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22 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 24, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Possibilities of Cars for America's ageing Baby-Boomers Crossovers are hot in North America. Low-riding SUVs like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge that combine attributes of off-roaders, MPVs and estates are gaining market share rapidly. Ford believes Crossovers will account for more than 3 million sales a year in America by the end of the decade as more and more manufacturers jump on the bandwagon. Now manufacturers are starting to look further ahead to see what the next generation of Crossovers might look like. The current cars are aimed at younger family buyers Ò but as these owners grow older, they will look for something different. And America's population is ageing. By the end of the decade, there will be 57 million 50- to 64-year-old consumers - a 38 per cent increase on 2000, according to the University of Michigan. Ten thousand Americans turn 50 every day. Ford unveiled a concept Crossover called the Airstream, designed to satisfy the growing wanderlust of these consumers, often retirees with time for travel. Airstream has been developed jointly with the Airstream trailer company, maker of the iconic American aluminum streamlined trailers of the 1950s. The Airstream is a far cry from the traditional truck-based RV. It has a hybrid powertrain, giving it a fuel consumption of 41mpg. It can run for 25 miles as a pure electric car. Its styling owes as much to Stanley Kubrick's scifi film 2001 as it does to the Airstream trailers, featuring illuminated orange window surrounds and asymmetric doors. A similar layout is adopted on another crossover at the show aimed at ageing baby-boomers Ò the Nissan Bevel. This car is specifically aimed at 4560-year-old men, generally hobbyists or DIY enthusiasts who want a car to carry their stuff around rather than their family. Nissan Design America designer John Cupit said the Bevel was a category buster. It's aimed at people who don't want an off-roader or an MPV. It's at men with hobbies, handymen and tinkerers. Like the Airstream it has an asymmetric door layout, with a single offside driver's door and wide-opening double suicide doors on the nearside, plus a rear tailgate that flips over to become a loading shelf. Another feature is its overt 1970s Pilot LX 2WD model YF2817EX styling, elements of which could become part of Nissan's design "house $ % @ style" in the future, especially the oblong grille incorporating the front PER MONTH ON APPROVED CREDIT WITH $6,035 DOWN lighting, and the configurable flatpanel dashboard. There are no plans to build either vehicle, though it's good to see that manufacturers are looking beyond the current trends. Crossovers were only concept cars '07 ODYSSEY LX just a few years ago, so it would be no Odyssey sets a high standard for minivans. Enjoy smooth surprise to see cars like Airstream or sedan-like handling and row after row of interior luxury and Bevel as production models in the innovation. Plus a quadruple 5-Star NHTSA safety rating. coming years. GET OUT&PLAY Event! PURCHASE FINANCING Honda The 2.9 FOR 36 MONTHS $36,400 MSRP * As an IIHS `2007 Top Safety Pick', Pilot holds a full load of your friends, your gear, and delivers peace of mind. Every Pilot also has standard Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA®) to help keep you in control at all times. PURCHASE FINANCING 2.9 FOR 36 MONTHS @ FOR 48 MONTHS $ 408 LEASE APR LEASE FOR % 5.9% FOR 48 MONTHS % 408 LEASE APR LEASE FOR '07 PILOT LX 3.9 Limited time lease offers based on new 2007 Pilot LX 2WD, model YF2817EX / 2007 Odyssey LX, model RL3827E / 2007 Ridgeline LX, model YK1647E available through Honda Canada Finance Inc., on approved credit. 3.9% / 5.9% / 4.9% lease APR for 48 / 48 / 48 months. Monthly payment is $408 / $408 / $418 with $6,035 / $4,945 / $5,963 down payment or equivalent trade, $1,505 / $1,505 / $1,505 freight and PDI, first monthly payment and $0 / $0 / $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $29,205.66 / $27,963.06 / $29,670.78. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 96,000 / 96,000 / 96,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. Retailer may lease for less. Limited time financing offers based on new 2007 Pilot LX 2WD, model YF2817EX / 2007 Odyssey LX, model RL3827E / 2007 Ridgeline LX, model YK1647E / 2007 CR-V LX, model RE3837E. *MSRP is $36,400 / $33,300 / $35,600 / $27,700, financed at 2.9% / 2.9% / 2.9% / 4.9% equals $1,056.95 / $966.94 / $1,033.72 / $828.95 per month for 36 / 36 / 36 / 36 months. Cost of borrowing is $1,650.30 / $1,509.74 / $1,614.03 / $2,142.23 for a total obligation of $38,050.30 / $34,809.74 / $37,214.03 / $29,842.23. *MSRP of CR-V EX-L, model RE4877JN shown is $34,600. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. Offers valid on new 2007 models from January 3rd, 2007 through January 31st, 2007 at participating Honda retailers only. Retailer may sell for less. Retailer order / trade may be necessary. See your Honda retailer for full details. Visit iihs.org for details. Visit safercar.org for details. $33,300 MSRP* Odyssey LX model RL3827E PER MONTH ON APPROVED CREDIT WITH $4,945 DOWN Robinson/Beinfema Autofiles '07 RIDGELINE LX PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 48 MONTHS $35,600 MSRP* Ridgeline LX model YK1647E $ 418 LEASE APR LEASE FOR 2.9 FOR 36 MONTHS % This is heavy-duty innovation. Engineered for a sturdy, unshakable driving feel, TM plus the industry exclusive lockable In-Bed Trunk. @ 4.9% PER MONTH ON APPROVED CREDIT WITH $5,963 DOWN PURCHASE FINANCING 4.9% FOR 36 MONTHS THE TOTALLY NEW '07 CR-V Newly redesigned for 2007, to deliver more safety, stability and smooth handling. Aerodynamic exterior, ergonomic interior design, and more cargo room than ever in this IIHS `2007 Top Safety Pick'. CR-V EX-L model RE4877JN shown Ford Airstream shares echoes both the classic trailers and sci-fi film 2001. Starting from $27,700 * HONDA OFFERS ONE OF THE MOST FUEL EFFICIENT LINE-UPS OF VEHICLES for more information and to locate your nearest dealer visit: w w w. h o n d a . c a Nissan Bevel concept is just right for the handyman with a hobby.