a stout 420 horsepower.

Both versions of the M Class luxury sedan come with either rear wheel drive or Infiniti’s Intelligent All Wheel Drive system, not to mention an array of advanced technology systems from the Japanese automaker, including Active Noise Control, Forest Air climate control, Infiniti Drive variable driving modes, Active Trace Control, Eco Pedal, and enhanced Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System.

4th. Mercedes C-Class

The new Mercedes C-Class will only be unveiled by Mercedes in January 2011, but it’s already generating quite a bit of buzz heading into its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. For starters, the C-Class will be getting a new V6 engine that will come with 11 different power options ranging from 120 horsepower al the way up to 306 horsepower.

In addition to that, all models of the new C-Class, with the exception of the C300 CDI 4MAtic, will be outfitted with a new seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-Tronic Plus, which is set to become available in June 2011.

For a car that’s going to go on sale this March, the facelifted C-Class is already looking like it’s going to be formidable foe for the BMW 3-Series.

3rd. BMW 5-Series Sedan

Speaking of BMW, the company’s next generation 5-Series luxury sedan made its debut in 2010 amid much fanfare. The new 5-Series’ design was given a complete overhaul with BMW using inspiration from both the 5-Series GT and the 7-Series limousine, giving the new 5-Series a more elegant and luxurious design language.

In terms of performance, the BMW will come with a number of different V6 and V8 powertrains in either gas or diesel fuel types. The base model of the 5-Series will be the 520d that will produce 184 horsepower while the 535i will be powered by a BMW TwinPower Turbo that cranks out 306 horsepower. Finally, the top-of-the-line 550i will have a V8 engine that produces an output of 407 horsepower.

Each of the variants of the new 5-Series will come with an eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as new features like EPS Electric Power Steering that takes some stress off the drive train by reducing parasitic drag and frees up a few more horsepower at the same time.

2nd. Audi A7

The Audi A7 Sportback had a highly touted and much publicized debut earlier this year, opening up Audi’s portfolio with a vehicle that combines elements from an elegant coupe, a sport sedan, and a practical wagon. As far as powertrain, the five-door A7 Sportback comes in four different engine options – two gas and two diesel.

The base model will be a 2.8 FSI engine that produces 201 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque. There will also be a 3.0 TFSI engine with an output of 296 horsepower with 440 Nm of torque, a 3.0 TDI producing 210 horsepower with 400 Nm of torque, and lastly, a 3.0 TDI engine producing 242 horsepower with 500 Nm of torque..

For front-wheel-drive versions, the engines will be mated to a Multitronic CVT automatic whereas Quattro models will come mated to a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission.

1st. Jaguar XJ

Arguably the most impressive sedan to come out in 2010 is Jaguar’s completely overhauled luxury vehicle, the XJ sedan. From the previous model, which didn’t do a whole lot for our imaginations, to a completely fresh 2010 model, the new XJ has been made to look a lot younger and more attractive than its predecessors.

And the best thing about the new XJ is that the sedan’s new styling is only the beginning of its overhaul. Under its hood is where it becomes a lot more interesting, thanks in large part to a number of powertrain options available for the luxury sedan. From a 3.0-liter V6 engine all the way up to a 5.0-liter V8 engine, the 2010 XJ will carry both naturally aspirated and supercharged versions with power ranging from 385 horsepower all the up to 501 horsepower.

It was a long time coming, but certainly well worth the wait. If you’re one of the many fanatic racing gamers in the world, then you already have an idea of what we’re talking about.

We began 2010 with rumors that the game was finally going to be released in the early part of the year. Unfortunately, extenuating circumstances pushed back the release date numerous times, infuriating the game’s global fan-base.

But no matter how frustrating it was for all of us to have to endure the countless delays the developers gave with the game’s release date, deep down, we had no choice but to accept it because we’ve waited so long for it that a few minor delays wouldn’t come close to ruining the enormous expectations we’ve set for it.

Finally, the game was released on November 24th and, as expected, it sold faster than Justin Bieber concert tickets, which, to be honest, is a tremendous achievement in its own right. After years of research development and testing, the ambitious project that is Gran Turismo 5 was finally released, setting the bar for being the most realistic racing simulator ever created.



Gran Turismo 5’s graphics is a definite cut above everything else we’ve seen. From the swooping line and polish of the cars to the impeccably tailored race tracks, the game’s graphics left little room for the imagination, making you feel like your racing straight from the driver’s seat. There’s also the matter of being one of the most detailed racing games in history, thanks in large part to a roster of 1,000-plus vehicles, and not to mention, 71 different race tracks.

Make no mistake, just like any other game, Gran Turismo 5 has its fair share of quirks, including a seemingly allergic reaction to true-to-life crashes that doesn’t inspire confidence in the game’s description as a ’real driving simulator’. But nevertheless, unless you’re a hardcore gamer to to root, these types of problems shouldn’t be cause to completely abandon the game. After all, we’ve all waited years for it so we’re not going to let one quirk ruin the whole thing for us.

For better or worse, 2010 has seen a lot of racing games, but through it all, the headlines always seemed to gravitate towards Gran Turismo 5. Whether it was the delays or the official release date, the fifth installment of the groundbreaking racing simulator was front and center all throughout the year, thus earning the title as 2010's Best Game of the Year.

We admit, that when talking about car crashes, we probably shouldn’t have "best of" in the title, but some of the car crashes in 2010 have been unbelievable with the driver getting up and walking away as if they had finished the race instead of stopping short due to a rough and tumble escapade. Of course, some have also been devastating, with the driver not being as lucky.

This year was full of crashes. Toyota chief test driver, Hiromu Naruse, was killed in a Nurburgring accident while driving a Lexus LF-A, Heikki Kovalainen crashed into a Audi R8 LMS at the Race of Champions, and Mark Webber had a pretty serious accident in Valencia. The list goes on and on, with a number of supercar crashes at the hands of amateurs out for a good time.

We just didn’t feel right choosing the "best of" crash where somebody was seriously, or even fatally, hurt, so we opted to choose the crash based on the survival of the driver. This limits our choices a bit. In the end, what we were left with was the Mark Webber crash at Valencia (GP Europe 2010).

Going loop-de-loop in a race car going 186mph and casually discussing the accident just a few days later is good luck at its best. And that is why Mark Webber’s brush with death was our pick for crash of the year.

Despite the fact that gas prices are still on the rise, the SUV market continues to grow, and 2010 brought in plenty of new models to further this growth process. Starting with the new generation Porsche Cayenne, the new BMW X3, and the long waited Land Rover Evoque, the laundry list of SUVs gave us just about every model we could possibly ask for, and some we wish they would have taken back.

For the avid readers of GenCept.com, it’s no surprise that the Cayenne is on our list of top SUVs for the year. This vehicle was just as admired by us as it was with the dozens of tuners that tried their hand at remodeling it. The Evoque was also popular, but more so in the headlines with news stories of its release dominating the waves for a significant amount of time. The BMW X3 is no stranger to awards with a few already tacked on to its bumper from previous years. The newest model will be no different as its style and luxury has carried on through 2010.

We had our top three picks, but it was time to choose the winner. We based our choice on exterior design, performance, and fuel economy, which is rather important in vehicles of this class. Would tradition reign supreme or will a brand new model spank the competition?

3rd. BMW X3

Unveiled at the Paris Auto Show this September, the new generation BMW X3 is anything but new with only a few minor updates to the exterior. However, with the long list of awards and recognition, the old saying of, "If it ain’t broke, do’t fix it" certainly comes into play.

What the BMW X3 does offer is a very impressive line-up with both petrol and diesel engines to choose from. The X3 xDrive20d is now powered by a 2-liter four cylinder turbo diesel engine that delivers a total of 184 HP and peak torque of 380 Nm between 1,750 and 2,750 rpm. The xDrive35i gets a straight six-cylinder BMW engine with 306 bhp at 5,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 400 Nm being available at 1,300 rpm. The new BMW X3 xDrive35i is equipped as standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission, combined - for the first time - with an Auto Start Stop function. The list of standard equipment will include a Heads-up Display, Adaptive Cornering Headlights, High-beam Assistant, and Cruise Control with braking function.

2nd. Porsche Cayenne

The second generation Cayenne was revealed earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, but unlike the X3, this generation Porsche was dramatically different than its previous version, and in a positive way. The most noted changed was the addition of a new Cayenne S Hybrid, a model that combines a 47 hp electric motor with a 333 hp compressor engine. The two drive units deliver a total of 380 bhp and peak torque of 427 lb-ft at just 1,000 rpm.

In addition to the new hybrid model, the Porsche Cayenne also came in a few other engine options. The standard version is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with an output of 300hp; the diesel one gets a 240 bhp , 405 lb-ft 3-liter V6 engine; the S version gets a 4.8-liter V8 with 400 hp; and finally the top version, the Cayenne Turbo, is powered by a 4.8-liter V8 biturbo with an impressive 500 hp. This final version is one of the reasons the Porsche Cayenne came out on top of the BMW X3.

1st Land Rover Evoque

Despite all of the changes the competition received for 2010, the SUV that made the most impression on us this year was the new Land Rover Evoque. The Evoque is new, fresh, elegant, and it’s a coupe. It will be offered in three trim levels: Pure, Prestige, and Dynamic, all powered by a new 2.0-liter Si4 turbocharged engine that combines direct fuel injection and twin variable valve timing. Depending on the model, Evoque will come standard with: unique 19-inch wheels and sparkling metallic details, premium leather, twin-needle stitching and real wood and metal finishes, unique bumpers, sills, grille and tailpipes for a more assertive, confident stance, perforated leather seats and unique sports detailing.

What won us over with the new Evoque was the fact that it had such a dynamic look compared to the other two SUVs on the list. Its muscular stance and edgy style set it apart, making it our pick for SUV of the year.

Every year, auto makers from all over the world make a conscious effort in putting their best feet forward for the sake of letting everyone know that while their current crop of cars are important, they also put great effort in developing concept cars for future use.

Sure, some of the concepts that we see every year don’t make it past the testing and development stages, but what’s really important is that automakers are going to great lengths in determining whether parts of the concept - or the entire thing, for that matter - can be applied on their production vehicles.

Aesthetic styling aside, concept cars have become one of our favorite segments in the industry. Not only do these cars give us a glimpse of what styling direction a company is looking into adapting, but it also gives us an idea what developments are being made from a performance perspective.

For 2010, we narrowed down our four best concepts of the year, from a conservative French automaker all the way to a brand paying tribute to an iconic model - and drive system - with a concept successor that’s nothing short of breathtaking.

4th. Renault DeZir

Renault has never been the type of brand that produces aggressive and edgy vehicles in their portfolio. If there ever was a brand that exudes conservative, family-style values, Renault is right up there on the list. This particular perception on the brand took a surprising turn at the Paris Motor Show when the company rolled out a stunning electric car concept called the DeZir. Designed by Renault’s new chief designer, Laurent van den Acker, the DeZir Concept looks nothing like what we’ve gotten used to with the brand.

More than its cutting-edge, futuristic look that includes gullwing doors, the DeZir’s standing as an electric sports car was what clearly drew our attention. The DeZir is powered by an electric motor mounted in a mid-rear position over the front and rear wheels. The motor on the Dezir is good for a range of about 100 miles and a 0-62 mph time of just five seconds, impressive by the standards of electric sports cars.

What makes the DeZir all the more attractive to us is that unlike a lot of concept vehicles that never see the light of the production plant, Renault has made strong considerations in offering a road-ready version of the electric sports car in the near future. While we’re fairly certain that the production version will look nowhere like the concept, we’re nonetheless optimistic that the folks from Renault won’t stray too far away from this awesome concept’s aesthetics.

3rd. Jaguar C-X75

Another concept that quickly caught the public’s attention this year was the Jaguar’s C-X75. For a company that was severely lacking its own signature supercar, Jaguar may have found the answer in the form of the C-X75.

Unveiled at the Paris Auto Show as part of their 75th anniversary, the C-X75 is not just a showroom concept car, but could very well be the first of what a lot of people are expecting to be the future of the brand’s new design language. In creating the concept, Jaguar wanted to show the company’s capability in stepping into a new wave of high-powered electric supercars.

The new car tips the scales at around 2,970-pounds and is able to hit 62 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds. That seems awfully fast for a vehicle with only two 96-horsepower micro gas turbines that force fuel into a plug-in li-ion battery back. Once all that is said on done, there are four electric motors, one for each wheel, that together deliver an outstanding 580kW (778bhp) and 1600Nm (1180lb ft) of torque. Stomp the pedal to the floor and you can hit 205 miles per hour.

The C-X75 can travel up to 68 miles on its battery pack alone, but once the turbines kick in the car can continue traveling for 560 miles.

Judging by how well the C-X75 was received, we’d say that Jaguar did a pretty fantastic job with the concept car.

2nd. Porsche 918 Spyder

Picking between the Concept of the Year came down to a close majority decision, but really, you couldn’t have gone wrong picking between the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept and the Audi Quattro Concept. Unfortunately, one has to be runner-up and in this case, it’s the 918 Spyder.

Having said that, the hybrid super sports car that was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March by Porsche packs a very mean punch in terms of overall aesthetic design and performance capabilities. The 918 Spyder is inspired by iconic Porsches of the past, including the 917 Le Mans and the existing RS Spyder. The concept features a number of bold and striking features like the rear hoods that extend out of the headrests and retractable air intakes with a ram air function. In terms of performance, the 918 Spyder is powered by a V8 engine that delivers more than 500 horsepower while also boasting of three electric motors with an overall output of 218 horsepower. All that power translates to a car that can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just under 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 198 mph, and a lap time on the Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, which is faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT.

For a concept car like the 918 Spyder, those numbers are pretty damn impressive.

1st. Audi Quattro Concept

In celebrating the 30th anniversary of the company’s now famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the folks over at Ingolstadt decided to build the concept successor to one of the cars that put Audi on the map back in the 80’s: the Ur-Quattro.

Inspired by that car while also using some underpinnings from the RS5, Audi’s Quattro Concept is our choice for this year’s Concept Car of the Year. The decision was exceptionally difficult given the many concept vehicles that made an impression on us this year, but it all came down to which of these concepts became the subject of our endless desire to see made into a production version. By all accounts, it was the Quattro Concept.

In keeping up with the iconic Ur-Quattro while also taking into account the current capabilities of the RS5, Audi outfitted the Quattro Concept with a turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine that produces 408 horsepower with 354 lb/ft of torque and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Of course, the all-wheel-drive Quattro system also plays an important role in the power distribution of the car, which has been setup with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split, a power-weight ratio that is right on the same league as the company’s resident supercar, the R8 5.2 FSI.

For a concept vehicle that has had such a strong effect on us this year, the hope for a production version in the coming years has become a constant wish for everyone that has laid eyes on the car, us included.

Despite the economic crisis, 2010 has been a very active year for the automotive industry. And while most of the world expected to see more hybrids or small city cars, automakers wanted to prove once again that supercars were still the leaders of the automotive world. We’ve seen lots of world debuts this year, and while every single one of them is more than impressive, there were only three that topped our list for supercar of the year.

Getting to the final three was no easy task, but we managed to find our way here, where the final three went head to head for the top podium. Our nominees need no explanation: the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Bugatti Veyron Supersport, and the Koenigsegg Agera. All of them are as fast as the wind, have an impressive exterior design, and an even more impressive interior, and all of them made headlines during this past year.

3rd. Ferrari 458 Italia

We know most may consider the Ferrari 458 Italia as one of the most impressive models launched this year, and we absolutely agree. However, it landed in our third place spot solely because of its initial fire problems. Sure it has a 4,499 cc V8 engine mated to a F1 dual-clutch gearbox that delivers a total of 570 HP at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 540 Nm at 6000 rpm. It can also make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in under 3.4 seconds while its top speed goes up to an impressive 201 mph. These are all great attributes for a supercar of the year, but for us, a supercar needs to be perfect straight from its initial launch.

Despite this little problem we consider it perfect: an impressive exterior design, a high tech interior, and performance numbers that make just about any other car jealous. It also gets a long list of personalization options from Ferrari. Overall, this is a fantastic vehicle.

2nd. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

This is a model that shortly after its launch became the fastest car in the world. With 1200 HP under the hood and a top speed of 267 mph, it is the dream car for any driver in the world. Why did it only get to second place? Well, because despite its impressive engine output, the Super Sport version didn’t bring anything new to the table when compared to a standard Veyron. We would have expected to see a few updates to the car’s exterior design, but for some reason, Bugatti decided against any additional updates. Too bad!

1st. Koenigsegg Agera

Many may not agree with us, but the supercar that has made the biggest impression on us for 2010 was the Koenigsegg Agera revealed earlier at the Geneva Motor Show. Before we get tons of ranting and raving from the naysayers, we would first like to say that any vehicle that can squeeze out 910hp from a V8 engine without needing to use a 16-cylinder like the Bugatti, deserves a top spot on our list. We know there’s a difference of almost 300 HP between the two models, but a V8-powered supercar that can go that fast for about $1 million ($1million+ less than the Veyron) is a darn good deal.

Then, there’s top speed. The Koenigsegg Agera can hit 245 mph, and can obtain it without much effort. Looks are the final step to the top spot and the Agera is as elegant, aggressive, and sporty as supercars come. The clear winner in our book.

This year the war in the coupe segment was fought between the Mustang and the Camaro, at least in terms of news segments. The muscle car wars took held the strings that controlled the news puppet, but was that enough to name one of them Coupe of the Year?

We’re not telling as of yet, but we can say that we had many things to consider when narrowing down our list for the best coupe of 2010. Audi, for instance, brought the R8 GT and the RS5, while Cadillac unveiled the CTS-V Coupe. All of these choices made our top five, so the war ensues between German and American coupe models. We made our decision based on design, performance, price and on how the new model was received. It was a hard decision, but we think we made the right one.

5. Audi RS5

Launched at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Audi RS5 is powered by a turbocharged V8 engine with a total output of 450 bhp at 8250 rpm and a maximum output of 317 lbs-ft of torque between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, while top speed goes up to 173 mph, after removing the limiter.

4. Chevrolet Camaro

Launched in early 2010, the Chevrolet Camaro is offered in three different trims: LS and LT models offered with an advanced, 3.6L direct-injected V-6 engine with variable valve timing and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The SS model was offered with 6.2L V-8 engine.

However, because Chevrolet delayed its official launch so many times, we got bored waiting for it and the excitement disappeared.

3. Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

This is the last model in the Cadillac CTS-V line-up. It is powered by an LSA 6.2 Liter supercharged Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 V8 that makes a maximum output of 556 HP and 551 lb-ft of torque and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.9 seconds.

It is one of the most impressive models Cadillac has launched in the past few years, but its design is something we’ve already seen on the sedan version,so where’s the fun in that?

2. Ford Shelby GT500

The GT500 is powered by an all new aluminum 5.4 Liter supercharged V8, derived from the unit inside the Ford GT super car, that produces 550 HP and 510 lb-ft of torque. This is the most powerful Mustang Ford has in its line-up, however it didn’t impress us enough to name it the best for 2010.

1. Audi R8 GT

The Audi R8 has always been one of the most beautiful cars in the world, and with just a few adjustments, it became even better. This is why the R8 GT made the top of our list. It is powered by a 5.2 FSI V10 that has been tricked out to deliver a total of 560 HP and 540 Nm (398.28 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm. The result is a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, from 0 to 124 mph in 10.6 seconds, and a top speed of 198.8 mph. Beauty, speed, and two doors; the Audi R8 GT is our pick for Coupe of the Year.

2010 has been quite a year for the auto industry’s sports car segment. With auto brands becoming more and more aggressive in their pursuit of power, speed, and consumer preference, sports cars have become about as popular in 2010 as Justin Bieber’s hairdo.

So with all these choices, one can just imagine the painstaking labor we went through in determining our choices for the 2010 Sports Car of the Year. Of all the categories, this one was, without question, the hardest to agree on, especially when the multitude of choices available are considered.

In the end, we did find a common ground in selecting the five best sports cars of the year, despite the fact that there were some arguments along the way. Of the five that we chose - one of them is a one-off sports car - four of them came from Europe whereas the only non-European sports car on the list calls the Land of the Rising Sun as its home.

5. New Lancia Stratos

The New Lancia Stratos is the only one-off sports car to make it on our list so that in itself is an achievement in its own right. Commissioned by Michael Stoscheck, the new Stratos shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, making it a pretty powerful machine. The New Stratos is powered by a 4.3-liter V8 engine that produces 540 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque with a 0-62 mph time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of around 200 mph. While some people might argue that the New Stratos’ exclusivity should have it higher on the list, we think that the car’s one-off status goes both ways considering that only one person is going to enjoy the car.

4. Audi R8 Spyder

Just when you thought that Audi had squeezed just about everything there is to squeeze with the Audi R8, the company outdid themselves once more with the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro. Powered by a 5.2-liter FSI V10 that delivers a maximum output of 525 horsepower at 8,000 RPM, the R8 Spyder is capable of bursting out of the block to 60 mph in under 4.1 seconds while reaching speeds of just a shade under 200 mph. You know you’ve had a good year when you make yet another appearance at another Hollywood blockbuster for 2010. Yep, there’s a reason Tony Stark – a.k.a. Iron Man – loves him some R8 Spyder.

3. Aston Martin DB9

In a year that has been dominated by over-the-top sports cars that promise a whole lot more than they deliver, this British aristocratic sports car came to the party dressed like a sure-fire winner. As the newest DB9 model to come out of the UK, the 2011 Aston Martin DB9 is the epitome of a finely-tailored thoroughbred with some serious power hiding underneath its classy exterior. The new DB9 is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine delivering an unchanged 470bhp and 442lb ft of torque with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph. More than the impressive numbers, the new DB9 brought a style and panache in a segment where power and speed are considered religion.

2. Porsche GT2 RS

Of all the Porsche sports cars released this year, the Porsche GT2 RS stood out from the rest for a number of reasons. Lighter and more powerful than the standard GT2, the RS version shaved 154 lbs off of its weight while also increasing its engine output by 90 horsepower up to 620 HP. That spike in ponies translates to a 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. More to that, the GT2 RS reportedly ran an entire lap of the Nurburgring in just seven minutes and 18 seconds, which is quite a feat for a Stuttgart-born Porsche. Finally, there’s also something to be said for a car that only comes in 500 units and already sold out all 500 models even before the car hit dealerships.

1. Nissan GT-R

A lot of impressive American and European sports cars were released this year, but as far as we’re concerned, the king of the sports car mountain for 2010 resides on the other side of the world in Japan. Staking its claim as our 2010 Sports Car of the Year is the fire-breathing monster that’s affectionately called ‘Godzilla’ by auto enthusiasts from here to Osaka, Japan: the Nissan GT-R.

The all-new GT-R made its debut later in the year at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. But despite the late reveal, the car still made quite an impression on all of us, not only because of what it’s capable of – how does 530 horsepower and 612 Nm of torque sound to you? - but also because of the cheaper price tag compared to just about every car on the top five. Of all the sports cars on this list, the new Nissan GT-R is the only one that you can buy without crossing the six-digit threshold. With a combination of stunning good looks, high-grade power, and a cheaper-than-most price tag, the new Nissan GT-R is our winner for 2010 Sports Car of the Year.

I’m sure you don’t need to hear about mobile gaming evolution over the last few years once again. The Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS pocket consoles have millions of fans and some really good titles, but mobile phones, and especially the iOS devices, keep threatening their existence. Every new iDevice eats deeper and deeper into their sales.

The introduction of the iPhone 4 and the Apple iPad this year marked a turning point in the iOS evolution. Thanks to the superior hardware of these devices – proper processing power and high resolution – we can now play mobile games we’ve only dreamt of before.

The Apple gadgets don’t have the means to be a game changer (pun intended), but they are preferred by millions of users and the AppStore gaming demand grows by the day. This, of course, brought us lots of quality game titles in 2010.

Here are the games that deserved my money and might easily get yours.


Angry Birds


There is no doubt the cute angry birds made unprecedented impact on mobile gaming. It’s perhaps one of the most popular mobile games up to date (regardless of platform).

Rovio keeps updating Angry Birds regularly, adding new levels, themes and golden eggs. The best part is none of these big updates requires you to pay for it. The developer even offers an ad-supported version of the game for free in the Android Market.

The Angry birds created a formula that won them more than fifty million iOS, Android, Symbian and Palm fans around the world. After Angry Birds, the arcade games on a mobile phone will never be the same.


Infinity Blade


Unreal Engine 3 on the iPhone? I never thought we would see those awesome graphics on a phone so quickly. But Epic did it and brought its magic to the Apple gadgets.

The Infinity Blade is the first game using the new graphics engine. It’s an RPG with decent story, lots of weapons and some unique gameplay. I’m sure the graphics are its key feature, but Epic/Char have managed to give us a really good game. Once you enter the world of Infinity Blade you’ll be staying there for hours.

We are promised regular free updates with new places to explore and new weapons. The game is not too expensive either, so I suggest you check it out.


Rage HD


After Epic ported its Unreal Engine on the iOS, it was id’s turn to port the Rage graphics.

Rage HD is as beautiful as Infinity Blade (sometimes even better) and is set in the same universe as the upcoming PC/X360/PS3 first-person shooter Rage.

The Rage HD is a rail-based first person shooter, where you move on a rail track and your only job is to look around and shoot. There are lots of blood, zombies, weapons, ammo and health packs.

Rage HD has only three (completely different) levels, but it’s a very cheap game and it’s also lots of fun. I’m sure most of the FPS fans will appreciate it. There is no info on updates though.


Plants vs. Zombies


Plants vs. Zombies is another game that made a serious impact. It’s as simple as most of its tower defense siblings, but offers unique approach to the genre and some cute graphics.

Similar to Angry Birds, the success of the Plants vs. Zombies is because of the right setting and atmosphere plus the simple gameplay. If you love tower-defense games, you should definitely give this one a chance.


Cut the Rope


I’m pretty sure the iOS version of this game was created with the intention of stealing some of the Angry Birds’ pie. In the end, it did manage to grab a bite and succeed where many others have failed.

Cut the Rope relies on more physics than Angry Birds, but it’s got an equally simple gameplay.

Similar to Angry Birds there are regular free updates adding more levels and elements. If you want to see it in action, there is a free Christmas edition with 25 levels.


Dungeon Hunter 2


Everyone who has played the first Dungeon Hunter will definitely get this one. Dungeon Hunter 2 offers better graphics than its predecessor and almost the same gameplay. It’s a typical hack’n’slash RPG, where you explore dungeons, battle with different creatures, collect items, develop your character and open chests.

It’s pretty much Diablo for iOS. If you like that type of games, then Dungeon Hunter 2 offers the right mix.


Dark Nebula: Episode 2


The Dark Nebula episodes are accelerometer-based games with a really simple objective – get the ball through a series of holes, deadfalls and whatnot. We’ve seen plenty of those, but instead of the usual maze, this time around the ball makes its way through complicated high-tech levels overcoming various challenges including moving platforms and deadly robots. And just when you thought you’ve got the heck of it, the game always throws some surprising new gameplay tasks.

Episode 2 supports Retina graphics, packs 20 levels (compared to 10 levels in Episode 1) and introduces the jungle terrain. All the new levels feature even better design and bring new gameplay elements.

Both Dark Nebula versions are as cheap as they get and are many users’ favorites.


Hector: Badge of Carnage


There aren’t so many original quests these days. In fact most of the current quest titles are just remakes of some old ones.

But here comes Hector to save the day. It’s a hilarious and easy to play game that features a mix of real detective work, ridiculous conversations, even more ridiculous but interesting characters, an unbelievable police detective and other crazy stuff.

I personally laughed my way throughout the whole game and I highly recommend it. It’s entertaining, cleverly designed and generally hilarious – something you don’t see every day.


Cat Physics


If you like puzzles and physics, you may also like Cat Physics. There are two cats, one ball and various obstacles through the level. You have a few arrows that will throw the ball in the direction they point. Your objective is to position those arrows on the level properly and get the ball to the opposite cat. The shorter the path is, the more points you get.


Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit / Real Racing 2


The PC/X360/PS3 version of NFS: Hot Pursuit didn’t impress me as much as I expected, but the iOS one has definitely won me. You can play on both sides (police or racer) and it has already been updated with the career mode. It’s very similar to its bigger brother, but doesn’t have the same huge claims for perfection.


If you search for an alternative racing game, I suggest you try the Real Racing 2. It has some awesome graphics, cars and nice tracks. In fact it somehow reminds me of the Grand Turismo. The bad news for those of you that want to try it is that it is on the expensive side.


Battlefield: Bad Company 2


Every Battlefield fan will probably get the mobile version of the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 no matter what I say here. But since I’m mentioning it in this list of my favorite games, getting it might as well be a wise decision. Everyone else who loves good first-person shooters might want to at least check it out.


Shadow Guardian


he next game is s like Uncharted on a mobile phone. Shadow Guardian has very similar gameplay to the PlayStation 3 top-selling titles. It’s an adventure stacked with actions, easy puzzles, various locations, interesting story, ancient mysteries, etc.
Every fan of Uncharted, Tomb Raider and similar games will like this one.

I also intended to include the recently released Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and Aralon: Sword and Shadow, but those games are still full with bugs, they crash often and can get you a headache. Until some critical updates are released, those two aren’t worth your money.

The technology is evolving with rapid speed nowadays and I bet 2011 will bring us even more beautiful and entertaining titles. There are new iGadgets coming, the dual-core processors already entered mass-production lines, so I expect the mobile gaming experience to jump on the next level.

It's not the first touchscreen tablet in the history of computing, but it's easily the most successful so far. With 3 million iPads sold in their first month alone and a market for interactive magazines and newspapers created almost overnight, Apple finally managed to make tablet computing cool.

Price: $499 to $829.

In phones, 2010 was the year of the Android. Google's mobile software was installed on slightly more than 9 million smart phones in the third quarter of 2010, according to research firm Canalys. That means 44% of all new smart phones run on Android, up from about 5% a year ago. Among those Android phones, one of the best to be released in 2010 was the Samsung Galaxy S. Unlike the iPhone, the Galaxy S works with a number of carriers and comes in a number of models. The phone's best feature is its screen: it's astonishingly bright, even in daylight. It also is thinner and consumes less power than traditional LCDs, reducing the Galaxy's overall weight and thickness.

Price: $200 to $250, plus service.

As the first mainstream notebook from a big company to feature flash storage over conventional hard drives, Apple's 11.6-inch (30 cm) MacBook Air justifies its relatively high starting price with lightning-quick boot times, razor-thin design and a weight of just 2.3 lb. (1 kg).

Price: $999 to $1,199.

Tech geeks have been saying for years that you will soon be able to dump your cable subscription and get your shows over the Internet. Not quite — at least, not yet. Google TV's launch this year, though, made for a worthwhile interim step. The software is available on a number of different devices, but the best bet for most people is the Logitech Revue box, which works with an existing TV. It's the only TV box to sit between the cable box and the TV, which means no switching inputs to use it. When you want Google TV, the Revue box allows you to browse the Web and stream video on your TV. When you don't, you can surf your TV channels the old-school way, from your couch with a remote, one channel at a time. It's the best of both worlds.

Price: $300.

This year Google tried to capitalize on customer frustrations with wireless-phone manufactures and their multiyear contracts as well as the dominant tech company's brand. Nexus One is the first and only phone designed specifically by Google to take advantage of its Android software platform. Nexus One, which Google called a superphone, wasn't quite the runaway success the search company had hoped for. The phone was ahead of its time but by only months, and even though you could buy it without a contract, you could pick between only AT&T and T-Mobile — and you had to pay a premium to do so. Still, Nexus One owners get updates directly from Google and ahead of other Android phone users.

Price: $529.

While sales of 1.7 million units in the first three days of availability are mighty impressive, the iPhone 4's 960-by-640-pixel screen resolution is even more impressive. No competitor has been able to stuff as many pixels into a 3.5-in. (9 cm) LCD. What's more, Apple's front-facing camera and FaceTime software have finally made mobile video chatting popular with regular people.

Price: $199 to $299.

The Apple TV marks an attempt at a fundamental shift in content ownership: it's streaming-only. No downloads. No permanent ownership. Everything is a rental. The latest version of Apple TV shipped in late September. And unlike its earlier version, its users can connect to their Netflix accounts, giving the device a wider appeal. If this catches on with consumers, it could totally upend how people consume movies, television shows and other digital content.

Price: $99.

Dreams of a dual-screen, keyboardless laptop were finally realized this summer with Toshiba's Libretto W100. With two 7-in. (18 cm) screens and a price tag of $1,100, Toshiba did the smart thing by labeling the product a "concept PC" and selling it as a limited-edition device. The computer can be used vertically like a book or horizontally like a standard laptop, and both screens can be customized for various uses.

Price: $1,100.

Microsoft's take on motion-controlled gaming doesn't require holding any physical controllers. Your body is the controller, which is about as intuitive as it gets. Over time, Kinect could end up being more popular than the Wii with nongamers.

Price: $150.

If you thought the only color in novels was in the writing, you are now wrong. In 2010 a number of manufacturers came out with color e-readers. But most were cheap, with poor screens. Barnes & Noble's Nook Color has an IPS touchscreen similar to the iPad's, but it costs considerably less than Apple's hit product. Barnes & Noble is the first major e-book player to bet big on color. It could pay off.

Price: $250.