| The sporty car segment of the auto industry | | | | Ford Mustang is equipped with upgraded |
| has more to give. From sleek sedans to retro | | | | suspension, bigger stabilizers and a much |
| roadsters, the said segment has a wide | | | | improved security. The Ford Mustang sold more |
| variety of options to entice car aficionados. | | | | than 1 million units in its first 18 months |
| These sporty cars are priced from a minimum | | | | in the market. |
| of around $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 | | | | enticing addition is delivered by Volvo. |
| days is the Pontiac Solstice, a roadster | | | | According to enthusiasts, Volvo XC90 |
| introduced at the 2004 North American | | | | epitomizes a classy family vehicle that is as |
| International Auto Show. The car uses the GM | | | | safe as a tank. It is a luxury vehicle that |
| Kappa platform which it shares with the Opel | | | | offers a long list safety and convenience |
| GT and Saturn Sky. According to some | | | | features. Aside from that Volvo, made it a |
| enthusiasts, driving a Pontiac Solstice is | | | | lot sportier and futuristic this time. |
| like driving a sharpened pencil. This is how | | | | |
| thrilling the Solstice could be. As a fact, | | | | The 2007 base model of the vehicle comes with |
| the car has been a runaway success for | | | | a 3.2 liter, inline, six-cylinder engine that |
| Pontiac. In the first 10 days of availability | | | | delivers 235 horsepower, considerably more |
| there were already 7,000 recorded orders. In | | | | than the previously available 2.5-liter, |
| addition, before winter came, 6,000 more | | | | 211-horsepower, five-cylinder engine. The |
| orders came in. Last year, the car was also | | | | vehicle also comes with an even bigger |
| nominated for the North American Car of the | | | | 4.4-liter, 311-horsepower V8 that was first |
| Year award and Design of the Year award from | | | | introduced in 2005. To boost the performance |
| the Automobile Journalists Association of | | | | of the Volvo XC90, the automaker enhanced its |
| Canada (AJAC). | | | | Volvo power steering pump and other auto |
| | | | parts. |
| One of Pontiac Solstice's close rivals is the | | | | |
| MX-5 Miata from Mazda. The Mazda MX-5 is a | | | | The Volvo XC90 with the six-cylinder engine |
| roadster famed for its lightweight materials | | | | costs $36,830. The vehicle with the V8 engine |
| and flexibility. The car was designed with a | | | | is priced at $47,120 while the Sport version |
| conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive | | | | which comes with a stiffer suspension and |
| layout and four-wheel independent double | | | | some special styling cues cost $49,995. Aside |
| wishbone suspension. It comes with an | | | | from sporty and futuristic design, another |
| enhanced interior and a brand new elegance. | | | | selling point of the vehicle is safety. It is |
| | | | one of the 13 vehicles that has been rated a |
| When it comes to the futuristic interior in a | | | | "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute |
| sporty car, the Mitsubishi Eclipse would | | | | for Highway Safety. All versions of the Volvo |
| capture attention. The two-door, four-seat | | | | XC90 have antilock brakes, an electronic |
| sport compact car was named after an 18th | | | | rollover prevention system, stability and |
| century racehorse which has won a total of 26 | | | | traction control, and every kind of airbag |
| races in its entire racing career. | | | | around, including side-curtain airbags |
| | | | covering all three rows of seats. |
| The iconic American sports car called the | | | | |
| Corvette is Chevrolet's pride entry. For more | | | | The upgraded version of the Volvo XC90 is |
| than 5 decades, Corvettes have combined | | | | especially made for the younger market. This |
| powerful engines, simplicity and | | | | is the very reason behind the sizzling new |
| affordability. The long list of stunning | | | | appearance. According to the Power |
| sporty cars also includes the Subaru Impreza | | | | Information Network, a unit of the |
| and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Both of the | | | | McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP), the typical |
| cars received a minor facelift but still | | | | buyer of the Volvo XC90 is a relatively |
| manage to tickle nostalgia. | | | | youthful 44 years old, 5 years younger than |
| | | | the average for the segment and 61.5 per cent |
| Another great brand in the sporty car segment | | | | of Volvo XC90 buyers are between the ages of |
| is Ford having the Mustang as its entry. The | | | | 36 and 55, as opposed to just 52 per cent for |
| automaker's ponies are known for their | | | | the segment. |
| groundbreaking power and performance. The | | | | |