All roads lead to Paris from Sept. 30 to Oct. 15 as the 2006 Mondial de l’Automobile opens at the Paris Expo, Porte De Versailles. Just like in previous Paris Motor Shows, automakers from all over the globe will turn out in full force to reveal their latest brand new models and concept car designs. This year, the spotlights will be on the latest hybrid and alternative fuel cars competing with high-end luxury cars and exotics for the public’s attention. Companies from Audi to Toyota will unveil their hottest new models and show a glimpse of their future design directions.

European automakers will take the covers off their top new models. The French have a number of major launches up their sleeves including Citroen’s midsize C4 Picasso and futuristic C-Métisse concept car. Meanwhile, Citroen’s mother company Peugeot is hoping that its Epure and 908 RC concept cars will both be a success. Another French automaker, Renault, will show off its new Nepta, a cabriolet concept with motor driven gull wings, 3.5-liter V6 engine, and 420-hp direct-injection gasoline engine.

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The Porsche Cayman topped the list of the ten most appealing vehicles in the 11th annual Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. The APEAL study measures the owners’ delight with their new vehicles in terms of design, content, layout and performance. In simplest terms, the study tries to find out how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive. The APEAL study is based on 10 different categories namely: engine/transmission; driving dynamics; storage and space; seats; vehicle interior; heating; ventilation and cooling; vehicle exterior; audio/entertainment/navigation; visibility and driving safety; and fuel economy.

Here are the top ten most appealing vehicles for 2006

1. 2006 Porsche Cayman
2. 2006 BMW 7 Series
3. 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
4. 2006 Lexus IS 250/IS 350
5. 2006 Infiniti QX56
6. 2006 Nissan Armada
7. 2006 Scion tC
8. 2006 Mini Cooper
9. 2006 Lexus GX 470
10. 2006 Infiniti M-Series

Do you know what your favorite Hollywood Stars have been seen driving? Forbes.com recently featured a list of luxury cars that America’s celebrities own. With tons of money to burn, it’s not a surprise that the list is a veritable showcase of some of the most expensive cars today: with hybrid and horsepower as the main trends. The almost half a million price tag of the Mercedes Benz SLR Mclaren is no big deal for Britney Spears. Paris Hilton drives a Bentley Continental GT priced at $170,000. Meanwhile, superstars Julia Roberts and Leonardo DiCaprio have opted for gas/electric hybrids such as the Toyota Prius, even though they can afford much more expensive cars. Here’s a list of some of the cars of the stars.

After the successful launch of the new Cayman S last January, Porsche introduces a new entry-level Cayman S that is much more affordable than its predecessor yet lost none of the Cayman’s superb handling dynamics and sleek, stunning styling. The new version of this award-winning mid-engined sports coupe, named the 2006 World Performance Car, will come with a base price below $50,000. It will feature a 2.7 liter six-cylinder Boxer engine with an output of 245 horsepower. The Cayman has a flexible powertrain offering torque of up to 201 ft.-lbs.

The new Cayman S can go from 0-60 miles per hour in a mere 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 160 mph. The entry-level Cayman S will also feature Porsche’s remarkable Tiptronic S. Fuel consumption is also impressive, rated at 23/32 mpg city/highway. The Porsche Cayman is coming to North American dealers in July 29, 2006 with a price of US$49,400 in the US and $69,600 in Canada.

What’s not to love in a Porsche anyway? For the fourth year in a row, two Porsche models made it to the top of the annual Edmunds.com’s Consumer’s Most Wanted List. The Porsche 911 Carrera snatched the 2006 Consumers’ Most Wanted “Coupe over $45,000”. Meanwhile, the Porsche Boxster was also named as the 2006 Most Wanted “Convertible Under $45,000”. Porsche cars have been on Edmund’s Most Wanted Car’s list for many years now. Last year, the Porsche Boxster, 911 and Cayenne were also honored. “These are the vehicles that have captured the hearts and kinds of the customers’, says Karl Bauer, Editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com.

The Porsche Cayman S emerged victorious and beat two other finalists chosen from an impressive list of 29 contenders when it was named as the 2006 World Performance Car of the Year at a press conference held in conjunction with the ongoing NY Auto Show. The new Porsche Cayman S bested two others contenders, the Audi RS4 and the BMW M5 to win the coveted award. This accolade comes in the heels of another win for the Cayman S, which also snagged this year’s Playboy Car of the Year award. The Cayman S was also a finalist for the World Car of the Year award but lost, however, to the BMW 3 Series.

The Porsche Cayman S coupe is set between the wildly popular Boxster and 911. Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America said that “[The Porsche Cayman S] selection as the 2006 World Performance Car is an early indicator it will take its place alongside these two famed models as yet another benchmark sports car from Porsche.” In fact, the Cayman S combines the balance of the Boxster’s mid-engine placement and the chassis stiffness that characterize the legendary Porsche 911.

The Cayman S also boasts of a visceral 3.4 liter Boxer six-cylinder engine that delivers an impressive 295 horsepower and a super-responsive steering. Add to that the voluptuous curves of this stunningly-designed coupe and we really have a winner here. The Porsche Cayman S debuted in dealerships throughout the US only early this year at a retail price of $58,900.

Starting with 27 new vehicles from all over the world, the list of contenders for the 2006 World Car of the Year award has now been reduced to three just as the annual awards nears its end before the New York International Auto show officially begins. The eventual winner of the said award will be declared on April 13, 2006 at the second press day of the New York Auto Show.

Making it to the final list of contenders are the BMW 3 Series, the Mazda MX-5, and the Porsche Cayman S. These top three contenders for the award were chosen, through casting secret ballots, by a jury of 46 international automotive journalists—the same group who will eventually decide which car would be declared the 2006 World Car of the Year.

Aside from the top three contenders for the prestigious World Car of the Year award, top three finalists for three other award categories have also been selected. These vehicles will compete for the World Performance Car, World Green Car, and World Car Design of the Year awards.

The three vehicles making it to the list of World Performance Car finalists are the Audi RS4, the BMW M5 and the Porsche Cayman S. For the World Green Car category, on the other hand, the finalists are the Citroen C1 1.4 Hdi, Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Lexus RX 400h/Toyota Harrier Hybrid. Then, for the World Car Design of the Year, the finalists are the BMW 3 Series, the Citroen C4 and the Honda Civic/Civic Hybrid (European version).

So, can you predict this early which cars will eventually win on the various categories? Well, pick your choices because we’ll wait for the final results as it is officially announced through a press conference to be presented by The Midway Group and to be hosted by the New York International Auto Show.

Forbes Magazine recently released its annual list of the world’s most expensive cars for 2006 and we must say these are the stuff that makes a car aficionado’s pulse race. Dreams come true – that’s how the magazine describes these truly stunning, exotic cars, but only for the super- rich, that is. For most of us, we have to content ourselves with ogling at these rare, beautiful, fast and VERY expensive. None of the cars listed cost lower than US$440,000. The 16-cylinder, 1,001 hp Bugatti Veyron (pictured below), which topped the list, is priced at a million euros or US $1,192,057.

In any case, there’s no denying that we love these cars and the pioneering technology behind them. They are simply gorgeous, with daring, avant-garde designs that might never grace mainstream cars. Some of the makes on Forbes’ list are virtual unknowns for most of us. Only two are from household names: the new Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren and Porsche Carrera GT. It is interesting to note that only one American car made it to the list – the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo. The rest are a mélange of exotic names that match their truly exotic and stunning designs and performance.

Here’s the rundown of the 10 Most Expensive Cars for 2006.

• Bugatti Veyron 16.4
• Pagani Zonda Roadster F C12S 7.3
• SSC Ultimate Aero
• LeBlanc Mirabeau
• Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
• Koenigsegg CCR
• Venturi Fetish
• Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
• Maybach 62
• Porsche Carrera GT

Consumers have chosen the best of the best among the vehicles and exhibits at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. Voters honored the favorites in five categories for this year’s auto show. The Ford Shelby GT 500, the high-performance Shelby version of the new generation Mustang, drove away with the Best All-New Production Vehicle award garnering over 42 percent of the vote. The car was the clear winner in the field with the Porsche Cayman S and the Dodge Caliber SRT4 a far second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, the Dodge Challenger concept, still fresh from a critical success at the Detroit Auto show last month, snatched the Best Concept Vehicle Award with a 35 percent share of the votes. It bested the other hot new concept, the Chevrolet Camaro by only 3% of the votes as well as the Dodge Rampage concept. However, the Rampage concept was adjudged as the Best Chicago Auto Show World Introduction.

The Jeep display, complete with a waterfall and a test track was honored as the year’s best exhibit with over 32 percent of the vote besting other spectacular displays from Ford and Dodge, Finally, the Chevrolet Camaro continued to draw raves as it was announced as the winner in the “Vehicle I most want to see in my driveway” category.

This is the first Best of Show balloting held at the Chicago Auto Show. “This show is renowned for its consumer impact and it focuses on the buying public, who express their opinions with their dollars at dealership showrooms. Best of Show voting gives consumer another method to express their opinions on the direction in which our industry is going.”, said Arthur Kelly, 2006 Chicago Auto show Chairman.