Worst Cars of 08

Related - Most expensive fuel in US
http://money.aol.com/special/5-gas-prices

Found this on AOL - no real link. Sorry

1. 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2
With a mighty 5.0-liter V-10 that burns diesel at the rate of 15 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, the Touareg doesn't seem like an evil SUV. It is certainly capable on- and off-road, boasting 553 lb-ft of torque (more than the top 4 greenest cars combined). The ACEEE's scoring system marks down diesel vehicles for exhaust emissions, particularly nitrogen oxides. New technology coming in 2009 will take care of the NOx, which will help diesels get much greener.

2. Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Sensible people rightly question conspicuous consumption of all kinds ... yachts, mansions and private jets. (It can be a love-hate thing, admit it.) Regardless, the Bugatti Veyron is technically amazing with a quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder engine that displaces 8-liters (equal to eight smart fortwos) to produce a staggering 1001 horsepower (equal to almost 14 Smart Fortwos). Mileage is lousy, at 8 city/13 hwy; however, the car's top speed of almost 250 mph makes it all worth

3. 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI
Today, diesel vehicles in the U.S. just don't run as cleanly as gasoline vehicles. It's those pesky NOx emissions. However, modern diesels running on ultra-low-sulfur fuels are much cleaner than older models. The GL320 diesel is an excellent SUV in spite of its nitrogen oxides, and does consume about 30% less fuel than its non-diesel counterpart. Mileage is a respectable 18 city/24 highway.


4. 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel
The familiar Jeep Grand Cherokee can now be optioned with the excellent Mercedes-Benz 3.0-liter V-6 diesel found in the Mercedes-Benz GL320 and R320 SUVs, but at a cost that's some $10,000 less than its German cousins. The Jeep is an excellent choice because of its fuel economy of 18 city/24 mpg and torque that rivals the powerful Chrysler Hemi engine. An exhaust treatment available in 2009 will improve the Jeep's emissions performance even more.

5. 2008 Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI
Mercedes-Benz R-Class is the company's "it's not a minivan" and "it's not a station wagon" 6-person people mover. The diesel 3.0-liter V-6 delivers V-8 type performance with mileage of 18/24. All-wheel drive is standard, and 7-passenger seating is optional. Prices start around $46,000.

6. 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago
Since the manufacturer first turned its attention toward high-performance automobiles (it used to produce farm tractors), the company has changed the face of exotic cars. Available in coupe and roadster models, the all-wheel-drive Lambo matches the Bugatti for thirsty fuel consumption but the Murcielago's 6.5-liter 632-horsepower V12 can only muster a top speed just over 200 mph. A consolation is its bargain price compared to the Veyron -- $313,600.


7. 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI
Seems unfair to nick Mercedes three times all due to one engine, the venerable 3.0-liter diesel V-6. Really, it's a great engine; smooth, quiet, powerful, efficient. Oh well, we didn't make the rules for the ACEEE contest, we're just reporting the findings. The ML320 CDI sips fuel for a powerful mid-size SUV, and delivers 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway.

8. 2008 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG
The famed G-Wagen can trace it roots back to a military-only SUV Mercedes-Benz used to produce. Now, tarted up in full luxury garb and stuffed with a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 producing 493 horsepower, the G55 can sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Plus, the G55 is a formidable off-road tool, capable of mountain goat like feats. The main issue for the G55 is that only the brainless Hollywood starlet set seems interested in this boxy $112,000 truck.

9. 2008 HUMMER H2
The HUMMER H2 was never designed to be a "nice" vehicle. It's engineered so well that it seems capable of leaping tall mountains in a single bound. But with its 6.0-liter V-8, a curb weight of over three tons and a shape like shoe box, it's a lot of truck to move. Mileage suffers at 12 city/16 highway. Clean diesel and E85 (ethanol) powered engines are coming

10. 2008 GMC Yukon 2500
Chances are that if you're shopping for a full-size truck the size of a Yukon, you have a job to do. Well, the 2500 Series Yukon is genuine heavy-duty, and can tackle just about any job this side of a Kenworth or Peterbilt semi. Again, its size and V-8 power equates to low mileage, 12 city/16 highway. While not quite as hard-core as the Yukon 2500, the new Yukon 2-Mode Hybrid is an excellent alternative to consider.

11. 2007 Bentley Azure
It seems odd to characterize the stately Bentley Azure as "mean." There's not anything mean about these classic, old-school luxury cars from Britain. While they are lousy on fuel (9 city/15 highway), only 400 per year are built, and each one meets Low Emission Vehicle II standards. The Azure's impact on the environment is nil. You can have one delivered to your estate for about $350,000.

12. 2007 Bentley Arnage
The Arnage sedan utilizes the same 500-horsepower 6.7-liter V-8 as its sister car, the Azure convertible. It is the perfect conveyance for well-heeled Grey Poupon eaters, and seems like a handmade bargain at $250,000. Again, very few are sold, and of those, their annual mileage tends to be low. A curious emissions fact is that painting a room with 1 gallon of water-based latex paint emits the same amount of hydrocarbons as driving an Arnage some 5500 miles.

NY Auto Show is this week...
http://www.autoshowny.com/galleries - it shows the vehicles but gives no descriptions. Just an interesting peek.