CADILLAC CTS COUPE, VOLVO S60 & MINI COUNTRYMAN IN MOTION

It's not unusual for The Good Car Guy to pass a verdict on a specific car's styling before changing, or slightly altering, that verdict when the car is seen in motion. Three of the more popular recent Galleries on GoodCarBadCar.net featured the 2011 Volvo S60, the Cadillac CTS Coupe, and the Mini Countryman.

You expect to see a longer, wider, taller version of the Mini Cooper when the Countryman finally hits North American streets. Will it seem extra bukly? Strangely tall or unnecessarily wide? The clip below might help you find out.

Just How Big Is The 2011 Mini Countryman?

The new Volvo S60 slots in between the Mazda 3-sized Volvo S40 and the much larger Volvo S80. The first S60 was almost revolutionary back in 1999/2000, and not everybody knew what to think of the truncated rump and strong shoulderline. "Presence" is the word that comes to mind with the 2011 Volvo S60, a trait long ago lost by the outgoing S60 when its competitors introduced multiple generations as it continued unchanged.

GM's introduction of the first Cadillac CTS, a follow-up to the Cadillac Catera, was appreciated but debated. Generation uno of the CTS went a bit too far in the styling, not quite far enough in refinement, but drove quite nicely. In stage two, the design came back to Earth. Dynamics are superb. And it's a verifiable fighter in the entry-level sports sedan crowd. The wagon's gorgeous. Initial impressions of the Cadillac CTS Coupe have been fair, as well. Will it continue to pull off the trick of appearing better in real-life motion than in pictures, the trick so wonderfully managed by the sedan and CTS Sport Wagon? The video below may tell the tale.