High and mighty in lean times

The Japanese have also joined in the rubber-burning assault. After shredding the roads of Europe and Japan for seven years, Subaru's WRX STi and the Mitsubishi Evolution VIII - Evo for short - are finally making it to the US. Neither looks like a traditional sports car, with four doors, and upright cabin, and lots of glass. But both have giant wings on the trunk.

With 271 horsepower, the Evo blasts to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in a scorching 4.8 seconds - faster than a new Porsche. The WRX STi has even more power.

Both of these Japanese entries sport all-wheel drive and back seats. With prices in the low $30,000 range, they'll blow the doors off traditional sports cars that cost twice as much. But they're hardly economy cars.

Mazda also hopes to please sports- car nuts who still have to fit a family with the $27,000 RX-8. This four-door is a reprise of the rotary-engine sports car that first appeared in 1978.

For budget buyers who want exclusivity, Chrysler sells the $38,000 Mercedes-based Crossfire coupe. The sleek, aggressive two-seater is a luxurious alternative to favorites such as the Audi TT.

Even these low-end sports cars are all about image, says Sam Fiorani, an analyst with AutomotiveCompass.com.

Manufacturers are hoping to build so-called "halo" cars, he says, hoping their sporty image will rub off on the rest of their lineups.

"While there are always perennials like the [Porsche] 911, the Corvette, and the Miata, if you're not one of those, you're going to be a flash in the pan. Every [manufacturer] jumps in, then nobody buys them," Mr. Fiorani says.

With so many new sports cars congesting the fast lane, bargains may leap out for consumers. Automobile manufacturers are building all these ultra-high-end cars, because "there's so much competition squeezing their profits in the lower end," says Mr. Hall.

If you're among those of us who think a $100,000 a car ought to come with three bedrooms, 1-1/2 baths, and a yard, take heart. Rising standards for expensive cars are filtering down to make even modest cars much more comfortable.

Not so sure? Just try to find a new car these days without power windows, remote locks, or air conditioning.

For several reasons, 2004 has produced a bumper crop of nicely appointed affordable transportation.

Many of the new models come from General Motors in its various guises. For starters, since GM bought out the assets of defunct Korean carmaker Daewoo, several of its bargain small cars are showing up in Chevrolet and Suzuki showrooms. "The reintroduction of these cars from Daewoo is dramatically expanding the selection in the entry-level market," says Daniel Pund, senior editor of Car and Driver magazine in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Chevrolet Aveo finally replaces the largely unloved Metro as Chevrolet's entry-level import. The egglike little sedan has over 100 horsepower, gets about 34 miles per gallon on the highway, and starts at $9,999.

Two new Suzukis also come from GM's alliance with Daewoo. The Suzuki Forenza and Verona are compact and mid-size sedans, respectively. The sharp looking Forenza offers more luxury features than the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, and starts at about $12,000. The Verona features standard six-cylinder power, offers leather seats, and starts at under $17,000. Both have sheet metal sculpted in Italy, making them near luxury cars (without a luxury nameplate).

The big news at General Motors is the all-new Malibu mid-size sedan based on the same European underpinnings as the upscale Saab 9-3. Starting next year, the Malibu Maxx will arrive with a large hatchback and eventually will offer hybrid-electric propulsion. In the meantime, engine options are a four-cylinder or powerful V6.

Want something bigger? Kia will take a stab at the big-car market with the Amanti. It's bigger than Toyota's luxury Avalon or Buick's LeSabre, according to Motor Trend magazine, and packed with features starting at $22,500.

If Japanese cars are more your speed, consider Toyota's new youth brand, Scion. The xA and xB are tiny, but tall, so they're not too cramped. They offer levels of refinement approaching Lexus quality and start at $13,000 for the tiny xA and $14,000 for the boxier xB.

Industry analysts expect small cars will continue to carry more luxury options in the years ahead.

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