So why is this car covered up?  Volkswagen decided that the California International Auto Show would be the perfect place to unveil a brand new car.  Sure, when you think of Volkswagen you think of small, economical vehicles like the VW Beetle, but now get ready for a stylish, intelligently designed and pricey luxury car. Executives from VW were on hand to introduce the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton, a vehicle certain to please upscale car buyers who wish to combine the features and comfort of a luxury car with the quality and dependability one would expect from a Volkswagen.

Take your pick of a 4.2-liter V-8 engine (335 hp) or a more substantial 6.0-liter W-12 engine that achieves 420 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The V-8 model has an MSRP of $64,600.  330 Premier Edition Phaetons will be available with the W-12 engine, all will be piano black in color and will list at $79,900, although extras could raise the price tag to nearly $85,000!  I had an opportunity to road test the Phaeton W-12 during the show and I was very impressed by the smooth quiet ride, the luxurious interior and exceptional handling.  The only problem with my test drive was that I was enjoying the car so much, I didn't want to return it!

If a convertible is more to your liking, you'll find plenty of those at the show, as well. Since I was already at the Volkswagen exhibit, I had to check out the new VW Beetle Convertible.  Very nice, but as I continued through the convention center, I was drawn to the sporty Audi TT Roadster.  Tough choice, but between the two I think I prefer the styling of the Audi TT.  Which one do you think I look better in?
 
 

Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

Audi TT Roadster

Are you in the market for a sport utility vehicle?  Well, they just don't make 'em like this anymore!  This was the world's first SUV -- the 1935 Chevy Suburban Carryall.  Just like the sport utility vehicles of today, it combined the features of a station wagon with the utility and performance of a work truck.  While an SUV may not be your best choice if you are concerned about fuel efficiency, they certainly are useful and fun to drive!  Other SUVs at the show that are among my personal favorites are the Hummer H2, the Infiniti FX 45 and the Volkswagen Touareg.

And speaking of the VW Touareg, Motor Trend's Executive Editor, Matt Stone, presented Volkswagen with the Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Award for their innovative, well-designed SUV.  The Touareg is Volkswagen's first SUV and it combines the styling of a luxury car with the merits of an off-road vehicle. Volkswagen expects to sell about 40,000 Touaregs annually in the United States.  Standard features on the Touareg include dual-zone climate control, rain sensing auto-activated windshield wipers, and a 10-speaker premium stereo with CD player.

Hummer H2

Infiniti FX 45

If you are looking for something a little smaller and sportier than an SUV, you may want to consider the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo.  You'll find plenty of power here with a V-10 500 horsepower engine and a top speed of 192 miles per hour!  Hmmm, put that much power together with the bright orange color and you may spend more time on the side of the road chatting with Highway Patrol officers than you spend driving the car.  With a price tag just under $200,000.00, if you can afford the car you can probably afford the speeding tickets too!

If a shiny new Lamborghini is out of your price range, let's take a look at some vehicles that are a little more economical.  The futuristic looking Scion XA 5-Door as shown below has a window sticker price of $14,459 and lists fuel economy at 32 miles per gallon in the city and an impressive 38 miles per gallon on the highway.  Scion is a subsidiary of Toyota.  Chevrolet offers the new Aveo, a product of the joint venture between GM and Daewoo.  With a price range of $9,500 to $13,000, the Aveo will be an economical, fun-to-drive vehicle that will put Chevrolet in the entry-vehicle segment competing with the Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Echo. 
 
 

Scion XA 5-Door

Chevrolet Aveo

Well, the cars look great parked inside the building but now let's see what they can really do. Outside the exhibit hall,  the Skip Barber Volvo Ride and Drive Experience allows guests to maneuver a variety of Volvo automobiles through cone courses with sharp turns and strategically placed road bumps. A trained Instructor from the Skip Barber Driving school demonstrated how to drive the course and then turned the wheel over to me.  The SUV that I was driving was very responsive and handled the course like a champ!  But then again, it could have had something to do with my exceptional driving skills.  After all, I am "The Traffic Guy".
 
 

I'm Ready For The Experience

The Volvo Takes The Bumps Beautifully!