If you think that US has everything that you want then you are in for a surprise because not everything especially when it comes to car can be found in the land of milk and honey.

Forbes.com has released its list of the top ten cars that you won?t find in the US. And here is the list:

? Alfa Romeo Spider V6 model with high-quality Alfa Romeo catalytic converter and costing $46,377 introduced in the 1967 movie The Graduate has stayed in the US market until 1995. It was taken out of the market by Fiat S.p.A due to poor quality and financial problems.

? Aston Martin Vanquish S which cost about $360,000 was last offered in the US market after its 2006 model year. The Vanquish S is Astion Martin?s faster-ever, street-legal car with a hand-build 6.0 liter V12 engine that produces 520 hp of power.

? Audi S3 cost about $39,700 is a high performance version of the A3 which is available in the US. The S3 has 265hp, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. Its only drawback is its styling which consist of boxy two-door and a hatchback which is not a popular body style in the US.

? BMW 1 Series with price around $30,000 was introduced as a four-door hatchback 1 Series in the fall of 2004 unfortunately not for US market.

? Citroen C6 costing around $54,000 is a flagship sedan and has 3.0 liter, 215hp V6 gasoline engine or a choice of two diesels.

? Fiat 500 priced at $14,000?beautiful and small—launched as the latest generation of the 500 minicar last July 4. in Europe engine choices range from 69hp to 100 hp.

? Smart Fortwo is priced under $12,000. Mercedes launched smart in Europe in the year 1998 and will be made available in the US in early part of 2008.

? Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with estimated US price of around $35,000. The high performance Evo was last offered in the US for the 2006 model year. And Mitsubishi will revive it in early part of 2008. Features include: all-wheel-drive and lightweight, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, with an aluminum cylinder block.

? Nissan Skyline with price at around $25,000 is not available in the US but some drifters in Southern California have bought used Japanese-market Skylines and paid to have them converted to meet US regulations.

? Peugeot 4007 unfortunately pricing is not available. This model has bailed out of the US market in the year 1991 and according to the statement found on its official web site its has no plans of returning.

Chrysler part of the used to be Detroit?s Big Three and producer of American Motors catalytic converter is now down to being the fourth-largest US automaker. And just recently it has announced that it is dropping its plans for a new Imperial luxury sedan due to the rising gasoline prices and tougher fuel-economy regulations.

It can be noted that the Senate has passed a bill last month calling for automakers to raise their average fuel mileage to at least 35 miles a gallon by 2020 the same proposal in the House would also hold manufacturers to the same standard by 2018.

Chrysler?s executives have made the decision within the past few weeks according to the automaker?s spokesman Ed Saenz. The Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker has unveiled its Imperial two years ago and has scheduled the production to start in 2009 in Brampton, Ontario.

Saenz said, “There was no business case for us to bring it to the market. We will continue to look for a future product for the plant.” He also added that the decision has put $597 million of investment in the factory on hold but will not affect any of the plant?s 3,500 jobs.

Chrysler will be investing $3 billion in order to produce more fuel-efficient engines and other powertrain components. It is no secret that the automaker has been badly hurt by its reliance on pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles and minivans that are continuously losing sales as US gasoline prices soared nearly to $3 a gallon. Another reason for Chrysler?s decision to divert its production target is the fact that the US Congress is also considering an increase in fuel-efficiency standards.

Tom Libby, an analyst at marketing-research firm J.D. Power & Associates in Westlake Village, California said, “It makes sense not to build a high-end, lower-volume car when the direction of the market is moving toward smaller vehicles. If there is a hole left in Chrysler’s product lineup without the Imperial, it’s a not a hole in the growing part of the market.”

Chrysler has also planned to pull the production of a new vehicle from the Brampton plant if the Canadian Auto Workers didn?t agree to give up a wage premium of about C$125 a week. The union has initially rejected the pay provision but then changed its decision last March 11 giving way for the planned investment.

Chrysler is being sold by parent DaimlerChrysler AG to Cerberus Capital Management LP which is purchasing 80.1 percent stake in Chrysler in an agreement that includes a $7.4 billion investment and will be completed this quarter.

It was the Windsor Star in Windsor, Ontario that reported the change in plan of Chrysler which is not to go on with the production of the Imperial.

Volvo cars is continuously advancing its position as it tries to meet up with its commitment to sustainable mobility, investing considerably in environmental technology over the years. Volvo is also going to open a new hybrid technology center in G

Hyundai SA has added a three-door, 1.6-litre hatchback ? the Sporty one – to its already established line-up of 2007 Accent models with a long array of features.

According to the South Korean car maker, the Sporty Hatch?s power train, chassis and suspension have been optimized towards “responsive, fuel-efficient performance, well-balanced handling and top-notch ride comfort” while sticking with the company’s three-year or 100 000km warranty and augmenting a two-year or 45 000km service plan.

Stanley Anderson, Hyundai SA’s Marketing Director said that the Accent sedan has been a very successful model because since its launch in July 2006, the car has received enthuse reviews and their sales have reflected that, particularly when it got a nomination as a Guild of Motoring Journalists’ car of the year finalist in 2006.

The director also said that the hatch is an excellent addition to the Accent family. It appeals quite a different type of buyer in the Accent segment, according to him, because it is all about an individual lifestyle and owning a vehicle that compliments that lifestyle.

The car maker perceives the hatch?s styling as similar to that of the sedan. The difference is that it has a nose that emphasizes a potential for fast-paced efficiency and its defined haunches are adding to its athletic aura.

Low in the front bumper, the twin recessed fog lights have been fitted. Other than that, the car comes with larger than usual 16″ alloy rims shod with 205/45 low-profile tires.

An MP3-compatible audio system and air-conditioning, rear seats that be folded in a 60:40 split and the driver’s seat that can be adjusted for height, reach and rake are located in the fascia’s centre stack. Standard features include power-assisted and speed-sensitive steering, height-adjustable head restraints and seat belts, front and rear cup holders as well as a remote release for the fuel lid.

A four-cylinder, 1.6-litre, DOHC unit with continuously variable valve timing ? engine that is the same as that in the sedan – is in the Sporty hatch. It has assured 82kW at 6000rpm and peak torque of 145Nm. However, as regards toxicity emissions, the Hyundai catalytic converter was not detailed. But we can expect a good one for this additional model in the range.

Anderson continued that the engine was designed and developed by Hyundai and is claimed to be tough and a technologically advanced unit with a bold, cast-iron block and aluminum cylinder head. Part of the package is a five-speed manual gearbox.

Anti-lock and electronic pressure distribution is present in the front disc and rear drum brakes. There is also a transponder immobilizer, remote control for the door locks and a full-sized spare wheel.

Mitsubishi Group of Companies has reinvented its Adelaide-built 380 sedan by introducing a Series III with high value but low price strategy.

As the Japanese car maker tries to keep the Tonsley Park plant continuously building cars, Mitsubishi has decided to go for the throat in pricing the large sedan against its six-cylinder rivals particularly Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Toyota Aurion.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia president Robert McEniry recently said they believe that with the metamorphosis of the product line-up, the 380 Series III, is now, more than ever, the best vehicle for Australian families.

Despite for this year?s high demand for Mitsubishi’s imported product, sales of the 380 have dropped 18 per cent as it targets to sell 1000 unites per month. This just goes to snow that the new Series III is very important to the Tonsley Park plant’s immediate future.

Though not really stated, we must expect that to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion engine, Mitsubishi has equipped the 380 with an improved Mitsubishi catalytic converter.

The 380 features a refreshing interior, external design enhancements, specification upgrade and realignment of model variants.

Throughout the range, a 3.8-litre V6 engine giving 175kW power is still standard. Majority of the versions have a five-speed automatic with sports mode sequential shift and some are also available with a five-speed manual gearbox.

Standard equipments on all 380 models are dual front and side airbags, ABS anti-skid brakes, automatic climate control air conditioning and heating, power windows, cruise control and power-adjustable driver’s seat.

A new sports front bumper, fog lamps, alloy wheels and traction control are the features of the entry-level ES, which costs $28,990 for manual and $30,990 for automatic.

And to spur the launch of the Series III, Mitsubishi is offering an extra package. It includes the ?ES Sports? which adds rear wing, larger (17in diameter) alloy wheels, upgraded sports suspension, sunroof and Bluetooth phone connectivity, with no addition to its $28,990 price.

Glass’s Guide exhibits the entry-level Commodore at $34,490 for four-speed auto, the Falcon manual at $34,990 and the Aurion also at $34,990 for six-speed auto.

A 380 GTL is added to the Mitsubishi range. It is a luxury version of the GT model with leather interior and sunroof and priced at $44,990.

Mr. McEniry said that over the past 18 months, the customer satisfaction level of 380 buyers had increased and it is helped by its fuel economy. According to him, production rates of the 380 at the Tonsley Park plant made it “a more than sustainable business model” and it was planned that the plant would maintain making the 380 until 2011 wherein time future models would have been considered.

Watch out for the Mitsubishi 380 Series III cars as they go on sale from July 29.

Daily Vil

In the United States, the call for more eco-friendly vehicles is being led by the state of California. Under the administration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state has become the toughest when it comes to emission standards. Although always in conflict with Detroit?s automakers, the Governor has proven that tougher emission standards is the way to go to cut the increasing threat of global warming.

In Canada, more specifically in Ontario, Premier Dalton McGuinty has taken a different approach. Last month, the Premier announced that the auto sector will be given a subsidy by the government. This announcement though was faced with criticism.

The Toronto Star reported that McGuinty?s action is not the right thing to do in the face of the current environmental challenges. The reason for this is that although the subsidy would help keep assembly facilities open, it will not do much in reducing emission from cars assembled by automakers.

Last month, McGuinty announced that $650 million will be given to automakers as subsidy. This allotment is aimed to help automakers develop green cars like hybrid vehicles for the Canadian auto market.

Aside from California, Quebec and the British Columbia has taken the route of passing tougher emission standards as well as 13 other states in the United States. According to experts, having tougher emission standards would mean that automakers will be forced to come up with eco-friendly vehicles.

It has been pointed out that only the Big Three are complaining of the emission standards. Asian automakers like Toyota, Nissan and Honda are coming out with vehicles with exemplary fuel efficiency. The Big Three claims though that by developing greener cars, they would also be forced to close down plants across North America.

This apparent whining though from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler is frowned at by many. The Star reported that this ploy was also used by these automakers in the past. When catalytic converters are made mandatory for automakers in the 1970s, General Motors? vice president Earnest Starkman said that it could lead to ?complete stoppage of the entire production could occur, with the obvious tremendous loss to the company, shareholders, employees, suppliers, and communities,? reported The Star.

But today, when catalytic converters are mandatory for vehicles, the assumption by General Motors was proven to be untrue. In fact, catalytic converters like those at Catalytic Converter Canada have made automobiles more eco-friendly than they are in the past. If the United States government gave in to the whining of the automakers in the past, the threat of global warming will have been more serious today.

Aside from cutting down emission from vehicles in North America considerably, passing harsher emission standard can also lead to advancement of vehicle technology for American automakers. With the Japanese automakers having the upper hand in the manufacturing of fuel-efficient vehicles, the Big Three are in danger of falling more behind.

Instead of whining that harsher emission standards will hurt their business, they should look at its positive impact. With the demand for fuel efficient vehicles continually on the rise, they are better off developing vehicles that can meet the stricter emission standards instead of coming up with excuses.

In the United States, aside from California, other states may be considering passing tougher emission standards. In Europe, the EU already passed stricter emission standards. Obviously, this is something that McGuinty failed to consider when he came up with a plan to give subsidy to automakers.

It’s not so long ago when everybody wants to own a hybrid vehicle because of its claimed benefits like better fuel economy and lower emission of harmful gases. But surprisingly the new results of the J.D. Power survey reveal that most car owners now prefer diesel cars over hybrids.

Sales of hybrids are observed to be declining reaching an overall drop in sales by almost 7 percent however for buyers with age ranging from 16 to 25 the drop is much higher at 13 percent.

With the turn of events it seems like the whole point of shifting to using hybrid vehicles seems to be fading without us noticing it. This is quite sad especially for the environment which is the main reason why buying hybrid vehicles was advocated. It seems like consumers now refused to pay the additional $2,396 for a hybrid version vehicle especially when it takes a while before the promised savings on fuel offset the high price tag of their purchased hybrids.

And speaking of diesel, in the past diesel was considered a notorious type of fuel ask an environmentalist if you don’t believe. Diesel was then used in big trucks that are known for spewing really black and toxic smoke that pollutes the air. This is also one of the reasons why diesel was not very popular in the American market.

But after years of being ignored diesel is springing back with better performance and power boosted by newly developed engine and fuel technologies. Honda the producer of quality Acura catalytic converter is one of the automakers that have been working to develop better diesel engines that are as eco-friendly as the next hybrid vehicle in the market.

Japan’s second largest automaker, Honda has developed a diesel-powered Accord which it plans to offer in the United States by the year 2010. The new highly fuel efficient Accord gets 63 miles per gallon or 62.8 mpg to be exact. And unlike hybrids the new diesel-powered Accord does not sacrifice power.

Details on the diesel-powered Accord (sourced from http://www.hondauk-media.co.uk)

Drivetrain

* 2204 cc 4-cylinder all-aluminium engine

* Constructed using pioneering semi-solid casting techniques

* Second generation common rail injection

* Variable nozzle turbocharger with intercooler

* Euro IV compliant

* Second order balancer shaft and offset cylinders

* 140 PS @ 4,000 rpm / 340 Nm @ 2,000 rpm

* Combined cycle fuel consumption 52.3 / 48.7 mpg, saloon/Tourer

* 5-speed manual transmission

Chassis

* Double wishbone front suspension

* 5-link double wishbone rear suspension (saloon)

* Trailing arm rear suspension (Tourer)

* Revised geometry for greater stability and precision

* Performance enhanced by aerodynamic efficiency and dynamic stiffness of bodyshell

* Sharpened rack and pinion steering

* Executive models equipped with VSA for exceptional security (optional on Sport models)

* ABS, EBD and brake assist standard

Amidst the less enthusiastic sales of the Volkswagen brand in the U.S. this year, the German automaker has decided a reshuffle in its top management. Volkswagen has already lost $827 million in North America last year.

Stefan Jacoby, 49, who has earlier headed global marketing and sales for the VW group, will become president and CEO of Volkswagen of America starting September 1. “The objective is to achieve further significant expansion in the position of Volkswagen and Audi on the U.S. market through attractive and competitive products,” VW said in a statement Thursday, last week.

Jacoby is a former CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe. As future CEO of VW of America, he will succeed Frank Witter, 48, who is moving to Volkswagen Credit, where he will become co-president, sharing the post with Kevin Kelly, 60.

The news comes after the media has reported that the German automaker and world’s fourth-largest carmaker is currently mulling over building a new North American factory if the dollar stays weak. Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn reportedly confirmed plans in an interview Saturday with German magazine Focus, saying, ?If the dollar stays at its current level, one has to consider a factory in North America very seriously.”

Winterkorn also added that Volkswagen ? maker of quality Volkswagen catalytic converter, had not done very well in the United States up to now, and said that the company was hoping that planned new offices away from Detroit, the centre of U.S. auto manufacturing, would bring it closer to U.S. consumers.

Volkswagen currently has only one factory in North America, in Puebla, Mexico. The plant manufactures the Volkswagen Jetta and New Beetle cars as well as buses and trucks.

Volkswagen would produce more than 6 million cars this year, up from 5.7 million in 2006, Winterkorn said. A goal of 10 percent higher productivity was attainable this year, he added.

The euro is near an all-time high against the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen, making it difficult for European-made cars to compete with those produced in the United States and Japan and causing concern among some euro-zone politicians.

About Volkswagen of America

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world?s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe?s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.

In a campaign that began online in July 10, Subaru is promoting the 2008 Impreza WRX by exuding the history, heritage and popular culture of its home country, Japan. With an estimated budget of $10 million, the campaign features aspects of Japanese anime films and manga comics; movies like ?The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,? ?Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? and ?Blade Runner?; and television series like ?Heroes.?

A tale of a man from a futuristic city ?in a land of forbidden secrets? ?a line from the teaser trailer on the site ? who is destined to become the master of a powerful jungle creature, the WRX, will be told on three commercials that made their debut on the Subaru Web site (subaru.com/legend). Also, consumers will be able to watch the spots on cell phones and television.

The headline of a print advertisement showing a dragon perched atop a mountain reads ?Somewhere in the jungle, the legend is reborn?. The intro of the text runs: ?From the East it comes, conceived in thunder, born in lightning?.

A story told in comic-book panels and dialogue balloons about a man named Hiro, whose food at a noodle shop is disturbed by the arrival of a WRX, is shown on other print ads. The ads have the line ?Prepare to meet your destiny?.

Timothy J. Mahoney, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Subaru of America in Cherry Hill, N.J., a division of Fuji Heavy Industries, said that the men whose ages are from 20 to 34 are the intended audience for the WRX ? which has features like all-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine. As such, they group of audience like what is coming from Asia and the ads epitomizes that.

He continued that such audience group was the kids who grew up playing video games and many of which were, of course, sold by Japanese companies such as Nintendo and Sony.

Subaru joins a list (that is continuously growing) of advertisers who are capitalizing on the rising interest in Japan among younger American consumers.

The three WRX commercials, each utilizing 30 seconds, are to become available online in three stages. The first two was in July 10 and July 17 while the third stage will be available on July 31.

The commercials are set to start running on television next month, during programs that will include coverage of the X Games on ESPN, wherein the WRX is the car sponsor of the games.

Though not affirmed by the manufacturer, we expect the Impreza WRX is equipped with more improved Subaru catalytic converter.