<div><p>Despite a recession-shaken global economy, this year's North American International Auto Show features a surprising number of luxury cars tailored for drivers in search of the best wheels money can buy.</p><p>The leading brands in luxury are all here: Corvettes, Bentleys, Maseratis, Cadillacs -- names that cause heart palpitations as much for their pricetags as for their performance.</p><p>But after a lackluster year in car sales, some well-heeled customers appear willing to pay top-dollar for high performance and an aura of automotive elegance.</p><p>Among the car companies pushing its appeal to high-end customers is Daimler, maker of the storied Mercedes Benz.</p><p>The company expects to gain market share this year in a revived global automobile market, after what the German carmaker acknowledged was a challenging 2009.</p><p>Daimler says its prospects are bright for the current year, after a year of reorganization and soul-searching.</p><p>"We used the time to do our homework and get a very promising base for 2010," said Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche.</p><p>He said there was "strong momentum" for Daimler brands, including Mercedes, during the fourth quarter of 2009 that gives the company "a lot of confidence" heading into 2010.</p><p>"That's why with a cautiously optimistic market (growth) forecast of three to four percent worldwide, we are more optimistic for the development of Mercedes in 2010," he said Monday. "We expect to gain some market share in 2010."</p><p>Electric-vehicle producer Tesla Motors believes it has come up with a winning combination with its Roadster -- a car the California-based company said proves that luxury and environmental efficiency can co-exist in the same vehicle.</p><p>Tesla began development in 2004 of its first electric vehicle, its nimble Roadster -- the first and only highway-capable electric vehicle for sale in North America or Europe. The Roadster has an estimated average range of about 400 kilometers (250 miles) per charge and produces zero tailpipe emissions, according to the company. The car retails for around 128,000 dollars.</p><p>For drivers whose pocket are not quite so deep, Tesla also has added to its line-up the Model S, the world's first fully electric sedan, with production due to start in late 2011, with a pricetag of 49,000 dollars.</p><p>People of means trolling the floor of the car show also were likely to consider the ABCs of luxury autos: Audi, Bentley and Cadillac.</p><p>Audi unveiled its new prototype of e-Tron, a high-end electric car with a Formula One drive.</p><p>Britain's Bentley was probably hardest hit by the recession, with sales cut in half for its super-luxury cars in the 200,000 dollar range. But the cars, which attain top speeds of 200 miles per hour, also were generating some interest here.</p><p>Meanwhile, the highly-rated, much ballyhooed 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon retails for a relative bargain price of between 40,000 dollars to 55,000 dollars.</p><p>Sporty luxury wagons are common in Europe, but the CTS is the first North American wagon in Cadillac's 107-year history. Another Cadillac offering is the prototype hybrid XTS Platinum, with its powerful 3.6 liter V-6 fuel injection engine.</p><p>And Japan's Honda, has answered with its luxury CR-Z hybrid, available for sale in US dealerships later this year, with the ability to reach top speeds of more than 300 kilometers (190 miles) per hour.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=66777126&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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