We admit it: we're fans of the AMC series Mad Men. Big fans. And while the plotlines can be good, and the acting is very good, what's most seductive about the advertising-world drama is soaking in the 1960s that we never knew or were too young to appreciate. There's the on-the-job drinking, the constant smoking, the rampant sexism -- all strangely repellent and fascinating at the same time.

The Chrysler 300 is great, and the SRT version is even better. Although the 300 is essentially a Dodge Charger with different sheetmetal, the more elegant exterior design makes it appealing to a larger audience than the ostentatious Charger. Adding a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 and subtle design changes makes the car even more appealing to me. There's still not enough refinement in the 300 package to seriously challenge the German juggernauts (despite the platform descending from the E-class during the DaimlerChrysler era), but you can get a very fast, very spacious car for $50k.

There truly is, I’m starting to believe, a major downside to our Chrysler. We have come to the British tourist mecca of historic Lavenham for two reasons. First, because it’s so prototypically Olde England that it provided the film location for Harry Potter’s birthplace. Second, Lavenham rather ironically has a very highly regarded little French restaurant. Our problem, though, is that the jostling multinational masses brought in by the first reason so blissfully swarms the classic all-American woody at every stop that we may miss lunch at the second reason. This could turn into a fine-dining disaster.

Sum Up

Sum Up

In recent years, automakers have become infatuated with retractable hardtops, favoring them over conventional softtop convertibles. However, one major problem with retractable hardtops is that often compromise the design. The Chrysler 200 convertible perfectly illustrates that problem.

After taking a bit of a breather in May, consumers resumed their love affair with new cars in June. Shrugging off macro economic worries -- mostly having to do with the Euro -- buyers, low and behold, seemed more focused on matters closer to home, like the need to replace their aging set of wheels. Helping to nudge them in that direction were low interest rates, plentiful deals, and moderating gasoline prices.

Mopar’s string of factory-built, blue-on-black, special-edition models continues, but in a break from tradition, Chrysler’s aftermarket parts and accessories wing isn’t starting with a Dodge product. Instead, its latest limited-edition effort -- the Mopar ‘12 300 -- is based off the Chrysler 300.

No Chrysler product needed a makeover as desperately as the old Sebring. Awkward styling, a low-rent interior, and subpar dynamics did the Sebring no favors in one of the industry's most cutthroat, competitive segments. Thankfully, the 200, which debuted as an all-new model for the 2011 model year, banishes many of the Sebring's most unloved qualities. New exterior styling, including front and rear clips patterned after the 2009 concept car of the same name, lend the 200 an upscale appearance, but the most welcome change lurks within. The blocky, rock-hard plastic surfaces are largely a thing of the past. Soft-touch materials are applied to the dashboard and door panels; 200S models go even further, adding larger wheels, dark exterior trim, and fancier seating materials. The 173-hp, 2.4-liter in-line four remains the base engine; a six-speed automatic transmission is standard for most trims, but the entry-level LX retains an antiquated four-speed transmission. It's worth the extra money to step up to Chrysler's new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which is available only with the six-speed automatic. With 283 hp on tap, it offers a surprising amount of power and doesn't drink much more fuel than the four-cylinder. While new suspension geometry, dampers, and stiffer springs lend the sedan a sportier feel, the 200 convertible feels less refined, exhibiting some of the flex and shimmy that plagued its predecessor. Still, it's a comfortable cruiser and one of the few mid-size convertibles on the market.

The makeover Chrysler performed on its large sedan for the 2011 model year was extremely successful. The 300 still feels like a big, broad-shouldered hunk of American muscle, but it exudes a surprising amount of European flair, thanks to LED headlamps, a stellar interior, and an available panoramic sunroof. Lest you think the company is content to rest on its laurels for 2012, Chrysler has made a surprising number of revisions. Two new trim levels -- the 300S and the 300C Luxury Series -- join the fold, allowing buyers to add a sporty look and sumptuous cabin materials, respectively. Cars equipped with the 3.6-liter V-6 are now fitted with a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission and are once again available with all-wheel drive. The biggest news for 2012 is the 300's biggest engine. The performance-tuned SRT8 model rejoins the 300 lineup after a yearlong hiatus, and it's better than ever. A 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 provides a muscular 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and adaptive dampers pull double duty, curbing body roll on the track and soaking up bumps on the road. In fact, even the lesser 300 models offer a remarkably pleasant drive. With the advent of the eight-speed automatic on six-cylinder models, there's arguably less need than ever to opt for the 5.7-liter Hemi. The 3.6-liter V-6 offers respectable power without resorting to typical eight-cylinder gluttony, and the smooth-shifting eight-speed transmission both aids acceleration and bolsters fuel economy.

After flooding the market with crossovers, SUVs, and family-friendly haulers that were marketed as anything but minivans, automakers appear to be rediscovering and rededicating themselves to the minivan segment. To its credit, Chrysler never left -- instead, it pushed to find new ways to refine and evolve the minivan concept with the Town & Country. While the basic architecture of the current model dates back to 2007, last year's overhaul ushered in some welcome changes. We're happy to report that the anemic 3.8-liter V-6 is gone; a new 283-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 now provides ample power to move the 4621-pound vehicle. Engineers extensively retuned the suspension, replacing the soft, floaty demeanor of the old van with a firm, vaguely European feel. Undoubtedly, the best news lurks behind those dual sliding doors: the rock-hard blocky plastics that dogged previous Town & Countrys are largely a thing of the past. Soft-touch materials run throughout the cabin, and a new dashboard -- which incorporates a waterfall center console -- is both elegant and ergonomically pleasing. Fold-flat second- and third-row seats are standard, although optional new "quad" second-row buckets add extra bolstering and adjustability in an attempt to increase passenger comfort. We'd love to see Chrysler improve the feel of its switchgear and reduce ambient road noise, but by and large, the 2012 Town & Country feels more like a premium minivan than ever before.

After flooding the market with crossovers, SUVs, and family-friendly haulers that were marketed as anything but minivans, automakers appear to be rediscovering and rededicating themselves to the minivan segment. To its credit, Chrysler never left -- instead, it pushed to find new ways to refine and evolve the minivan concept with the Town & Country. While the basic architecture of the current model dates back to 2007, last year's overhaul ushered in some welcome changes. We're happy to report that the anemic 3.8-liter V-6 is gone; a new 283-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 now provides ample power to move the 4621-pound vehicle. Engineers extensively retuned the suspension, replacing the soft, floaty demeanor of the old van with a firm, vaguely European feel. Undoubtedly, the best news lurks behind those dual sliding doors: the rock-hard blocky plastics that dogged previous Town & Countrys are largely a thing of the past. Soft-touch materials run throughout the cabin, and a new dashboard -- which incorporates a waterfall center console -- is both elegant and ergonomically pleasing. Fold-flat second- and third-row seats are standard, although optional new "quad" second-row buckets add extra bolstering and adjustability in an attempt to increase passenger comfort. We'd love to see Chrysler improve the feel of its switchgear and reduce ambient road noise, but by and large, the 2012 Town & Country feels more like a premium minivan than ever before.

When the original Chrysler 300 debuted in 2005 (make that the modern original, as the nameplate first appeared in 1955), it was a dramatic affirmation that the classic American sedan -- a big, rear-wheel-drive, V-8 -- could still be relevant, rather than just some hoary old throwback suitable only for sunbelt geezers and the livery trade. With its blocky, vaguely Bentley-esque design, the car was an immediate hit. It was a darling of today's tastemakers, the hip-hop crowd, and was frequently customized. Much was made of the fact that Snoop Dogg phoned up then-Chrysler president Dieter Zetsche ("Doctor Z") looking to get one.

Usually, how a car drives, not how it looks, is what wins me over. Completely scratch that with the new Chrysler 300 SRT8. Even though the sedan's insane amount of Hemi power is intoxicating, its stunning looks are even more seductive. While I prefer white paint on this model, our black 300 still had me swooning. The front grille is like a black lipstick smirk on an attractive fascia. The car has a great stance, and rides on a set of black-mirror-chrome wheels that immediately grab your attention. Everything on the dark exterior is a turn-on.

It's a challenge for anyone to keep up with the constantly changing roster of cars on dealership lots. For car lovers it's an even tougher task, because beyond knowing that a certain model exists, you need to know where it fits in the automotive firmament. That's why we've gathered every new model due by the first half of 2012 and categorized them, not alphabetically or by some government-defined size class, but by their relevance to buyers, enthusiasts, and the companies that build them. Some cars thrust automakers into new segments, while others drive just like last year's model. Some cars protect the sanctity of the manual transmission, while others advance performance with the latest technology. Some cars address rising fuel-economy standards, while others disguise obscene speed in stealthy sheetmetal. Here are the 85 new arrivals shaping the automotive world for 2012.

If you’re looking for a car that can keep passengers comfortable, entertain the driver, and look sharp at the golf club, the best bet is a full-size, V-6-powered sedan like the three we’ve gathered here -- all priced at around $40,000

When the images of the new Chrysler 300 were first released, I was instantly sold on its exterior design. But now that I've seen it in person, I'm not so sure. The overall shape is very similar to that of the previous generation car -- albeit bolder, more muscular, and more elegant -- but the tiny details that look nice from a distance look busy and slightly garish when you step closer. This is especially true when viewed from the rear where there are numerous small pieces of chrome in and around the taillights and on the bumper.

I preface my comments on the Chrysler 200 convertible by noting that I have a lot of experience with its predecessor, the Chrysler Sebring convertible. There was a trip from Ann Arbor to Sarasota, Florida, and back for Thanksgiving 1996. There was Boston to Provincetown, Fourth of July weekend 1998, with four of us squeezing in for the drive back to Logan. And there was a day trip, Fourth of July 1999, Ann Arbor to Saugatuck, over on Lake Michigan, with my friend Charley and a cooler of fried chicken, prepared to his southern grandmother's recipe, in the back seat. All this is to say that I know what the Chrysler four-seat convertible is all about: It's not a sports car and I don't expect it to be one. It's an entry-luxury, comfortable, capable, stylish American droptop, an accessible indulgence for someone of reasonable means.

Things had been on a positive trajectory for all of 2011 (and even into last year), but the auto industry hit an air pocket in May. After seven months of year-over-year increases, total industry volume fell by 4% compared to last May. The overall market slowed to an 11.8-million-unit annual pace, which is the first sub-12-million number we’ve seen since August.

At board meetings, on test tracks, and in design studios, decisions are being made today that will influence what you drive tomorrow. Automakers are hard at work creating the next generation of automobiles -- cars that are faster, sexier, more efficient -- while trying to keep their development secret. Like you, we are nosy as hell. Unlike you, we have a vast network of snoops, gossips, and disgruntled former employees who have helped us uncover the information we present here. Our annual Sneak Preview feature contains the industry's future products -- as far out as 2019 -- that are worth saving your milk money for.

After a good first quarter, the auto industry entered the spring selling season with its engine still revving. Deliveries topped 1 million, for an annualized selling rate of 13.2 million units. If that pace can be maintained, it would make for a very healthy jump over 2010's 11.6 million vehicles, but it would still be a couple million short of the bubble years.

Aficionados of powerful performance sedans will likely focus their attentions on the new 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, but the rebirth of the big bruiser isn't the only news tied to the large sedan. In fact, Chrysler has formally announced the 2012 300 will, at long last, be mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Sure, we like the all-new Chrysler 300 plenty. It's the best car of the newly updated stable of Chrysler Group offerings, and it has improved markedly over its predecessor. But that's not the version of the car that gets the blood boiling and the rubber burning. The new 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is, and it's coming soon to a Chrysler dealer near you after its debut at the 2011 New York auto show.

In 2010, Chrysler revealed its youth-oriented S-branded product line with the 300 sedan. The content-packed formula continues today with the unveiling of the 200 S sedan and convertible at the New York auto show.

I am a minivan expert.