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AUTOWEEK < ’07 BUYERS GUIDE ACURA American Honda Motor Co. acura.com RDX HIGHLIGHTS Honda’s first turbocharged production engine in North America finds its way into this new entry-level luxury SUV. BASE PRICE $33,610 WHAT’S NEXT Nothing for this new entry. OUR OPINION With Honda’s first turbocharged engine and a host of standard luxuries, the newest Acura should be a hit. RL HIGHLIGHTS Two new trim packages. Also, decontented versions. BASE PRICE $46,450 WHAT’S NEXT Minor changes next year, redesign in 2010 or 2011. OUR OPINION Lacks a V8 but performs like a flagship should. TL HIGHLIGHTS Revised styling. Type-S performance models return. BASE PRICE $34,295 WHAT’S NEXT All-new TL in ’09, possibly with hybrid and awd options. OUR OPINION Almost makes you forget about the BMW 3 Series. Almost. TSX HIGHLIGHTS Acura’s popular sports sedan gets tire pressure monitoring. BASE PRICE $28,560 (est.) WHAT’S NEXT A new TSX arrives for ’09 in coupe and convertible forms OUR OPINION A pleasant sports sedan for a relatively bargain price. MDX HIGHLIGHTS A sportier-looking and riding SUV. Cleaner sheetmetal, a more driver-oriented interior and a new 3.7-liter, 300-hp V6. BASE PRICE $40,665 WHAT’S NEXT Not much after this year’s major redo. OUR OPINION Newfound power and fresh styling keep Acura in the hunt. ASTON MARTIN Aston Martin North America www.astonmartin.com DB9 COUPE/VOLANTE HIGHLIGHTS Occupant Classification Sensing, side airbags, full leather trim and improved cargo space standard. Coupes get new Sport Pack option (lighter wheels and revised suspension tuning). BASE PRICE $165,750 WHAT’S NEXT Special-edition DBRS9 with wider track, lower ride height and 500 hp. OUR OPINION A perfect mixture of performance, technology and class. V8 VANTAGE HIGHLIGHTS Aston’s “affordable” car has new seats. BASE PRICE $113,200 WHAT’S NEXT An open-air roadster. AUDI Volkswagen of America audiusa.com R8 HIGHLIGHTS The exotically shaped, all-aluminum R8 offers two engines: a 4.2-liter, 420-hp V8 and a 5.2-liter, 480-hp V10. It shares much with its sister, the Lamborghini Gallardo. BASE PRICE $110,000 (est.) WHAT’S NEXT New model. OUR OPINION This big German has all the right attributes to come up huge in the supercar realm. A3 HIGHLIGHTS New technology package offered. S-line replaces the sport package from ’06. Satellite radio added to audio package. BASE PRICE $26,060 WHAT’S NEXT Convertible expected next year. OUR OPINION Affordable luxury hatchback with compliant road manners. A4 HIGHLIGHTS Carbon fiber trim and redesigned radio available for entire lin New 16-inch wheels for base trims. BASE PRICE $28,960 WHAT’S NEXT Redesign comes by ’09. A four-passenger A5 coupe built on the A4 platform and a convertible lie ahead. OUR OPINION Worthy alternative to the benchmark BMW 3 Series. A6 HIGHLIGHTS S-Line package offered. New S6, armed with a 5.2-liter, 432 hp V10, paddle shift and sport mode, will battle BMW’s M5 BASE PRICE $42,670 WHAT’S NEXT Refresh for next year and a likely redesign for ’10. OUR OPINION The A6 is impressive, but the Lamborghini engine powering the S6 thrills us. A8 HIGHLIGHTS New 4.2-liter, 350-hp V8 engine, and revised driver information center. S8 arrives with a 5.2-liter, 450-hp V10. BASE PRICE $69,620 WHAT’S NEXT Redesign is two years out. OUR OPINION Not the fastest, but one of the best-dressed cruisers around RS 4 HIGHLIGHTS Gets a 4.2-liter, 420-hp V8, quattro awd and reworked suspension. Larger brakes, more cooling ducts. BASE PRICE $68,820 WHAT’S NEXT Big brother RS6 returns by 2010. OUR OPINION AMG and M divisions better get to work. TT HIGHLIGHTS No TT for ’07. Returns for ’08 with a 2.0-liter turbo-four and 3.2-liter V6 with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. BASE PRICE n/a WHAT’S NEXT Redesign arrives as an ’08. OUR OPINION Not just styling, but plenty of driving substance. Q7 HIGHLIGHTS Stretched VW Touareg platform with standard 3.6-liter V6, o upgrade to a 4.2-liter, 350-hp V8. Quattro is standard. BASE PRICE $40,620 WHAT’S NEXT Diesel-powered hybrid in 2008. Smaller Q5 for ’09.
BENTLEY Volkswagen AG bentleymotor.com CONTINENTAL GT/GTC HIGHLIGHTS With a top speed of 195 mph (with the roof up), the GTC is the fastest production drop-top. Power comes from the same twin-turbo, 552-hp W12 engine found in the GT. BASE PRICE $169,990 GT; $189,990 GTC WHAT’S NEXT A freshened GT comes for next year. OUR OPINION Hustling 500 hp down the road has never been so luxurious. ARNAGE/AZURE HIGHLIGHTS Carries on unchanged. BASE PRICE $221,990 WHAT’S NEXT Due for redesign in 2009, at latest. OUR OPINION A classic Bentley design but in need of a makeover. FLYING SPUR HIGHLIGHTS DVD nav system and Bluetooth wireless standard. BASE PRICE $169,990 WHAT’S NEXT A light freshening is expected in two years. OUR OPINION A luxo cruiser that runs with almost any car in the world. BMW BMW of North America bmwusa.com X3 HIGHLIGHTS Powered by a 3.0-liter, 260-hp I6 mated to a new six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. New front and rear fascias, chrome exhaust tips and optional adaptive xenon headlights. BASE PRICE $38,695 WHAT’S NEXT The facelift, shown in Paris, comes next year. OUR OPINION It’s refreshing to find a manual in a small SUV. 3 SERIES HIGHLIGHTS 3.0-liter, 230-hp I6-powered 328i/xi models replace the 325 line, while a 300-hp twin-turbo I6-powered 335i replaces the 330. A 328i Sports Wagon is new, as is the Coupe. BASE PRICE $33,095 WHAT’S NEXT Convertible next. The M3 returns in a year with V8 power. OUR OPINION Improving on the 3 Series is a tall order, but BMW pulls it off. 5 SERIES HIGHLIGHTS HD radio and Night Vision are new options. Nav includes fouryear subscription to Real Time Traffic Information. BASE PRICE $44,195 WHAT’S NEXT Freshening is expected next year. ’07 BUYERS GUIDE > AUTOWEEK 6 SERIES HIGHLIGHTS Premium Sound Package goes away; Logic7 system becomes a stand-alone option. The M6 adds a convertible. BASE PRICE $74,595 WHAT’S NEXT A clear forecast for the next few years. OUR OPINION Among the best; the growl from the M6’s V10 is addicting. 7 SERIES HIGHLIGHTS Power folding mirrors standard. 750 models get heated fron seats. BMW Individual vehicles available featuring Merino leather, Alcantara headliner, 20-inch wheels and the like. BASE PRICE $75,695 WHAT’S NEXT Redesign in ’08, with some hydrogen versions for lease. OUR OPINION A comforting and worthwhile technological cruise ship. Z4/Z4 M ROADSTER & COUPE HIGHLIGHTS Hexagon aluminum trim replaces brushed in M versions. BASE PRICE $37,095 WHAT’S NEXT Nothing known for the Z4. Look for an entry-level Z2 roadste around ’09 to battle the likes of Mazda’s MX-5. OUR OPINION M versions will have you reaching for your wallet. X5 HIGHLIGHTS Larger X5 now able to accommodate seven with optional third row. Engines include a 3.0-liter, 272-hp I6 and a 4.8-lite 355-hp V8. BASE PRICE $46,595 WHAT’S NEXT Nothing for now. OUR OPINION One of the best-handling SUVs on the market. BUGATTI Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. bugatti.com VEYRON HIGHLIGHTS Carryover with annual production of 50 cars. BASE PRICE $1,200,000 WHAT’S NEXT Possibly a four-seat sedan variant with the same 16-cylinder engine. OUR OPINION An engineering marvel worth mortgaging the house (or several of them) for and dipping into college funds. BUICK General Motors Corp. buick.com LACROSSE HIGHLIGHTS OnStar Turn-by-Turn navigation, burl-wood trim and heated front seat options. Two new 17-inch wheel designs on CSX BASE PRICE $22,845 WHAT’S NEXT Ultra V8 model next year. Redo in ’10 on Epsilon 2 platform. OUR OPINION Well-rounded luxury entry, but check the competition. GO TO AUTOWEEK.COM/BUYERSGUIDE FOR MORE INFO ON ALL THE NEW CARS
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