Luxury is where one finds its, and price isn’t always the sole criterion. In an automotive marketplace shaken to its very roots during 2008, the variety of responses by automakers has ranged from whistling-past-the-graveyard insouciance to ambitious graspings at opportunity. What follows then, while hardly an exhaustive summary, is an admittedly eccentric examination of some interesting trends in luxury motoring that enthusiasts can expect for 2009.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé
Measuring almost 19 feet long by 7 feet wide, the world’s newest Rolls- Royce is anything but a Phantom. There is no question of it being a masterpiece, however; and its $407,000 price tag will ensure that this sumptuous cabriolet remains largely invisible to all but the fortunate few.
Under a massive hood resembling a yacht’s prow reposes a 6.7-liter V12 engine producing 453 horsepower—enough, in other words to launch the three-and-a-half-ton Phantom Drophead from zero-to-60 miles-per- hour in under six seconds. The elegant interior provides seating for four amidst a wealth of creature comforts: some two dozen skins are required for the upholstery; hand-rubbed burls and polished metals surround occupants with princely refinement. The "drophead" roof boasts five layers of sound and weather isolating fabrics, one of which happens to be cashmere.
Unique amongst the chauffeur-driven set, the Phantom Drophead Coupé is intended as a driver’s car. Accordingly, it is remarkably agile and spry despite its gargantuan proportions and 21-inch wheels.  Extraordinary rear-hinged doors invite a mere quartet of occupants into this convertible’s cozy embrace; yet the conspicuous majesty of Rolls-Royce’s open-air Phantom invites sighs of admiration from all who catch sight of her.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed
For 2009, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed casts down its gauntlet as the most powerful four-door saloon ever produced by a British automaker. A 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged 12- cylinder engine, featuring an exotic "W"-pattern layout, produces 600 horsepower and 553 foot-pounds of torque. Accordingly, this stately British saloon-car is capable of sprinting zero-to-60 in under five seconds on the way to 100 miles-per-hour in under 12.
The all-wheel-drive powertrain provides the foundation for this Bentley’s unflappable aplomb and its unimpeachable command of the road. Within its cocoon-like interior, the world’s madding crowds are but an afterthought, and comfort reigns preeminent. Although a price for the new Flying Spur Speed was unannounced as of press-time, its $172,000 sibling—the 552-hp Flying Spur—suggests a reasonable starting point. But an opportunity to enjoy the muscular and commodious calm of a Flying Spur at speed must surely rank as one of life’s special indulgences.

BMW X6
"Extravagant" is precisely how BMW describes its new X6. To be fair, the automaker highlights the "individual and extravagant looks"; but that’s just being modest. Here’s a vehicle that offers a choice of two twin-turbo powerplants; boasts exotic, proprietary all-wheel-drive technology; costs either $52,500 or $63,000; and seats only four.
True to type, BMW has devised a virtually new form of automobile dedicated to the serious driving enthusiast. The X6 looks like nothing else on the road, and performs like nothing else on the road. For extroverts who know how to drive and who like to stay stimulated, the X6 provides a gorgeous new transportation alternative.
Powered by either a twin-turbo inline-six (designated xDrive35i) or a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 (xDrive50i), the X6 is all about superior engine performance. Both engines, rated 300 horsepower and 400 hp, respectively, rev brilliantly fast, with torque curves that reach their maximum at low rpm and stay there almost to redline. By means of BMW’s unique xDrive all-wheel-drive system, torque is split both fore and aft and right and left as individual tires seek traction. What’s more, an exotic planetary gear set-up at each rear wheel allows the X6 to over- or understeer as required by either road conditions or driver technique or a combination of both.
Within the X6’s speed-bubble exterior is a four-person cockpit of exceptional comfort and intimacy. By foregoing a typical SUV’s five- seat capacity, BMW creates rear seating that is sumptuous for once.  And despite the coupe-like silhouette, four-door access makes entry and exit a pleasure for all. Or rather, for all who get to enjoy what’s likely to be a rare and privileged encounter out in the wild with BMW’s extravagant X6.

Volkswagen Tiguan
Apart from its name, the real mystery surrounding the Tiguan is what took VW so long? The GTI platform has seemed to beg for an SUV treatment for years now, and finally there is one.
Here’s what’s spot-on about the Tiguan: you can procure one for just $23,200. It’ll be a front-wheel-drive model with a six-speed manual transmission and entry-level amenities, but it will have perky performance from a 2.0-liter turbo-four; offer standard four-wheel independent suspension, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control; and provide flexible cargo capacity from 24 to 56 cubic feet.
When you add VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, you’re up to around $29,000. Then, tack on all available amenities, and the top-of-the- line Tiguan approaches $33,000.
Volkswagen’s chief accomplishment with the Tiguan is to have exploited the well-earned respect enthusiasts hold for its GTI sport- sedan. Although Tiguan is a bit heavier, its additional heft actually tames the GTI’s occasional skittishness. But the spunky handling remains, as does the palpable impression of solid German craftsmanship. Volkswagen may have origins as a "people’s car," but it seems a premium brand by now.

Smart Fortwo
Gems by nature are small and brilliant, which also perfectly describes the cachet of the smart fortwo microcar. Intended simply as a maneuverable and fuel-efficient urban commuter, the fortwo startles occupants and onlookers alike with its cabochon-like daintiness.
Available as either a coupe or a cabriolet, the fortwo ranges in price from a mere $11,590 to $16,590. A three-cylinder engine displacing 1.0-liter produces just 71 horsepower while delivering fuel economy on the order of 33 mpg/city, 41 mpg/highway (should a driver be bold enough to venture onto a highway, that is). An innovative "automanual" transmission requires gear-shifts, albeit without a clutch; and its acceptance amongst automotive traditionalists isn’t universal. A fully automatic gearbox provides an alternative, yet it penalizes already scanty performance.
For the smart set with their weekday pieds-a-terre in the city and their weekend villas in the country, the smart fortwo commuter coupe could hardly be more aptly aimed—and named.