Those of us who have some money left will find new cars to look at in 2003. This is going to be the year of new SUVs and crossover vehicles, most of them dreamt up two to three years ago when stock option money was plentiful and there seemed to be major opportunities in the marketplace for car platform-based smoother riding, medium-sized, more economical SUVs in all price ranges.

In the less than $25,000 category, we have Dodge’s Neon SRT4, a new pocket hot rod for freeway bandits. With its turbocharged 2.4 liter, 215 hp, double overhead cam engine, it can reach 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. This car is rough, loud and quick and comes with a five-speed manual transmission. It sells for around $20,000. Not many grandpas will buy this car.

If you really want to get closer to the ground in price, look at the new Saturn Ion for $11,000 to $13,000. The EPA says this one should get 32/40 mpg, city/highway. It’s powered by a 2.2 liter, 140 hp, double overhead cam engine that will move it smartly from 0 to 60 mph in 8.0 to 8.5 seconds. It comes in four-door and coupe versions. Maybe a buy for a college student?

A new addition to the crowded small SUV market is the Mitsubishi Outlander in a price range starting at $18,000. A compact machine, it has a small 140 hp, 4-cylinder and four-speed automatic transmission and should deliver fuel economy in the 19 to 25 mpg range.

Honda will introduce its new and unique Element SUV based on the CRV platform. This is the ultimate in the triumph of function over looks. You have to like boxy looking cars to like this one. It is powered by a 4-cylinder 2.4 liter 160 hp engine, and the side doors swing open in opposite directions a la 1960s Lincoln Continental. With no center pillar, this allows unrestricted access to the interior and to seats that can be arranged in many different configurations.

Another new SUV for 2004 is the Kia Sorento, a mid-size vehicle in the Jeep Grand Cherokee category; $19,995 buys this Korean SUV. Powered by a 192 hp V-6, even fully equipped the price is just more than $25,000.

The more than $25,000 but less than $50,000 category features a number of new cars. Starting with the Infiniti M45, a smaller car than its big sister, the Q45, but with the big Q’s engine under the hood. It doesn’t look distinctive, but the 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds is an absolute head turner. This one can be had for around $41,000.

Just tipping the $25,000 scale is the new SUV/minivan crossover Chrysler Pacifica. All-wheel drive and Chrysler’s 3.5 liter, 225 hp V-6 engine get power to the ground. Pricing should be around $25,000 to a fully equipped $35,000. We should see it in spring or early summer.

Another new “sport-ute” as they are known in the automotive press, will arrive in 2004 from Buick. Called the Rainier (Where do they get these names?), it is based on the Chevy Trailblazer platform and will be powered by a 4.2 liter in-line 6 with an optional 5.3 liter V-8 engine.

Joining the sport-ute fray in the fall of 2003 is the $30,000 Nissan Murano, a car-based medium-size luxury SUV to compete with the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander. Designed by a Taiji Toyota (believe it or not), this is a product of the newly rejuvenated Nissan company. President Frenchman Carlos Goshn’s 2002 Nissan Corp. has been completely recast and is producing some hot new products. Don’t overlook this one. It is powered by Nissan’s famous 3.5 liter V-6 and will offer a new pulley and belt continuously variable transmission driving all four wheels.

Continuing the SUV-fest, Volkswagen offers the Touareg SUV, using the same platform as the Porsche Cayenne, due to arrive at dealerships in the fall of 2003. It will have all-wheel drive and will be powered by a choice of V-6, V-8 or maybe VW’s unusual 420 hp W-12 cylinder engine. It will be a luxury sports car priced somewhere between $35,000 and $40,000.

Lexus adds to the long list of new SUVs with the mid-size GX 470. It fits between the RX300 and the LX 470 and is based on the Toyota 4-Runner platform. Pricing is around $45,000 and power is from Lexus’ 4.7 liter, 235 hp V-8.

Another SUV for 2003? Yes, the Lincoln Aviator, built on the Ford Explorer platform, priced at around $40,000, and powered by a 4.6 liter, double overhead cam, 32-valve, 302 hp V-8. This one looks pretty, better than its big brother, the Navigator.

Looking at sports cars, BMW has just introduced the Z4, its replacement for the Z3. With a new not quite as pretty (personal view), but certainly different looking body, this has the same 2.5 and 3.0 liter engines used in the Z3. Base prices for the two models are $34,000 for the 2.5 and $41,000 for the 3.0.

Chevy is bringing out a retro hot rod pickup called the SSR. The 5.3 liter V-8 makes 285 hp, and you can buy one for around $40,000. You’d better be quick; Chevy has plans for only 10,000 of them each year. The first ones should show up in early 2003.

In the more than $50,000 category, we have the previously mentioned Porsche Cayenne. Who needs a 165 mph SUV? Porsche thinks we do. Its 0 to 60 acceleration in just over 5 seconds brings up visions of kids flattened into the rear seat backs and groceries plastered all over the rear window glass. It even can perform off-road with permanent four-wheel-drive and six different ground clearance settings from 7.5 inches to a deep water 10.8 inches. At a base price of $55,900 and a 32-valve, 4.5 liter, 335 hp V-8, the Cayenne S is a good fit in the luxury sport-ute category. The Cayenne Turbo sells for a breath-taking $88,900, and the turbocharged engine puts out a mind-blowing 444 hp.

In the stratosphere of car prices where BMW-owned Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen-owned Bentley reside, Mercedes-Benz’ has added the Maybach 57 and the very long Maybach 62. The name is from Mercedes Benz pre-World War II past. Powered by a 5.5 liter, twin turbo, 543 hp V-12 engine, equipped with all the latest gizmos and priced at more than $300,000, this one is for the ultra rich.

Many improvements and changes to existing models will appear, but that is for another column. This list should get you thinking about kicking some tires in the new year and deciding if one of these 2003 models is for you.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 54 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at osten@aol.com.