What to Drive Under the Xmas Tree; Spy Shots: 2006 Jaguar XK Convertible; Exclusive Preview of Detroit and LA Auto Shows; Test Drive Upgraded Chevrolet SSR -

DETROIT, Dec. 20, 2004 -- Santa's got eight tiny reindeer to carry his load, but this week, TheCarConnection.com has its own, high-horsepower list of cars to park under your Christmas tree for that special loved one. Choose the right car, truck or crossover for a very lucky loved one this holiday season in TCC's Shopper's section.

Then TheCarConnection delivers a special gift to its readers in the form of an exclusive preview of the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show and Detroit's North American International Auto Show. Get a sneak peak at products like the next-generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV, Toyota's V-10, 500-hp supercar, the new Ford Explorer SportTrac, Mercury's Meta One concept, Jeep's Gladiator pickup, the 425-horsepower Chrysler Firepower, Corvette Z06, Saturn's SKY, the new Audi A3 minicompact and many, many more products officially debuting next month.

This week's issue also includes spy shots of the next-generation, 2006 Jaguar XK coupe and convertible, and spy shots of the 2006 remake of Hyundai's Santa Fe.

It will definitely catch your eye. Now, the upgraded Chevrolet SSR will snap your neck back into the seat. See what an extra boost of horsepower does to this quirky sports car/pickup crossover in this week's issue of TheCarConnection.com.

In business news, columnist Jerry Flint looks at some of the industry's halo cars and wonders why they've lost their luster. Chrysler unveils a new generation of four-cylinder engines. And GM's aging pickups could be the automaker's biggest -- and costliest -- problem.

Let OnSite Mechanic solve your service problems. Find Kelley Blue Book pricing and more -- on the Web's Automotive Authority, TheCarConnection.com.

Sign up for TCC's free newsletters, including the award-winning Daily Edition. And check out TheCarConnection's new RSS feed. It's also free -- and easy.

Web users also can access TheCarConnection through the PR Newswire site http://www.prnewswire.com/ .