Style on wheels

Ever wonder how much James Bond would pay for that Aston Martin he

drives around?

Or, if you’re not exactly the secret-agent type and can more

accurately be described as a “NASCAR Dad,” ever wonder how much it

would cost to get a refrigerator put into the back of your SUV?

South Coast Plaza is offering the chance for people to find out

more about the world of luxury cars with “Luxury by Design,” an event

designed to give consumers a glimpse of what’s on the cutting edge of

stylish automobiles.

“Customers will have the opportunity to see Jaguar race cars, a

vintage Aston Martin, endurance race vehicles from Land Rover and

Concept Lab Volvo, a computer-based interactive design experience

that gives customers a chance to provide input into future product

design,” Susan Svatik of Premier Automotive Group said.

Cars will be showcased throughout the shopping center from

Thursday to Sunday, Oct. 19. There will be product representatives

from each company to answer any questions.

So if you’re dying to be like James Bond and have $231,260 handy,

you can look into the latest Aston Martin has to offer. Or if you

just want to check out some really smokin’ cars, this event’s for

you.

-- Jose J. Santos

GO SPEED RACER

Some of the cars on display at “Luxury by Design” will be Jaguar

Select Edition E-Type racing cars. This particular car, the No. 62

roadster, is a 1961 vehicle that was converted to racing

specifications in 1984. It can accelerate to 60 mph in 4 seconds and

has a top speed of 160 mph. Parts of the racer are made out of

aluminum to reduce the car’s weight to 2,400 pounds. Jaguar offers

these cars to consumers if you’re in the market for a race car.

ON DISPLAY

A list of some vehicles that will be on display at South Coast

Plaza and some of their features.

ASTON MARTIN

Silver Birch DB5

* BOAST: The car first popularized in the James Bond movies, it

was manufactured between 1963 and 1965.

* LAP OF LUXURY: Originally sold for 4,300 pounds, or about $7,160

in today’s U.S. dollar, it can now be sold for $75,000 and as high as

$500,000.

V12 Vanquish

* BOAST: The car driven by Pierce Brosnan in the latest Bond

flick, “Die Another Day.”

* PERFORMANCE: A 6-liter V12 engine with a top speed of 190 mph.

* PRICE RANGE: From $231,260

JAGUAR

2004 Jaguar XJ

* BOAST: Touted by the company as “the most advanced and luxurious

Jaguar ever built.”

* PERFORMANCE: A 4.2-liter V8 engine that can propel the car from

0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds.

* LAP OF LUXURY: Optional LCD multimedia consoles,

three-dimensional navigation systems and a safety-restraint system

“comparable to that of the space shuttle supercomputer,” according to

the company.

* PRICE RANGE: $64,875 to $97,313

2003 Jaguar XK8 / XKR

* BOAST: “Beautifully proportioned with timeless styles, the XK is

guaranteed to turn heads and tempt hearts,” according to the company.

* PERFORMANCE: The XK8 has a 4.2-liter V8 engine that can propel

the car from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The XKR has a 4.2-liter

dual-overhead-cam V8 engine that can propel the car from 0 to 60 mph

in 5.1 seconds.

* LAP OF LUXURY: The XK series contains both coupes and

convertibles.

* PRICE RANGE: $81,000 to $105,308

Four different types of Jaguar racing vehicles will also be on

display.

LAND ROVER

Range Rover

* BOAST: Called “the most capable vehicle in the world” by the

company, the Range Rover is a luxury sport-utility vehicle.

* PERFORMANCE: The Range Rover contains independent front and rear

height-adjustable suspension and a variety of electronic

traction-control systems.

* PRICE RANGE: From $72,250

There will also be a variety of other Land Rover vehicles

including off-road competition vehicles.

VOLVO

XC90 T6 SUV

* BOAST: The car is a highly celebrated sports utility vehicle,

winning 28 different awards including the Motor Trend 2003 SUV of the

Year.

* PERFORMANCE: The vehicle is available with either a 2.9-liter

twin turbo-charged engine or a 2.5-liter turbo-charged engine. It’s

also available in either front-wheel drive or

electronically-controlled all-wheel drive.

* LAP OF LUXURY: Roll stability control, a child’s booster seat

that slides down the middle of the vehicle, inflatable side curtains

for all three rows of seats and a Dolby surround system are all

available for the SUV.

* PRICE RANGE: $39,800 to $44,650

S80 PREMIER SEDAN

* BOAST: Safety is the claim to fame with this vehicle that was

the first to receive a five-star rating in all categories by the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

* LAP OF LUXURY: Orthopedically designed seats, dual screens in

the headrests capable of television, DVD and video-gaming playback

and optional rear-seat refrigerator are available.

* PRICE RANGE: $41,325 to $46,310 Other vehicles will also be on display including a factory

“cut-a-way” car that enables viewers to see the inside-workings of a

Volvo.