Top 10 Passenger Cars

The most popular passenger cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages.

Passenger cars have traditionally come in small, midsize or full-size but a new entry-level class was introduced recently when automakers began making more fuel-efficient subcompact cars. However, small and midsize cars continue to be the bread and butter of the segment and it's evident on MSN Autos' most popular passenger cars list.

Japanese imports lead the way with the Honda Civic taking the number one spot for the fourth consecutive quarter. The next three spots are taken up by three of the best-selling cars in America in 2006: the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The lone bright spot for domestics is the always popular Ford Mustang. It ranks fifth on the list followed by the most recognizable hybrid on the road today, the Toyota Prius. In fact, Toyota is the only automaker with four vehicles in the top ten.

The most popular list consists of nine imports with eight coming from Japan and one from Germany. The top ten is also comprised of five midsize cars, four small cars and one subcompact.

The list of the ten most popular passenger cars on MSN Autos is based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages between April and June of 2007. Here is the complete list:

1. Honda Civic
Over the years, Honda has shown the Civic can take on the shape of a sedan, coupe and hatchback. There is no hatchback version for the eighth generation but there is a sedan version of the Si for the first time ever. Sharing the same characteristics as the 197-horsepower Si Coupe, the Si Sedan comes in a 6-speed manual transmission with helical-type limited slip differential, 17-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. For consumers who don't need all that power, opt for the more efficient DX, LE or EX which can get about 30/38 mpg on city/hwy.

2. Nissan Altima
Nissan introduced a redesigned version of the Altima for 2007 with distinctive styling. Built smaller than its predecessor, the midsize sedan has a smaller wheelbase and is shorter in overall length but is about a half-inch wider. For the first time a coupe version of the Altima is available and joins the lineup for 2008. Based on the sedan, the Altima coupe is smaller, shorter and lighter than the sedan but it shares similar interior design and features. The Altima also comes in a hybrid but it is only available in eight states so far.

3. Toyota Camry
The best-selling car in America continues its dominance in 2007 with more than 240,000 units sold in the first half of the year. Toyota redesigned the Camry to give it a richer look, roomier interior and the most powerful V6 ever. On top of that, the first-ever gasoline-electric Camry Hybrid also debuted for 2007 featuring an estimated fuel economy rating of 40 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. The Camry is available in four trim levels—CE, LE, SE and XLE—and prices start at under $19,000 for the base CE with a 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission.

4. Honda Accord
Not long ago Honda held the top spot in U.S. car sales. Now the automaker is trying to regain that crown via the Accord, which was revamped in the 2006 model year. According to Automotive News, the Accord is third in passenger car sales in the first half of 2007. Available in a coupe or a sedan, the midsize car is fun to drive and comes with a laundry list of safety features. Although it's popular among families, Honda says the V6 sedan with a 6-speed manual is "designed to appeal to driving enthusiasts." The gasoline-electric hybrid is still available for 2007 but Honda has announced it will not produce it for 2008.

5. Ford Mustang
Ford's Mustang was given the retro look back in the 2005 model year. Its popularity has not waned and consumers have continued to give it a thumbs up by making it the most popular sports car on MSN Autos for six straight quarters. Available in a coupe or convertible, shoppers can also choose between a 210-horsepower V6 or a 300-horsepower V8. The convertible is more rigidly built than any pre-2005 Mustang convertibles with virtually no cowl shake. Affordability has kept the Mustang an attainable sports car with a starting price of under $20,000.

6. Toyota Prius
The most popular hybrid on MSN Autos also makes the top ten passenger cars list as well. Known for its great fuel economy, the Prius has become a mainstream vehicle since its introduction in 2000. One of Consumer Reports' Top Picks of 2007, the Prius is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in America with estimated 2008 EPA ratings at 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. Consumer Reports also gave the hybrid the best depreciating rating because of the ongoing demand and excellent reliability.

7. Toyota Corolla
It seems that Toyota's formula to keeping the Corolla a success is rather simple: Don't change it. The Corolla has consistently been a best-selling car in America without any major changes for the past few years. Fuel economy is one of the reasons for its popularity and having a good reputation as a reliable car doesn't hurt either. A Consumer Reports survey named the Corolla as one of 59 cars to make the Good Bets List and a top vehicle priced under $25,000 for 2007. Prices start at under $15,000 for a 2007 Corolla.

8. Toyota Yaris
A whole new entry-level segment of vehicles has emerged and Toyota is once again ahead of the game with the Yaris. Available in a sedan or a hatchback, the subcompact car has better fuel economy than any of its nonhybrid competitors with a starting price of just over $11,000. The Yaris is powered by a 106-horsepower 1.5-liter engine and provides decent 65-75 mph passing. Lots of shifting is required for best performance but buyers can opt for the automatic, which is smooth and responsive. The ride is supple and handling is OK if it's not pushed too hard especially with the base version that has 14-inch tires.

9. Volkswagen Jetta
The Jetta has grown in size over the years and this latest-generation version is the biggest one ever. Offered in a variety of trims, the Jetta comes with a 150-horsepower 2.5-liter engine or the more peppy 2.0-liter inline four turbocharged engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Volkswagen has been showing a number of commercials touting its vehicles' safety. The Jetta comes with a number of safety features including anti-lock brakes, traction control, front-seat side airbags and head-curtain airbags. The Jetta also gets four stars out of five from the NHTSA in the frontal crash test and five stars in the side crash test.

10. Nissan Maxima
Nissan's flagship car got a facelift for the 2007 model year featuring a new grille, hood, bumpers and headlights. One of the new features is the Nissan Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) which is designed to be more fuel-efficient than the traditional automatic transmission. The 255-horsepower V6 is quite potent but it produces a bit of torque steer. Automotive consulting firm Strategic Vision awarded the Maxima as a top medium car (tied with Saturn Aura) in the 2007 Total Quality Index (TQI). The survey is based on responses from more than 27,000 buyers who bought 2007 models in September, October and November of 2006.
(C)MSN

Hybrid lovers: The honeymoon may be over

As the reality of fuel efficiency sinks in, fewer new car buyers are considering a hybrid, according to J.D. Power.

The percentage of car shoppers considering hybrid vehicles has declined in the past year, according to a survey released Tuesday by J.D. Power and Associates.

Fifty percent of new vehicle shoppers surveyed said they are considering a gasoline/hybrid electric vehicle. That's down from 57 percent last year.

"In the 2006 study, we found consumers often overestimated the fuel efficiency of hybrid-electric vehicles, and the decrease in consideration of hybrids in 2007 may be a result of their more realistic understanding of the actual fuel economy capabilities," said Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power.

Interest in hybrid vehicles declined the most among younger shoppers. Last year, 73 percent of car shoppers between ages 16 and 25 said they were interested in a hybrid vehicle. This year, 60 percent were.

Car shoppers also said they were willing to pay an extra $2,396 for a hybrid powertrain while expecting a fuel economy improvement of 18.5 miles per gallon.

Meanwhile, consideration for diesel-powered vehicles stands at 23 percent. Last year, only 12 percent of car shoppers considered purchasing one. New clean-diesel models, which have much cleaner exhaust than older versions, have just begun appearing on the market this year along with the low-sulfur diesel fuel needed to run them.

Shoppers expected to pay $1,491 extra for a diesel powertrain. They also expected to get about 15 mpg better fuel economy.

"As the automotive industry steadily offers more alternative powertrain/fuel options to consumers, buyer preferences will continue to shift the market in the coming years," said Marshall. "

The consumer research company also released an Automotive Environmental Index which ranks auto companies and specific models according to their fuel economy and emissions as determined by data from the Environmental Protection Agency and vehicle owners.

Toyota was the highest-ranking car brand in J.D. Power's Automotive Environmental Index, followed by Volkswagen and Honda. This is the second year J.D. Power has released that Index and Toyota has moved up six rank positions since last year.

The index is based on a car's emissions as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its fuel economy as reported by the EPA and by drivers responding to a separate survey by J.D. Power.

Of the top 30 vehicles in the J.D. Power index, 10 were hybrids from Ford, General Motors and Toyota.

Toyota, including its Lexus luxury brand, had more vehicles in the list than any other manufacturer.
(C)CNN

BMW Mini Colorado - in talks to create Mini SUV

Auto-parts supplier and German automaker would assemble 65,000 of a vehicle called Mini Colorado at a plant in Graz, Austria, a newspaper reports.

Magna International is in talks with BMW AG to build a larger version of the upscale German automaker's trendy Mini cars, Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reported Thursday.

The sport utility vehicle would be called the Mini Colorado, with 65,000 to be assembled annually at Magna's Steyr plant in Graz, Austria, the newspaper said, citing unnamed sources.

Tracy Fuerst, a spokeswoman for Aurora, Ontario-based Magna told Reuters that the "reports of potential future BMW and Volkswagen assembly programs are speculative and, as a matter of policy, we will not comment on them".

"As a Tier 1 automotive supplier, we are constantly engaged in confidential discussions with [original equipment manufacturers] regarding potential future business," she said.

The Canadian auto-parts maker is also rumored to be in talks with Volkswagen AG about assembling 20,000 roadsters annually for VW at the Steyr plant, the Globe said.

"It would be positive news for Magna because, as is well known, it is facing the loss of pretty significant volumes," said David Tyerman, an analyst at Scotia Capital.

The reports came on the same day that DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group announced it was shifting full-sized car production from Magna's Steyr plant to its own Brampton, Ontario, plant, where it will invest $1.2 billion for upgrades of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger models.

BMW said in May it planned to pull production of its X3 mid-sized SUV from the Steyr plant and transfer it to its own plant in South Carolina. The X3 represented about 45 percent of total vehicles assembled at Steyr.

"So its assembly facility in Graz, Austria, would be significantly under-utilized and obviously these new programs would help a lot in filling that production hole," Tyerman said.

Magna shares were little changed in late-session trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
(C)Reuters

Top 10 Off-Road Luxury SUVs

Ironically, some of the most luxurious and expensive SUVs are the best equipped for dirty off-road duty — not that most drivers will ever test these capabilities.

Even though most drivers would shudder at the thought, some of the priciest, most luxurious SUVs relish trouncing through mud, bounding over boulders and powering up steep inclines. Think of them as well-mannered brutes, frustrated for lack of opportunity to display their brawn.

As car buyers abandon truck-based SUVs for car-based ones — called “crossovers” by industry insiders — to gain more on-road comfort and capability, it’s the costlier truck-like models that continue to flaunt true rock-crawling abilities. (Click here to read about the difference between car- and truck-based SUVs.)

“This is the carryover from the idea that any ‘real’ SUV had to be able to get to the top of the mountain with its 4x4 system,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific Group, a California-based automotive research firm. In many ways, this makes a luxury SUV the vehicular equivalent of costly professional-quality stove and oven ranges sold to wealthy people who don’t cook much but would like to think they have the tools to whip up a gourmet meal if the need ever arises.

“Substantially less than 10 percent [of luxury SUV owners] indicate that they actually go off-roading,” says AutoPacific’s Peterson. “We actually think that the percentage that actually off-roads is less than 5 percent, but we have to go with what the owners report.”

While some lower-cost SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan Xterra boast the largest percentage of “real” off-roader enthusiasts — Jeep says 60 to 80 percent of Wrangler owners take their vehicles to the trails — some large luxury models are equipped to tackle tough terrain. “The price of a Land Rover has always been higher than many other four-wheel-drive vehicles, based not just on luxury but on capability,” says Bob Burns, off-road events manager for Land Rover North America. “Range Rover customers want to buy the best and want to experience what their vehicles are built to do.” Go to the Land Rover Showroom to compare prices for different models.

Land Rovers have the highest off-road penetration among luxury SUVs, with 26 percent of all LR3 owners engaging in “real” off-roading, and 22.2 percent of all Range Rovers and 14.8 percent of Range Rover Sport drivers occasionally leaving the pavement. By contrast, the study found that no Cadillac Escalade EXT, Infiniti QX56 and Volvo XC90 owners ever venture off-road. (See the chart below for more data.)

Defining 'Off-Road'

How motorists define off-road driving affects those numbers. “Off-road for some of these folks could be in the shopping mall parking lot,” Peterson says. “We try to get at that by differentiating ‘real off-roading’ with ‘getting to fish/camp/hike sites’ in our study.” In other words, AutoPacific defines “real” off-roading as driving on rugged off-road trails, versus merely traversing a dirt or gravel path to access a fishing, hiking or camping site, for instance.

“The definition of ‘off-road use’ varies greatly, and we’re OK with that,” says Land Rover’s Burns. “Some customers consider it to be the snowy driveway to the ski house, while others may well define it as scaling the Sierra Nevada mountain range.”

Industry analysts agree that among all luxury SUV brands, Land Rover does the best job of creating an active community of off-roaders. For starters, most dealerships maintain their own off-road test courses, which can range from a simple hill climb to a full-blown facility for buyers to test their vehicles’ mettle and their own fear threshold. Beyond that, Land Rover dealers help make sure their customers have access to an assortment of off-road events and excursions.

“Our owners have the option of learning how to drive their vehicles off-road at a driving school, a retailer-organized event, or they can take a dive off the deep end by signing up to attend a Land Rover Adventure,” Burns says.

SUVs have been around for decades, arguably starting with limited but growing enthusiasm for truck-based station wagons post-WWII that were generically called “Suburbans” (long before Chevrolet trademarked the name. Luxury SUVs are a more-recent phenomenon. Born out of the SUV boom in the 1990s, today every mainstream luxury brand except for Jaguar offers at least one SUV.

Kings of Off-Road

Vehicle	Percent of owners who drive off-road
Acura MDX	1.4%
BMW X3	7.4%
BMW X5	4.3%
Cadillac Escalade	2.2%
Cadillac Escalade EXT	0.0%
GMC Yukon XL	6.1%
Infiniti FX	2.2%
Infiniti QX56	0.0%
Land Rover LR3	26.0%
Land Rover Range Rover	22.2%
Land Rover RR Sport	14.8%
Lexus GX 470	6.1%
Lincoln Navigator	9.1%
Mercedes M-Class	3.1%
Porsche Cayenne	10.5%
Subaru B9 Tribeca	3.5%
Volkswagen Touareg	9.8%
Volvo XC90	0.0%
Average Luxury SUV	7.15%

What to Look for

There are some basic parameters that every SUV must have for serious off-road duty. Primary among them is a four-wheel-drive system with low-range gearing that enables a slow crawl often needed to negotiate rough terrain.

Other important specifications include ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and fording depth. Go to the next page for definitions of these terms. A host of expensive accessories are available to improve off-road performance and safety. But instead of focusing on expensive add-ons, like brush guards and winches, those serious about off-roading should invest in training, off-roading expert Pietschmann says.

“The main thing you want to have when you’re off-roading is a prepared driver,” he says. “Ninety percent of everything off-road has to do with the driver — only 10 percent depends on the equipment.”

Bill Burke, an off-road driving instructor who runs 4-Wheeling America, in Fruita, Calif., stresses that drivers should adhere to the “three Ps” of off-roading:

• Patience – Drive slowly enough to be able to gauge the terrain and react accordingly.

• Planning – Stop and decide exactly how to negotiate an obstacle rather than just plow forward without a plan.

• Practice – Learn the capabilities of your vehicle and its equipment in safe surroundings before setting out to conquer a remote trail.

It’s also imperative to always be mindful of how the vehicle will impact the environment, Burke says. “Treat the outdoors where you drive like your own home — take care not to damage it or clutter it." Land Rover's motto of “tread lightly” encapsulates this idea.

Prior to the SUV boom of the 1990s, most SUVs were referred to as “four-by-fours,” expressed as “4x4s,” by virtue of four-wheel-drive systems that imbued them with nearly superhuman off-road and foul-weather abilities. Back then you had to get out of the truck and manually “lock” the front wheel hubs to send power to all four corners, however. Today’s 4x4 systems are much more sophisticated and come in several varieties, each of which is skewed more toward either off- or on-road use.

Here’s a quick rundown of the various similarities and differences between the competing types of systems:

• Part-Time 4WD: Typically the most-basic type of 4WD system found on the least-expensive models; the engine powers only the rear axle until the driver pushes a button or shifts a lever to engage the front wheels. Vehicles with this system include the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan XTerra.

• Full-Time 4WD: A driver can choose between rear-drive, 4WD and an “automatic” mode that engages the front wheels as needed when sensors detect wheel slippage. This system typically affords the best compromise between on- and off-road use. Vehicles with this system include the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition.

• Permanent 4WD: Found on many higher-priced SUVs, this includes the automatic system mentioned above, but doesn’t offer two-wheel-drive. To some degree, all four wheels receive power at all times. Such systems may or may not include low-range gearing for extreme off-roading. Vehicles with this system include the Hummer H2 and Land Rover Range Rover.

• All-Wheel Drive: Similar to permanent 4WD and available on most car-based “crossover” SUVs and a few truck-based SUVs. AWD not only boosts traction, but also can improve cornering abilities on-road. Some systems vary the amount of power sent to each wheel, individually. Unlike 4WD, however, no low-range gearing is included, which means the system is not intended for serious off-roading. Vehicles with this system include the Buick Enclave, Cadillac Escalade, Lexus RX 350 and Mercury Mountaineer.

Some automakers will refer to their car-based SUVs as having 4WD, when really they’re equipped with AWD. This is a marketing ploy to create a burly image. The rule of thumb is that if it doesn’t include a switch or lever to engage low gear, it’s not a true 4WD system.

About Our Ranking

In our top 10 list of luxury off-road SUVs, we’ve listed the models retailing for $30,000 or more that we feel are the most rugged, based on a combination of personal experience, published performance reports and the manufacturer’s specifications.

We’ve included a few critical specs in that regard for each model on the list: ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and fording depth (see below for definitions of each). Sometimes these numbers are expressed as a range because the measurements either differ from version to version within a particular model line — given different suspension systems, tires and so on — or vary because of features like an adjustable-height suspension. We’ve also included a list of off-road enhancements available as factory options for each ranked model, though separate dealer-installed accessories may also or alternately be offered.

Definitions

• Ground clearance: One of the key specs for those looking to take an SUV off-road, ground clearance refers to the space between the lowest point on a vehicle’s chassis and the ground beneath it. The higher the ground clearance, the less likely the underbody and associated components will sustain damage over rocky and uneven terrain. Generally, this is measured from a point under the differential housing, though on some models this may not actually be the lowest spot, so bring a tape measure with you if you’re serious about comparing various models’ ground clearances. A serious down side to having higher ground clearance is the resulting higher center of gravity, which adversely affects the vehicle's on-road handling and makes it more susceptible to rollovers. Many luxury SUVs offer suspensions that can be lowered for highway use and raised for added off-road clearance at the push of a button.

• Approach angle refers to the steepest incline angle a vehicle can drive up from a flat surface without damaging the front bumper or undercarriage.

• Departure angle is like the approach angle for the back of the vehicle. It refers to the degree of incline a vehicle can negotiate without having the rear bumper or other overhang scrape.

• Fording depth represents the maximum depth at which an off-road vehicle can operate in water. Fording depth is important if you plan to cross creeks and streams along a trail.

10. Volkswagen Touareg
The Touareg hasn't been a big seller, despite being both luxurious and capable. It shares some components with the Porsche Cayenne. A standard 4Motion permanent AWD system enables the Touareg to scale a 45-degree grade; a sophisticated suspension gives relatively responsive on-road handling. Three engine choices include a 310-hp 5.0-liter V10 turbodiesel that generates 553 pound-feet of torque for extreme pulling and climbing power. A freshening later this year will rechristen it the Touareg 2.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 6.3-11.8 inches
Approach Angle: 28-33 degrees
Departure Angle: 28-33 degrees
Fording Depth: 19.7-22.8 inches

Off-Road Options:
Rear Locking Differential ($700)



9. Lexus GX 470
Introduced as a smaller and lower-cost alternative to the LX 470, the GX 470 is essentially a luxury version of the Toyota 4Runner with a V8 engine. A full-time 4WD system is standard, the vehicle's ActiveTRAC technology is able to apply the brakes to a slipping wheel while transferring the engine's power to wheels with better traction. An optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System hydraulically controls a set of oversized front and rear stabilizer bars to further enhance its trail response.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 8.3 inches
Approach Angle: 31-30 degrees
Departure Angle: 25-29 degrees
Fording Depth: N/A

Off-Road Options:
Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System ($1,750)



8. Porsche Cayenne
After taking the 2007 model year off, the Porsche Cayenne is updated and reintroduced as an early-2008 entry. As before, it's offered in 290-hp base, 385-hp S and 500-hp Turbo S models, the latter of which boasts the best off-road specs, but is priced just short of $100,000. The Cayenne's sophisticated 4WD system can send up to 100 percent of the vehicle's traction to the front or rear axle if needed. The available Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) system limits vehicle roll on pavement through corners and enables maximum axle articulation and improved traction off-road.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 8.6-10.7 inches
Approach Angle: 28.6-31.8 degrees
Departure Angle: 22.8-25.4 degrees
Fording Depth: 19.7-21.9 inches

Off-Road Options:
Fire Extinguisher ($140); Off-Road Technology Package ($2,640; includes rear differential lock, rocker panel protection, additional skid plates and undercarriage protection); Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,510); Sportdesign Package with Off-Road ($3,395; includes front and rear lower bumper covers, extended roof spoiler and rocker panel extensions, front and rear stabilizer bars that can be disconnected hydraulically, rear differential lock, additional skid plates and undercarriage protection, headlamp washers, additional tow lug)



7. Mercedes-Benz G500
Derived from a German military vehicle designed in the 1970s, the G500 soldiers on as an unabashedly boxy, low-volume, high-priced and somewhat eccentric luxury SUV. While it offers a comfortable cabin, the G500 remains rugged and is one of the few SUVs of any kind to offer three separate locking differentials for exceptional off-road aptitude. Its 292-hp V8 engine has to work hard to move the un-aerodynamic bulk with authority; the G55 AMG version includes a much-quicker 469-hp supercharged V8, but at a steep price.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 8.3 inches
Approach Angle: 36 degrees
Departure Angle: 27 degrees
Fording Depth: 19 inches

Off-Road Options:
N/A



6. Lexus LX 470
Lexus' upscale version of the venerable Toyota Land Cruiser excels as a posh off-road adventurer, thanks to a hardy, full-time 4WD system that features a locking center differential and four-wheel traction control. A height-adjustable adaptive suspension provides added ground clearance for off-road use. While the 2007 model's 4.7-liter V8 is rather meek at 268 hp, the vehicle will receive a more-powerful 381-hp 5.7-liter V8 engine with its 2008 redesign, which will prompt a name change to the LX 570.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 9.8 inches
Approach Angle: 30-32 degrees
Departure Angle: 23-26 degrees
Fording Depth: N/A

Off-Road Options:
N/A



5. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
This big SUV is sporty by SUV standards, thanks largely to well-balanced handling and strong engines (300-hp V8 or 390-hp supercharged V8). However, the Range Rover Sport can be just as entertaining on the trails. It shares the LR3 and Range Rover's low-range 4x4 gearing, lockable center differential and the Terrain Response system that maximizes performance according to five settings that correspond to different road conditions; three of which are off-road (mud, sand and rocky surfaces).

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance 7.4-9.6 inches (front); 7.9-10.0 inches (rear)
Approach Angle: 30.2-34.0 degrees
Departure Angle: 26.0-29.0 degrees (with spare tire); 13.9-16.9 degrees (with tow bar)
Fording Depth: 27.6 inches

Off-Road Options:
Locking Rear Differential ($500); Dynamic Response Package ($2,000; includes dynamic-response suspension, Brembo front brakes)



4. Land Rover LR3
You could certainly pay less for a midsize SUV, but few combine the inherent luxury and off-road readiness of the LR3. Known as the Discovery in other markets, this upper-crust Brit offers a choice of V6 and V8 engines, with five- or seven-passenger seating. A center-locking differential, a long list of chassis control functions and the automaker's adjustable Terrain Response system combine to deliver secure handling and a smooth ride in a wide range of conditions.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 8.0-10.2 inches (front); 8.4-10.6 inches (rear); 7.3-9.5 inches (under differential)
Approach Angle: 32.2-37.2 degrees
Departure Angle: 24.9-29.6 degrees
Fording Depth: 27.6 inches

Off-Road Options:
Heavy-Duty Package ($625; includes active locking rear differential, full-size spare with alloy wheel)



3. Mercedes-Benz GL450
Introduced for 2007, the seven-passenger GL450 is well suited for both carpooling and off-roading. Unlike most 4x4s, it's built on a reinforced unibody structure that affords more of a car-like feel on pavement than the truck-based competition. Be aware, however, that you'll need to specify the $2,200 Off-Road Package to maximize ground clearance and off-road prowess. A 4.6-liter V8 engine is rated at a hearty 335 hp and comes mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 7.9-10.9 inches
Approach Angle: 33.0 degrees
Departure Angle: 27.0 degrees
Fording Depth: 19.3-23.6 inches

Off-Road Options:
Off-Road Package ($2,200; includes additional ground clearance, locking differentials, underbody skid plates, adaptive damping suspension)



2. Land Rover Range Rover
With a well-heeled British pedigree, the V8-powered Range Rover continues to lead SUVs that venture into the wilderness. It's also one of the costliest, most luxurious SUVs offered. Land Rover's Terrain Response system allows the driver to tailor the vehicle's electronic controls and traction aids according to various road conditions, while an electronic rear differential (standard on the 400-hp Supercharged model and optional on the 305-hp base version) improves the vehicle's already tenacious trail-forging talents.

Off-Road Specs:
Ground Clearance: 8.7-11.0 inches (front); 9.5-11.5 inches (rear)
Approach Angle: 29.0-34.0 degrees
Departure Angle: 24.2-26.6 degrees (with spare tire); 15.2-17.4 degrees (with tow bar)
Fording Depth: 27.6 inches

Off-Road Options:
Locking Rear Differential ($500)



1. Hummer H2
Though it has become the mascot for excessive consumption, the Hummer H2 is nonetheless one of the most capable off-road vehicles around. A rugged, full-time 4WD system with low-range gearing enables it to climb 16-inch steps and rocks; short front and rear overhangs and a generous ground clearance mean there's less of a chance the vehicle will get hung up on bumpy trails. A 325-hp 6.0-liter V8 offers ample power and a 7,000-pound tow rating.



Off-Road Specs:Ground Clearance: 9.7-10.1 inches
Approach Angle: 39.8 degrees
Departure Angle: 37.1 degrees
Fording Depth: 24 inches

Off-Road Options:
Adventure Kit ($325; includes two-way radios, tire deflators, light, binoculars, compass, wind-resistant lighter); Adventure Series ($2,530; includes brush guard, first-aid kit, roof rack, CD changer, air suspension, tool kit, floor mats); Brush Guard (basic, $525; wrap-around version, $675; chrome wrap-around version, $995); Off-Road Lights ($1,410); Spot Lamps ($450; roof mounted, $998); Taillamp Protectors ($250; chrome, $350)
(C)Jim Gorzelany, Forbes

Hot-Selling Cars in 2007

The arrival of several new convertibles, such as this Volkswagen Eos, is boosting convertible sales, which are likely to reach a record this year. Convertibles, small cars and hybrids are in while big pickup trucks and Hummers aren't as popular as they used to be.

As sales of large trucks and brutish, truck-based SUVs decline this year, more car shoppers than ever before are taking home new, fuel-thrifty, gasoline-electric hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid.
In fact, the Prius and Civic Hybrid are on track to set U.S. sales records in calendar 2007.

The Prius alone could break the 200,000 sales barrier by Dec. 31, which would be a first for a hybrid in the U.S. That means more new Priuses are sold than Ford Mustangs or Honda Odyssey minivans.

See which vehicles are the Bestsellers So Far in 2007

Small Cars Are "Big"
Also big on shoppers' lists today: small cars—especially the newer ones such as subcompacts—with small price tags, accommodating interiors and, of course, good gas mileage.

Toyota's smallest and lowest-priced car, the Yaris, is on pace to double its sales in 2007 over 2006. This could mean sales of the little Yaris could approach a respectable 100,000 this year, which is on par with the better-known, long-running Volkswagen Jetta.

What's the appeal? Introduced in calendar 2006 and with a starting price of less than $12,000, the five-seat Yaris has promised Toyota quality and is rated at 34 miles a gallon in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway as a 2007 model.

Sales also are on track to double this year for Honda's smallest car, the Fit, which starts at less than $14,000 and features government fuel mileage ratings as high as 33/38 mpg for 2007.

"Small is big right now," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president at American Honda Motor Co. "Smaller vehicles have become more attractive."

The Best-Selling SUV?
In another dramatic shift among car buyers, this year's top-selling SUV doesn't come with a gas-guzzling V8 or even a V6, and it's not from Detroit. It's the Honda CR-V with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine developing half the horsepower—166—that a V8 might.

With a moderate size, commendable 2007 government fuel economy rating of 23 miles a gallon in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway and a starting retail price around $22,000, the CR-V appeals to both mileage- and budget-conscious buyers.

The second most popular SUV in 2007 is another smaller-sized model without a V8, the Ford Escape. In fact, a hybrid version of the Escape qualifies as the top SUV in gas mileage. The Ford Escape Hybrid has a 2007 rating of 41/32 mpg. The higher city mileage stems from the fact that city driving allows for more usage of the onboard, supplemental electric motor.

Maybe the appearance of these smaller, fuel-thrifty SUVs as top sellers begs the question: Should Americans really call SUVs "big, bad gas guzzlers" anymore?

A Bevy of Convertibles
Americans can't seem to resist open-air cars, and with at least five new convertibles introduced over the past couple years, convertible sales are likely to hit a new high in 2007.

Pontiac's Solstice, with two seats and a starting price of less than $22,000, leads Volkswagen's Eos hardtop convertible, starting at just over $28,000, among the newest models in 2007 sales. Saturn's first-ever convertible, the Sky roadster, is coming on strongly, too. It's a sibling vehicle of the Solstice and starts around $25,000.

But don't count out the indefatigable Miata. Mazda's long-running and popular MX-5 Miata continued to outsell each of these newcomers in early 2007.

The Miata is lower-priced than the others, with a starting retail price under $21,000. It's also the only one of the bunch in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's top-selling roadster.

Noteworthy Disparities
Not everything is predictable in car buyer trends, gleaned from U.S. sales reports released by automakers for the first six months of 2007.

Cadillac's big, blingy Escalade SUV has not only maintained its sales. It has increased them over calendar 2006's levels.

The Escalade, star of umpteen hip hop music videos, is a luxury ride with a starting price around $55,000. There is, as many Escalade fans attest, nothing else quite like it, especially when it's customized to the hilt with big wheels, alcantara upholstery and multiple video screens inside.

Mercedes-Benz is doing well, too, this year with its biggest SUV in America. The full-size Mercedes GL-Class—an Escalade competitor that's also priced over $50,000—posted sales gains in 2007. In fact, sales of the GL doubled in early 2007 over the same period in 2006.

More full-size Chevrolet Suburban SUVs were sold in early 2007 than in the same period last year. The Suburban has a reputation as a stalwart vehicle for hauling the family and towing trailers, boats and the like.

Ford's full-size F-Series pickup truck continues as America's top-selling vehicle, though sales have been declining for three straight years. Still, for every new Honda Civic sold in 2007, there are likely to be two Ford F-Series pickups sold.

Some Lowlights
Buick continues to sink. The venerable brand that used to be aspirational has only one vehicle—its newly introduced, 2008 Enclave SUV—that's boosting U.S. sales.

All other Buick vehicles—from the Lucerne sedan to Rainier SUV—are selling more slowly than they did last year. In fact, South Korean automaker Hyundai already has sold more vehicles in the U.S. —more than 236,000—than Buick is likely to sell here for the full year.

Environmentalists will hail this news: U.S. sales of all Hummers this year are down. The Hummer brand, known as the poster brand for gas guzzlers, is struggling with its obvious image problem plus newfound consumer interest in fuel economy. Company officials are keeping chipper, though, and hope sales stay even, overall, for the year.

Maybe the "retro" look is finally starting to wear thin for U.S. car buyers. Every one of the major retro-styled cars that debuted in recent years—the Volkswagen New Beetle, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chevrolet HHR and Ford Mustang—posted notable sales declines in the first half of 2007.
(C)Ann Job, MSN

Low-Cost Chinese Cars Making Restrained Entry to European Market

After a rocky start, Peter Bijvelds has hopes for the Landwind autos he imports, saying Chinese cars offer European buyers the value they seek.

They have names like the Brilliance BS6, the Landwind Fashion or the improbable Hover Wingle, and though these sedans, vans and sport utility vehicles are hardly as familiar to Europeans as, say, a Volkswagen Golf, they are beginning to show up on European roads.

“I’ve got air-conditioning, ABS brakes and air bags,” said Carlo Scalvini, describing his Hover, a big and boxy sport utility vehicle built by the Great Wall Motor Company, with headquarters in Baoding in eastern China. “And the price is competitive: you pay 10,000 euros less in the end,” more than $13,000.

The enthusiasm of people like Mr. Scalvini could influence the global auto industry and China’s place in it. China’s quiet inroads into Europe are the first test of rich markets by Chinese automakers as they build dealer networks and deliver small shipments of cars to test the reaction of drivers and auto industry experts.

Many of the dealers who have signed on with the Chinese previously worked with the Japanese and the South Koreans, and so have experience in coaxing Europeans to purchase cars with unfamiliar names and unusual looks, but sweet prices.

If business is starting fitfully, they foresee healthy profits down the road, aided by the weak dollar. European car dealers pay in dollars for the Chinese cars, yet are paid in strong euros when they resell them, pocketing nifty profits from exchange rates.

“The game the Japanese mastered in 15 years, and the Koreans in 10,” said Nigel Griffiths, director of European light vehicle forecasting at Global Insight, “they will do in 18 months to 5 years.”

Paradoxically, the Chinese have been helped in Europe by their alliances with Western automakers in China. Some of the Chinese cars being imported into European countries use electrical components from Bosch, the big German parts supplier, or have been designed by Italian firms like Giugiaro. Now, the Europeans are seeing their ideas and components flow back into their own markets.

That the European market is essentially open is also helping the Chinese. Because so many European cars are now being built elsewhere, a quota on imports is politically almost impossible.

There have been setbacks, like abysmal results on a crash test done on a Chinese car two years ago. Some specialists are skeptical that the Chinese can become major competitors in Europe and the United States. After all, car buying remains an emotional business. “There is a general lack of brand awareness, and distribution is a hurdle,” said Michael K. McKenzie, a China expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ automotive institute in Detroit.

But the Japanese and South Koreans overcame similar hurdles. Moreover, the Chinese are moving in several stages. “They are coming through the back door: first Russia, then working their way west,” Mr. Griffiths of Global Insight said. He estimates that China will sell 54,000 cars in Russia this year, out of a total market of two million, compared with 31,000 last year.

The Chinese are arriving even as European carmakers struggle with flat prices and diminishing profit, and the Chinese presence is expected to ratchet up the pressure. That will force some European companies that stayed in the mass market for small cars, like Fiat, either to move up to larger, more expensive models, or to perish, Mr. McKenzie predicted. “They will undercut these companies, and the market will be more contested,” he said.

It began when a Dutch Nissan dealer, Peter Bijvelds, visited China with a friend in 2004 to inspect the Landwind factory in Nanchang, a gritty city south of the Yangtze River in Jiangxi Province. The trip ended with Mr. Bijvelds’ introducing a big and boxy Chinese-made S.U.V., the Landwind New Vision, a twin of G.M.’s Opel Frontera, at the 2005 Frankfurt auto show. It did not handle like a European car and its engine had little excess power, but for Europeans tired of station wagons or wanting to tow a trailer, this car cost 25 percent less than a Kia or a Hyundai model. It had air-conditioning, air bags and aluminum wheels. In the first two weeks, Mr. Bijvelds said, he sold 500 of them.

Then, at about the time of the Frankfurt show, the German automobile club, known as ADAC, put the New Vision to a crash test. The driver’s survival chances were about nil, the club’s testers said.

Mr. Bijvelds’ Chinese partners were dismayed. The New Vision was put aside while Landwind ironed out the kinks. A successor model, the Landwind Expedition, has a comely design by an Italian design studio, a German-built engine and all European safety features.

Mr. Bijvelds suggested that the automobile club might have been prompted by German automakers to undermine his project. A club spokesman, Maximilian Maurer, denied that. “I am sure that in time the Chinese will succeed here,” he said, “and the ADAC doesn’t want to keep them away. We simply want to inform consumers about the quality of these cars.”

Mr. Bijvelds, 28, receiving a visitor at the headquarters of his Landwind Motor Corporation near Antwerp, Belgium, said, “We get so many products from China with Western brands, why not cars?” Europeans, he says, are after value, citing Renault’s recent bonanza with the Logan, a car built in Romania that has a six-month waiting time for delivery in Belgium. “They want a lot of car for a little money,” he said.

The German crash test, a colleague told him recently, may have been a blessing in disguise. “Now everybody knows you,” the friend said, “For good or bad, they know you.”‘

In Germany, Hans-Ulrich Sachs, a former Volkswagen executive who is chairman of HSO Motors Europe, is signing on dealers to sell the Brilliance BS6, a comfortable sedan with a vague resemblance to a midsize BMW. Indeed, Brilliance assembles BMW’s 3 and 5 series cars for the domestic Chinese market.

By the end of this year, Mr. Sachs, 54, wants 150 showrooms in Germany, and by next year, 1,100 throughout Europe. This year, he hopes to sell 6,000 to 7,000 cars. The first 500 arrived in mid-March.

Why would a German buy a Chinese car? he asked rhetorically. “Value for the money.”

For Europe’s carmakers, alliances with Chinese companies could become two-edged affairs, providing models that one day may well compete against their own cars. Volkswagen, for instance, has joint ventures with Shanghai Automotive and First Auto Works. Yet Kai Grüber, spokesman for the Volkswagen Group China, played down the potential for competition, saying that VW focused for now on the domestic Chinese market. “Future exports into the Southeast Asian area are conceivable in markets where we can expand our offering with new models,” he said.

At Eurasia Motor here in Palazzolo, about 35 miles northeast of Milan, where Mr. Scalvini bought his S.U.V., a shipment of 360 arrived in November, and have all been sold through a network of 95 Italian dealers. “We’re now expecting 800 more — in lots of 200 each — of the same model,” said Federico Daffi, Eurasia’s chief financial officer. Eurasia pays Great Wall $14,000 for the S.U.V.’s, and sells them for as little as 19,600 euros (about $27,000), still one-fourth below the South Korean competition. Eurasia then uses the lower price to market to middle-class families who until now could not afford an S.U.V.

Mr. Scalvini, 44, would buy more Hovers now, if they were available. He is the owner of Consorzio Vela, a company that employs about 800 people and maintains a large fleet of vehicles supplying services like delivery and catering to other Italian companies. The Hover’s Mitsubishi-built engine is fuel efficient and will offer the option of shifting from gasoline to liquid propane gas in future models.

“I’m convinced it will be a winner,” he said.
(C)NYT

Fiat unveils 'The iPod of cars'

It was the small car that could park in the tightest of spots on the piazza, as Italian as prosciutto and espresso. On its 50th birthday, the Cinquecento is back, and Fiat wants it to become the iPod of cars.

Fiat launched a new version of the three-door Cinquecento - meaning "500" in Italian - at a huge, televised ceremony in its hometown of Turin on Wednesday, with the car making its comeback after being out of production for 32 years.

Slightly bigger than the original, it is part of the aim of Fiat's chief executive to emulate Apple by making its cars as stylish as the U.S. company's computers and electronic gadgets, including the iPod portable music player.

"I want Fiat to become the Apple of cars," Sergio Marchionne told La Stampa daily in an interview on Wednesday.

"And the Cinquecento will be our iPod," he added, referring to the hugely successful music player.

Like the Mini or the Volkswagen Beetle, the Cinquecento is an icon.

For Italians, it epitomizes the economic boom that their country enjoyed after the Second World War.

Cheap and efficient, it gradually replaced the scooter for millions of people whose living standards improved dramatically during the 1950s and 1960s.

After 18 years on the road, the Cinquecento went out of production in 1975.

But it still putters along the streets of European cities and elsewhere, thanks to its aficionados who have kept its spirit alive.

Fans descend on Turin
Members of Cinquecento clubs from across Europe and beyond descended in their hundreds on Turin on Wednesday to take part in the festivities ahead of the evening launch.

Many were optimistic about its prospects despite the variety of choice on the road, whether it be a Smart by DaimlerChrysler or Renault's new Twingo.

"The new one will sell really well," said James Wheeler, who traveled from Newbury, England with his blue 1959 model.

"I like cars that have passion," he said. "(And the new one) will definitely have passion."

Marchionne said he was working to make Fiat a nimble automaker after spending years restructuring it.

Part of that nimbleness was exemplified in the time it took to bring the new model to market: 18 months.

"It's twice the time for a child to be born but half of what our competitors need (to make their cars)," he said.

Faithful to the spirit of the original, the new Cinquecento will sell as a mass-market - rather than a premium - car.

Italian newspapers say it will be priced at about €10,000, or $13,600.

Fiat said last week that orders for the car had already exceeded half of the 50,000 it had planned to produce for 2007.

Such was the demand that it might raise its annual production target to 140,000 units from 120,000, it said.

Analysts expect the new model to help Fiat's image rather than its bottom line, saying the automaker had to succeed in expanding its Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands to make a difference for its future.
(C)CNN

Bentley's paradise on wheels

The expense is hefty, but this convertible is a dream to drive.

Is any any car worth $189,990? On a rational basis, the price on the 2007 Bentley Continental GTC seems impossible to justify. A business owner can easily impress clients with a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz or BMW for about half that. A nicely equipped Infiniti or Audi runs an even svelter $50,000, give or take.

But the Bentley convertible buyer isn't doing a cost-benefit analysis. For him its exclusivity and superlative features are justification enough. This year fewer than 3,000 customers in the U.S. are expected to reach that conclusion, but that is more than enough for Bentley (bentleymotors.com). The GTC is sold out for the next year.

Nothing I have driven in my 30 years covering the automotive industry beats this Bentley's blend of exquisite design, superb ergonomics, and stirring performance. The GTC sports vast expanses of buttery-soft, two-tone leather secured by immaculate matching stitches, acres of polished madroсa wood veneer, and gleaming organ-stop vent controls. It also hurtles from zero to 60 in less than five seconds - faster than most sports cars. Its performance is even more sensational when you consider that the GTC weighs over 2Ѕ tons. Its six-liter, 12-cylinder engine with twin turbochargers produces 552 horsepower. Mash the throttle, and the change in engine pitch is immediately audible as your body compresses into the seat back. It feels as if you have been launched gently into space.

Bentley's uncompromising approach extends to the configuration of the convertible. Usually there is a price in space and comfort to pay for the pleasure of topless motoring. But the Bentley has room for two adults in the back seat, a trunk that holds several suitcases, and a three-layer canvas top that squelches road noise.

No car is perfect, of course, and a few imperfections are apparent. Cruising over bumps relays vibration through the steering column a common complaint in convertibles. The layout of the instrument panel sacrifices some legibility for heritage and nostalgia. And the pricing of some optional equipment, such as the $290 valet-parking key, borders on absurdity.

Bentley has been enjoying a rebirth under its corporate owner, Volkswagen, which took control in 1998. Despite the use of components designed for the less expensive Audi A-8 and VW Phaeton, Bentleys are still assembled in their ancestral home of Crewe, England, and retain a British character. If you want this ultimate toy in time for summer '08, you'd better order soon.
(C)CNN

Summer Auto-Events Schedule

The action heats up for car lovers this summer, leading up to an array of events surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance in August. Here are a few of the many auto-related activities scheduled for the coming weeks.

July

JULY 1 Nascar Lenox Industrial Tools 300, New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, N.H. $70-$110. nascar.com

JULY 1 Formula One; Magny-Cours, France. $95 general admission. formula1.com

JULY 1 Le Mans 1,000 Km at Nürburgring, Germany. The Le Mans series, run by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, returns to action in its first race since the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. $27. http://www.lmes.com/

JULY 6-8 Watkins Glen Grand Prix, Watkins Glen, N.Y. In addition to Sunday’s Indy car event, drivers from the Indy Pro Series, Historic Grand Prix and Grand-Am Cup Series will compete on the 3.4-mile course during the weekend. $70 for a three-day pass, which includes reserved seats on Sunday. (866) 461-7223. theglen.com

JULY 7 Nascar Pepsi 400, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla. $50-$140. nascar.com

JULY 7 American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix, Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn. Drivers in the American Le Mans series return to racing stateside. $65. (860) 435-5000. limerock.com

JULY 8 Formula One; Silverstone, England. Sold out. formula1.com

JULY 14 All American Car Show and Musclefest, Saratoga Auto Museum, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. One of many events on the museum’s lawn this summer. $5 registration fee for each car. (518) 587-1935. saratogaautomuseum.org

JULY 15 Nascar USG Sheetrock 400, Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Ill. $195-$260. nascar.com

JULY 15 Art Center Car Classic, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, Calif. One of the top schools for automotive design puts on its annual car show. $55. (626) 396-4216. artcenter.edu/carclassic

JULY 15 Forest Grove Concours d’Élégance, Forest Grove, Ore. More than 300 antique and collector cars will be displayed on the campus of Pacific University. $15. (800) 359-2510. forestgroveconcours.org

JULY 21 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Colorado Springs. The 12-mile course ends at the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak. $40. (719) 685-4400. ppihc.com

JULY 21-22 Waterfest 13, Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J. Billed as the largest Volkswagen-Audi car show in North America, Waterfest features show cars, a drag race and an autocross school. $15 on Saturday, $20 Sunday. (845) 352-3155. waterfest.net

JULY 22 Formula One; Nürburgring, Germany. $127-$362. formula1.com

JULY 22-26 National Corvette Restorers Society annual convention, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center, Marlborough, Mass. $10 a day for nonmembers. (513) 385-8526. ncrs.org

JULY 27-29 William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Concours d’Élégance, the Breakers and Chateau-sur-Mer, Newport, R.I. The drivers Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney will be honored at the weekend celebration. $25 for a one-day pass. (401) 847-1000. newportmansions.org

JULY 28 Mecum Hawkeye Classic Auction, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines. $10. (815) 568-8888. mecumauction.com

JULY 29 Nascar Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. $35-$150. nascar.com

August

AUG. 2-5 National Street Rod Association Street Rod Nationals, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville. Billed as the world’s largest street rod event, with more than 11,000 vehicles registered in 2006. $12 each day. (901) 452-4030. nsra-usa.com

AUG. 3-4 RM Auctions Vintage Motor Cars at Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester, Mich. Held in conjuction with Meadow Brook Concours on Aug. 5. Auction preview is Friday, sale Saturday. $80 catalog admits two. (800) 211-4371. rmauctions.com

AUG. 5 Meadow Brook Concours d’Élégance, Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester, Mich. This year’s concours features the Class of ’57. $25. (248) 269-7672. meadowbrookconcours.org

AUG. 5 Formula One; Budapest, Hungary. $192-$689 Sunday grandstand pass. formula1.com

AUG. 5 Nascar Pennsylvania 500, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa. $45-$80 grandstand pass. nascar.com

AUG. 9-12 Silver’s Hot August Nights Auction, Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nev. Silver Auctions holds a sale in the midst of Reno’s annual celebration of classic cars and rock ’n’ roll. $12 a day, $30 for a four-day pass. (800) 255-4485. silverauctions.com

AUG. 12 Nascar Nextel Cup at the Glen, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y. $10-$135. nascar.com

AUG. 14-15 Automobilia Monterey, Embassy Suites Ballroom, Seaside, Calif. The largest showing of automotive memorabilia in America, including a silent auction. $10. (831) 659-1551. automobiliamonterey.com

AUG. 15-19 Blackhawk Exposition Sale, Peter Hay Golf Course at the Lodge, Pebble Beach, Calif. Free. (925) 736-3444. blackhawkcollection.com

AUG. 17 Concorso Italiano, Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course, Monterey Bay, Calif. A showcase of Italian vehicles. $100. (425) 742-0632. concorso.com

AUG. 17 The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, Quail Lodge Resort, Carmel, Calif. This year’s event includes a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet. $200. (877) 734-4628. quaillodge.com

AUG. 17 Bonhams & Butterfields Important Sale of Collectors Motor Cars and Related Automobilia, Quail Lodge Resort, Carmel, Calif. $75 for catalog admits two. (415) 861-7500. http://www.bonhams.com/

AUG. 17-18 RM Auctions Sports and Classic Car Auction, the Portola Plaza Hotel and Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, Calif. $40 event pass, $100 for the catalog. (800) 211-4371. rmauctions.com

AUG. 17-19 Monterey Historic Automobile Races, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. Indy Roadsters will be highlighted. $125 for a three-day admission. (800) 327-7322. montereyhistoric.com

AUG. 18 Woodward Dream Cruise, Woodward Avenue, Detroit. More than 40,000 classic and custom cars line a 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue. Free. woodwarddreamcruise.com

AUG. 18-19 Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach 2006 Auction, Pebble Beach, Calif. $30 for single admission, or $100 for a catalog admitting two to both days. (310) 899-1960. goodingco.com

AUG. 19 Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance, Pebble Beach, Calif. The main event of Pebble Beach Automotive weekend. $150 in advance, $175 at the gate. (831) 622-1700. pebblebeachconcours.net

AUG. 19 Nascar 3M Performance 400, Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich. $45-$110. nascar.com

AUG. 24-26 Corvettes at Carlisle, Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, Pa. $12 a day. The annual celebration of all things ’Vette, in its 26th year. (717) 243-7855. carsatcarlisle.com

AUG. 25 The Morgan Adams Concours d’Élégance, Denver. Features vintage aircraft as well as collector cars. $100. (303) 758-2130. morganadamsconcours.org

AUG. 25 Nascar Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn. $104-$133. nascar.com

AUG. 26 Formula One; Istanbul. $89-$510. formula1.com

AUG. 28-SEPT. 3 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, Auburn, Ind. Admission varies by event. (260) 925-3600. acdfestival.org

AUG. 30-SEPT. 4 Kruse Auburn Classic Car Auction, Auburn, Ind. 5,000 cars expected at this year’s sale. Free to $20, depending on the day. (800) 968-4444. kruse.com

(C)NYT

2008 Porsche Cayenne

Still Extra Chunky, Now More Spicy.

Some Porsche purists are still horrified that the sports car company branched out into sport utility vehicles. But let’s get real: if a Porschephile’s transportation needs call for an S.U.V., why should she, or he, have to shop elsewhere?

The newly redesigned Porsche Cayenne, which first appeared as a 2003 model, remains a study in contrasts. It is, with apologies to 914 devotees, the ugliest Porsche ever. Yet, for an S.U.V., it is comparatively handsome. Maybe that is why it appeals to so many women.

Fully equipped, the 2008 Cayenne can price out as the most expensive S.U.V. this side of Baghdad. But ounce for ounce, a 5,191-pound Cayenne is the most Porsche that money can buy — especially the base model, which starts at a mere $44,295, including the $895 shipping charge. In fact, you can buy two base Cayennes for what a top-line Turbo model costs and have change left over.

But what exactly would a fully loaded Cayenne look like? I counted 107 possible options for the Cayenne (some, like multiple wheel choices, are duplications). There are also 10 paint colors, at least 4 leather combinations and 3 powertrain possibilities. So, considering all that, how high can the sticker price go?

“I don’t have such a figure,” Gary Fong of Porsche, who manages the company’s fleet of test cars, said by e-mail message. “But since the Cayenne Turbo has so many standard features that are optional on the other Cayenne models, there’s not a lot you can add. I’ve configured some loaded Cayenne Turbos over the years and never cracked $109K. Running the options through my head, and barring the custom tailoring offerings, I’d say the max would be between $110K and $115K.”

It is safe to assume that Porsche is making a fair profit on these things, even when they lack some options, although how much is not clear. Recent buyers of close-out 2006 models (there was no 2007 model year) have reported getting discounts of up to $30,000 off the sticker. So there would seem to be some wiggle room on price. I tested two versions of the redesigned vehicle. My Cayenne Turbo test vehicle, laden with a mere $13,000 in options, priced out at $106,595. That was without extravagances like the panoramic glass roof ($3,900), two-tone leather interior ($1,510), leather-trimmed air vents ($2,160) and matching leather keyfob holder ($95).

I also tested the bargain-basement model, which is simply called Cayenne. Potential shoppers should note that this version comes not with a V-8 engine like the S, or the twin-turbo V-8 of the Turbo, but a V-6 engine supplied by Volkswagen. While the 6-cylinder model might seem to be aimed at those conflicted people who are in the market for a slow Porsche, it is actually quite competent, if not overwhelming.

At least the V-6 has benefited from a significant upgrade for 2008. What had been an unworthy 3.2-liter power plant is now 3.6 liters and makes 290 horsepower — some 15 percent more than before. (This, by the way, is more than the advertised horsepower rating for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution rally rocket.)

Another redeeming feature: Cayennes with the V-6 are the only ones available with manual (six-speed) transmissions. The manual comes at no extra cost, but to get it, you have to check that box on the order form.

So it would seem that the six-speed Tiptronic S automatic, the only transmission offered on the S or the Turbo, would be standard equipment on the base model, but it is not. Porsche actually charges $3,000 extra for that transmission on the base model. Go figure.

My base-level test model also lacked Porsche Active Suspension Management, a set of suspension controls and commands including an electronic ride control system that continuously adjusts the traction and the damping at each wheel.

Along with the electronic stability control, it intervenes to override a driver’s worst excesses, for better or worse. In fact, a lot of enthusiasts think the system is too intrusive.

In my test-driving, the base Cayenne was fairly economical (22 m.p.g. on the highway) yet peppy, responsive and more nimble than its pricier brethren — particularly in low-speed maneuvers like parking. It is easily the most driver-involving choice in the Cayenne lineup.

Over all, the 2008 Ca