PHOTO COMPARISON OF TEN LARGE LUXURY SEDANS

To the human eye, shape trumps detail more often than not. The grandeur of a palace will grab your attention even if the colour of its bricks are not to your liking. The silhouette of a woman's body is most likely going to stop a man in his tracks despite the fact that her eyes are too close together and her nose is too wide. A thick t-bone steak cut by the best butcher in Texas will have you salivating.... right up until you see that it's 45% fat.

Likewise, the profile of a beautful new car, particularly as it passes you at high speed, will hold you spellbound. Maybe you hate twin-kidney grilles or bulbous fenders or angular taillights or oversized wheels, but the initial moment in which you spotted the shape of the vehicle will forever remain etched on your automotive conscience.

Yet automobiles basically come in only a handful of shapes. You have 1-box minivans, 2-box hatchbacks and wagons, 3-box sedans, wedge-like supercars and mid-engine roadsters, and back-on-its-haunches rear-wheel drive performance cars. Or, to be more specific, almost every vehicle's shape could fall under the heading of: Dodge Grand Caravan, Volvo V70, Honda Accord, Lamborghini Gallardo, and Ford Mustang. Agreeing with that analysis doesn't mean you don't see differences - huge differences - between a Chevrolet Corvette and a Nissan 370Z. In fact, if anything, agreeing with that analysis only praises the talent of automotive designers who continue to work with the consistent limitations presented by four wheels, a powerplant, a cabin, and cargo space.

Now look at one vehicle segment, expanded slightly for the purposes of this article, for evidence of designer talent when styling large, high-end 3-box sedans. Because the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide are actually hatchbacks and thus strikingly different in overall shape, they're not appearing in pictures after the jump. But ten other big sedans, including a concept and a heavy-duty whippersnapper from Korea, are shown, all with emphasis on profile. We'll all have unique guttural reactions to certain cars while finding others forgettable and some downright offensive. Deep down, these cars are rivals. However, they're seen competing in a high-dollar arena where personal design preference holds far more weight than financing deals or brake horsepower figures. Click through the jump to decide for yourself.

Audi A8

Bentley Continental Flying Spur

BMW 7-Series

Cadillac Sixteen

Hyundai Equus

Jaguar XJ

Lexus LS

Maserati Quattroporte

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net

Large Luxury Car Sales Stats

2011 Audi A8 Gallery

Low Volume Automaker Sales In The USA - June 2010

Top 10 Most Expensive Sedans In The World

FUEL ECONOMY IN CAR AND DRIVER SEPTEMBER 2010

If you ignored any Car & Driver story relating to Buicks or Japanese Buicks in its September 2010 issue, a Rolls-Royce would've been the most fuel efficient car tested by the magazine. Wow.

Not only did the Rolls-Royce Ghost conquer the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed in a two-pony show, the Ghost did so while achieving a fairly remarkable 20 miles per gallon. This despite weighing 5,535 pounds and generating 563 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 6.6L V12 engine. For perspective, the Audi A8 wasn't as economical in C/D's hands even though it weighed more than a 1,000 pounds less and powered up with four fewer cylinders and way less horsepower. Bravo, Rolls-Royce.

And bravo to you for already noticing that there's a modern Cadillac which, if driven properly, travels only 11 miles for every gallon of premium fuel.

Buick Regal CXL: 22 miles per gallon
Toyota Avalon Limited: 22 miles per gallon
Rolls-Royce Ghost: 20 miles per gallon
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4: 19 miles per gallon
Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet: 17 miles per gallon
Audi A8 4.2: 17 miles per gallon
Ford Mustang GT Convertible: 15 miles per gallon
Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed: 15 miles per gallon
Infiniti QX56: 14 miles per gallon
BMW M3: 14 miles per gallon
Audi RS5: 13 miles per gallon
Cadillac CTS-V Coupe: 11 miles per gallon

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Fuel Economy In Car & Driver November 2010
Fuel Economy In Car And Driver October 2010
Fuel Economy In Car And Driver August 2010
Fuel Economy In Car And Driver July 2010
0-60 In Car And Driver September 2010

LOW VOLUME AUTOMAKER SALES IN THE USA - JUNE 2010

This isn't something GoodCarBadCar.net is able to do every month, but since we're halfway through 2010 and June Sales Stats were available early, here's a rundown of eight low-volume premium automobile manufacturers from June 2010, along with year-to-date U.S. totals through June. Get January's figures here.

-----

#8 - Maybach: 3

Year-to-date: 18

Maybach sales fell in June and are down from 30 at the halfway point of 2009.

#7 - Rolls-Royce: 26

Year-to-date: 156

Rolls sales have fallen slightly this year and were down 1 unit in June, despite having more models on offer than in most moments in history.

#6 - Lamborghini: 27

Year-to-date: 162

Slight declines in both June and year-to-date sales shouldn't be that surprising given Lamborghini's aging lineup.

#5 - Lotus: 55

Year-to-date: 330

Although competing in a significantly lower price bracket than others on this list, Lotus is unable to grab large chunks of the automotive Marketplace which falls to BMW, Porsche, and Audi with far greater frequency.

#4 - Aston Martin: 92

Year-to-date: 552

Chock full of models like ne'er before, Aston Martin has still found a way to post a slight drop in June and year-to-date volume.

#3 - Bentley: 116

Year-to-date: 688

Sales at this old Rolls-Royce partner dipped a bit in June but are up through June 30th of 2010.

#2 - Ferrari: 120

Year-to-date: 720

Try to set aside your envy and replace it with satisfaction that there are 720 more Ferraris on U.S. roads (and in garages) than there were at the end of last year. Sales have slipped a bit from 2009, but not much.

#1 - Maserati: 180

Year-to-date: 912

This Fiat-connected Ferrari ally has put together a 54% increase in 2010 sales. June 2010 was a 58-sale improvement on June 2009, too, thanks to the beautiful Quattroporte and the GranTurismo familia.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net

Low Volume Automaker Sales - January 2010

Top 10 Best-Selling Auto Brands In America - June 2010

Top 10 Best-Selling Luxury Brands In America - June 2010

Premium Sporty Car Sales In The USA - June 2010

Top 10 Most Expensive Sedans In The World

LOW VOLUME AUTOMAKER SALES IN THE USA (JANUARY 2010)

Establish the context first, The Good Car Dad always says. This is the domain of ultra-low volume automakers. For better understanding, take the number 43 into account. That's how many Audi R8s were sold in January in the USA. 67 people bought a Nissan GT-R in January. 503 people took possession of some version of the Porsche 911. (Porsche USA lists 14 unique 911 variants at present).

The best-selling car in America in the first month of 2010 was the Honda Accord. Honda managed to push 20,759 of those. As far as sales of Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce go; their Numbers would be deemed irrelevant if their respective asking prices weren't so high; if their allure wasn't so strong.

And what's Lotus doing in this group, you ask? Supercars, mega-luxury, ultra-luxury, tier two premium, and.... low volume manufacturers fit nicely in this Graph. Low volume means Lotus.

CLICK GRAPH FOR LARGER VIEW

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net

VW USA Cracks Top 1- But How?

Midsize Luxury Sedan Sales, January

Ferrari 458 Italia In Motion

Top 10 Most Expensive Sedans In The World

TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE SEDANS IN THE WORLD

This is not the domain of America's best-selling car, the Toyota Camry. Other high-volume cars like the Honda Accord and Honda Civic or Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Elantra, or even the BMW 3-Series for that matter, won't be priced in this neighbourhood until a few decades of inflation have had their way. No, this is where ultra-premium badges come to play. Fighting above their weight class are a few simpletons from the luxury crowd: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and.... pfft, Porsche. For the most part, automakers represented in the group below are avid promoters of largesse and excess; hedonism and epicureanism; indulgence and opulence.

Two specific cars have been left off this list of the Top 10 Most Expensive Sedans In The World for obvious reasons. The Maybach Landaulet, with its estimated MSRP of $1,380,000, won't be purchased by any sane self-respecting person. It's that ugly. Meanwhile, the Bugatti Galibier 16C, although gorgeous and terribly expensive (likely $1,470,000) is a mite too far from the Marketplace to be included with this bunch of current or near-Future automobiles.

Don't forget about the 5-door capability of two cars in the group below. Perhaps you won't walk in to the country club proclaiming the majesty of your new hatchback, but it's a unique trait nonetheless, one that makes it hard to include the two vehicles in this sedan/saloon list. All prices are in U.S. dollars. Scroll all the way down for the Gallery slideshow.

-----

#10 - PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO: $132,600

She ain't pretty. But on dynamic talent alone, few if any of the other contenders could stay with the Porsche on a racetrack or even a country road. The Panamera's auto start-stop function must be selected each time you set our for a drive but will shut the engine off automatically when you're stopped at traffic lights and then it'll restart the powerplant just as quickly to save fuel.

#9 - MASERATI QUATTROPORTE GT S: $133,700

Competing for the crown of best-looking car in the world, the Quattroporte has no trouble making the majority of expensive sedans look like poorly drawn boats. Quattroporte owners are also able to point out the origins of their car's engine: Ferrari's factory.

#8 - BMW 760Li: $137,000

With its vastly improved exterior design, the biggest BMW is ready to rein in some Mercedes conquest sales. Though Rolls-Royce won't be keen to declare it, BMW sales consultants will readily claim the 7-Series/Ghost connection. 20% of their parts are shared.

#7 - ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE: $199,950

As the supermodel of the sedan world, Aston Martin's Rapide shares plenty with its brethren. From the grille to the overall proportions, the Rapide is undeniably Aston in every way. Even its doors swing up 12 degrees to provide easier ingress while at the same time avoiding scuffs on the curb.

#6 - MERCEDES-BENZ S65 AMG: $201,150

Not that the regular S-Class variants are weak-kneed or technologically lacking, but AMG's alternative to the S400 Hybrid, S550, and S600 adds more expensive metal and software than you can shake a stick at. Plus, there's 738 lb-ft of torque. Reeesult.

#5 - BENTLEY CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR SPEED: $202,500

The most expensive edition of the Flying Spur, Bentley's 4-door Speed requires extra horsepower to carry around plenty of weight and plenty of Breitling timing gear. Flying Spurs are also alone in this ten-strong group, powering forward without a V-shaped engine. Continentals all use a twin-turbocharged W-12.

#4 - ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST: $245,000 (est.)

Restrained styling has resulted in a more attractive Rolls-Royce this time around. The Phantom has presence, but the Ghost seems more... appropriate. What's more, this smaller, "cheaper" Ghost is more powerful than its big brother.

#3 - BENTLEY MULSANNE: $295,000 (est.)

Unveiled in Pebble Beach to rave reviews, the biggest, baddest Bentley resurrects the Mulsanne name after a two-decade hiatus. Each Mulsanne will take approximately nine weeks to build from start-to-finish. Apart from the press cars, it's highly unlikely that any two Mulsannes will be same, not with 114 paint colours and 24 leather hides to choose from.

#2 - MAYBACH 57/62: $366,000-$506,500

Certainly the least desirable and least attractive model on this list, the Maybach family (including the more expensive Landaulet and Zeppelin) has not been a roaring success for Daimler AG. That's not to say the cars themselves won't roar. Indeed, only excessive sound-deadining material hushes the twin-turbo V12.

#1 - ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM: $408,000

Reeking of old money and permeated with modern technology, the Phantom is the image-conscious vehicle choice for the extraordinarily wealthy. Even the mega-rich friends of the extraordinarily wealthy are impressed by the gigantic Rolls. Touches include the tucked-away umbrella in the side panel and the Phantom's power reserve meter which takes the place of a traditional tachometer.

FERRARI, ROLLS-ROYCE & ASTON MARTIN ARE ALL MANUFACTURERS OF SMALL CARS?

In a fight to be seen as both eco-conscious and economically aware, automakers which traditionally sell cars priced in the stratosphere are bringing their badges down to our level.

Aston Martin will be applying its grimacing grille to the front end of the Toyota iQ. They'll call it the Aston Martin Cygnet; they'll lux it up a fair bit; and they'll double the price.

Ferrari, meanwhile, will stick its badges on the 695 Tributo Ferrari, a hopped-up version of the Fiat 500. At least the Fiat 500 695 Tributo Ferrari will be significantly quicker than the regular 500, something that can't be said of the Cygnet.

Finally we have Rolls-Royce. The manufacturer of Phantoms and Drophead Coupes will soon be known as a custom outfitter of Mini Coopers. Mini Rolls will supposedly look just like regular Minis but inside - oh yes, inside - Rolls will have its way with high-end materials. Perhaps an umbrellla in the door, too?

Obviously the connection between Fiat and Ferrari is obvious. Fiat owns 85% of the autonomously-run supercar producer. Mini and Rolls-Royce are both owned by Germany-based BMW. But the Aston Martin/Toyota relationship is a curious one. Regardless, all three of the high-dollar brands will be endlessly criticized for degrading their brand values.

If part of what makes the Ferrari 458 Italia so special is its exclusivity, doesn't a commonplace Fiat 500 Tributo lessen that joy?

Consider the outrageous prices Rolls-Royce clients justify as a result of uncommon leather-lined seating and permanently upright wheelhub badges. Do you really want to pay so much more for the privilege when Mini customers receive some of the same treatments?

Meanwhile Aston Martin isn't simply badging Toyota iQs with logos from Gaydon. No, Aston is changing the whole look of the car. So the same company which builds the V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide, and DBS will sell city cars?

However, there will be an unseemly amount of short term gain. Why else would Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin participate in such a scheme? Businesses are on this planet to generate profits. Peering through the long-term tunnel to see the negative impacts come 2016 is not an easy procedure. In terms of these increasingly common small car ventures, it's a procedure to which certain supercar manufacturers are unwilling to submit.

FUEL ECONOMY IN CAR AND DRIVER NOVEMBER 2009

Every month almost every car tested by Car & Driver isn't just measured for decibels at full throttle or the time required to travel from 50-70mph in top gear. Most cars are also tested for fuel economy. Are the EPA's numbers not trusted? Not exactly. The EPA's numbers are a lot more accurate than they once were; but real-world driving tells a real-world story. 

Check out the same cars below in the 0-60mph test

In the new November issue, pay particular attention to the merits of the good ol' fashioned American V8s of the Corvette and Shelby GT500 Mustang. Although the Mustang accelerates more quickly than Audi's S4; weighs just about as much as the Audi; and puts out an extra 207 horsepower and 185 lb-ft more torque, the Ford V8 returns better economy. And though every car tested this month was particularly hefty and/or wildly sporty, is it not still a wonder that the quickest car was also the most fuel efficient? Head past the jump for details.


Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport: 21 miles per gallon
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI: 21 miles per gallon
Nissan 370Z Roadster Touring: 21 miles per gallon
Jaguar XF S'Charged *: 20 miles per gallon
Ford Shelby GT500: 18 miles per gallon
Maserati Quattroporte S *: 18 miles per gallon
BMW 335i: 18 miles per gallon
Audi S4: 17 miles per gallon
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 3.6 *: 16 miles per gallon
Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe *: 12 miles per gallon


* denotes automatic transmission

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST DEBUTS WITH 48 IMAGES AND SOME SPECS

As the most powerful car in the history of Rolls-Royce, the new 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is bound to attract plenty of attention from the motoring press over the next few days. Smaller and less expensive than the awe-inspiring Phantom, the Ghost generates 563 horsepower by way of a 6.6L V12.

Rolls says the Ghost is designed with "Yacht Lines" in mind. The "elevated prow" is distinctly Rolls-Royce while the overall shape is very Phantom-like. This can't be surprising given BMW's nature to simply upsize the design of each of their own models. BMW, after all, is Rolls-Royce's German owner.

Inside the layout is much more BMW-like than the Phantom could ever be. Though it's doubtful that any visible parts are shared with the 7-Series Bimmer (photo comparo here), the less formal dashboard style could be off-putting to those who have the money to buy a Bentley Continental GT or even the new Bentley Mulsanne.

Don't kid yourself, the interior of this Rolls-Royce Ghost likely provides the kind of ambience only a handful of other cars can attain. And while we've known for a long time that BMW wanted Rolls-Royce to offer a smaller Rolls, its arrival is somehow discomforting. A lesser Rolls-Royce? Is that appropriate?

Appropriate will be one of many adjectives used to describe the financial statement of Rolls-Royce once the Ghost is rolling off the (slow-moving) assembly line in Goodwood. Compared with Toyota Camry sales which reach beyond 400,000 in the United States alone, the hundreds of Rolls-Royce Ghosts sold will seem like tiny drops in a small puddle. When sold at prices between €200,000-€300,000, however, the Ghost will be an earner on par with the Rolls-Royce Phantom that came before. Check out all 48 images of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost below before having a look-see at The Good Car Guy's own Phantom photo.

v

GOODCARBADCAR.net PHOTOGRAPHY III

Last July, The Good Car Guy published eight random photographs of vehicles shot with a GoodCarBadCar-owned Nikon. This time, Fujifilm is the camera of choice, and there are six photos for you to peruse. In hopes of showing the wonders of any vehicle, regardless of price, The Good Car Guy has posted pictures here of a Saturn Ion, Toyota Yaris, Kia Soul, Volkswagen Tiguan, Land Rover Range Rover, and Rolls-Royce Phantom. For more GoodCarBadCar.net photography, click here, here, here, here, and here.

GALLERY - ROLLS ROYCE 200EX CONCEPT - 29 PICTURES

The eventual release of a "smaller" Rolls-Royce has been stirred around as rumour for ages. The purpose of the 200EX you see below was to be "modern, lithe and dynamic", words not normally linked to BMW-owned; Goodwood-based Rolls.

However, the 200EX's wheelbase stretches almost 130 inches. Overall length is more than 17.5 feet. And its still over 5 feet tall. In other words, the 200EX has a wheelbase 6 inches longer than that of the Lincoln Town Car. The Rolls-Royce concept is a few inches taller than the Chrysler 300. Its length is even greater than the unwieldy Cadillac DTS. Put it this way: don't expect the RR4 to be a competitor for the Honda Civic, let alone the Honda Accord... not to mention the largest American cars in series production. Except that of President Obama's Beast. Take note of how many of the angles chosen for the 29-pic Gallery were chosen by Rolls-Royce to make the 200EX look as small as possible.

THE VEHICLES OF WAR - REMEMBRANCE DAY SPECIAL

While people head to memorial ceremonies today in their air-conditioned, leather-lined, MP3-playing, 268-bhp midsize sedans, The Good Car Guy thought some perspective was in order.

Less than three hours before a ceremony at the Grand Parade cenotaph not far from where I live, it dawned on me that, from GoodCarBadCar.net's angle, there was much that was different in the era of my grandfather. Feel as free as you like to remember the terrifying sounds; horrifying immigration stories; the hatred of Kristallnacht; and the wonders of D-Day. But the pictures in this post cause me to wonder, just a little bit, at what the rest of a soldier's time must've been like in the south Pacific or western Europe - if this is what they were forced to drive in. 

The Fox Armoured Car is above to the right. At the top, the Rolls-Royce Armoured Car. The Otter light reconnaissance vehicle and the Universal Carrier are below. Think of that the next time you slide behind the wheelof your 3-Series and head off for the law office. They fought for somethin'.

CNN LOOKS AT 'SLOWDOWN' AMONG SUPERLUXURY AUTOMAKERS

Jim Boulden, a European correspondent for CNN, visited the Paris auto show to talk with quite a number of big shots from big-shot automobile manufacturers. The video embedded below shows brief clips from the following individuals: Stuart McCullough from Bentley talking about the negativity of the current worldwide economic solution; Ulrich Bez from Aston Martin discussing Aston's current success; Stephan Winkelmann from Lamborghini explains Lamborghini's supply-and-demand philosophy; David Archibald from Rolls-Royce tells Boulden about the Rollers's appeal around the globe helping out; and Luca dal Monte from Maserati talks about Maserati's extreme growth and optimism.

ACROSS THE POND SALES STATS

The GoodCarBadCar Numbers typically lets you in on North American sales statistics or interesting figures relative to a car or manufacturer. Today, these Numbers from Across The Pond - or ponds - are simply an amalgam of facts from abroad that may surprise you.

-----

22,000 - sales of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport in Russia during the 2007 calendar year

17,600 - approximate sales of the supercharged version of the LR Range Rover Sport out of the total 22K

35,000,000 - total gallons of fuel saved by the 700,000 BMWs which will be sold in Europe this year with Efficient Dynamics, BMW's system of engine stop-starting and regenerative braking

24,897 - total Porsche sales outside of Germany & North America in the first half of its current fiscal year, a figure that's up 30%

17,000,000 - total cost, in euros, of Porsche's new offices and dealership in Moscow

52,862 - total new Honda sales in China in March, a figure that's 72% higher than March of 2007

16 - percentage increase in SUV sales for the first quarter of the year in Australia

9206 - total new Ford sales in Australia in March of this year, less than half of Toyota's numbers and a couple thousand behind Holden, GM's Aussie outpost

16 - total sales of Rolls-Royces by Abu Dhabi Motors, BMW's importer in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, in September of 2007

890 - square metres of showroom space for Abu Dhabi Motors' new Rolls-Royce showroom in Umm Al Nar to be opened in 2010

LAND OF OWNERSHIP: BRITISH BADGES

Brits still tighten the lugnuts and stitch the leather. The pride is still resident in the United Kingdom. In some ways, so much has changed. Viewed another way, the story hasn't been altered.

Lotus. Aston Martin. Bentley. Rolls-Royce. Rover. Jaguar. Land Rover. These are the most prominent automotive badges that Britain exports in 2008. In most cases, "export" is even the proper terms, as mentioned in line one of this post. The difference now is simply the Indian influence that wasn't present previously.

Interestingly, the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors, held some sway in Britain before. Rover sold its own version of the Tata Indica. Rover and Land Rover are terribly separate now, but use of the term ironic is awfully appropriate.

Rover's pieces are in Chinese hands. Of course, it was British at its beginning and the rights to its name are now in Tata's hands. Yes, it strikes as obvious that a country that was once in British hands now holds not just one, but three of the UK's most famous automotive fixtures. Even Honda (Japan) once held some measure of control over Rover, long before Germany's BMW had complete control and botched the whole shebang. 

Asia and Germany are in quite the battle to dominate the British brand marketplace, come to think of it. Lotus is a member of Proton's little empire. That'd be Proton, the Malaysian manufacturer of the Satria, which has been showcased here on GoodCarBadCar. Land Rover and Jaguar were bought for a tidy sum by a massive Indian conglomerate. Rolls-Royce and Bentley were caught in the midst of a humourous German battle. BMW owns the former (as well as Mini); Volkswagen the latter. Oh, and don't forget that Aston Martin is heavily backed by a group of Kuwaiti investors. 

Where does that leave American involvement? After Ford Motor Company's recent dismissal of Jaguar and Land Rover and last year's dropping of Aston Martin, major American shareholding is considered a thing of the past with equally large British motor companies. General Motors and Lotus? Nope. Not anymore. 

HIGH-END AUTO TIDBITS

Posh Spice, aka Victoria Beckham, a Spice Girl and wife of superstar soccer player David, has a brand new customized Porsche 911. It's white.

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell seriously upstaged his fellow Brit by purchasing a new Bugatti Veyron. Two tone, perhaps? Grey over black? I can't be too sure.

There are 80 Veyrons left to be built, given Volkswagen's original production levels for the hyperluxusupercar. So far, over 130 customers have received their Bugatti, although VW has 220 orders in hand.

O'Gara Coach in SoCal has a true stranglehold on Rolls-Royce sales. 15% of American-bound Rollers are sold by the Beverly Hills dealership. That translates to 6% of the worldwide total at one dealer. 58 Phantoms and Drophead Coupes drove off the O'Gara lot last year. Converted to Toyota, the best U.S. store sells just 1% of the American total and 0.25% of all Toyotas worldwide.

It isn't exactly Modena. Most residents likely haven't heard of Maranello. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has never been considered a hotbed of supercar research and development. But Lamborghini is suing North America Exotic Replica Cars for its use of trademark logos and designs; presumably Lambo-derived. NAERC makes use of a Pontiac Fiero base car although the whole Diablo kit will cost another $59-79,000.

Koenigsegg showed its stunning supercars at the Geneva show. Kristian's most powerful iteration, the Edition, makes 1018 horsepower when powered by ethanol. Fire it up with gasoline and you'll get just 888.

Ratan Tata, the big man behind Tata Motors, (yes, the company that introduced the Nano) sits on the board of Fiat. Yes, Fiat is the Italian conglomerate behind Ferrari. And yes, a report surfaced last week that suggested Tata was going to become a major shareholder in the supercar maker. But Tata is denying that rumour. Tata is finalizing its purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company and is working out the details of distributing Fiat's cars and engines in India. For now, no Ferrari.

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM COUPE

Not any time in the near future will you find a sportier Rolls-Royce than this Phantom Coupe.  The car which many people consider to be the 'best car in the world' forms the basis of every current Rolls-Royce. The Phantom limo, which ought to be the best when you consider its massive price tag, already gave birth to the Phantom Drophead Coupe.  Child number two is the hardcore (ha!) Coupe, pictured here.  

To be true, Rolls-Royce makes no claims of outright raciness of the Coupe, but it's easy to see its shortened length, stiffer dampers, thicker anti-roll bar, and more feelsome steering will lend itself to a more driver-centric approach.  Indeed, is there any coupe on the market that's as pleasant to be driven in as it is to be driven? The parent car presents that option 50/50.  Rolls-Royce's own Ian Cameron described the difference: "For the Coupé design we gave the quintessential Rolls-Royce design a dynamic twist. This adds a sense of drama to the outstanding engineering and drivability that are fundamentals of Rolls-Royce cars. The dynamic drive of the Phantom has always come as a surprise to customers and the Coupé takes it one step further."

The Coupe sticks with the 453-horsepower V12 which will be tasked with setting 5,798 pounds into motion. Rolls-Royce loves to equip its cars with a few show-stopping  details.  Logos in the wheels that permanently stand upright and the Flying Lady's ability to disappear into the hood and the umbrellas hidden alongside the rear seats.  The Coupe furthers this with a starlight headliner that mimics the night sky by using fibreoptics, rear-hinged doors unlike anything on a Lamborghini Murcielago and..... two pieces required to open the rear cargo compartment, the lower of which is strong enough to hold two adults. That is just so Camilla and Charles circa 1970.