LUXURY CAR

2010 Porsche Panamera

2009-01-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

For Porsche, the 911 has been both a blessing, and a curse. A blessing in that it has seems to have transcended the usual automotive evolutionary process; a curse in that the car still, in many ways, defines the entire company. Porsche has attempted to break the mold numerous times over the past three decades -- remember the 928, and the 924/944/968? But until the Boxster -- a clever product development by former R&D chief Horst Marchart that delivered two cars (the 996 edition 911 and the Boxster) -- Porsche remained in the thrall of the 911.

Today, Porsche still fields a line-up of cars that is 75% rear-engined. Which makes the new Panamera -- a front engined, four door sports Porsche -- a bold move, despite the success of the Cayenne SUV. When it hits the market next year, the Panamera will be fighting a two-front battle against the Aston Martin Rapide from the north and more than likely Lamborghini Estoque from the south in a few years' time (though Lambo boss Stefan Winkelmann insists the car has yet to be given the green light). The four door sports car category is brand new, but already the field is getting crowded.

You need to understand two important things about the Panamera's development. First, Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking, who's 6ft 2 in., insisted he had to be able to sit comfortably in the back seat. Second, it had to look like a Porsche. Those two facts drove the entire program -- and are the reason why the Panamera looks slightly awkward in profile.

At 195.7 in., the Panamera is longer than a Cayenne by 6.9 inches and almost the exact same width at 76 inches to the Cayenne's 75.9. It's no SUV though, standing only 55.8 inches tall. Porsche hasn't released the Panamera's weight, but despite its dimensions, insiders insist extensive use of materials such as aluminum and magnesium mean the car will be among the lightest large four doors in the business.

Performance will be impressive, thanks to a line up of direct injection engines derived from those used in the Cayenne SUV. Base engine will be a 300hp, 3.6-liter V-6. The volume selling version in the U.S. is expected to be the 400hp, 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V-8. Power junkies will be lining up for the V-8 Turbo, which will boast 500hp. Despite their outputs and performance, all the Panameras will be significantly more fuel efficient than similarly powered S-Class Mercedes or BMW 7 series sedans, insiders claim.

2010 Jaguar XKR

2009-01-11T20:07:00.000-08:00

Price Range : $77,200 - $93,700

Body Style : Convertible, Coupe

Sum Up : A true successor to the immortal E-Type.

A good number of the updatedJaguar XKR's supplied action shots show the coupe sideways with a cloud of smoke in pursuit. While this alludes to variety of improvements for the 2010 model year, the most noteworthy must be the new engine -- a 5.0L V-8 with a Roots-type supercharger.

Also on the new XFR, the V-8, with 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, eclipses the previous-gen 4.2L by 90 hp. Jaguar increases its performance claims as a result, dropping the 0-to-60-mph acceleration to 4.6 sec from 4.9 sec. A loss of one mpg in highway fuel economy is the only downside to the newfound power; the 2010 XKR returns 15/22 city/highway mpg.

Above the new engine are two louvers, opposed to the center bulge in the hood. Jaguar revises the rest of the bodywork to reflect the "R" designation a bit more thoroughly as well. The 2010 model receives a new front bumper, featuring adjusted air inlets and chrome trimmings, while the truck gains a subtle spoiler and LED taillights. Jaguar sprinkles more LED lighting around the rest of the exterior, from the side markings to the twin reverse lamps to the foglamps. Where the vehicle connects to the ground, 19-in., 10-spoke wheels are standard while 20-in. wheels remain an option.

Jaguar updates the interior as well, matching it to the quality and style found in the XF. Standard on the XK are heated, 10-way-adjustable front seats, and a touch-screen control center. The center contains audio, navigation, Bluetooth, and climate systems. An optional R Performance interior package offers 16-way-adjustable seats with side bolsters and cooling capability.

The "JaguarDrive Selector" -- the much-ballyhooed silver shift dial that rises out of the center console in the XF -- makes an appearance for the first time in the 2010 XK lineup. Along with the new shifter come an electronically controlled suspension and differential systems. The former analyzes pitch and roll rates and compensates for them with dampening adjustments, as much as 100 times a second. The latter promises to offer the bonuses of a locking mechanical differential (burnouts, power-on oversteer) without the abruptness, allowing smoother progression across the traction threshold. Unlike a majority of electronic differentials, the one employed by Jaguar does not hamper acts of hooliganism with brake application.

These systems, in conjunction with the DSC, create JaguarDrive Optimization which replaces the Computer Active Technology Suspension found in current-gen cars. The new meta-system offers more vehicle dynamics control options, with settings ranging from normal to sports to winter to the fun everything-off mode.

Other technological features on the new XKR include bi-Xenon headlights with headlamp leveling, sensors to optimize cabin air quality, keyless start, park assist, and optional active cruise control. The XK lineup also offers front, side, and thorax airbags with an active restraint system that monitors seat application to determine the proper amount of airbag deployment in the event of a crash.

The XKR retains its lightweight yet rigid all-aluminum monocoque chassis and comes in coupe or convertible form. And lest we forget, that optional convertible top will open or shut in 18 seconds. So this summer, when the 2010 XKR hits the market, look forward to a nice bit of fresh air in the cabin during all your sideways shenanigans.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

2009-01-11T19:47:00.000-08:00

Price Range: $53,300 - $88,500

Body Style: Wagon, Sedan

Sum Up: the chevrolet of beverly hills.

The E-Class is the car that still defines Mercedes-Benz: The solid, respectable, reassuringly expensive automobile for the solid, respectable, reassuringly bourgeois citizen. Despite forays into the supercar stratosphere with the head-banging AMG and McLaren models, and attempts to get down on the streets with the Golf-rivalling A-Class, the E-Class is Mercedes-Benz's heartland car. The launch of a new one is therefore a major event; this is a car Mercedes-Benz simply cannot afford to screw up.

The 2010 E-Class reveals new sheetmetal previewed by the ConceptFASCINATION coupe at last year's Paris show, and clearly linked to the 2007 C-Class. As has been the trend with Benzes designed under the direction of Peter Pfieffer, it's a fussy looking car. The E-Class's elegant dual-oval headlight motif, which debuted with the W210 version back in 1995, has been transformed into a rectangular squint. The clamshell style hood delivers the same gaping cutline on the bodyside as the C-Class. And the bodyside crease arching over the rear wheel -- allegedly an homage to the 1953 W120 "Ponton," the first modern midsize Mercedes -- is trying way too hard.

Inside, the E-Class takes a leaf out of the S-Class playbook, with the column-mounted shifter, center console-mounted COMAND controller, and ambient lighting as standard. As you'd expect, the new E-Class is awash in state of the art safety equipment, including the crash anticipating PRE-SAFE system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and adaptive headlights.

After its official world bow at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (the car is also being previewed to the media at the 2009 Detroit show) the 2010 E-Class arrives here in the summer. Two versions will initially be available: E350, which is powered by the 268hp V-6, and the E550, which has the 382hp V-8 under the hood. Both will be available in Sport or Luxury trim. All-wheel drive 4MATIC versions, and the storming E63 arrive later in the year, and the 50-state legal E350 BlueTEC diesel model makes its U.S. debut in early 2010.