| The sporty car segment of the auto industry has | | | | groundbreaking power and performance. The Ford |
| more to give. From sleek sedans to retro | | | | Mustang is equipped with upgraded suspension, |
| roadsters, the said segment has a wide variety of | | | | bigger stabilizers and a much improved security. |
| options to entice car aficionados. These sporty | | | | The Ford Mustang sold more than 1 million units in |
| cars are priced from a minimum of around | | | | its first 18 months in the market. |
| $16,000 to just over $40,000. | | | | The long list does not end there because an |
| One of the stunning cars on the roads these days | | | | enticing addition is delivered by Volvo. According |
| is the Pontiac Solstice, a roadster introduced at | | | | to enthusiasts, Volvo XC90 epitomizes a classy |
| the 2004 North American International Auto | | | | family vehicle that is as safe as a tank. It is a |
| Show. The car uses the GM Kappa platform | | | | luxury vehicle that offers a long list safety and |
| which it shares with the Opel GT and Saturn Sky. | | | | convenience features. Aside from that Volvo, |
| According to some enthusiasts, driving a Pontiac | | | | made it a lot sportier and futuristic this time. |
| Solstice is like driving a sharpened pencil. This is | | | | The 2007 base model of the vehicle comes with |
| how thrilling the Solstice could be. As a fact, the | | | | a 3.2 liter, inline, six-cylinder engine that delivers |
| car has been a runaway success for Pontiac. In | | | | 235 horsepower, considerably more than the |
| the first 10 days of availability there were already | | | | previously available 2.5-liter, 211-horsepower, |
| 7,000 recorded orders. In addition, before winter | | | | five-cylinder engine. The vehicle also comes with |
| came, 6,000 more orders came in. Last year, the | | | | an even bigger 4.4-liter, 311-horsepower V8 that |
| car was also nominated for the North American | | | | was first introduced in 2005. To boost the |
| Car of the Year award and Design of the Year | | | | performance of the Volvo XC90, the automaker |
| award from the Automobile Journalists Association | | | | enhanced its Volvo power steering pump and |
| of Canada (AJAC). | | | | other auto parts. |
| One of Pontiac Solstice's close rivals is the MX-5 | | | | The Volvo XC90 with the six-cylinder engine |
| Miata from Mazda. The Mazda MX-5 is a roadster | | | | costs $36,830. The vehicle with the V8 engine is |
| famed for its lightweight materials and flexibility. | | | | priced at $47,120 while the Sport version which |
| The car was designed with a conventional | | | | comes with a stiffer suspension and some special |
| front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and | | | | styling cues cost $49,995. Aside from sporty and |
| four-wheel independent double wishbone | | | | futuristic design, another selling point of the vehicle |
| suspension. It comes with an enhanced interior | | | | is safety. It is one of the 13 vehicles that has |
| and a brand new elegance. | | | | been rated a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance |
| When it comes to the futuristic interior in a | | | | Institute for Highway Safety. All versions of the |
| sporty car, the Mitsubishi Eclipse would capture | | | | Volvo XC90 have antilock brakes, an electronic |
| attention. The two-door, four-seat sport compact | | | | rollover prevention system, stability and traction |
| car was named after an 18th century racehorse | | | | control, and every kind of airbag around, including |
| which has won a total of 26 races in its entire | | | | side-curtain airbags covering all three rows of |
| racing career. | | | | seats. |
| The iconic American sports car called the | | | | The upgraded version of the Volvo XC90 is |
| Corvette is Chevrolet's pride entry. For more than | | | | especially made for the younger market. This is |
| 5 decades, Corvettes have combined powerful | | | | the very reason behind the sizzling new |
| engines, simplicity and affordability. The long list of | | | | appearance. According to the Power Information |
| stunning sporty cars also includes the Subaru | | | | Network, a unit of the McGraw-Hill Companies |
| Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Both of | | | | (MHP), the typical buyer of the Volvo XC90 is a |
| the cars received a minor facelift but still manage | | | | relatively youthful 44 years old, 5 years younger |
| to tickle nostalgia. | | | | than the average for the segment and 61.5 per |
| Another great brand in the sporty car segment is | | | | cent of Volvo XC90 buyers are between the |
| Ford having the Mustang as its entry. The | | | | ages of 36 and 55, as opposed to just 52 per |
| automaker's ponies are known for their | | | | cent for the segment. |