The very existence of the Smart brand is being called into question by people inside the auto industry as a result of the decision by executives at the DaimlerChrysler division to stop development of the ForMore station wagon that's supposed to lead the nameplate into the U.S. market late in 2006.

Just before Christmas, the microcar maker put development of the four-door ForMore on hold for three months, word of which only surfaced when firms supplying parts for the product started talking to the media.

When questioned, Smart's director of communications, Heinz Gottwick, confirmed the delay, saying that the division's CEO, Ulrich Walker, is re-evaluating market and product strategy. This re-evaluation is said to concern the entire Smart lineup, rather than just the car that is meant to be the backbone of the brand in the United States.

The same tiny two-door, two-seat ForTwo model that Canada already gets is also for sale in the United States, but through a private importer rather than the German firm's U.S. distributor.

While some minor testing on the ForMore will continue, the industry is wondering if this move hasn't called into question the future of the Smart brand in general. Only a couple of months back, the chief financial officer of DaimlerChrysler, Manfred Gentz, said that the future of Smart was being considered at all levels, including selling it off or discontinuing it.

At the time, Walker and other DCX executives denied that those actions might take place. But with this recent decision on the model deemed critical to Smart's success in the huge U.S. market, suspicion has been raised again.

Word around the industry is that there are two main reasons for Smart's decision to reconsider the ForMore at this time.

The car is to be built in Brazil for cost reasons, but recent changes in the currency exchange between that country and the U.S. will make it hard to sell the little car profitably.

Ironically, the second issue seems to involve the fact that the little car may not be little enough, that by going to a bigger shape Smart may have trumped the trendy appeal of the ForTwo's microcar size. But suppliers inside Brazil are saying that the decision to delay ForMore's development has more to do with the future of the brand itself than any particular model.

Range Rover upgraded

The big question surrounding the totally new 2005 Land Rover LR3 involved possible reasons for spending an extra $30,000 to get the Range Rover model instead.

So good and so large is the LR3, the theory went, that there is no rational reason besides the stylish interior to spend the extra dough for the Range Rover.

It's no surprise, then, that the British-based supplier of expensive SUVs for the Ford Motor Co. has upgraded the Range Rover for the 2006 model year.

The changes everyone can see involve new exterior details -- including front grille and bumper, power vents, lamps and wheels -- but the changes that possible buyers will appreciate involve the addition of two powerful new engine options, including a supercharged V-8. Those new engine choices include a normally aspirated 4.4-litre V-8 good for 305 hp and the supercharged 4.2-litre V-8 that will produce 400 hp, creating the most powerful Land Rover ever.

According to Matthew Taylor, Land Rover's managing director, this engine provides the "world's most complete luxury vehicle" with a "new flagship" that makes the "best luxury SUV in the world is even better." Both engines are also expected to deliver better fuel economy than the outgoing V-8, said Taylor, thanks to the fact that they're both lightweight and use "advanced torque-based engine management systems that, together with drive-by-wire throttle control and variable camshaft phasing [on the normally aspirated], continually adjust the engine to deliver optimum performance, fuel economy and emissions." Even with the "subtle yet distinct changes" to the exterior, Taylor says, the Range Rover "retains its iconic shape." For the record, all Range Rovers for 2006 get a new front bumper design, new headlamps and taillights, a new front grille and revised power vents.

New 19-inch alloy wheels are also offered for the regular models, and the supercharged derivatives are "distinguished by additional styling modifications including mesh-design front grille and power vents, unique 20-inch alloy wheels, and special black-on-silver badges." Geoff Upex, Land Rover's director of design, said "We've only changed the design where we can provide subtle enhancements. The Range Rover is about grace and class, not extravagance." Behind the new look, the 2006 Range Rover will also have the following enhancements when it goes on sale this summer: sharper steering, crisper braking performance and improved air suspension, a quieter interior and additional colour combinations, adaptive headlights, tire-pressure monitoring, touch-screen control for audio, phone and off-road driving information.

The new model will also have a rear-view camera that projects directly to the front-fascia screen and an optional rear seat entertainment package featuring a six-disc DVD changer, twin screens and headphone pods, all fully integrated with the vehicle's sound system. Pricing and detailed specification levels will be announced closer to launch date. The current Range Rover HSE model retails for about $100,000 in Canada.

More owner info from Lexus

It's not immediately clear how a member of Club Lexus will make use of the new service information for her car on the personalized and password-protected Owner Home Page, but this latest wrinkle from Toyota Canada's upscale division does at least keep raising the bar on what's available to luxury vehicle owners today.

This is after an industry first, and in a hyper-competitive market such as luxury cars that can encourage other companies to offer something similar, or maybe even something else entirely.

With this move by Lexus, says Stuart Payne, the executive responsible for the brand in Canada, "its owners can find service information that includes the service date, service description, parts descriptions, repair order number and the odometer reading at the time of service.

Owners of a pre-owned Lexus will even be able to access the previous owner's last service date information and odometer reading." This all comes out of a desire to provide "an exceptional ownership experience," says Payne. "Our goal is to have the best website in the industry in Canada. Our Owner Home Page offers Club Lexus members a user-friendly, convenient, informative yet secure way to get the information whenever they need it and wherever they need it."

The Club Lexus link at http://www.lexus.ca also allows owners to track the status of their factory warranty or Extra Care Protection coverage, and obtain their current personal financing information from Lexus Financial Services.