Financials

Auto analysts see prestige brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Jaguar and Cadillac as the engine that will power automotive sales growth in the years ahead. But there's a danger that the proliferation of luxury models will rub some of the luster off prestige brand badging, one industry observer notes. Ward's data show there will be 108 luxury vehicles on the U.S. market in the '08 model year, up

byDavid E. Zoia