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If you're looking for a two-seat convertible in the $25,000 range, this spring you'll find a buyer's market, with the Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice, and Mazda MX-5 Miata to choose from. The Saturn is all new for the 2007 model year, but the Pontiac and Mazda are also very fresh. Both were fresh for the 2006 model year and have only been on sale since fall 2005. All three should offer an entertaining drive, modern conveniences, and good fuel economy from their four-cylinder powerplants.

Porsche has coaxed another 70HP from the 4.5L twin-turbo V8 in the Turbo Cayenne to create a 520HP Turbo S, and the order books are open.

BMW's M6 high performance coupe started with borrowing the 500HP 5.5L V10 and seven-speed sequential manual gearbox found in the latest M5. Though launched in 2005 in Europe, North American sales do not begin until spring 2006. The M6 was introduced in the States at the 2006 Los Angeles auto show in January, where its nearly $97,000 price tag was also revealed.

AutoPacific (http://www.autopacific.com) research shared with VehicleVoice (http://www.vehiclevoice.com) indicates that Mercedes-Benz reliability with newly introduced high technology features has been spotty. At the same time, AutoPacific research shows that Mercedes' image in the USA has deteriorated substantially over the past five years as the images of archrivals BMW and Lexus have continued to soar. The new S-Class has to be bulletproof for Mercedes to begin regaining its reputation as the highest quality, most prestigious automobiles available. View an upcoming VehicleVoice videocast in which Robert Cumberford, renowned styling critic for Automobile Magazine, gives a critique of the new styling of the S-Class.

Maybach adds to its luxury stable with 604HP Maybach 57 S

The all new Passat sedan went on sale in in the USA in Fall 2005, with the launch of the wagon in January 2006, about the time that the range also added 4Motion models just in time for Winter in the Snow Belt. The Passat wagon has been available in Europe since late 2005 with the USA launch at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show clearly overshadowed by the reveal of the Volkswagen GX3 concept 3-wheel motorcycle.

Ford explores small-car options with sporty, kid-friendly Reflex.

Is the 2006 concept a successful modern take on the 1970 Challenger?

An off-the-shelf appearance package gives buyers a short cut to a custom-look Hummer H3.

Automakers often use the Los Angeles Auto Show as the venue to launch their new "green" concepts. Saab revealed its 9-5 Aero Bio-Power Concept at the 2006 LA auto show in January. This 9-5 Aero delivers 310HP from a high-pressure turbocharged 2.3L engine optimized to run on E85 ethanol or on gasoline. While Saab began offering a 2.0t BioPower 9-5 in Sweden in 2005 (and resulting in surprisingly high sales due to Swedish incentives to use bio-fuels), this concept explores U.S. acceptance to the option.