GALLERY - 2010 SUZUKI KIZASHI - 83 PICTURES

Searching GoodCarBadCar.net for Suzuki-related posts reveals just 15 instances of articles in which Suzuki plays a major role. Comparing that number with BMW (158) or Honda (161) or even Maserati (15) proves the true lack of Suzuki enthusiasm around here. GoodBikeBadBike this is unfortunately not.... unfortunately, that is, for Suzuki, the maker of the GSX-R.

Can the new-for-2010 Suzuki Kizashi change all that? It's my personal belief that automakers should never introduce cars with names that thousands of consumers won't be able to pronounce. In their press release, Suzuki seems to acknowledge the challenge by telling us that Kizashi is KEE-ZAH-SHEE. Nevertheless, I can hear the voices of southern Suzuki salesmen saying loudly, "This here's the new Key-zoo-shee".

Check Out The Honda Accord's Good 12-winning Effort

Moving on to more consequential items, the fact that Suzuki isn't including a V6 on the options sheet shouldn't prove too harmful in reality but will turn the mainstream media off; thus proving somewhat harmful in reality when the Kizashi receives disappointing reviews. We're told to expect somewhere close to 200 horsepower from the 2.4L four-cylinder. In high-priced gasoline times like these, times where the vast majority of midsize buyers opt for four-pots, rejecting the need for a 3.5L V6 and 275 horsepower doesn't seem like a bad move.

Ah, the subject of midsize sedans. The Suzuki Kizashi is smaller than the gargantuan Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Mazda gave us the first-gen 6 in sedan, hatch, and wagon forms with a terrific chassis and a V6 option and Honda/Toyota barely flinched. In generation deux, Mazda's 6 requires a looser belt. Could the Kizashi be too small? Its 107-inch wheelbase is slightly smaller than the previous-generation Accord while the Suzuki's 183-inch total length is shorter than the older Mazda 6.

Check Out The Mazda 6's Good 12 v2.0-winning Effort

It do look awfully good, though. Curvacous trunklids aren't the norm for mainstream midsizers, but the Suzuki's got one. The front-end is clearly what Volkswagen was aiming for with the current Jetta. Volkswagen missed the mark; Suzuki hit it. Hips meet definitively with the arching roofline. Preliminary pictures don't exactly show off the Kizashi's interior, a worrying sign to say the least. Normally, early pictures use dramatic lighting and cool angles. Alternative pics from the Detroit debut show a nicely shaped dashboard, but nothing astounding.

Indeed, it is the lack of astonishing anything that disappoints. Jumping into a segment as competitive as this, a segment that features the best-selling cars in America, requires greatness just to be noticed by a chunk of buyers. To sell cars at the MSRP means being significantly better than the opposition. It appears as though the Suzuki Kizashi is in the hunt for Accord and Camry customers. At prices that won't likely undercut the typical choices at all, Suzuki will be hard pressed to sell the Kizashi in the numbers it needs to be noticed. Even if it does look better than any of 'em. Check out all 83 pics in the Gallery below.

HUMBERSIDE POLICE TRADE IMPREZAS FOR LEXUS IS-F

Over time, automobile manufacturers have acquired to main theories when it comes to selling vehicles. First, there's the "poach". Hyundai loves to sell a Sonata to a former Toyota Camry buyer, for instance. Then there's the "up-sell". Grab a young customer who, for example, is interested in a smart fortwo. Over time, said customer upgrades to a B-Class, then a C-Class, and by the time he or she reaches retirement age, an SL63 AMG is in their grasp.

Check Out All Police-Related Posts @ GoodCarBadCar.net

The police in Humberside, England have given Lexus a strange helping of both the poach and the up-sell. Switching from their fleet of Subaru Imprezas to Lexus sedans seems odd enough. Add to that the fact that Humberside's choosers anted up for the Lexus IS-F, the fastest Lexus on the road. This is Toyota's BMW M3 equivalent; a V8-powered small 4-door with 416 horsepower and an 8-speed automatic.

Humberside took this decision seriously... allegedly. The vehicle had to be capable of carrying an extra £30,000 worth of gear. " The Lexus was tested during a 12 month period along with similar vehicles and proved itself to be ideally suited in providing a dynamically safe high performance chassis," Sergeant Mike Peck said.

In the United States the Lexus IS-F costs $56,760. A common U.S. police car like the Dodge Charger R/T has a base MSRP of $32,910. Lexus charges £53,381 for the IS-F in the UK.

PHOTO COMPARO OF THE NEW FERRARI 458 ITALIA & FERRARI F430 AND FERRARI 360 MODENA

Quite telling, this anecdote surely is. One Christmas in the years prior to the marriage of The Good Car Guy and The Good Car Girl, the gift directed my way revolved around the Ferrari 360 Modena. Creativity won the day, yes. But the car was cast in such beautiful light.

Though I wouldn't suggest the advent of the Ferrari F430 was the beginning of a downward trend; something was off with the 360 Modena's successor. Its penchant for high speeds was greater; even when comparing garden variety examples with the extreme 360 Challenge Stradale. The F430 remained a visual shocker. And the competition (Lamborghini Gallardo, anyone?), while still alluring and successful, held court on the periphery.

Hard to put a finger on it, eh? The F430 lost some of the classy magic. When the F355 gave way to the 360 Modena, some Ferrari lovers were pained by its massive air intakes. For me, the 360 Modena stepped aside and in came the F430, a harder car by every definition. Lovely? For sure. The Good Car Guy's second-favourite supercar? Oh yeah. Still, the F430 was regression; at least in terms of desirability.

Now we have pictures of the F430's replacement, the Ferrari 458 Italia. Power is up, yes, but so is efficiency. There'll be plenty of techno talk in the upcoming days, as well. However strong on technology and modernity Ferrari may be, the firm is still firmly entrenched as passion-based. Personally, the inherent desire that washed over GoodCarBadCar Towers when pictures of the new 458 appeared carry the Italia to a place where floors are washed with F430s.

Stay tuned for a complete specification comparo of the last three mid-engined Ferrari V8s. Prepare to be impressed. For now, take a look at the comparative Gallery below.

GALLERY : 2010 SAAB 9-5

Any search for critics of anything won't take long. Criticize Michael Jordan for gambling. Criticize Barack Obama for trying to do too much. Criticize Ferrari for charging too much. That's the best basketball player ever; the most popular public figure in a long time; and the most revered automaker in the world.

Move onto Saab, Sweden's tier two automobile manufacturer, and critics exist around every corner. Saab doesn't sell very many cars. The cars it sells aren't very good. It borrowed a Subaru hatchback and worsened it. Then a Chevy truck-based SUV became an undesirable Corvette-powered Saab ute. That's besides not making any money. And not even existing in a Saab-like fashion.

Here comes the 2010 Saab 9-5, however, and it doth look comely. Then again, the '03 Saab 9-3's original pictures were paired with excitement from across the car media world. Alas, it has not become the 3-Series beater we all hoped it would be. Is the 2010 9-5 the 5-Series beater we know it needs to be?

We can only judge pictures for now: the 9-5 has a bit of a droopy tail. From the front, things are Saab enough but also very clean and contemporary. Inside, typical features like a console-mounted ignition and a cockpit-shaped dashboard are again very Saabesque but... better.

Better enough? Specs, reviews, and price will reveal the truth.

WATCH FERRARI 458 ITALIA VIDEO

This morning's pictoral release of the Ferrari F430's replacement, the 458 Italia, did not include any shots of the interior. The video below showcases the 4.5L V8's voice, but the interior is on display as well, as shown in the screenshot above. What a car. Check out the earlier Gallery here.

GALLERY - FERRARI 458 ITALIA - 4 PICTURES

4.5 litres of thumping Italian metal built to send power to the rear wheels of a red supercar: a wonderful thing, indeed. Named after its displacement (4.5L) and the number of cylinders (8), the 458 Italia by Ferrari is an attempt to take Ferrari into the next era of automobile production. The 2011 model year marks Ferrari's start of a green era..... well, sort of.

The 458 Italia uses high-end materials that cost a bijillion to actually put together. Moreover, this Ferrari will still use a lot of gasoline. However, thanks to direct-injection for the engine; a very compact and aerodynamic shape; a shockingly light chassis; and a 7-speed transmission; the Italia should return improved economy compared with the F430 while also being quicker. Quicker, they say, than the Ferrari Enzo.

With the purpose of showing the 458 Italia's true colours, The Good Car Guy edited hue right out of two preliminary Italia photos. In order to truly see its profile and its lines, a lack of colour is necessary. To compensate, red was punched up a notch in the other two. Enjoy the viewing. Ferrari hasn't made a car this good-looking since the 456M. There's a little dose of Dino in here, as well. That can't hurt.

GOODCARBADCAR.net PHOTOGRAPHY IV

Every now and then The Good Car Guy supplants the normal manufacturer-supplied pictures normally seen on GoodCarBadCar.net with photography from The Good Car Guy and, more frequently, The Good Car Girl. Click here to look through previous posts with GoodCarBadCar.net photos.

Below, you can see a refreshing Esso-made drink perched accurately in front of the license plate of GoodCarBadCar's new long termer. The Ford F250 HD was seen parked at a famous kitesurfing locale in Prince Edward Island, Princetown Point. Finally you'll see the multitude of keys on The Good Car Guy's Monaco Grand Prix keychain. If you can't decide what to send me for Christmas, you've plenty of time to start saving for this Hasselblad H3DII-50.

INTEREST RATES HAVE HUGE IMPACT ON NEW CAR MSRPs

Back in the day, a local supper-hour television broadcast was produced just down a few kilometres from the current GoodCarBadCar Towers. In one specific segment, Yvonne Colbert hosted On Your Side. It was consumer advocacy at the greenest of grassroots. "Canadian Tire wouldn't take my son's broken bicycle back just an hour after the 30-day return date expired". *Sob*

Think of The Good Car Guy as the new host of a new version of On Your Side. GoodCarBadCar guides you in the right direction and steers you away from the disappointing downward paths. Today's disappointing path isn't a specific vehicle - although certain automobiles will be unfortunately used as bad examples - but a particular problem in the industry.

See, vehicles of every kind are subject to judgement based mainly on one number on their window sticker: the manufacturer's suggested retail price. No opinion maker, myself included, can accurately critique a car or truck or SUV or van without knowing that all-important figure. Sure, I can tell you how a vehicle feels from behind the wheel or the equipment available as standard equipment or as options.

But it all relates to one number, the price of the car. Take Audi's RS6 at $30,000 instead of $90,000 and it quickly becomes the greatest car of all time. Price that same car at $180,000 and it's a joke. Regardless of its price, the RS6 accelerates with the same ferocity, lines its cabin with the same high quality alcantara, and looks like an A3 on Barry Bonds' sterioids. Yet price still provides the atmosphere for intelligent criticism.

Even so, the MSRP of a vehicle doesn't tell the fully costed story. In the three duos below, you'll see the price and payments of competing vehicles with unique interest rates. These are vehicles that would enter magazine comparison tests together based on their pricing symmetry. In the real world, any vehicle's MSRP only manages to set a range of possible payments. The interest rate writes the final chapter.

Exclusive of tax and local fees, the payments below are based on 60 month purchases on the full MSRP of these six vehicles. The rates quoted may or may not reflect the rates provided by your lender. One way or another, you'll be convinced to pay close attention to the interest rate quoted by the manufacturer's your dealing with; not just the window sticker or the incentives.

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NISSAN CUBE vs KIA SOUL

Nissan Cube 1.8SL @ $17,510 & 7.9% = $354.20 per month

Kia Soul sport @ $18,595 & 0.9% = $317.00 per month

HONDA ACCORD vs VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Honda Accord EX-V6 @ $27,315 & 5% = $515.47

Volkswagen Passat 2.0T @ $28,300 & 3.5% = $514.83

BMW 550i vs CADILLAC CTS-V

BMW 550i M Sport @ $66,025 & 6.9% = $1,304.26

Cadillac CTS-V @ $62,995 & 8% = $1,277.31

GM'S GLOBAL SALES FIGURES FOR Q2 OF '09

With a quick exit from bankruptcy proceedings, General Motors comes to bat with renewed vigour and surprising power. Though its Sales Stats in Canada and the USA failed to ignite celebrations last month, General Motors has been pleased of late with its global performance. That doesn't equate to possession of Toyota-like bank account figures or BMW-like acceptance in the market, but GM's product certainly seems on the right track. If sales come on line, too, other conglomerates won't know what hit them.

For all kinds of Numbers relating to GM's second quarter global sales figures, keep reading.

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1,940,000 - total vehicles sold by General Motors around the globe in the second quarter of 2009, 20% higher than the first quarter of this year but 15% lower than the equivalent period of 2008

72 - percentage of GM's global sales collected outside of the USA

307,000 - total GM vehicles sold in North America in the second quarter of '09, 32% lower than Q2 of '08

12 - percentage of the global automotive market belonging to General Motors in the second quarter of '09, 0.8 percentage points higher than the three months prior but 0.3 percentage points lower than Q2 of '08

3,550,000 - total vehicles sold by General Motors so far this year around the world, 22% fewer vehicles than GM sold in the first half of last year

8.8 - percentage of the Asia-Pacific automotive market held by General Motors in the second quarter of this year

21 - percentage drop in sales of General Motors vehicles in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East

115,000 - total Chevrolets sold in Europe in Q2 of '09, taking Chevy's market share in Europe to 2.3%

31 - percentage increase in GM sales from April-June compared with January-March of this year

19.1 - percentage of the North American market share taken by General Motors in the second quarter of '09, 2 percentage points higher than GM's market share in Q1

LOTUS DESIGNS THE FUTURE OF URBAN TRANSPORT CIRCA 2014

Four seats. Zero gallons of gasoline. 15 miles of range when fully amped. Characterful and cute without being overtly weird.

What vehicle are we discussing? A publication known as Automotive Engineer asked Lotus what the city car of 2014 would look like. Actually, AE wasn't just interested in the appearance but in the vehicle as a whole. Thus, the 15 mile range; approximately twice the length of 51% of personal car journeys in the UK. Electric power is an obvious must when discussing the future of urban transport - it has been the obvious future theory for decades. Lotus's design boss doesn't want prospective buyers to look at their '14 Future Car and think, "Wow", unless the second glance is just as appreciative.

Don't think for a second that Lotus could draw or design or say whatever they wanted in reference to this car without being accountable. Contract development is a huge part of Hethel's business. One could easily imagine seeing this car pop up on an auto show stand in 2010 or 2011 as a Renault or Hyundai or Chrysler..... or Tesla.

If at that time one of those firms discovered that Lotus hadn't done its homework, the sports car-maker's reputation would be sullied. This is an accurate vision of what Lotus believes to be the future of urban transport for 2014. Will it be produced? There's plenty of reason to doubt that. Could it be produced? Absolutely.

2009 SMART FORTWO PURE DRIVEN

Not for a minute would any faithful GoodCarBadCar.net reader doubt The Good Car Guy's love for the smart fortwo. Mercedes-Benz's city car has been an economical competitor in the USA since model year 2008. North of the border, Canadians were served the diesel smart fortwo CDI as far back as model year '05. In both The Good 12 and The Good 12 v2.0, smart's gasoline-powered car made its presence known amongst eleven other admired vehicles.

Cutting straight to the heart of the matter, why is the fortwo considered by some to be wondrous but by others, it's wretched? Pay attention to this simple explanation: for those who wish to dine on a lovely barbecued steak for supper, a fork and steak knife will work perfectly. Does that mean a spoon sucks? No, but in this specific situation, the spoon can't accomplish the task. On the other hand, when it comes time for Frosted Flakes in the morning, that spoon will be the perfect tool.

Check Out The Smart Fortwo in GCBC's Top 25 Memorable Debuts

Let's get the smart's negative factors out of the way first. Cargo space isn't overflowing in true Grand Caravan style yet I'll still guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised with the amount of cargo capacity found behind the two seats. Power is far from plentiful. For daily driving, however, you'll rarely want for more. Fuel economy isn't otherworldly. Still, the vast majority of vehicles available in North America use far more fuel.

What's to like? Highway fuel efficiency is better than any midsize hybrid (Camry, Altima, Fusion, Aura). A surprising ability to carry 12 cubic feet of cargo, as much junk as fits in the trunk of a Honda Civic, ain't bad either. And while 70 horsepower sounds piddling, so does 1,808 pounds, the weight of the smart fortwo. Apart from these three major categories, the smart's most charming feature is its driving quality; something that couldn't be said so strongly about the previous-generation car.

With slight increases in wheelbase length, overall length, and width, the smart fortwo now drives more like a "real car". That's not to say the first-gen car wasn't fun, but it was fun partly as a result of weirdness. The newer car copes with rough streets like a vehicle developed on roads outside of Catalunya.

Read About The Fortwo's Major Future Competitor, The iQ

Automatically, three sensations apply to anybody taking their first drive in a fortwo. Approach the car from the rear, take a look in the rear window, then approach the driver's side door to hop in. Expect to take one or three steps too far. Nobody anticipates gaining entry at the rear corner. Next up are the engine sounds emanating from something, somewhere directly behind and almost beneath you. The 1.0L triple produces a truly glorious thrum; Porsche-like in its rhythm. Up to this point you've accepted the fortwo's dimensions. Then comes the time for reversing out of your parking spot and, with a small right turn of the neck, your eyes see the rear window right there. Oh, so this car really is as small as they say? Yuh.

Ignition takes place between the driver and passenger smack dab behind the gear lever. Versatile cupholders sit ahead of the stick. Mechanisms for both windows can be found on the driver's side door now... thankfully. Switches for power locks are underneath the stereo, conveniently located in practice if not in theory.

Start up the 3-cylinder, move the 5-speed automatic's shifter back into drive (and over to find manual shift mode, which you'll almost always want) before setting off. Attention: shift into second when the time comes, lift off the throttle and get back on it as if you'd disengaged and engaged a clutch. Repeat for third gear; fourth; and fifth, although you'll be able to do so more quickly at higher speeds. Treat the smart fortwo's tranny like a truly clutchless manual and you'll enjoy shifting rather than be pained by its idiosyncrasies.

Watch The Smart Fortwo's Crash Tests

Whipping the fortwo out of a downtown parking lot into areas fully populated by vehicles and pedestrians is a revelation. Visibility is so complete, all fears of renegade walkers are stripped away. Don't think for a moment that 18-wheelers or cube vans become a menace, either. The smart is small enough and - it must be clear - powerful enough to intentionally squirt away from intersections into the path of larger oncoming automobiles. Considering the lengths to which new vehicles have gone (Honda's Accord gains 3 inches every generation), it's not difficult to understand the joys of zipping around cities in the smart fortwo, a car 88 inches shorter than a new Accord.

Theories surrounding the smart's perpendicular parkability are challenging to reproduce in the real world. Contrasted with the aforementioned Accord, the smart fortwo is 33.4 inches longer than the Accord is wide. In certain situations the fortwo could be parked against the curb, opposite to the flow of traffic. In two weeks with the smart in a downtown environment I've yet to discover a parking spot capable of handling the smart fortwo in this unique manner.

For most people, however, the real world includes far more than urban situations. It's on a twisty backroad that the smart's surprises really kick in. Forget maintaining sight of almost any other car's rear bumper on the straights. Rear-wheel drive dynamics, paired with the traction given by the rearward placement of the engine underneath the floor behind the occupants, makes for joyous cornering. Keep the throttle pinned to regain sight of the car that had previously pulled away. Enjoy the jig and jag of the steering wheel while selecting your line. No, this doesn't compare with a Mitsubishi Evo X or Nissan 370Z. But it's a whole lot more fun than any of the other lowest-priced cars in North America. Moreover, it's a whole lot more fun than most mainstream front-wheel drive cars.

Passenger comfort is sublime. Seats are worthy of luxurious living rooms. In fact, recent flu-like symptoms culminated with back pain for which the smart's seats were the only cure; no joke. Reaching the iPod auxiliary jack in the glovebox is easy, which says a lot for the remainder of controls, all of which are closer. The wheel does not tilt or telescope, yet the perfect driving position is found quickly.

1 Year With A 2009 Smart Fortwo - July 2010

What's left to bring the smart fortwo down from its perch? Ride quality is stiff; very stiff. Two factors contribute to its spine-shortening ride: wheelbase length (rather the lack thereof) and decent handling. No vehicle this tall and narrow would be able to tackle the twisties this capably without a truly tight suspension. Besides this, most bumps and yumps and dips and holes are struck with the rear wheels at pretty much the exact same time as the front pair. That's a problem. For some people, it'll be so great a problem that they'll ignore the smart fortwo altogether. Others, The Good Car Girl and The Good Car Guy included, love the advantages a short wheelbase provides. The smart is lovingly small, spectacularly efficient, and wonderfully fun to drive.

NEXT NEW FONT: TOYOTA IQ

Naturally, the connection between driving and writing remains strong here at GoodCarBadCar.net. Driving, after all, is what The Good Car Guy does. Quite clearly, writing is also what The Good Car Guy does.

Strengthening the link between driving and writing is Toyota's iQ.... along with some intelligent and talented people. Check out the new iQ font in the clip below.

iQ font - When driving becomes writing / Full making of from wireless on Vimeo.

WATCH THE FIAT PANDA 4X4 IN ACTION OFF ROAD

Earlier today, The Good Car Guy sated your appetite for more knowledge of future Chrysler products with a look at the dimensions of the Fiat Panda 4x4; a vehicle that could become the Jeep Phoenix. Now it's time to see said vehicle in action. Pitted against one of the loveliest automobiles on the planet, Land Rover's Range Rover, the tidy Panda proved its mettle in an off-road comparo.

How many North Americans take their off-roaders off-roading? Few, hardly any, barely a handful. However, as a disingenuous Jeep, the Fiat must make up for its heritage with credibility. Check out this Fifth Gear clip to see how the Panda 4x4 makes out in a muddy quarry. For more extreme off-road footage of the Panda 4x4 and the Range Rover, have a look at the second clip. You may be unable to understand the spoken words.

DIMENSIONS OF THE FUTURE JEEP PHOENIX aka FIAT PANDA CROSS

Chrysler and Fiat's boss, Sergio Marchionne, along with the President of the USA, wants Fiat products in North American showrooms now. That, obviously, isn't possible. However, within the next two or three years, one Fiat vehicle that seems to be a shoo-in for U.S. consumption is the Fiat Panda.

Unfortunately, the much-loved Panda 100HP doesn't appear to be Chrysler's Panda of choice. In fact, it is the Panda Cross, aka the Panda 4x4, that will make it to this continent as - perhaps - the Jeep Phoenix.

Learn About The Fiat Bravo's North American Possibilities

For the purposes of this demonstration, we're considering the current Panda 4x4 without any adjustments made for American regulations. In its current guise, the Panda 4x4's engines include a 1.2L gas-powered 4-cylinder (60 horsepower) and a 1.3L diesel-fed 4-cylinder (70 horsepower), both of which accelerate to 60mph in about 20 seconds. Combined city/highway fuel economy, calculated with the European Union's standards but with U.S. gallons, stands at 35.6 miles per gallon for the "petrol" or 54.7 mpg for the diesel.

In the picture you see here (clickable for a larger view), a few important specs aren't present. For instance, the luggage capacity of the current Panda 4x4 is 7 cubic feet; or 30 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Filled to the roof, a smart fortwo can hold 12 cubic feet of cargo. Meanwhile, a Kia Soul holds 53.4 cubic feet of luggage when its rear seats are folded. Helped along by those stats and the numbers you see in the Panda 4x4 image, prospective customers quickly learn more about the Panda's diminutive proportions.

See More About The Panda & Other Fiats Here

Another interesting number relates to that incredible fuel efficiency. The Panda 4x4's fuel tank holds just 7.9 gallons of gasoline. One fuel miser we know better, Toyota's Prius, holds 11.9 gallons.

Watch Fiat Panda 4x4 Off-Roading Clips Here

Am I suggesting the Panda 4x4 is too small to be a Jeep Phoenix? Not in the least. Might it be ahead of its time? Not if fuel prices rise by 2011 or 2012 and some Americans still want to crawl rocks. Although the Panda 4x4's all-wheel drive is a simple send-it-to-the-rear-when-necessary system, the Fiat possesses an exit angle of 42 degrees and can apparently climb a 50% gradient. This little Italian could be a genuine Jeep. It's most definitely a genuine small car that's genuinely small, too.

GALLERY - FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO HGTE - 34 PICTURES + THE PRICE!

Ferrari, a very profitable firm, seeks to enrage and delight us all with the price of its new HGTE package which is now available on the 599 GTB Fiorano.

Enraged, we must consider ourselves, because Ferrari is charging $30,095 USD (or £14,000 in the UK) to upgrade from the already impeccable 599 GTB. But delighted, we also are, because we love this feat of daring-do. Only a company this reputable could even consider adding the cost of a luxurious new midsize sedan to its flagship supercar for a handful of alterations.

What's changed? Springs are stiffer at the front and back. The rear anti-roll bar is slightly thicker. Along with a drop in ride height comes a slight increase in negative camber. Nicer wheels are fitted with the tires sized identicaly to the non-HGTE GTBs. Only this time the Pirelli P Zero rubber is made from a new compound that should up the grip quotient without wearing quickly. Oh no, Ferrari wouldn't want their impoverished customers to spend too much money on new tires. Oh no.

Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione is its name, a phrase certainly more alluring when spelled out than abbreviated. Horsepower is identical in the HGTE car, an astonishing 612-bhp available at a wailing 7600 rpm. Yes, torque remains the same as well. Around the track from which the 599 GTB takes its name, Ferrari's Fiorano circuit, the HGTE 599 is six tenths of a second quicker.

For each tenth gained at Fiorano, U.S. customers pay $5,016. True, that price includes every carbon-fiber option available on the 599 GTB. The exhaust note is also uniquely tuned. At GoodCarBadCar.net, the official message will forever state that owners of vehicles like the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano are intelligent and judicious. Sure, they spend $302,584 on transportation. Their car is likely a wise investment, nonetheless.

It is for those who spend the price of a Honda Accord EX-L V6, a Mini Cooper S JCW, or a Ford F-150 XLT Supercab on an option group for their Ferrari that The Good Car Guy reserves the "insane" tag. Get a grip.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH - CHEVROLET CORVETTE & PORSCHE PANAMERA

Don't ever encounter either of these cars from any angle other than straight-on and you'll never know - but for the badges - that these are distinct models.*

No, they're not distinct models from the same company or even the same country. This is Porsche's generally ugly new four-door, the Panamera, and Chevrolet's iconic and generally handsome Corvette. Yet from the front, Porsche and Chevy would have you believe these cars were separated at birth.

* Exaggeration Duly Noted.

PRICING THE NEW JAGUAR XJ AND ITS RIVALS FROM BENZ, AUDI, LEXUS & BMW

Approaching from the British (or Indian?) horizon is the brand new 2010 Jaguar XJ. Choose between 385, 470, or 510 horsepower. Opt for the 119.4-inch standard wheelbase or the 124.3-inch L. Long wheelbase versions are between 40 and 82 pounds heavier than the regular car. Trunk volume increases nary a cubic foot with the longer XJ. Rear legroom, however, extends by nearly half a foot.

Are we kidding ourselves if we believe choosing an XJ over an S-Class Benz or 7-Series BMW has anything to do with pricing? Technology probably plays a major role. Comfort, when considering a car of this stature, must be an important factor. And style; oh style truly matters.

Jaguar, indelibly linked to stylish cars despite their recent lack of any appropriately modern incarnation, has let us down with the '10 XJ. Few automakers are opened up to as much design-based criticism with each new car. Inevitably, many consumers will be disappointed. 'Tis of the greatest import that many others fall madly in love with the new Jaguar XJ... and that they possess at least $72,500 USD or as much as $115,000.

Escape the draw of technology for just a minute. Ignore powertrains momentarily. Forget about style. How does the XJ lineup match up with its opponents economically? Examples of the Jag's direct competition come first. Below these $$$, check out some others standing in proud contradistinction.

JAGUAR XJ: $72,500

BMW 750i: $80,300

JAGUAR XJL: $79,500

LEXUS LS460L: $73,735

JAGUAR XJ S'Charged: $87,500

Audi S8: $96,200

JAGUAR XJL S'Charged: $90,500

Mercedes-Benz S550: $89,350

JAGUAR XJ SUPERSPORT: $112,000

BMW 760Li: $124,100 est.

JAGUAR XJL SUPERSPORT: $115,000

Lexus LS600h L: $106,035

JAGUAR XJ SUPERSPORT: $112,000

Porsche 911 GT3: $112,200

JAGUAR XJL S'Charged: $90,500

Land Rover Range Rover S'Charged: $94,175

JAGUAR XJ S'CHARGED: $87,500

Ford Mustang GT & Dodge Challenger R/T & Chevrolet Camaro SS: $89,185

Photo Credits to Manufacturers Except Camaro/Mustang/Challenger (Motor Trend)

GALLERY - 2010 JAGUAR XJ - 68 PICTURES

The recent Jaguar XJs that you and I have seen on the road have been successful in one or two areas. Firstly, every current XJ is a dynamic masterpiece - ride and handling characteristics which belie the car's size. Secondly, in appearance, the XJ is a wonderfully executed example of what it is. Unfortunately, what it is happens to be an antiquated retro-Jag look that doesn't impress when parked beside the stunningly modern Audi A8 or bodacious Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Jaguar's bosses knew this almost from the beginning. Plans were drawn up to leave the all-aluminum chassis intact while dramatically altering the Jaguar's appearance. At the front, the new XJ is very XFesque. From the rear, the new XJ is a little too high and lifted up. In profile, there's something vaguely Citroen C6-like about the 2010 XJ.

Is it an improvement on the outgoing XJ? That's like comparing apples and oranges; or at least Granny Smiths with Honeycrisps. It could be argued - and will be argued around here in the near future - that the '10 Jaguar XJ is not as decent an example of its breed than the outgoing '09 XJ was of its. However, the new car is a modern take. Power is prodigious. Interior pics are spectacular. Enjoy all 68.