LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP570-4 SUPERLEGGERA GALLERY

Just a couple days ago GoodCarBadCar.net began hosting a video in which evo's Chris Harris test drove the very wonderful, very expensive Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera. The Good Car Guy even made mention of the Superleggera when discussing the Ford Focus RS500 yesterday.

Now, finally, GoodCarBadCar.net has a photo Gallery to enjoy, as well, seen after the jump. The details on this special V10-engined Lamborghini Gallardo are spelled out in the earlier post. Lamborghini's greatest feat may have been the institution and execution of the Gallardo's diet. The Superleggera weighs just 2,954 pounds. And so it should be: Superleggera means "superlight". With enough horsepower to make a gigantic SUV seem unbelievably fast, one can safely assume the Gallardo Superleggera's capabalities in a straight line are astounding. However, this Lamborghini's sublimity brings attention to a real problem in the current Marketplace.

Mid-engined vehicles are, more often than not, of the supercar variety. Time was a Toyota MR2 Spyder, ugly as just about anything on the road, showed mid-engine handling dynamics to a completely new demographic. But for the most part, mid-engine placement is for Lamborghini, Ferrari, Pagani, Koenigsegg, and Bugatti.

Great though this Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera may be, its connection to the real world is as barely there as a SoCal beach bikini. This is like discussing the trickle-down effect Formula 1 has in modern times. And it's not meant in derision of the Superleggera. Oh no, the Gallardo Superleggera is a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Yet the least expensive mid-engine vehicles available in America today are the Lotus Elise $47,250 and the Porsche Boxster ($47,600). Both are favourites of The Good Car Guy. Both are twice the price of a well-equipped Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Where's the Miata's competition? The mid-engined Toyota MR2 Spyder didn't fail because it was mid-engined but because of its absolute lack of storage capacity and its poor styling. Then the front-engined Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky disappeared with their brands. It's time somebody stepped up to the plate with a verifiable sports car rival for the Mazda MX-5 Miata. As good as the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera is, I'm certain they won't be selling any for $21,000.




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THE FORD FOCUS RS500 IS BAD TO THE BONE - WITH GALLERY

Menacing: to constitute a threat to; endanger. Ominous: portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious.

Think in terms of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, a harrowing alternative to the not-at-all-regular Ferrari F430. Or maybe you're more familiar with the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera. As shown in the video yesterday, the Superleggera takes the Raging Bull brand to an even angrier level. Now that you've got the picture, take the engine from the middle and place it in the front. Forget powering the rear wheels or even all four and send "just" 345 horsepower to the front of the car. Strip away the majestic bodywork and turn the car into a hatchback instead.

While we're at it, why not strip away a couple hundred thousand dollars, anticipating the subsequent loss of technology and kit. Italian badges are forsaken for the Blue Oval. What have we here? The Ford Focus RS500. Get more details, and check out the pictures in the Gallery, after the jump.



Only 500 will be made. These ominous, menacing versions of the wicked fast Ford Focus RS will be produced in Saarlouis, Germany, at the end of the Focus RS's run in September. The only markets open to the Ford Focus RS500 are 20 European countries, although Brits will surely take the largest chunk. Their craving for hot hatches, and hot Fords in particular, will not be sated.

Torque jumps to 339 lb-ft. This ensures Focus RS500 owners will endure white knuckle drives to the end of the lane to collect the mail. A journey across the North York Moors could result in significant arm fatigue. Reining in 345 bhp and 339 lb-ft of torque with wheels also responsible for steering ain't easy. Ford engineers are big fans of their RevoKnuckle suspension, but ya can't argue with physics. Chassis design, brakes, and tires continue unchanged from the Focus RS. 

Ford Focus RS500 customers will have Panther Black metallic paint. 3M then applies a special foil to generate the matt black effect. Yes, the engine is incredible. The exclusivity is worth serious coin in hot hatch-crazy markets. But the paint - oh, the paint - has got to bring in a few buyers on its own merit. 

The options list is brief. Navigation? Not necessary. Full red Recaro seats? Perhaps a bit garish. Stick with the standard car, pay handsomely for it, and be prepared for an exciting (and nervewracking) first drive before absorbing very little depreciation and selling up in a few months time. For those of us in North America, we remain content with hateful of the Ford Focus SES Coupe. 



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IT'S OFFICIAL - THE CADILLAC CTS-V WAGON WILL BE READY FOR 2011

556 horsepower in a station wagon, y'all. A more succinct scribe would end the article at the first period. 556 horsepower..... in a station wagon, a very handsome station wagon at that. 'Nuff said. 

Oh, but there's more. The Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon was already a beloved car around these parts. The Good Car Guy named the CTS Sport Wagon to The Good 12 v3.0 for 2010. Perhaps of equal importance is the former placement of the Cadillac CTS-V in The Good 12 v2.0 for 2009. More likely than not, the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon was the main vehicle that knocked the CTS-V sedan out of the running for a repeat performance, with a little help from the Nissan 370Z and Kia Soul.

But I digress. Wagons are a rare breed in North America. Rarer still are wagons with rear-wheel drive and V8 engines. Holding fast in Fort Exclusivity with McLaren F1s and Bugatti Veyrons are station wagons with rear-wheel drive, a supercharged V8 engine, swollen bodywork around the wheels and on the hood, and a six-speed manual transmission. (An automatic will be available.) And to put it all into perspective once again, this is a Cadillac. Until the alluring Cadillac XTS enters production, you could potentially see the antiquated Cadillac DTS and this Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon in the same showroom. 

Casual observers might believe the CTS-V Sport Wagon is the "thing which doesn't belong", but it's becoming more and more obvious that the luxury division of General Motors is on a path - a slow and winding path - toward fielding a complete lineup of genuinely competitive cars. It's the Cadillac DTS "which doesn't belong".


More on the CTS-V Sport Wagon now. As in the CTS-V Coupe and regular CTS-V sedan, the Sport Wagon's powerplant generates 556 horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque from a supercharged 6.2L V8, a brother to the supercharged V8 in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Unlike the Cadillac CTS Coupe or the CTS sedan, the CTS Sport Wagon holds 25.4 cubic feet of cargo behind its rear seats or 58 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Standard equipment includes Magnetic Ride Control. Brembo brakes are all yours. Midnight Silver is the colour you'll want unless every preliminary test drive showcases the dark shade pictured here. CTS-V Coupes look fine in red, CTS-V sedans look great in black, but the subtlety wagon drivers hold dear fits with Midnight Silver. 

Production of the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon begins late this year. Cadillac will attempt to sell this car in Europe and the Middle East, too. Don't expect to see huge sales of the low-volume bodystyle in an already low-volume performance-branded fraternity. But the CTS-V Sport Wagon's success shouldn't be gauged that way, anyhow. Who knows, perhaps Cadillac will be pleasantly surprised as owners of the $53,310 Audi A6 Avant, $63,900 BMW 550i GranTurismo, and $50,000 Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon trade in their slower German steeds for a $63,000 Cadillac.

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LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP570-4 SUPERLEGGERA AS DRIVEN BY EVO'S CHRIS HARRIS

One of the latest addition's to evo magazine's fold is Chris Harris, a skilled writer and able driver who appears to have a taste for finer four-wheeled machinery. In the video clip you'll see after the jump, Chris is driving the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, a bright orange V10 Italian masterpiece. Oh, and by the way, the 1:06 point is where the video starts to get really interesting.

561 horsepower. Less than 3,000 pounds. Air intakes worth framing and hanging in your living room. This ain't your friend's LP560-4 Superleggera.

ACCORD EX-L V6 vs CAMRY XLE V6 vs FUSION SPORT V6 vs ALTIMA 3.5SR vs MALIBU LTZ V6

Earlier this month The Good Car Guy examined the price differential between America's most popular car of 2009, the Toyota Camry, with America's most popular car so far this year, the Honda Accord, and a stylish newcomer, the Hyundai Sonata. As anticipated, the Hyundai came in with lower pricing. More importantly, the Hyundai was more powerful and more fuel efficient than the Honda and Toyota. However, a Hyundai Sonata can no longer be equipped with the (less popular but more fun) V6 engine. So when it comes time for a V6 comparison, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are fighting fit. As are the other three most popular midsize sedans in America.

In February, Honda USA sold more than 22,000 Accords. Camry sales were way down at 16,552, but that figure is still out in front of the Ford Fusion (16,459), Nissan Altima (16,198), and Chevrolet Malibu (15,150). If a V6 is what you're looking for, these five cars can supply. How much power can they deliver? How fuel efficient can they remain? And how high can their prices soar? That's what the Numbers are for, so keep scrolling. Check out pics of all five cars and all vital Numbers after the jump.

271 - horsepower generated by the Honda Accord's 3.5L V6, along with 254 lb-ft of torque

19 - city mpg rating given to the Honda Accord's 3.5L V6, 10 mpg worse than the Accord's highway rating of 29 mpg

41,855 - total price of a Honda Accord EX-L V6 with $10,040 in options and $710 in delivery fees

268 - horsepower generated by the Toyota Camry's 3.5L V6, along with 248 lb-ft of torque

20 - city mpg rating given to the Toyota Camry V6, 9 mpg worse than the Camry V6's highway rating of 29 mpg

33,383 - total price of a Toyota Camry XLE V6 with $3,333 in options and $805 for a DPH fee but before a probable $1,000 Bonus Cash incentive

263 - horsepower generated by the Ford Fusion's 3.5L V6, along with 249 lb-ft of torque

17 - city mpg rating given to the Ford Fusion V6 when equipped with all-wheel drive, 7 mpg worse than the Fusion's highway rating of 24 mpg

35,506 - total price of a Ford Fusion Sport V6 with $8,276 in options (including all-wheel drive) and $725 in destination charges but before $1,000 in retail customer cash

270 - horsepower generated by the Nissan Altima's 3.5L V6, along with 258 lb-ft of torque

20 - city mpg rating given to the Nissan Altima V6, 7 mpg below that of the Altima's highway rating of 27 mpg

32,180 - total price of a Nissan Altima 3.5SR with $6,940 in options and $720 in destination and handling charges

22 - city mpg rating given to the Chevrolet Malibu V6, 11 mpg shy of the Malibu V6's highway rating of 33

252 - horsepower generated by the Chevrolet Malibu's 3.6L V6, along with 251 lb-ft of torque

36,652 - total price of a Chevrolet Malibu LTZ V6 with $5,450 in options, $3,527 in accessories, and $720 in destination charges but before GM's current $3,000 cash discount

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PRICING THE MOST EXPENSIVE MINIVANS IN CANADA - ODYSSEY, SIENNA & ROUTAN WITH FR-V, VERSO & TOURAN ON THE SIDE

Combined sales of Fiat's Chrysler's minivans in Canada last month reached 4,415. Although that might not sound like a lot to the casual sales observer in the United States, consider this: Canada's best-selling car is the Honda Civic; its sales totalled just 3,675 in February. Conventional wisdom says minivans are the opposite of a Trending Topic. The pure and simple (Canadian) facts will lead you to believe otherwise.

Or maybe not. Many would argue on behalf of the Honda Odyssey in any conversation about the best minivan. But Honda's Odyssey sales in February were a drop in the bucket at 392. A high-value Korean option, the Kia Sedona, isn't successful either. Kia Canada only sold 70 Sedonas in February. In the lead-up to the 2011 Toyota Sienna arriving at dealerships, the current Sienna sold just 175 copies last month, down considerably from the already-low 260 Siennas sold in February of 2009. Volkswagen Routan sales remained fairly level, but 103 is not the fairest of levels.

Much of the minivan market has swung toward a lower price point. That fact is manifested in sales of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. The Dodge, with its low entry price of just $19,445 and moderate maxed out price of $38,850, made up the vast majority of those 4,415 Fiat Chrysler Group minivan sales. Town & Country sales rang in at just 277. But keep in mind, its price range starts above the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT Plus and swings north. Kia Rondo sales (370) and Mazda 5 sales (329), better than any minvan barring the Grand Caravan, also clear up any confusion about the price level Canadian minivan buyers appreciate.

That ain't stopping automakers from equipping their minivans like never before, attempting to sell them at price points normally reserved for very nice luxury cars, and doing so with little regard for market demands in Canada. Although it must be pointed out, I use the word "demands" loosely. Check out the three minivans below along with their foreign counterparts' estimated MSRPs in the Gallery.... were they to be made available in Canada.

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2010 HONDA ODYSSEY TOUR

Base Price: $49,690

With Options & Accessories: $63,248.11

With Taxes & Fees: $71,616.13

Price Of Acura MDX With Taxes & Fees: $61,035.82

2011 TOYOTA SIENNA LIMITED AWD V6

Base Price: $49,100

With Options & Accessories: $50,695

With Taxes & Fees: $59,095.61

Price Of Lexus RX350 With Taxes & Fees: $55,268.30

2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN EXECLINE

Base Price: $50,575

With Options & Accessories: $50,575

With Taxes & Fees: $59,048.15

Price Of Audi Q7 With Taxes & Fees: $63,280 (est.)

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CARBON MOTORS E7 WILL BE POWERED BY BMW'S DIESEL INLINE-SIX

Carbon Motors has placed an order for 240,000 diesel engines. These diesels will sit under the hood of the E7 police vehicle when it begins production in Connersville, Indiana. Reaction to Carbon's choice of a diesel powerplant must be seen in the light of other patrol car engines.

Over the course of the last few months, General Motors announced it will be returning to the police fleet vehicle market with the Holden-derived Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. Not terribly unlike the Pontiac G8 North Americans were briefly offered, the Caprice PPV will be available with the increasingly common 3.6L GM V6 and the downright ubiquitous small-block V8, here in 6.0L form.

Find More Police Car Info From GoodCarBadCar.net

Over in Dearborn, the replacement for the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor has been revealed as the Ford Taurus Police Interceptor, potentially to be followed up by a Ford Flex Interceptor or even as a police version of the next Ford Explorer. In the Taurus, Ford's bog-standard 3.5L V6 seems to be the probablebase engine for the FTPI; a twin-turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6 from the Taurus SHO, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT slots in to form a true cruiser.

Finally, Dodge has been outfitting the Charger Police Vehicle with the common man's 3.5L V6 and the well-known 5.7L Hemi V8.

How will those responsible for police vehicle procurement feel about the news that Carbon Motors will be equipping the Carbon E7 with a twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six diesel from BMW?

Concerns about the Carbon E7 revolve around the whole project, not just the underhood motivation. Carbon Motors says their vehicle will be built to last 250,000 miles, nearly twice as long as most police vehicles. They're basing this estimate on manufacturing techniques, material usage, and general engineering excellence. But the advantages of the Carbon E7's "purpose-built" stature also brings about disadvantages: neither the company nor car have any reputation for reliability and durability in the past, not in the consumer Marketplace or in fleet vehicle manufacturing. Adding a high-tech BMW diesel to the mix excites the enthusiast - and should please future drivers of the Carbon E7 - but throws up caution flags in the offices of police commissioners when they realize most of their technicians were accustomed to working on a simple 4.6L 2-valve SOHC V8 from Ford.

Reasons still abound for adopting the Carbon E7... with its BMW six-cylinder. In the BMW X5 xDrive35d, the 3.0L diesel six is rated at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway for a combined figure of 22mpg. So says the EPA. This in a vehicle weighing 5,225 pounds; a vehicle capable of 0-60mph in under 7 seconds thanks to 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque.

Except Carbon Motors doesn't think the E7 will weigh 5,225 pounds. In fact, the company thinks their police vehicle will be closer to 4,000 pounds. Fuel economy, therefore, could be more in line with that of the BMW 335d, a car which weighs in at 3,825 pounds, is capable of 0-60mph in 6 seconds, and is rated by the EPA as a 27mpg vehicle. 23 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway for the 3,825-pound BMW could translate to 21 or 22 city mpg for the Carbon E7 and 34 or 35 highway mpg.... if the Carbon E7 actually weighs 4,000 pounds.

Compared with the 17/25 mpg rating for the Ford Taurus SHO, 16/25 mpg rating for the Dodge Charger R/T, or the 15/24 mpg rating for the (semi-applicable) Pontiac G8 GT, the Carbon E7's fuel economy alone could be enough to tempt police forces away from traditional choices.

Besides, Carbon Motors makes a good point in regards to "purpose-built" military aircraft. You don't see camouflaged Cessna Citation CJ3s landing on the USS George Washington. No, Lockheed Martin designs a purpose-built F22 Raptor for United States Air Force. Same goes for tanks (not Chevrolet Suburban-based) and submarines (not reconfigured Baja 35 Outlaws).

Perhaps it's time police forces began to think the same way.

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RAISING THE GOOD 12 MAX. PRICE TO $80K FROM $71,230 - SEVEN MORE CARS

In mid-November of last year, Lotus revealed the U.S. pricing for the 2010 Evora. As one of the most anticipated sports cars of the calendar year, it had seemed as though the Lotus Evora was a prime candidate for GoodCarBadCar.net's The Good 12 v3.0. But, The Good Car Guy has established $71,230 as the maximum price for Good 12 candidates.

Why $71,230? Well, the reasons are explained further here, but $71,230 is a figure arrivated at after multiplying the average new car price paid in the USA by 2.5. That seems plenty high enough for cars attempting to be "recognized". Unfortunately for Lotus (perhaps unaware of The Good Car Guy's standard), their $73,500 Evora was over the bar.

Imagine for a second, however, that the barrier was actually $80,000. Wouldn't that open up a whole new field of automobiles ripe for consideration? Here are seven cars with their USD MSRP which would have been forced into the debate had The Good Car Guy's price limit been jacked up to $80K.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS550: $72,400 - Although long-in-the-tooth now, the CLS is still a visual stunner and relatively exclusive, too. In CLS550 trim, the Benz's V8 churns up 382 horsepower.

Lotus Evora: $73,500 - The aforementioned Evora is a mid-engined monster like its little brother, the Elise, but the Evora uses V6 power and smooths out the Elise's hard edges.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06: $74,285 - Still a ridiculously good value, the Corvette Z06 didn't strip any attention away from the basic Corvette in The Good 12 v2.0.

Audi A8: $74,550 - For those looking for a little less drama and a lot more space than can be found in the Mercedes CLS, the Audi A8 is the limousine-like alternative in this price bracket. Sumptuous interior fittings mix with down-the-road verve in an easy manner.

Audi A6: $76,100 - As the only V10-engined car in the group, the S6 stands out. 14mpg in the city would likely hinder its chances, though.

Porsche 911 Carrera: $77,800 - Like it or loathe it, the higher price level would net you a Porsche 911. Few reject the Carrera after driving one.

Jaguar XFR: $80,000 - Barely sneaking in to the group is the supercharged Jag XF. Badged as an XFR, the midsize Jaguar leaps forward with 510 horsepower.

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2010 Lotus Evora By The Numbers

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BMW 128i vs BMW 323i - THE GOOD CAR GUY EXAMINES THE WHYS AND WHY NOTS

Would you pay $500 extra per door to upgrade from a BMW 1-Series to a BMW 3-Series? Some would say that choice is obvious. In Canada, it's a possibility only because of an engine option not available in U.S.-bound 3-Series sedans. BMW's 2.5L inline-six generates 200 horsepower and 180 lb-ft. More importantly, it creates a $6,500-lower MSRP than if the base 3-Series were a 328i as it is south of the border.

However, just because BMW Canada is willing to slot the 2.5L straight-six in to the 3-Series doesn't mean the 1-Series will be similarly kitted out. Indeed, as in America, the basic 1-Series is the 128i with 230 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque, a fairly wicked powerplant capable of chucking the 128i up the road nicely. As a result of losing out on the 123i moniker, there's no $6,500 price drop for the 1-Series and its base price cuddles up nicely with the 323i at $33,900. Yes, that's just $1,000 less than the least expensive 3-Series.

In semi-traditional GoodCarBadCar.net style, let's start a Top 5 - a Double Top 5 - to assist in coming to a conclusion: BMW 128i or BMW 323i, which will it be? An examination of pros and cons begins below.

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE THE BMW 128i

#5 - The 128i is the quicker car. 0-60mph comes up in less than six seconds.

#4 - Youthful exuberance always leads to a coupe.

#3 - Even with more power, the 128i is more fuel efficient than the 323i, but only by a nose in city driving. Each car, with a manual tranny, is rated at 6.9L/100km on the highway.

#2 - Doesn't everybody want the better-looking car? The 128i is more purposeful and more together, although bettering the current 3-Series sedan hasn't been a challenge for anyone.

#1 - It's better to buy the least expensive house on the nicest street in the neighbourhood than the nicest home on the worst street in the neighbourhood.

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE THE BMW 323i

#5 - Everybody, even self-proclaimed BMW haters, has always had a place deep down in their heart that wanted, wants, and will want a BMW 3-Series.

#4 - A basic BMW 323i without sports suspension or supersized wheels is inevitably going to be a smoother-riding machine than a BMW 128i.

#3 - You have friends? Give them their own doors to open.

#2 - Quit acting like there's something wrong with 200 horsepower. The largest-engined non-M 3-Series in 2000 was a 328i with a sufficient 193 horsepower.

#1 - Though slightly more expensive than the BMW 128i, the 323i is less expensive than the Audi A4, Infiniti G37, and Mercedes-Benz C250.

TOP 5 REASONS TO AVOID THE BMW 128i

#5 - You could've had a 3-Series for an extra $20/month or so.

#4 - The 128i should be a lot quicker. But at 3,232 pounds, each of the 230 horses is pushing around some serious heft for such a small car.

#3 - Not the prettiest headlights, are they? No, they're not.

#2 - You'll miss every one of the lost 4.5 cubic feet of passenger space.

#1 - BMW's 323i is just one way to get more car for your money at this price level.

TOP 5 REASONS TO AVOID THE BMW 323i

#5 - Obvious much? Everybody and their dog already has a BMW 3-Series.

#4 - Everybody and their dog already has one of the least attractive cars in the category, a BMW 3-Series.

#3 - 16-inch wheels in a 2010 BMW 3-Series? Haha. Teehee.

#2 - Unless it's de-badged, everyone will know your BMW 323i has less umph than a ho-hum V6 midsize sedan.

#1 - Three-two-three makes it sound like you're driving a mid-90s Mazda compact.

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JENSON BUTTON & LEWIS HAMILTON DRIVE THE MCLAREN MP4-12C

The last two Formula 1 World Champions now drive for the same team, Woking-based McLaren. McLaren, you may recall, is readying its first road car since the McLaren F1 for production. As you would have guessed, benefits of driving for one of the planet's most famous racing outfits include the opportunity to drive the McLaren MP4-12C early on. Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton drive and discuss in the video below.

Here's what you'll learn in the video, apart from the fact that Jenson Button wears expensive sunglasses. Gunmetal grey is a good colour for the McLaren MP4-12C, unless you want to call it matte black. The sound of a McLaren MP4-12C is delicious. Compared with a Formula 1 car, driving a road car on a track is downright boring for a Formula 1 driver.

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J.D. POWER'S 2010 VEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY - BY THE NUMBERS

Facts and figures have been released by J.D. Power & Associates for the company's 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study. The 2010 study actually surveys owners of 2007 model year vehicles regarding problems that arose in the last year.

There are countless issues with traditional reliability/durability/dependability studies like this J.D. Power VDS, not the least of which is its lack of scientific proof. Different car owners will, by nature, define "problem" based on unique expectations. However, the J.D. Power VDS almost operates like a giant word-of-mouth campaign for both problematic and high-quality vehicles, only on a grand scale. This isn't just neighbour to neighbour - it's 52,000 vehicle owners speaking to millions of people at a time.

Too often, automobile quality conversations become so transfixed on the singular issue that other important vehicle traits are ignored. In the case of this year's Vehicle Dependability Study, disregard for the top finisher's more prominent characteristics is unlikely. The highest-ranked brand happens to be the manufacturer of the Porsche Boxster Spyder, the Porsche 911 Turbo, and the Porsche Cayman S. Driving fun, luxury, and durability can apparently be had in united fashion. At least for owners of MY2007 Porsches.

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110 - problems reported for every 100 Porsche vehicles, making Porsche the #1 ranked brand in J.D. Power & Associates 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study

114 - problems reported for every 100 Lincoln vehicles, making Lincoln the #2 ranked brand in J.D. Power & Associates 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study

115 - problems reported for every 100 Buick and Lexus vehicles, the two automakers tied for third in J.D. Power & Associates 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study

52,000 - total vehicle owners surveyed for the 2010 study

255 - problems reported for every 100 Land Rover vehicles, making Land Rover the worst ranked of any brand mentioned in the J.D. Power & Associates 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study

253 - problems reported for every 100 Suzuki vehicles, making Suzuki the second-worst ranked in the J.D. Power 2010 VDS

225 - problems reported for every 100 Volkswagen vehicles, making Volkswagen the third-worst ranked in the J.D. Power 2010 VDS

128 - problems reported for every 100 Toyota vehicles, making 2009's best-selling automaker in the USA the sixth-best in J.D. Power's 2010 VDS

141 - problems reported for every 100 Ford vehicles, making 2009's second-best-selling automaker in the USA the eighth-best in J.D. Power's 2010 VDS

176 - problems reported for every 100 Chevrolet vehicles, making 2009's third-best-selling automaker in the USA the 24th-best in J.D. Power's 2010 VDS

155 - industry average PP100, or problems per 100 vehicles, for MY2007 vehicles studied in the J.D. Power & Associates 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study, a 7% improvement from MY2006 vehicles studied in the J.D. Power 2009 VDS

5 - total American-branded manufacturers with better-than-average PP100 ratings in the J.D. Power 2010 VDS (Lincoln, Buick, Mercury, Ford, and Cadillac)

2 - total European-branded manufacturers with better-than-average PP100 ratings in the J.D. Power 2010 VDS (Porsche and Mercedes-Benz)

6 - total Asian-branded manufacturers with better-than-average PP100 ratings in the J.D. Power 2010 VDS

5 - total Toyota/Lexus vehicles which won their respective categories in the J.D. Power 2010 VDS (Toyota Prius, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Highlander, and Lexus GX470)

7 - total American-branded vehicles which won their respective categories in the J.D. Power 2010 VDS (Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Montego, Cadillac DTS, Lincoln Mark LT, Buick LaCrosse, Ford Freestar, Chevrolet Monte Carlo)

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ASTON MARTIN DESIGN SIMILARITIES SEEN IN PROFILE VIEWS

From an owner's perspective, the five Aston Martins pictured in the Gallery below offer dramatically divergent driving characteristics. Sure, they're all rear-wheel drive. Each comes standard with - or is available with - a V12 engine. Every new Aston Martin is ridiculously quick in comparison with anything this side of a Ferrari 458 Italia. After all, 420 horsepower is a starting point for the range. Indeed, all five Aston Martins are, to the pauper's eye, astonishingly expensive. The "cheapest" model, an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, starts at $120,750 in the U.S.

But it must be pointed out once again, these five products of Aston Martin, thought up at the company's Gaydon HQ, are truly very different cars.

Right?

You've got yourself the supercar, the Aston Martin One-77. Limited production, magnificent power, exotic construction. It's all there. Move on down the ladder to the Aston Martin DBS. A lovely James Bond car if ever there was one, the DBS is a DB9 on steroids; a DB9 gone mental; a DB9 for the GT lover whose inner being yearns for a sports car. Recently, Gaydon HQ has added the Aston Martin Rapide, an upper-crust sedan competitor for the Porsche Panamera, direct competition for the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Except it's not really a sedan at all but a 5-door hatchback. Interesting. Finally, we have the splendid Aston Martin V8 Vantage, V12 Vantage, and DB9. Quite likely the most gorgeous Aston Martins, they're also the oldest models on file.

Yes, so different and yet so similar. The Good Car Guy has complained about the lack of creativity in Aston Martin's production cars before. It all sounds so irrational at first. Isn't gorgeous enough? Why must each car stand out from the fleet? At that time, GoodCarBadCar.net displayed the front end of every Aston Martin, a photographic nightmare for each car, perhaps excepting the audacious One-77.

See, Aston Martin believes its stylists have got the proportions down. Hammer hitting nail on proverbial head, they might say. So, what've they gone and done? Absolutely nothing. Any time you've got this much obvious talent working for your company you've gotta let them run wild.... just a little bit?

Let's use BMW as an example. For decades, BMW's cars were conservatively handsome; uniquely BMW. There was the twin kidney grille, the Hofmeister kink, and rear-wheel drive proportions. It became increasingly clear, however, that every BMW was just an enlarged or shrunken facsimile of other BMWs. In 1998, for instance, a BMW coming your way could've been a 3-Series, 5-Series, or 7-Series and you'd never know the difference until it pulled up beside you on the sidewalk so you could gauge its largesse. BMW went haywire in its search for differentiation - a terrible 7-Series, a horrible 5-Series, a bad X3, and a lame 3-Series - but now that the firm is returning to sanity you're able to see the method in their madness. Criticism was harsh but sales didn't come close to declining. And now there's model differentiation. We have the wonderful BMW Z4, a lovely new BMW 5-Series Touring, and surely more to come.

With all their obvious design talent, couldn't Aston Martin differentiate without disheartening the believers? While it's true that Aston Martin sales aren't in decline; while the vast majority of auto enthusiasts (and non-enthusiasts) would agree on the beauty of Aston Martin automobiles; and while it matters far more what millionaires think than what you and I assume they think, Aston Martin still has a problem.

I'm bored.

I know what the next Aston Martin is going to look like. It's going to look good. Probably really, really good. But I won't care for long. Take one Aston Martin Vantage and enlarge. There you have the Aston Martin DB9. Now lower the DB9 and add a bodykit - that's an Aston Martin DBS. Take the DB9 again and pull the bumpers just enough so a couple more doors will fit. Good, an Aston Martin Rapide. Start with a DBS but make everything more of an Aston Martin caricature. Voila, the Aston Martin One-77.

I'm bored. I'm put to sleep by the release of new Aston Martin images. Something's gotta change.

Profile views of each Aston Martin are in the Gallery below.

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