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Lexus LS 460 LClick to enlarge pictureLexus LS 460 (© Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.) Lexus LS 460
Obviously, $84,125 is hardly bargain pricing for a vehicle, but consider that a Lexus LS 460 L ($70,925) outfitted with the Executive-Class Seating Package ($13,200) gets you most of what you get in the aforementioned Maybach 62 at about one-fifth the price. You have your reclining rear seats (one of them has a footrest) with — ooh, la, la! — lumbar massage; primo leather; a wood-trimmed table; and a cooler for drinks and such.Click to enlarge pictureLexus LS 460 (© Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.)Lexus LS 460An extra $2,080 will upgrade you from the standard 10-speaker stereo to a 19-speaker 450-watt, Mark Levinson surround-sound system.Read: Lexus Targets the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with a Sporty LS 460
Maybach 62Click to enlarge pictureMaybach 62 (© Mercedes-Benz USA) Maybach 62
Oh my! Did we just say "cheap seats?" Not so in the Maybach 62, a $392,750 luxury land yacht for wealthy folks whose time is too valuable for them to drive themselves. Certainly it's hard to find a bad seat in a car where everybody gets Grand Nappa leather, auto-adjusting belts, heated and cooled seats and a 600-watt, 21-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.Click to enlarge pictureMaybach 62 (© Mercedes-Benz USA)Maybach 62But the Maybach 62's luxury amenities definitely have a rear-seat bias. Built into the rear-center console is a compressor-driven refrigerator. Each rear seat has its own folding table surfaced with your favorite lacquered wood. The seats not only recline, but have extendable footrests. The rear passengers have their own sunroof made from electro-dimming glass that turns from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button, and champagne flutes come standard.
Traffic Fatalities Drop to Record LowTraffic deaths on U.S. roads have declined for the fourth straight year.
By the Editors of Consumer Reports Driving Into the Sunset (© Digital Vision/Getty Images)Click to enlarge picture Traffic fatalities in 2009 reached the lowest level since 1954, according to preliminary statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The estimated toll for 2009 fell to 33,963 deaths, a drop of almost 9 percent from 2008's tally of 37,261 deaths.If the final numbers hold true, then 2009 will mark the fourth year in a row of declining traffic deaths on U.S. roads. Total deaths have been reduced even while the number of cars and drivers have increased. Miles traveled has stayed the same. That's demonstrated by significant drops in the fatality rate, which looks at deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The fatality rate itself has also declined for years on end, dropping from 1.46 in 2005 to 1.16 in 2009. Full 2009 fatality statistics will be available this summer.
Fiat chief plans to sell a combined 5.5 to 6 million vehicles by 2014.
By Luca Ciferri of AutoWeekDodge NitroClick to enlarge pictureThe new five-year plan for Fiat is expected to continue selling the Dodge Nitro in Europe, but with a Fiat badge.Alfa Romeo will play a key role in the U.S. market, Jeep will lead the charge in Russia, Chrysler cars will bolster the Lancia lineup in Europe and Dodge crossovers and SUVs will wear the Fiat badge in Europe. Those are key elements of Fiat S.p.A. CEO Sergio Marchionne's new five-year plan for the Italian automaker.The plan won't be unveiled until April 21. But based on earlier announcements and conversations with industry watchers, we've been able to sketch out some likely key elements of the plan.Marchionne already has promised that Fiat Group and Chrysler Group will sell a combined 5.5 million to 6 million vehicles by 2014. He says Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram will account for 2.8 million of the total. This means Fiat's seven brands (Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, Maserati, Fiat Professional) will have to sell 2.7 million to 3.2 million units in 2014 to do their part.Last year, Fiat Group sold 2.3 million units while Chrysler Group sold 1.3 million.
In the wake of concerns over the Lexus GX 460, Toyota is testing all its SUV models for potential problems with lift-throttle oversteer.
By the editors of AutoWeek2010 Lexus GX 460 (© Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.)Click to enlarge pictureIn the wake of concerns over the Lexus GX 460, shown, Toyota is testing all its SUV models for potential problems with lift-throttle oversteer.Toyota Motor Corp. said on Thursday that it will conduct safety tests on all of its SUVs after suspending sales of the Lexus GX 460 following a report of a risk of rollover accidents.Toyota stopped GX 460 sales earlier this week. Consumer Reports, which admitted it has automatically given certain Toyotas "recommended" ratings without ever driving them, warned against buying the GX 460, calling it a potential safety risk in certain corners. Toyota also suspended sales in the Middle East and Russia, the other markets where the GX 460 is sold. Toyota has sold 5,400 2010 GXs in the United States and Canada in the four months it has been on the market, 580 in the Middle East and Russia.
It's more visually appealing than its German peers, and offers dynamic handling, loads of interior room and plenty of power.By Kirk Bell of MSN Autos2011 Jaguar XJ Series (© Jaguar Cars Limited)Click to enlarge pictureJaguar breaks with more than 40 years of tradition by giving the XJ sedan a new styling theme.The XJ sedan has been the stately staple of the Jaguar brand since 1968. Though redesigned several times since it was introduced (the last redesign was for the 2004 model year), the styling of this proper British saloon has always been an evolution of the original, so it has had similar looks for decades. As a result, the car has appeared old to some consumers and has struggled to shed the quality issues Jaguar had before Ford Motor Co. took ownership in 1989. Now owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, Jaguar has given the XJ an all-new look for the 2011 model year. But will it be enough for the XJ to take some sales away from better-selling German competitors?
