Jaguar S-Type R, the All-New Infiniti G35, Then Gets the Inside Word On the All-New, $200,000 Maybach

DETROIT, March 18 -- Luxury abounds on TheCarConnection.com this week. TCC takes readers for a test drive of the all-new, 400-horsepower Jaguar S-Type R, and asks whether a blend of supercharged performance and an all-new interior will give Jag a new ``halo car.'' Then get behind the wheel of the hip and hot new 2003 Infiniti G35.

DaimlerChrysler's new Maybach sedan will set you back at least $200,000 -- if you don't opt for solid gold switches, reveals Dr. Herman Gaus, the man behind this ultra-luxury brand. In a revealing Q&A, TCC discovers that every Maybach will be custom-made, with the U.S. likely to account for nearly half the Maybach market. Check this week's issue for more of the details.

And if classic luxury is your preference, TheCarConnection visits the annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

They used to say that Iacocca really meant: ``I Am Chairman of Chrysler Corp. Always.'' Well, nearly a decade after finally leaving the number three automaker, Lido wants back in. But so far, Chrysler's German masters have turned a deaf ear. Can Iacocca reverse the sagging fortunes of the company he once ran? Check out TCC's Daily Edition for the latest.

Diesels are dead ... or are they? Ford COO Nick Scheele doesn't think so. And he has a plan to bring them back to America. But will consumers -- and regulators -- go along? You'll find more in this week's issue of TheCarConnection.com.

There are plenty of reviews this week. Along with S-Type and G35, TCC puts the 2003 Suzuki Aerio and the Mazda MPV through their paces. And you'll also find spy shots of the dramatically-updated 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Will it help pump new life into the Heartbeat of America? And TCC also checks out the upcoming, front-drive version of the Jaguar S-Type earmarked for European dealers. Is it really a Jag? And does it have a place in the U.S.?

It's gained a reputation as the independent arbiter of all things that matter to American buyers, but when it comes to cars, is Consumer Reports showing some bias? TCC looks behind the scenes to see.

Mercedes-Benz has begun a fresh onslaught of ads meant to convince car buyers that there is hardly a substitute for a Mercedes-Benz. But are those ads missing the point as concerns mount about slipping quality? TCC takes a look.

Thinking about an upgrade to aftermarket wheels? Are they just flash, or worth the cash? Don't spend your money before reading this week's TCC Tip.

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