Unless you're among the art-school geeks who drop terms like "foreshortening" into cocktail conversation, automotive design is a matter of intense personal opinion. During the past decade, automakers have spent their inheritance struggling to meet consumers' demand for fresh designs. The aim has been to reconcile the past with the unknowable future to create a cohesive present. That is, a contemporary design that recalls former glories without looking like reruns, and projects toward the future without going all Jar Jar Binks. So, how'd they do? Get in there. — Ed.

#10
Infiniti FX
All carmakers should have such balls. The truck that the piggy Porsche Cayenne wants to look like when it grows up.

#9
BMW 7 Series

Huh? What? Yeah. The S-Class? Cartoonishly macho. The big Lexus? Snoozeville. Bentley Flying Spur? Swing and a miss. The 7 Series looks like the future. We love the future.

#8
2008 Cadillac CTS

Hell yeah. Even Maximum Bob's weird, up-the-skirt fetish shots can't hamper the gorgeousness of the newest Caddy. Quite possibly the best front end ever fitted to an American car.

#7
Aston Martin V8

Perhaps a bit cutesy due to its (relatively) diminutive proportions, the smallest Aston is still, to invoke Laura Dern in Wild at Heart, hotter than Georgia asphalt. Few cars look better in motion.

#6
Mitsubishi Evolution X

The mean front end looks like Darth Vader woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The rest of the Evo looks like Barry Bonds's forearm. Muscular and ready to smash.

#5
Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

Instantly recognizable to even a child in the most remote Bangladeshi flood plain, the Murci looks like raw sin. The new asymmetrical bodywork of the LP640 just adds to the illicit thrill.

#4
The SRT8s

Precious few moments are as intimidating as when you check the rear view and see a pissed-off, all-black Charger SRT8 flaring its snarled nostrils. We bow before the mighty Ralph Gillies for getting these muthas past the bean counters.

#3
Aston Martin DB9

The first time I saw a DB9 on the road I nearly pulled over and put my hand down my pants. What a complete and total knockout. Best rear end ever? Quite possibly.

#2 (Tie)
Maserati Quattroporte

While not 100% sexual like the Aston (let's say 79% sex), I did nearly drive right off the damn freeway the first time I saw one of these in the buff. The QP has more style than the 1974 New York Knicks. Each angle is stunning and an absolute joy to stare at. And if you don't get it, we feel bad for you.

#2 (Tie)
Pontiac Solstice

Sure, the 8/10s performance left us wanting, the build quality left us laughing and most everything else left us annoyed. But the Solstice is the high watermark of contemporary design.

#1
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

Can we keep our tongues in our mouths? Not really. As my Iraqi friend at the gas station said, "You could get a virgin girl with that car, man."

Honorable Mentions
4-Door Wrangler, Corvette C6, Nissan Altima, Ferrari 599 GTB, Lotus Elise, Shelby GT500, Ford GT, Honda Element, KTM X-Bow, Audi Allroad, Alfa Romeo 169, Saturn Outlook