Uncovering Aston's New DB9 Convertible and Mercedes' American A-Class; X3 Challenges Porsche's V6 Cayenne; Toyota Finds Fountain of Youth in Scion; Nissan on Top; Another Shake-Up at Chrysler -- and More on TheCarConnection.com

DETROIT, Dec. 1, 2003 -- They're redefining the concepts of both luxury and performance. But which one deserves off-road bragging rights as king-of-the-luxury-ute hill? Check for yourself as TheCarConnection challenges both BMW's new X3 and Porsche's updated, V6 Cayenne.

Then go for a spin in the all-new Chevrolet Aveo. And if small is your thing, get a first good look at the 2005 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which is destined for American dealers barely a year from now. At the other end of the automotive spectrum, TCC uncovers Aston Martin's sleek and sexy DB9 convertible.

If you're looking for extremes, consider the new Vespa City-Mobile: the essence of Italy for $3000. However, if you're desperate for track time, maybe you need Mercedes' new, 617-hp SLR. It'll go from 0-125 in 10.1 seconds, top 200 mph -- and drain $400,000 from your bank account.

With record incentives and manufacturers tossing in all sorts of new standard features, that new vehicle you're eyeing is likely less expensive than ever. At least that's the word in the latest Automotive Affordability Index. But as TheCarConnection discovers, buyers are taking longer than ever to pay their loans off.

Ponce de Leon never found the fountain of youth. But Toyota apparently has. Its new Scion division is scoring big with young buyers and, with a third model on the way, sales are fast on the rise. TheCarConnection has the complete story.

At Chrysler, market share's slipping, kicking off another management shake-up, the top story in this week's business report. Then get an inside look at the dramatic turnaround that's transformed Nissan from the automaker most likely to fail into the industry's most profitable manufacturer.

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