Auto critics have chosen their Cars for 2011, along with models they believe will be great buys in 2012. Now, it’s Automopedia’s turn.

2011 was an interesting and inspiring year for the automotive industry. Jobs are coming back to The Motor City, profits are rising in America for the first time since 2008, and companies merged, died, killed old models, and welcomed new. We look back at 2011′s best, followed by a few picks for this coming year.

Why is this traffic cone monster the main photo for our blog post? No reason.

Best of 2011:

5. Fiat 500
Love it or hate it, Fiat is here (again) to stay. American audiences were excited to see a return of the tiny Fiat 500. Those same audiences were not very surprised that Fiat is not selling well. After an expensive commercial broadcast campaign starring Jenny from the Block, sales tanked in various markets (with the exclusion of NYC and Los Angeles). According to NHTSA crash test results, Fiat 500 scored a three-star rating, which is a very poor one. Many wonder if 500 will last in The USA.

4. Honda Insight
Insight is Honda’s response to Toyota’s Prius. With a body pretty much identical to Prius (and Volt, frankly) Insight was canned for cheap materials and large blind spots when it first arrived on dealer lots. What do you expect for a base price under $19,000? In 2011, these critical errors were answered. Insight was constructed better, with smaller rear blockage and a little more of a unique front end. We see good things for the Honda Hybrid going forward.

3. Ford Ranger
Ranger was Ford’s crowing achievement in small pickup trucks. Around for decades, the auto maker decided to discontinue the vehicle (for only North America) due to slow sales, as well as rising love for the larger, but still fuel efficient F-150. Personally, Automopedia loved all variants of the utilitarian friendly Ranger, and we are sad to see it go.

2. Porsche Panamera
The first “mainstream” Porsche vehicle ever. Bringing German luxury and performance to the everyday All-American family. Four-door Panamera received top honors again during 2011, and paves the way for what Porsche execs call an “economically friendly” line of vehicles, including Cayenne and Cajun. Porsche once the car of fantasy, one day soon it could be your commuting reality.

1. Chevrolet Volt
Boy, people can’t seem to stop talking about Chevy Volt EV. But it’s not all good news. Obama and his administration continually praise the hybrid electric sedan for green tech and miles per gallon. Then again, his administration is a major shareholder in General Motors, thanks to the bail out. So of COURSE they want to talk highly of it, and pray that these electric fires / burning down of owners’ homes is something that will not continue. Volt is #1 on our list not only for being a marvel of American automotive engineering, but for causing the most news reports, and joke slogans featuring “lightening” and “fire” throughout 2011.

Who Will be Tops in 2012:

5. Dodge Durango
It was an initial redesign made by the new Fiat-owned Chrysler & Dodge. Featuring a revised cross-hair grill, Durango hopes to bring SUVs back into popularity. That may not be so difficult: Dodge gave base Durango models a competitive starting price, as well as superb MPG ratings (23 highway!), a slew of standard luxury items, their Pentastar engine (producing 290 HP and traveling 550 miles per tank), and towing caps of 6200 lbs on V6, 7400 lbs in V8.

4. Acura NSX
At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Acura surprised everyone in attendance with a revival of their 90′s classic NSX. This Next-Gen version will be a sleek model, powered by mid-engine mounted hybrid V6. We really hope Acura goes ahead with plans to start production soon.

3. Cadillac ATS
This model will hopefully drop onto dealer lots in late 2012 (for the 213 model year). The GM brand is cashing it all in on smaller, sportier vehicles like ATS. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder is rated at 200 HP, with a turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder hitting 270. This should bring in a younger audience, depending on cost, of course.

2. Toyota Prius Family
Prius C is one of several vehicles Toyota will introduce in 2012 and 2013. Already out there is Prius V, basically a minivan trim of the popular and long running hybrid. Prius C is a more compact version, similar to Honda’s Fit (which has a hybrid overseas, but not in America). Base price for C is also under $19,000. Good, very good in fact, for a car with projected EPA fuel economy of 53 mpg city, 46 mpg highway.

1. Ford Fusion Hybrid / Plug-In
Another model for 2013, Fusion will be out later this year. It was the doll of NAIAS displays, attracting positive feedback from fans and press alike. A 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will power base trims, making 179 HP and 26 city, 37 highway MPG. Fusion Hybrid receives a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder, with electric motor and new lithium-ion battery pack. Expected to grab 47 city and 44 highway, Fusion is destined to have buyers stopping at Ford lots.

The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, another popular draw from 2012 NAIAS, is aimed at getting over 100 MPGe.

Source: Edmunds | Chryslerpedia | Fordpedia

The 2009 – 2010 Green Car finalists have been announced, and there’s a surprise in the list. This year’s finalists include the Audi A3 TDI, Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid (Yes, not a typo, it’s a Mercury), Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf TDI. The winner, chosen from a panel of auto and green-centric media and industry members, will be announced on December 3. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI took home the award last year, while the Chevrolet Tahoe was victorious the year before.
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via LeftLaneNews

Are your political views obvious through your everyday activities? How about in the automobile you drive? Generally, do you tend to be attracted by an American made, larger than anyone needs SUV or four-door pick up? Or are you seduced by the lure of excellent gas mileage and lack of acceleration? How about those who fall somewhere between neo-con and crazed lefty? What does your car say about your political views – and which will you vote for if given the opportunity to chose a political mobile?

Conservative Candidate – 2008 Lincoln Navigator SUV

With all this talk of pork barrel spending, the bailing out of large financial institutions and  a depressed job market, isn’t it a perfect time to drop money into a humongous automobile? With starting prices around $46,000 and a city MPG rating of 12 (thanks to the powerful V8, which produces 230 hp at 4000 RPMs), the Lincoln Navigator may be luxurious, but you probably won’t find your average tree hugger behind the wheel. But what does your Navigator say about you? Are you power hungry, maybe you just like sitting higher up in traffic?

In all honesty, the Lincoln Navigator is far from the definition of “conservative” – in fact it’s quite an embellishment. One can say people who make decisions based on morals and values like to show off just how big and powerful their morals are.

Liberal Candidate – Hybrid – 2010 Honda Insight

Honda’s upcoming 2010 Insight is a Liberal Democrat’s dream on wheels – from the suspected 45+ miles per gallon to it’s under $20,000 price tag – anyone who thinks with their budget and the environment in mind will love this evolved Toyota Prius. Like the new Democratic candidate, Insight is new on the block, and has a lot to prove before anyone can take it seriously.

Independent/Middle Ground Candidate- 2008 Nissan Rogue

Crossovers are all the rage in today’s auto industry. They allow drives to experience a good rate of fuel economy, roomy interior and a starting price around the low to mid 20,000′s, it’s truly a safe bet for your family.

2008′s Nissan Rogue has been rated one of the top crossover family vehicle by the people
who know family: Parents Magazine. You can’t beat the safety ratings of 9 out of 10 frontal crash, 10 out of 10 on side impact, and 4 out of 5 rollover. It’s the car for you average moderate, your working family who wants to stay hip, wants to drive a large, safe vehicle, wants to not spend 100+ at the pump every week.

You have your options: are you obsessed with power, impressed by fuel mileage, or only concerned with getting to work and taxiing the kids? One thing we all hope for – is that your choice will last more than 4 years.