Aston Martin SUV

Aston Martin SUV

Started in 2003, Project Khan is world renowned for taking some of the finest vehicles on the road and customizing them inside and out. Their repository of bespoked vehicles includes Bentleys, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Renault, Ferrari, Aston Martin and more. However, it is the Range Rover Vogue where they made their first mark and where the majority of their customization remains today.

The Project Khan treatment begins with the interior of the vehicle and a complete re-working of the guts of the car. Custom, rare woods, specialty leathers and ultra-premium audio components are installed to envelop the owner in one-of-a-kind luxury every time the step into the car. Headrests are outfitted with active TFT screens and flat satellite dishes are affixed to the roof to provide hundreds of channels of entertainment to passengers.

Under the hood, modded upgrade chips are installed that over-clock the engine and increase the horsepower and performance of the vehicle to well beyond their stock settings. Suspensions are often adjusted or replaced with performance components to help the Rover better accommodate more aggressive driving. Simultaneously, cold air intakes, sports exhaust and other minor engine modifications are added to help make the Range Rover Vogue perform more like a high-end sports car than a luxury SUV.

The Project Khan treatment ends with the exterior and giving each Vogue a one of a kind look and feel. Exterior treatment begins with a stripping of the paint down to the primer level. From here, a customized body kit is attached which modifies the trim level, giving the car a unique look which defines the Khan experience. After the exterior hardware is affixed, custom paint jobs are applied in a series of unique colors offered nowhere else.

Despite the exorbitant costs which is often times double that of the actual vehicle being modified, Project Khan remains one of the largest most successful aftermarket modification companies in the world. When the final product is an original, modded-out Range Rover Vogue that you and only you will ever own, can you really put a price on it?

Learn more about Project Khan at http://www.rangerovervogue.com

Maserati SUV

Maserati SUV

What would say if someone would of walked to you 20 years ago and told you that Porsche would eventually have an SUV in their lineup. You would of laughed that person out of existence--would you not. Well, less than 20 years later Porsche created its first SUV, and for those skeptics out there who said this would never work...Guess who is having the last laugh now!...

Well, here it comes again: Porsche's first sedan ever. The Panamera is the hottest/latest thing in town. Porsche's pedigree to Audi and Volkswagen are eminent in this vehicle, even if the frame is not Audi's or Volkswagen's (as is the case with Porsche's Cayenne SUV; the Cayenne is a replica of the Volkswagen Toureg SUV.), but rather to Porsche's iconic vehicle of old: The 928. Although the 928 was not a sedan, the 989 was (a Porsche concept vehicle which never developed into anything), and the sedan will be based on both: the 928 and the 989....

The Panamera is scheduled to debut in the USA soon as a 2010 model. The Panamera will compete with the likes of: Maserati Quattroporte, Audi S8 (one of its siblings), and the Benz CLS class.

The Panamera will be considered an upscale car in the grandest of things. Most people love Porsche; many people who love Porsche don't like the fact that Porsche has never built a reasonable everyday car (except the Cayenne). The car will be the first in its lineup. People love the idea of Porsche cues in a luxury sedan. Let's face it: the British have always cornered the market on Luxury; the Italians have always cornered the market in exoticness; and Germans have always cater to performance--but rarely exotic...Panamera intends to break that tradition 'big-time.'

The interior/exterior are superb. Just what you'd expect from Porsche. Great looks and great performance are what you'd expect in Porsche's world, so expect nothing short of spectacular in those two departments.

Dimensions are really good. For once never before heard of: almost 16 feet of trunk space in a Porsche--wow! The Panamera is long and wide; width and length are trademarks of great performance....

Safety records are excellent as well. Audi, Volkswagen, and Porsche have always had good test crash results, just what you'd expect from a performance automobile like Porsche.

The car has a powerful 4.8 V8 under its hood which produces 500 Horsepower; this exuberant power train reaches 0-60 in a mere 4 seconds...not surprising.

Three models will debut: 4-door Rear wheel Drive Hatchback starting at $89,000; 4-door All Rear wheel Drive Hatchback 4S for $93,800; and 4-door All wheel Drive Hatchback Turbo starting at a mere $132,000.

Lotus SUV

Lotus SUV

When people pictured the future in the '80s and '90s, they imagined flying cars and nuclear-powered vehicles. Well in 2010, the cars aren't going to fly and won't run on nuclear power, but they will be quiet. The electric car has finally arrived in 2010, and the car companies that embrace it will be wildly successful. Although the Toyota Prius is now the king of electric cars, getting 50 miles per gallon, the Prius is just a hybrid and was the first step to get the public ready for an all electric car.

Tesla leads the way in cutting edge electric car technology.
Tesla is on the cutting edge of electric car production and developed a sports car named the Tesla Roadster. Although the price is a prohibitive at $109,000, the Tesla Roadster has a national spokesman and supporter in late night talk show host David Letterman. Letterman was one of the first owners of the Tesla Roadster and isn't shy about heaping praise on the car and the Tesla company. The Tesla Roadster gets 240 miles per charge and doesn't lack in the performance department either.

The Tesla Roadster does not have an internal combustion engine and produces no emissions. The Tesla Roadster has a lithium ion battery and can be charged with electricity in the driver's home. There is also an optional Mobile Connector which allows you to charge from any available 110v or 220v electrical outlet. One issue that will be addressed in the near future is getting more and more local fast food restaurants and grocery stores to feature recharging stations for electric vehicles.

The Tesla Roadster is a sleek looking sports car that features style as well as a sports car feel. To see the car on the street the average person would never know the car is electric. The Tesla Roadster is designed off of the Lotus Elise sports car view the Tesla Roadster here. The vehicle can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 3.7 seconds.

Tesla Model S will be the most affordable and most popular electric car of 2010.
The Tesla Model S will break the mold of the small cramped electric car. The Tesla Model S will have a range of 300 miles per charge and will feature a quick charge battery, that can be charged in 45 minutes. From a performance stand point the Tesla Model S can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 5.6 seconds.

The Tesla S will also feature a comfortable interior that can seat up to seven passengers and an "infotainment system." The car also will have a large cargo space and will break the mold of the electric cars golf cart image.
Selling for between $55,000 and $60,000, the Tesla Model S will be the first large scale production electric car ever. By the end of 2010 they could be a common site around major cities across the country. When purchasing an electric car, like the Tesla, consumers will receive a $7500 tax credit which is not figured into the price.

Nissan Leaf is behind the curve as far as electric technology goes.
The Nissan Leaf is not going to make many waves in the electric car market in 2010. A little effort is better than no effort and this is a car designed with little thought towards the future. The Nissan Leaf will get 100 miles per charge and is larger than the old standard electric cars. the car will seat five passengers but the main problem that is hard to ignore is the range of the vehicle. 100 miles per charge will get monotonous and is already out dated before it hits the market.

The Leaf accelerates like a V-6 powered vehicle and is capable of speeds up to 90 MPH. Although Nissan has not put a price tag on the Leaf they are saying that the car will be priced like a normal family sedan. It is a first step in the process of electric cars and Nissan is at least getting in the game. If they are smart they are developing a new electric that performs in the 300 mile range.

E Mini Cooper by BMW gets mini performance at 150 miles per charge.
The E Mini Cooper is identical to it's gas breathing brother only it is 100% electric. Consumers that love the Mini Cooper will no doubt love this car. The car comes available with a price tag estimated to be $35,000 and will have a "quick charge" of three hours.

As a performer the E Mini Cooper has the capability of reaching 95 miles per hour, and can do 0-60 in 8.4seconds. The car will be a two seater as the battery pack will be in the back seat. From a comfort stand point the E Mini Cooper is as uncomfortable as it's gas powered brother. It is a nice first attempt by BMW and maybe we will see an SUV in the near future using the same technology.

Ford Focus BEV, Ford's electric effort stars on the Jay Leno Show.
The Ford Focus BEV is an electric version of the focus and is already a star even though it hasn't officially hit the streets yet. The now ill fated Jay Leno show was featuring the Ford Focus Electric car on it's track outside it's studios. A host of celebrities took turns, driving around a closed course as a comedy bit for the show titled "The Green Car Challenge."

The Ford Focus BEV version will feature a 141 horsepower engine but does not disclose how long the vehicle will hold a charge or whether the vehicle have a quick charge option. To view the Ford press release on the Focus Electric car, click here.

One thing is definite for 2010, the electric car can become a major seller, if it is marketed right and the American public can get from point A to Point B without many issues. The next issue will be to ween the American public off of their dependence of foreign oil. The electricity generated for the new electric cars will need to be generated by solar and wind aided electricity. One step at a time though, the first step in 2010 with the impending full scale production of electric cars is exciting.

Bentley SUV

Bentley SUV

Statistical Facts:

• Rollover crashes kill one of every four people who die in automobile accidents (1).

• Rollovers tend to occur when a vehicle runs off a road and turns over at least on its side (1).

• Sport-utility vehicles account for 17 of the 20 vehicles with the greatest risk of rollover (1).

• Three SUVs, the Chevrolet Tracker, the Suzuki Vitara and the Toyota RAV4 are most likely to roll over in more than four of every 10 accidents (1).

• The least likely SUV to roll over is the Ford Excursion (1).

• The vehicles that are least likely to turn over are the Bentley and Rolls-Royce, possessing a 1% chance of rolling over in accidents (1).

• Minivans can be expected to roll over 10% to 17.9% of the time in an accident (1).

• The 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has the greatest chance of roll over out of SUVs in a single vehicle crash at 34%. The 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe 4-DR and the 2005 GMC Yukon 4-DR have a 28% chance of rollover in a single vehicle crash (2).

• The 2005 Chrysler Pacifica 4-DR wSAB and the 2005 Ford Freestyle 5-DR have the smallest chance of rollover out of SUVs in a single vehicle crash at 13% (2).

• The 2005 Ford Ranger 2-Dr, the 2005 Ford Ranger

Extended Cab, the 2005 Mazda B-Series Extended Cab and the 2005 Mazda B-Series 2-DR have the greatest chance of rollover out of pickups in a single vehicle crash at 30% (2).

• The 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2-DR, the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 4-DR, the 2005 GMC Sierra 2-DR, and the 2005 GMC Sierra 4-Dr have the smallest chance of rollover out of pickups in a single vehicle crash at 15% (2).

• The 2005 Ford E-150 has the greatest chance of rollover out of vans in a single vehicle crash at 29% (2).

• The 2005 Nissan Quest Van w SAB has the smallest chance of rollover out of vans in a single vehicle crash at 12% (2).

• The 2005 Pontiac Vibe 4-DR, the 2005 Subaru Forester 4-DR wSAB, the 2005 Toyota Matrix 4-DR, and the 2005 Toyota Scion xA 4-DR Hatchback have the greatest chance of rollover out of passenger cars in a single vehicle crash at 15% (2).

• The 2005 Mazda MiataMx-5 Convertible and the 2005 Mazda RX-8 4-DR wSAB have the smallest chance of rollover out of passenger cars in a single vehicle crash at 7% (2).

• There are nearly 2 million injury-causing automobile crashes each year (3).

• The majority of injury-causing automobile crashes are either frontal or side crashes (3).

• More than 10,000 people die each year in rollover crashes (3).

• Safety belts can reduce the chance of being killed in a rollover by 75 percent (3).

• The purpose of safety belts is to keep a person inside of a vehicle and reduce the risk of hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield (3).

• The Anti-lock Brake System prevents the wheels of a vehicle from locking, enabling the driver to have greater steering control (3).

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps allow drivers to control their vehicles during extreme steering maneuvers (3).

• A tire is severely underinflated if its pressure is 25 percent below the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire inflation pressure (3).

• Frontal air bags do not eliminate the need for safety belts and typically do not offer protection for rollovers, side-impact, or rear-end crashes (3).

• More than 5,000 people are killed each year in large truck-related crashes (4).

• More than 110,000 people are injured in large truck-related crashes each year (4).

• Fatalities among motorcycle riders have increased by more than 89% since 1997 (5).

• Motorcyclists are about 21 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash and four times as likely to be injured (5).

• Motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of death by 29% and are 67% effective in preventing brain injuries for motorcycle riders (5).

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Americans ages two to 33 (6).

• 117 people are killed daily in motor vehicle crashes (6).

• Over 500 children under the age of four, 487 children between the ages of four to seven and more than 1,600 children ages eight to fifteen were killed in motor vehicle crashes (6).

• Occupant rollover deaths accounted for 10,553 fatalities in 2006 (6).

• SUV rollover deaths increased by nearly ten percent between 2005 and 2006 (6).

• Motorcycle deaths have increased by 89% since 1997 and by 8% since 2005 (6).

• More than half of those killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2004 were not protected by a seat belt (6).

• Motor vehicle crashes cost an estimated £230 billion annually in property and productivity loss, medical and emergency bills and other related costs (6).

• Every American effectively pays a crash tax of £792 each year to cover the cost of motor vehicle crashes (6).

• Seat belts are credited with preventing 11,900 deaths and 325,00 serious injuries annually (6).

• 55% of passengers who were killed in automobile accidents were not wearing seat belts (6).

• The use of belt-positioning booster seats lowers the risk of injury to children in crashes by 59% compared to the use of vehicle seat belts (6).

• In over 5,000 child passenger deaths more than 60% of the children who were killed were riding in the car driven by an impaired driver (6).

Cited Sources:

1. Stoller, Gary (2000). Formula Predicts Rollover Risk. Retrieved on May 18, 2006 from http:www.autosafety.orgarticle.php?did=779&scid=175

2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2005). Model Year 2005 Rollover Ratings. Retrieved May 18, 2006 from http:www.nhtsa.dot.govcarstestingNCAPRollRatings2.cfm

3. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2006). Buying a Safer Car. Retrieved on May 18, 2006 from http:www.nhtsa.dot.govcarstestingNCAPBASC2006index.htm

4. Public Citizen. (February 2006). Trucker Hours-of-Service Rule Creates Hazard, Allows Drivers on Road for Too Many Hours, Safety Groups and Teamsters Tell Court. Retrieved on May 18, 2006 from http:www.saferoads.orgpresspress2006HOSpressrelease022706.pdf

5. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. (2005). Fact Sheet: Motorcycle Helmets. Retrieved on May 18, 2006 from http:www.saferoads.orgissuesfs-helmets.htm

6. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. (2006). 2006 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws. Retrieved on May 18, 2006 from http:www.saferoads.orgRoadmap2006.pdf

Lamborghini SUV

Lamborghini SUV

Vehicle sales have been
down in just about all
segments of the industry.
Further pressure may well
be provided by Tata Motors
that is nearing the introduction
of the Nano - a five passenger
car that is reported to cost
about $2,000.

To read my previous San
Francesco Examiner article
on the Nano visit: Nano by
Tata Motors. Will the Nano
mean trouble for the other
automakers? And what
about the exclusive end of
the automotive universe?

As you know, Porsche is being
taken over by Volkswagen.
Porsche's former boss,Wendelin

Wiedeking, is out and the new man, Michael Macht, has been the company's CEO
since July, 2009.

Regarding the automaker's future sales, Macht believes that Porsche can
sell 150,000 cars per year in the mid to long-term but that new models will be
needed to obtain such sales. Regarding the situation, Macht clarifies: "But we
won't achieve this with the four models that are existing today. Otherwise, we
would have to significantly increase the number of cars of our current models.
and then we would not be exclusive anymore. Therefore we have to think about
new vehicles." Porsche's present vehicle lineup includes the 911 sports coupe,
the Boxster convertible, the Cayman hardtop, the 4-door Cayenne SUV, and
the 4-door Panamera luxury sedan.

Porsche sales reportedly dropped 24 percent to about 75,000 vehicles in the
past fiscal year ending July 2009. The automaker is reported to be vigorously
working on an all-electric powered sports car. However, Macht admits that it
will take some time for such an offering to have the required driving range and
handling equal to the petrol engined sports car. Thus, it might be five or even
10 years before an all-electric Porsche is available!

Concerning Porsche and Volkswagen, Macht says that he is for integration
rather than confrontation. Will Porsche become 'integrated' with Volkswagen
to such an extent that future Porsches are not viewed by enthusiasts as 'Porsches?'

And what about some of the other exclusive automotive names - Ferrari,
Maserati, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Mercedes and the others? It is my opinion
that the marquee automakers need to be committed to remaining exclusive or
risk ending up in murky automotive waters. Ferrari is remaining exclusive
and getting better! What happens to those that are not sure about really being
exclusive remains to be seen.

As with everything in the automotive industry, we will need to keep a real
eye on it!

Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the Best for the Price..." He
welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site:
www.DriveTheBestBook.com.