Reading an in flight magazine on Alaska Airlines, I came across an article on new car models coming up in 2008. The Mercedes C class is rolling out its major redesign after so many years, Honda Motor’s bread and better Honda Accord is getting a new look for 2008. What else, I hear Audi is coming with a revamped S8. In the luxury segment, I think BMWs 3 series and 5 series just had a new model for 2006, so they are good for couple of years. Lexus is coming out with a hybrid in its LS series called LS 600h.

If I were a buyer today, I would really have a tough time choosing between these models. Many of these cars have been consumer favorites for a long time and baring Honda Accord, most of these are targeting the same market segment (the starter luxury models). Although I am not in the market for a new car, even if I were, I would be hard pressed to make a choice! The ultimate winner is the consumer, and the decision making is set to become more complex as the cost of fuel soars ( crude closed somewhere around $91.50 a barrel last week!). The soaring gasoline prices is making small cars an attractive option, also set to explode is demand for hybrid models. No wonder I see some of my friends proudly riding their green cars- aka the Toyota Prius. As the hybrid technologies become mainstream, initially there is going to be more confusion in the market place including yours truly. So far I have not given any serious thoughts to the hybrids, not a lot of choices there, but as Mercedes , BMW, Acura, Lexus get into the game in a big way, all bets are off. For now, I am not throwing my gas guzzlers just yet! Year 2008-2009 are going to be huge for new models, choices galore for consumers!!

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Reading an in flight magazine on Alaska Airlines, I came across an article on new car models coming up in 2008. The Mercedes C class is rolling out its major redesign after so many years, Honda Motor’s bread and better Honda Accord is getting a new look for 2008. What else, I hear Audi is coming with a revamped S8. In the luxury segment, I think BMWs 3 series and 5 series just had a new model for 2006, so they are good for couple of years. Lexus is coming out with a hybrid in its LS series called LS 600h.

If I were a buyer today, I would really have a tough time choosing between these models. Many of these cars have been consumer favorites for a long time and baring Honda Accord, most of these are targeting the same market segment (the starter luxury models). Although I am not in the market for a new car, even if I were, I would be hard pressed to make a choice! The ultimate winner is the consumer, and the decision making is set to become more complex as the cost of fuel soars ( crude closed somewhere around $91.50 a barrel last week!). The soaring gasoline prices is making small cars an attractive option, also set to explode is demand for hybrid models. No wonder I see some of my friends proudly riding their green cars- aka the Toyota Prius. As the hybrid technologies become mainstream, initially there is going to be more confusion in the market place including yours truly. So far I have not given any serious thoughts to the hybrids, not a lot of choices there, but as Mercedes , BMW, Acura, Lexus get into the game in a big way, all bets are off. For now, I am not throwing my gas guzzlers just yet! Year 2008-2009 are going to be huge for new models, choices galore for consumers!!