In this issue there are no fewer than three million-dollar gas-hybrid super sports cars. Think about that for a moment: Three exotics, each costing a cool mil and featuring carbon-fiber bodywork, high-tech electric motors, race-bred gas engines, dual-clutch transmissions, and carbon-ceramic brakes, will be available for purchase in the U.S. Not one. Not two. Three. So if you want the utmost in ultra-high performance that money can buy, you actually have choices. Yet, say you want a small SUV with a four-cylinder diesel engine鈥攁 proposition that, sorry, makes a lot more sense than a 200-mph hybrid for two. Your choice is not which one, but rather which color. Yep, the '13 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic is the only small SUV (actually the only SUV of any size) sold in the U.S. Which is unfortunate, because a compelling argument can be made for a compact crossover with a four-cylinder diesel. Two, diesels are loaded with low-end torque鈥攖he off-the-line, out-of-corner oomph that can make daily driving an enjoyable chore.

In this issue there are no fewer than three million-dollar gas-hybrid super sports cars. Think about that for a moment: Three exotics, each costing a cool mil and featuring carbon-fiber bodywork, high-tech electric motors, race-bred gas engines, dual-clutch transmissions, and carbon-ceramic brakes, will be available for purchase in the U.S. Not one. Not two. Three. So if you want the utmost in ultra-high performance that money can buy, you actually have choices. Yet, say you want a small SUV with a four-cylinder diesel engine鈥攁 proposition that, sorry, makes a lot more sense than a 200-mph hybrid for two. Your choice is not which one, but rather which color. Yep, the '13 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic is the only small SUV (actually the only SUV of any size) sold in the U.S. Which is unfortunate, because a compelling argument can be made for a compact crossover with a four-cylinder diesel. Two, diesels are loaded with low-end torque鈥攖he off-the-line, out-of-corner oomph that can make daily driving an enjoyable chore.

No wonder, then, that the GLK250's new 2.1-liter will also serve as the base engine in the updated (and comparatively ginormous) Sprinter van. At the test track, the diesel scooted from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds flat, which is 1.2 seconds slower than the gas GLK, but鈥攚ait for it鈥?.2 second quicker than the 2014 Lexus IS 250 F Sport. So, plenty brisk. And although it lags behind the GLK350, the gap, as I mentioned, is not noticeable in day-to-day motoring. After blowing by 60, the GLK250 continues to ride its big wave of diesel torque, surfing past the quarter mile in 15.3 ticks at 87.4 mph. Three, the GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, unlike most diesels, costs less than a comparable gas variant. 5000 premium over the gas Pentastar. 500. Not a lot, but still. And lest I forget, the GLK250 comes in your choice of 12 colors. So, choose your hue wisely, and your car might end up being as exclusive as if you had bought one of those million-dollar hypercars.

RANGE ROVER HSE Td6: For the first time, Land Rover buyers in North America are getting a diesel engine. The British SUV brand -- owned by India's Tata Motors -- will offer an optional diesel in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport starting this fall. It's part of a plan to eventually offer diesels on most of the vehicles in the Jaguar and Land Rover lineups. The first diesel Jaguar, the XE, will go on sale in the U.S. The Range Rover's 3.0-litre Td6 turbocharged V6 gets 254 horsepower and improved towing capability. The diesel-equipped Range Rovers will get 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving, a 32 per cent improvement over the supercharged V6 gas engine. Land Rover expects 15 to 20 per cent of its customers to opt for the diesel; the company says around 5 per cent of U.S. SUV buyers are now choosing diesels overall. Competitors include the Mercedes-Benz GLK250 BlueTEC and the BMW X5 xDrive35d.

INFINITI Q60 CONCEPT: Infiniti is previewing the design of its upcoming Q60 coupe with a concept car. It's got sharper, more precise styling than the current Q60, along with a more aggressive grille and narrowed headlights. Under the hood will be Infiniti's new turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. This is no design study; Infinit says the Q60 that will go on sale next year will be strongly influenced by the Q60 concept. Nissan's luxury brand could use the boost. U.S. Infiniti sales have fallen over the last two years as the brand announced plans to revamp and rename its models and struggled with low quality rankings. BUICK CASCADA: General Motors is introducing the Cascada, a Buick version of a stylish Opel convertible from Europe. The four-seat Buick is the brand's first convertible in 25 years. It has an insulated soft top that can be opened in 17 seconds with the car travelling at up to 31 miles per hour. It also has a turbocharged 200 horsepower engine and a safety system that deploys rollover protection bars behind the rear seats if the car detects that a crash is possible.