Aston Martin could co-operate with Daimler AG’s Mercedes on ventures ranging from engines to new models, the British luxury carmaker’s majority shareholder, Kuwait’s Investment Dar, said on Tuesday.

Adham Charanoglu, business development manager for Investment Dar, which bought Aston Martin from Ford Motor Co last March, said it had held talks with Mercedes and with LVMH’s Louis Vuitton and PPR’s Gucci on branded merchandising.

Any brand development would need to be at the top end of the luxury market, with opportunities stretching from apparel, owners’ events and track racing to real estate, Charanoglu said, adding Aston Martin’s merchandising revenue would rise from $100 million in 2006 to more than $300 million by 2009. But Charanoglu said production would continue in the UK.  Full article

It’s no surprise that the most fuel-efficient luxury cars sold in the United States aren’t homegrown. They are imported.

Europe and Japan lead the fuel-economy crusade for the luxury sector. A major reason is because economic conditions in those regions, have given local automakers major incentives to develop cars that conserve fuel while still providing amenities that luxury shoppers crave.

“European automakers have had to be conscious of fuel economy for decades,” says Mike Omotoso, senior manager of global powertrain forecasting for J.D. Power and Associates in Westlake Village, Calif. “In Europe, high-tech includes good performance coupled with good fuel economy.”  Full article

Few years ago we pictured electric cars as feeble one seater experimental devises with bicycle wheels and a top speed of maybe 10 mph.

Not anymore, technology has gone far, really far! You do not believe me? Have a look at the car above.

The blue car is the Fisker Karma which is the world’s first sports luxury hybrid. It is the brain child of Henrik Fisker, the former Design Director for Aston Martin. This hybrid has a four-cylinder petrol engine in combination with lithium-ion batteries that drive an electric motor. Karma can do 60mph in 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 125mph. It also comes with a solar panel on its roof to charge up the batteries. This car will come out of production a the end of 2009 and will have a price tag of $80,000.

Now if you are going for a fully electric vehicle the Tesla Volt (shown in Red) is just the car for you. This 100% electric car can do 0 to 60mph in under 4 seconds and it can reach 125mph. Its batteries can be charged within 3.5 hours and will give you a range of 220 miles. To charge is all you have to do is go home and plug it in next to your cell phone! The battery-powered Tesla is based on a modified Lotus Elise chassis and its price tag is equivalent of a supercar, base price $100,000.

Have a look and tell us which you like more and why. I personally would go (if I could afford it) for the Tesla, simply because its all electric. I have to admit though that the Karma does look better!

Daimler AG recently reporting that they will be adding a fifth Maybach model to its impressive line-up – the Maybach Landaulet. This masterpiece of automotive engineering will not just shower its owner with luxury, with features such as smooth black leather and trim elements in glossy piano lacquer, but it will also cost about a staggering $1.35 million. The first customer vehicles are due to leave Maybach production in the fall of 2008.

The Maybach Landaulet thus offers a majestic open-air experience currently unrivalled by any other automobile. Boasting a certain romantic quality and allowing its passengers the opportunity to savour a closeness to nature, this exceptional vehicle also features the ultimate in comfort and technological sophistication and as such sets the new standard for the world’s most exclusive luxury vehicles.

In November 2007, Maybach revived the aura of the grand carriages of days gone by with its Landaulet study. The response from the public to this masterpiece was overwhelming, so much so that Maybach decided to offer the hand-built Landaulet based exclusively on the customer’s own specifications. A limited number of vehicles will be built in the Manufaktur workshops in Sindelfingenover a restricted period.

In technical terms the Maybach Landaulet is based on the Maybach 62 S – which can claim to be the world’s most powerful series-produced chauffeured saloon. Maybach technicians have removed the rear roof module in order to afford passengers an unobstructed view of the sky above.

Maybach has adapted the luxurious rear compartment to the requirements of open-top motoring. For instance, the rear head restraints are slightly larger than on the saloon and effectively help reduce wind turbulence. Another slim wind deflector is automatically raised at speeds above 70 km/h to further reduce the risk of any uncomfortable draughts.

The deflector, which measures around five centimetres, can be activated manually at any time. The switch is conveniently positioned for rear passengers in the centre console.

Plenty of cars costing less than $50,000 pack enough features and driving satisfaction to rival their ultra-high-dollar counterparts. Those that believe you have to spend big for a luxury car may turn up their noses at the autos on this list. That’s their loss.

Pay $37,175 for the BMW Z4 Roadster, and you can cruise around town in a two-seater roadster that allows you to automatically control the drop top while listening to your favorite tunes through a 10-speaker audio system.

The $35,605 Lincoln MKX crossover utility vehicle is loaded with standard features like heated, dual power mirrors with memory, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with genuine wood accents, and four-wheel disc brakes with an anti-lock braking system. Options include 20-inch chrome wheels, a panoramic roof, and a voice-activated DVD-based navigation system. The Volvo XC70, a $36,755 midsize wagon, is loaded with advanced safety features like hill descent control and full-length side curtain airbags.

To find others like them, we used data from Strategic Vision’s 2007 Total Value Awards. The market research firm measures classes of cars including reliability, warranty, strong anticipated resale value, durability, innovation, and dealership and ownership experience. Only cars that got a score of 700 out of a possible 1,000 were counted.

Vincentric, an automotive research firm, provided maintenance costs calculated over a five-year period. Vehicles with the lowest costs, which include oil changes, wheel alignments, and replacement wiper blades, made the list. Finally, we capped our list at cars costing $50,000; this allowed us to measure a wide range of vehicles, from coupes to large cars.

Behind The Numbers

The under-$50,000 segment is diverse. You can find an Audi A3 wagon with a starting price of $25,930 and a Saab 9-3 convertible beginning at $26,000. At the top end is a Land Rover SUV starting at $44,933 and the Mercedes SLK roadster with a base price of $46,000. Add in a few select options, and you can easily meet the $50,000 threshold.

There’s good reason the list is long. When Nissan (through Infiniti), Honda (through Acura) and Toyota (through Lexus) in the mid-’90s introduced models for the entry-level luxury buyer, they forced other carmakers to compete. Mercedes-Benz and BMW followed suit with the C-Class and 3 Series, respectively. Audi, Saab, Cadillac, and Lincoln also increased their offerings.

Their targets? Young professionals with high-paying jobs, those in high-income households, and empty nesters who are transitioning into a luxury vehicle. They found that these buyers were making their first or second luxury vehicle purchase. Upgrading to a luxury auto means sliding into plush leather seats, enjoying enhanced power features like a push-button engine starter and memory seating for two drivers, and rolling along on larger wheels.

“You are treating yourself with these vehicles,” says Stephanie Brinley, senior manager of product analysis at AutoPacific, a market research firm covering the auto industry. “It is reaching a level of maturity. You’ve reached a stage in your life where you want a little more luxury, and you can afford to purchase a vehicle with more amenities.”

Still, there’s a big difference between a $45,000 luxury car and an ultra-luxury car twice its price. Take the $86,000 Cadillac XLR convertible roadster. Its standard features include a V8 engine, a heated steering wheel, a high-tech navigation system, and a retractable hard top. Many of these are merely options in the under-$50,000 group.

Instead, these cars’ treats include standard features like electronic stability control or anti-lock brakes; stellar sound systems with multiple speakers; leather seats or high-quality upholstery; and a wider choice of options, like premium paint colors and electronic connections, like iPod and MP3 connectivity.

But let the buyer beware. Once you cross over into the luxury segment, you may never want to drive anything else.

Article by Jacqueline Mitchell – ForbesAutos

Plenty of cars costing less than $50,000 pack enough features and driving satisfaction to rival their ultra-high-dollar counterparts. Those that believe you have to spend big for a luxury car may turn up their noses at the autos on this list. That’s their loss.

Pay $37,175 for the BMW Z4 Roadster, and you can cruise around town in a two-seater roadster that allows you to automatically control the drop top while listening to your favorite tunes through a 10-speaker audio system.

The $35,605 Lincoln MKX crossover utility vehicle is loaded with standard features like heated, dual power mirrors with memory, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with genuine wood accents, and four-wheel disc brakes with an anti-lock braking system. Options include 20-inch chrome wheels, a panoramic roof, and a voice-activated DVD-based navigation system. The Volvo XC70, a $36,755 midsize wagon, is loaded with advanced safety features like hill descent control and full-length side curtain airbags.

To find others like them, we used data from Strategic Vision’s 2007 Total Value Awards. The market research firm measures classes of cars including reliability, warranty, strong anticipated resale value, durability, innovation, and dealership and ownership experience. Only cars that got a score of 700 out of a possible 1,000 were counted.

Vincentric, an automotive research firm, provided maintenance costs calculated over a five-year period. Vehicles with the lowest costs, which include oil changes, wheel alignments, and replacement wiper blades, made the list. Finally, we capped our list at cars costing $50,000; this allowed us to measure a wide range of vehicles, from coupes to large cars.

Behind The Numbers

The under-$50,000 segment is diverse. You can find an Audi A3 wagon with a starting price of $25,930 and a Saab 9-3 convertible beginning at $26,000. At the top end is a Land Rover SUV starting at $44,933 and the Mercedes SLK roadster with a base price of $46,000. Add in a few select options, and you can easily meet the $50,000 threshold.

There’s good reason the list is long. When Nissan (through Infiniti), Honda (through Acura) and Toyota (through Lexus) in the mid-’90s introduced models for the entry-level luxury buyer, they forced other carmakers to compete. Mercedes-Benz and BMW followed suit with the C-Class and 3 Series, respectively. Audi, Saab, Cadillac, and Lincoln also increased their offerings.

Their targets? Young professionals with high-paying jobs, those in high-income households, and empty nesters who are transitioning into a luxury vehicle. They found that these buyers were making their first or second luxury vehicle purchase. Upgrading to a luxury auto means sliding into plush leather seats, enjoying enhanced power features like a push-button engine starter and memory seating for two drivers, and rolling along on larger wheels.

“You are treating yourself with these vehicles,” says Stephanie Brinley, senior manager of product analysis at AutoPacific, a market research firm covering the auto industry. “It is reaching a level of maturity. You’ve reached a stage in your life where you want a little more luxury, and you can afford to purchase a vehicle with more amenities.”

Still, there’s a big difference between a $45,000 luxury car and an ultra-luxury car twice its price. Take the $86,000 Cadillac XLR convertible roadster. Its standard features include a V8 engine, a heated steering wheel, a high-tech navigation system, and a retractable hard top. Many of these are merely options in the under-$50,000 group.

Instead, these cars’ treats include standard features like electronic stability control or anti-lock brakes; stellar sound systems with multiple speakers; leather seats or high-quality upholstery; and a wider choice of options, like premium paint colors and electronic connections, like iPod and MP3 connectivity.

But let the buyer beware. Once you cross over into the luxury segment, you may never want to drive anything else.

Article by Jacqueline Mitchell – ForbesAutos

Acura’s entry-level TSX as been a hit for Honda’s luxury brand. When it first debuted as a 2004 model, Acura said the new sedan was like a four-door version of the RSX coupe, even though it was really rooted in the sporty European Accord. No matter the platform, however, the TSX was a fantastic ride—and it still is. With a 2.4-liter, 200-hp i-VTEC four-cylinder and a super-slick five-speed manual, it was always a very rewarding car to hustle.

Well the 2009 model promises to provide even more smiles. The all-new TSX will make its world debut at the New York auto show on March 19, and Acura says it will come loaded with “numerous advancements in performance, styling, technology and safety.”

That’s all they’re officially letting out right now, but we hear the new sedan might have quite a bit of fun up its sleeve for the enthusiast driver as well as those looking to get a few more MPGs at the pump.

We’ve heard rumors on two engines, both of which we hope become available:

First off, the new TSX might get a version of the RDX corssover’s turbocharged engine. That would provide the sedan with a frisky, 240-hp four-cylinder to battle the stout six-cylinder engines in Acura’s German and Japanese competitors.

And we’ve heard this juicy tip from a few folks close to Honda: Later in the year, the TSX could get a clean diesel. That engine would likely be the 2.2-liter i-DTEC that we saw last year at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Once again, the TSX will be based on the all-new European Accord, which is set to debut in early March at the Geneva Motor Show. We’ll have much more information then.

Article by Ben Stewart – Popular Mechanics

Ferrari’s 599 GTB Fiorano was an all-new model for 2007, and only about 250 will be made per year by hand. Its engine is the same 6.0L V12 screaming beast that is found in the Enzo. Putting out 612 horsepower and redlining at 8,400 rpm, it also does 448 pound-feet of torque, almost all of which is available at only 3,500 rpm. Mash it, and all 12 cylinders let out a roaring melody, pushing you toward 60 mph in three and a half seconds. Take your foot off the pedal, and the motor unwinds in a series of sweet backfire pops, reminding you just how closely related this engine is to its racing parentage.

The drivetrain is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive setup, with the engine and transmission mounted very close in-board-so much so, Ferrari calls the 599 a front-mid engine design. The “SuperFast” paddle-controlled transmission is a new six-speed clutchless manual. It’s faster than ever, changing gears in about 100 milliseconds. Stopping the car are big vented discs all around. Opt for the race-derived carbon-ceramic disc brakes, and the Fiorano gets six-piston calipers up front, the ability to stop from 60 mph in 105 feet, and a loss of 30 pounds. All for the price of a Honda Civic.

Supporting the car is a new magnetic-fluid suspension system. Developed in cooperation with Delphi, the fluid can change viscosity when electric charge is passed through it. This system allows minute adjustments in suspension firmness many times a second, resulting in virtually no body lean and endless grip on just about every kind of paved road. This type of suspension also allows for more user control.

A steering wheel-mounted “manettino” knob allows the driver to literally dial in how much driving help he or she wants. The suspension can be set more or less firm, the engine redline can be altered, the throttle response can be increased, and the shift speed made faster. The Fiorano includes a very intelligent race car-derived traction and stability control system that is adept enough to actually improve lap times. The responsiveness of these systems can also be altered according to the driver’s preferences.

Going fast is important in any Ferrari, but in the Fiorano, it means going fast very comfortably. Inside, the power-adjustable seats have high bolsters and are trimmed in supple leather. A leather-wrapped dashboard, leather covered console, and a leather steering wheel accompany the seats, and even the door trim and headliner are leather. Ferrari will outfit this leather interior in as many as 14 colors. And despite the preponderance of Ferraris painted Corsa red, there are 15 other colors to choose from. If that’s not enough, for just under $6,000, Ferrari will paint your Fiorano in a color of your choice.

If you prefer carbon fiber over leather, choose a carbon fiber package, and the doors, shifter, dash and steering wheel’s leather are replaced with the lightweight material. Front and rear parking sensors are available for $2,069, and a navigation system can be had for $2,361.

Without a doubt, it’s the M Series cars that make enthusiasts go ga-ga for BMW. Based on regular production series models, BMW’s M cars take performance to a new level, usually through a massaged engine, sport-tuned suspension, and other performance and cosmetic enhancements that turn something ordinary into something extraordinary.

This is it. The car the BMW faithful have been waiting for. The 4.0-liter V-8 up front barks as the tach needle zings around the dial — 6000, 7000, 8000 rpm. I grab fourth just before the 8400 rpm redline — no, that’s not a typo — and turn into the fast right-hander.

The nose pushes gently. Feather the gas momentarily to get the bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport tires up front to bite, then back on the go pedal. Hard. The rear end starts to drift, but that’s okay — your backside feels hardwired into this thing, and you know within a quarter inch how far it’s going to step out. Sliding… sliding… There! The tail brushes past the cones on the outside of the track before the red coupe straightens up for the short chute into a tight right hairpin.

Mash the brakes. The track-spec pads — available over the parts counter at your friendly BMW dealer — grab the massive vented and cross-drilled rotors front and rear. There’s some momentary chatter from the ABS, but it stops like a cat on Velcro as you grab second gear. Then it’s off the brakes as I dive for the apex, getting on the gas early to bring the tail around. The stability control — in track mode — wags an electronic finger, but gets the car straight and aimed at the next turn in point with minimal loss of momentum.

It’s quick and precise; beautifully balanced and brilliantly responsive; deeply confident and inspiringly competent when you ask it the big questions. Yep, the new BMW M3 is everything the BMW faithful have been waiting for — and then some. But ironically, it’s the “then some” bit that might have a few of those faithful scratching their heads.

You see, at first acquaintance the new M3 appears to have — whisper it, now — gone soft. It feels remarkably refined as it loafs along the freeway in sixth gear, even with the optional 19-inch wheel/tire combo fitted to our tester. And although that screaming V-8 develops more than 100 horsepower per liter, it’s a pussycat around town, pulling cleanly from as little as 1500 rpm. The four-cylinder E30 that founded the M3 dynasty 22 years ago was as rowdy and rambunctious as a punk rocker in a ripped T-shirt; by comparison this fourth generation version is as smooth and suave as a banker in a Brioni suit and $1000 wingtips.

Lexus announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2008 LX 570 luxury utility vehicle. The third-generation LX offers significantly increased performance and new safety features over the LX 470 model it replaces with a number of significant technological advancements as well as a new, high-strength chassis. Lexus made significant upgrades to the suspension and full-time four-wheel-drive system to improve the ride and overall performance.

The new 2008 LX 570, with its new technology features, enhanced safety, performance and comfort, will demand a base MSRP price of $73,800.  MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.

The LX 570 features a brand new 383-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 engine matched to a six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission built to handle very demanding tasks with smoothness and refinement. The various powertrain advancements make the 2008 LX 570 engaging to drive while providing an increased towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. An electro-hydraulic system with four-wheel Active Height Control (AHC) and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) reacts more quickly and allows for a greater range of adjustment than the system it replaces.

With several first-in-class features, the LX 570 offers perhaps the most compelling combination of luxury, safety, on-road smoothness and off-road performance of any vehicle in its segment. The new Crawl Control regulates throttle and braking, allowing the driver to focus more on steering over particularly rough ground. In addition, LX 570 is the first Lexus to offer a new Wide-view Front & Side Monitor feature designed for use in certain urban settings such as parking garages. For enhanced occupant safety, the new LX 570 is equipped with a segment-leading 10 standard airbags and a segment-first Active Front Headrests. The optional Pre-Collision System with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is also a segment first.

The LX 570’s standard luxury features include a four-zone climate control system, a first-in-class power sliding second-row seat, and a power-folding third-row seat. Options include a 19-speaker Mark Levinson® Reference Surround Sound audio system, Intuitive Park Assist, climate control front seats with heated second-row seats, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

What a CEO drives often reflects the type of person he or she really is.  Take conservative Warren Buffett for example.  He’s worth about $42 billion, but for years he drove a silver 2001 Lincoln Town Car with Nebraska license plates, titled: THRIFTY.

CEO’s obviously have high profile positions and what they drive likely communicates a lot about the person. A recent survey of 3,000 people, found that only about 10% did not know what vehicle their chief drove.

“Of all the products in the world, cars are the most reliable representation of an individual’s personality,” says Golden Gate University psychology chair Kit Yarrow.  Full article