Now for the fun stuff, Acura has loaded the RDX with its typical user-friendly packages of technology. Available is a 10-speaker Acura/ELS surround-sound audio system with 15GB of music storage. Optional navigation with Zagat ratings for restaurants is a must for anyone who enjoys a night out on the town. And while cruising around town, drivers will welcome a smooth ride thanks to the revised, softer suspension. A backup camera with guide marks will aide in parking as well. For those who need a larger SUV, Acura offers the MDX but with an available 61 cubic inches of cargo room, the RDX should be more than suffice. Acura has managed to offer a nice alternative to BMW and their X3. Though available with all wheel drive, the standard front wheel drive should be more than suitable for most daily activities. MSRP $34,320

•  What I like: Excellent ELS Sound system, soft leather and higher grade plastics.
• What I love: New V6 engine with greater mpg performance. Far less expensive than Audi’s Q5 and BMW’s X3.
• What I hate: Would have liked to have seen a more sporty ride for its size.

Some got it back then and years later, many still don’t. And that’s a good thing. There are some of us who take great pleasure in eating dirty franks from the guy on the corner who washes his hands when it happens to rain and then there are those of us who appreciate a good sirloin for lunch.

If the BMW X6 immediately conjures up thoughts of speed and evokes raw sex appeal, it is because of its coupe-like profile. However there is nothing small about it. It’s actually rather large in person with an amazing amount of presence. Photos don’t really give you an accurate idea of its proportions. Based on its highly successful X5 sibling, it sits a few inches lower, shares the same length but is actually wider. Flared wheel arches and a bulging tail end, give it a hunched stance, which only adds to its aggressive appearance. Like all the other SUVs that BMW produces, it is considered a Sports Activity Vehicle or in this case Sports Activity Coupe. Yes coupe, as this seems to be the latest design trend set off by rival Mercedes Benz when they debuted their CLS back in 2005.

Not to be outdone by the people in Stuttgart, BMW took the 4-door coupe idea and ran with it. They took their widely successful X5 and incorporated the coupe theme by sculpting the roof in a more dramatic fashion. And lucky for them it worked, all without drastically reducing rear seat comfort. In spite of its 4 doors the, the X6 does exudes the sexuality of a coupe, particularly due to the aforementioned roof-line. When I see the X6, thoughts of a chiseled NFL All Pro linebacker in a finely tailored Brioni suit. Beneath the muscular sheet metal, lies a super athletic machine begging to be driven.

The interior of the X6 mirrors that of the X5 but perhaps take it up a notch while removing that rear middle seat that no one ever wants to sit it. Up front you will notice the familiar dashboard finished in leather and wood. Even the plastics are top notch and they should be with the price that the X6 commands which is just under $60K for the base 3.5 model. The standard leather seats firmly hug you in typical BMW fashion.

The ever-improving iDrive, which controls virtually everything in the car, is standard and is nicely displayed in the 8.8 inch LCD screen which, also displays a rear camera shot. And you will need it as visibility out the back is poor much like most true coupes and their sloped roof and pillar design. There are also paddle shifters nicely placed behind the thick leather wrapped steering wheel to let you take full advantage of your inner racer boy desires. This thing handles like car and unlike most SUV’s; you will feel confident in high-speed turns.

The question of whether or not this BMW is truly the Ultimate Driving Machine is quickly answered upon pushing the key-less start button. Yes the X6 looks like a spaceship from a fantasy laced Sci-Fi movie but underneath it all, this hybrid machine is all business. Our tester was the 3-liter twin turbo straight six engine, which according to BMW puts down 300hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 1400-1500 rpms. I’ll just say it feels a lot faster, as BMW is known for rating their engines with a lower output.There is also a 5.0 model, which is actually a 4.4 liter engine rated at 400hp. A 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds due to 450 lb.-ft of torque which is ridiculously fast for an SUV. Overkill for some and necessary for others. Need I mention that there is also an X6M, which takes this vehicle and its performance to near Porsche 911 levels.

As it stands today, there is no SUV that truly stands as a direct competitor of the X6, unless you count Infiniti’s FX. Which does offer coupe like styling with a traditional rear bench seat and pretty good road manners. Expect that to change as both Audi and Mercedes plan to launch their respective Q6 and MLC. We should see those hit the streets over the course of the next 2 to 3 years. Until then, BMW sits firmly atop a segment that they created. So if you have no desire to blend in with the masses and their X5’s you can now set yourself apart with the X6 for roughly $10,000 more and one less seat. Oh and about that utility, the cargo area behind the rear seats holds about 25 cubic feet and folding those seats increases that to 60 cubic feet.  Starting MSRP $59600

A bike like no other... Courtesy of who else but Mercedes Benz

Quick question… What Mercedes Benz weighs 30 lbs and can be taken anywhere and is small enough to fit in the trunk of its chief competitor, BMW’s 3 series? Give up? It’s a bike. But not just any bike obviously. This ultra light and highly functional bike from the people who gave us the S-Class and Smart is no toy or novelty act. Though many would argue that the miniature Smart fits in the previously mentioned categories. Well in any event, Mercedes continues on the idea of going small but takes it one step further with this completely collapsible bike.

Patened folding system for easy portability and storage.

The convenient aluminum framework permits the bike to be broken down with just two easy folds, taking a matter of seconds. This is a grown man bike that comes at a grown man price. How does $2,400.00 sound as a test to it’s manhood? Available in Silver and white, which means you won’t be able to order it in Lunar Blue Metallic to match the E-Class in your garage. However you will get some Continental tires, disc brakes, an 8-speed shift, bolt lock, luggage rack and protective bag with your unique bike. A lot cooler than a Toyota Prius and requires no gas whatsoever.

Which watch is right for you?

Owning a luxury car is a great way to enjoy the finer things in life, but we must make sure we’re purchasing quality, and not just a name. The same applies to a purchasing a premium watch such as a Breitling or Rolex. The quality of a first-rate watch is essential, and two of the most important measures of quality are the tests by which a watch must pass in order to be certified as accurate. Accuracy does not only mean that a watch is showing the exact time, but also depends on the constancy of its rate; meaning, that a watch gains or loses the exact same amount of time each day. One of these certifications is the chronometer label given by the official regulatory council for chronometers in Switzerland (COSC). The other is the widely known Geneva Seal, and surprisingly Patek Philippe is the only watch manufacturer that is qualified and certified for its entire production of mechanical movements.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Skeleton

Pretty much any watch can give you accurate time, but only a select few actually distinguish themselves as luxury watches. Luxury watches are to be admired for the beauty of their design, their craftsmanship and functionality. Typically speaking a luxury watch has an artistic quality that goes well beyond trends.  Unlike cars which depreciate, these are often kept for a lifetime and in some instances, such as a heralded Audemars Piguet, passed on through generations and become part of an estate.

Luxury brand watches are created by highly professional watchmakers and reflect the latest market demands. The attention is paid to the smallest detail, and as a result customers obtain watches of the highest quality and accuracy.  Aside from top grade materials such as crystal, gold, platinum or diamonds, these watches undergo rigorous testing. In some cases they are manufactured manually and in a very limited quantity because of such. There is a plethora of makes, styles and designs out there, so it all comes down to what you both desire and fits your budget.

Despite its name the GL450 has a powerful 4.6 liter 335 hp V8 engine mated to a 7-speed transmission which moves the nearly 3 ton behemoth from 0-60 in about 7 seconds. Great numbers for a full size SUV with 3 rows of seating. Linear power, smooth handling and standard air suspension makes both the drive and ride effortless. Outside you’ll notice a very masculine and refined sheet metal, which instantly says Mercedes. And if somehow you have the Britney Spears gene, there’s the grille with the massive 3-pointed star. Whether you’re in the left lane or waiting for the valet at the opera house, you will feel the power on demand and truly appreciate it. There is a clean diesel GL350 for the frugal types and for those who are all about excess, there is the GL550. But we think the GL450 should be more than adequate. MSRP $62,570

• What I Like: Legitimate space in the 3rd row for full grown adults. Good MPG despite size.
• What I love: 83 cubic feet of cargo room with seats folded completely flat. S-Class like ride in an SUV.
• What I hate: Vinyl seats on a $60K truck.

• What I Like: Great handling for a hybrid. Well appointed interior with good ergonomics.
• What I Love: Best in class gas mileage. Easy to park and loads of tech at a great price.
• What I Hate: Not nearly as fast as it looks. Could use a bit more storage space.

• What I Like: Strong build quality and a well designed interior with significantly improved layout.
• What I love: Excellent handling and silk smooth shifting. Panoramic roofs on coupe models.
• What I hate: Compared to competitors options can get very pricey, not Porsche pricey but pricey enough.

While I’m aware that they weren’t the only carmaker from the land of the rising sun to do so, Honda and Nissan, with their respective Acura and Infiniti brands, have failed to make the same impact that Lexus has. Lexus is seen as a tier 1 brand here in the states which reflected their 10 year run as the #1 selling luxury brand. They proudly sit alongside stalwarts such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Acura and Infiniti, while being great alternatives to the Europeans in the luxury segment, are widely considered as “entry level luxury” or tier 2 with Cadillac and Volvo. I guess that would be akin to “only” paying $150 for a pair of jeans as opposed to a pair of $400 Japanese denim jeans at Barney’s. You get the idea.

Toyota had a full understanding that in order to play with the big boys you have to not only look like the big boys, you have to think in the same manner also. No one would have paid $40,000 for a Toyota this side of the Pacific Ocean. See, in Japan Toyota has always made luxury cars and until recently, there was no Lexus, as cars were still under the Toyota brand. Obviously Toyota did more than change the letter on the grill from a T to a sexy L. They also did more than stuff supple leather and genuine wood inside of Toyotas and expect to be taken seriously by luxury car buyers. The cars were completely re-engineered and so was their way of thinking. Right on down to the Starbucks style atmosphere at dealerships long before there was a Starbucks.

The South Korean automotive giant Hyundai has slowly began to shed its economy car label. One in which it proudly wore for years since being imported here to the States. Hyundai had long been rumored to be planning to enter the luxury car market. Of course most laughed and quickly dismissed it as a joke. Well that all changed when the BH concept was debuted at the 2007 New York International Auto Show and gave us all a glimpse of what was to come. Fast forward to 2009 when the mid size Genesis arrived at US dealerships as a 2010 model, and immediately made waves. Though it was clearly derivative in design and had a mish mash of all of it’s competitor’s exterior features, it was a genuinely handsome car.  It was everything that Hyundai was not known for. The Genesis was luxurious both inside and out and yes quite roomy.

The problem with that is that’s not enough for jaded consumers who remember all of the failures of Hyundai’s not so distant past. Though it offered a great value in comparison to its competition. Pretty good performance numbers too. But who wants to spend $40,000 on a Hyundai? Not with that crooked H on the grille. But wait there is no grille. Hyundai was wise enough to remove their trademark logo from the front of the car. However that’s not enough for the status-seeking buyer who has a Benz or BMW in his driveway.  Therein lies the problem with Hyundai’s ambitious but well intended approach. The mere fact that they removed their logo from the very Benz-like grille speaks volumes. Is this a company ashamed of their brand and history? Are they attempting to distance themselves from… well themselves. Sure seems like it to me.

One would think that they would have studied the “other” Asian automakers with their recipe for luxury car success. Yes big powerful engines wrapped in beautiful sheet metal on rear wheel drive platforms are key, as is leather and wood. But more importantly it’s all about what’s on the hood and not just what’s beneath it. Branding is everything and that applies in every market. Hyundai missed out on an opportunity to truly re-invent themselves and erase the stigma associated with driving a Hyundai. Perhaps it’s not too late. Maybe in the near future they will rename or at least re-badge their cars but then again maybe not. They are selling a ton of cars. Just look at the success of their Sonata, which is for lack of better words, a Mercedes Benz CLS knockoff which competes directly with the Camrys and Accords of the world. Perhaps Hyundai knows what they are doing after all. However as they released their flagship Equus to a very lukewarm reception, at least sales wise, one has to wonder why anyone would feel the urge to purchase a $60,000 Hyundai. Great looking car both inside and out, but at that price most would rather buy one of the traditional European offerings or go with a reputable Lexus car that commands respect with the valet. As the saying goes, perception is everything.

The edgy design which is a modern, dare I say smaller version of the legendary Range Rover, looks a lot like its older brother. Not as daring, nor as small as the all-new Evoque but certainly as much of a head turner. Look past the LED headlamps, which debuted in the face lifted 2010 model. Yes the tail lamps were also revised that year but there is much more than that. Inside you will find an interior, which should have been implemented from day one. The lone mark on the RRS was its sub par interior. I only say that because for its price tag and Range Rover badging, we’ve come to expect nothing but the best. Imagine taking your wife out to eat at Cipriani and the waiter were to hand you a greasy laminated menu while seating you at a booth with not so plush vinyl seating. Works for IHOP maybe but Cipriani…. Not so much.

Apparently the higher ups back in India were listening and appropriately finished off the job that Ford started. Gone is that antiquated dashboard that resembled the Commodore 64 my mother gave me as a child. The powerful iPod ready stereo is cleanly integrated in to the vibrant 7 inch LCD screen, which by the way displays the standard navigation. In addition to cleaning up the dash, more luxurious leathers and softer to the touch plastics are finely on display. There is now ambient LED lighting to make that late night drive even more enjoyable. The leather seats have been revised as well in both the front and rear. Aluminum trim and more extensive wood inlays finish things off lovely.

But wait there’s more. Land Rover finally decided to add a power lift-gate, which has long been seen on its rivals. BMW has it on their X5, as does the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and Mercedes with its lineup of SUVs. Not only do women out there appreciate not having to lift the heavy tailgate but huge guys like me with my NFL quarterback arms (alright maybe I’m stretching it) can now open it via a key-fob to load my Barney’s bags in the cargo area. Hey when there’s a sale it’s only right to take advantage.

Power is still achieved by two fantastic 5-liter motors. There is 385 hp for the base V-8 and a ridiculous 510 hp for the supercharged model. Both engines will move the nearly 3-ton truck with ease. While power has increased through the years, fuel efficiency has not. But then who buys Range Rovers to drive them like a Prius? That’s what the aforementioned Evoque is for with it’s peppy turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. None of that is here though. This is all sheer power with the same epic off road ability that we have come to expect from all things Land Rover. Full time four wheel drive and air suspension like the LR4 from which it is based on, all while commanding the same respect that the larger full size Range Rover is known for.

Handling and day-to-day driving in general is more involving on the RRS all while remaining non-fatiguing on the body. This agile street machine was created purely with BMW and Porsche SUVs in mind. Though not as fast as the Germans, it offers great off road ability and an ultra smooth ride for pavement. This British truck can go places the others simply can’t. And of course that is why we buy Range Rovers in the first place. Hollywood premier, kid’s soccer practice or Whole Foods parking lot or upstate on an expedition this is the truck for occasions. Starting MSRP $60,045

Stand in front of the Q7 and you will notice the immense corporate grille and trademark Audi rings. It has a quite a presence. This SUV appears to snarl at you with its headlights and intimidating front end. Which by the way is a stark contrast from the rest of the car. Despite the menacing front end, the Audi crossover is more of a sexy people mover, which looks like nothing else on the road. It has a swept back roofline which gives lends to the silhouette of a coupe. Giving you the concept of movement despite it being parked. The lines and sensual curves speak to your emotions, all while drawing you to step inside of the vehicle to take command of this rather large SUV. Though it sits noticeably lower than the renowned Cadillac Escalade, it is equally as large.

Typically configured to seat 7, buyers may also opt for a second set of captain’s seats, which brings capacity down to 6. Either way passengers will be pampered by supple leather seats, which come standard in spite of what fellow Germans BMW and Mercedes offer in their trucks. Though Audi was noticeably late to the SUV party, as many Americans have slowly moved from behemoth trucks, they understood that buyers want luxury and lots of it. A massive panoramic roof that runs the length of crossover opens up the interior of Q7. Third row seating is also standard as is, wood accents and genuine aluminum trim. While everyone else has just now begun to understand the aesthetic value of ambient lighting, Audi has been adorning their interiors with well-placed red LEDs to correspond with the driver’s gauges. A high resolution LCD screen displays the navigation adorns the space shuttle like dashboard. That same screen also displays vital car info, which is accessed through MMI, which is similar to BMW’s iDrive. Only thing is this is much easier to use. Though I must admit BMW has finally tweaked their system so that your grandmother will now feel comfortable using it. Your grandmother will also love the powered tailgate that can be accessed via the key fob or driver’s seat. Storage is at a minimum with the third row seats in place, however folding them increases capacity for a party of 5 to travel comfortably with all of their belongings.

On the road you will be reminded just how big and heavy this car is. Build quality is excellent, evident by the tank like feel of the doors. The Q7 comes in both Petrol and diesel models. A long rumored hybrid has yet to arrive to our shores. Until then buyers will have to enjoy the powerful direct injection engines while piloting these machines from Audi. One thing that I noticed was crisp handling, which amazed me for a vehicle this size. Obviously its cousin the Porsche Cayenne handled better but the Audi is no slouch. I did however notice the immense weight as I accelerated. Once moving the ride was smooth. Transmission shifts were effortless and once I put the Q7 in Dynamic mode, the suspension firmed up and the ride became even more enjoyable. Not on a BMW level, but certainly what German automotive engineering is all about. All in all Audi hit its mark with the Q7, my only wish is that there was a greater focus on weight reduction, which would have only aided in acceleration and minimizing it’s thirst at the pump. Oddly enough this SUV gets worse mpg numbers than a Range Rover despite their near equal weight and the RR having true off road ability. However the Q7 can move 7 passengers, whereas the RR simply cannot. Starting MSRP $46250