Audi A1

Not the steak sauce, surely
Was it because we went into Iraq? That we voted W in for a second term? It sure can't be because we gave the world Justin Timberlake, because Audi has given him a gig in the marketing of its new subcompact A1 hatchback. So why will we not get this car in the USA? After all, MINI is a big success over here and the A1 would be a direct rival: big class in a small package. So Audi has either committed a rare misreading of the American zeitgeist, or we're all being blamed for Clay Aiken.

credit by: http://www.europeancarweb.com

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Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Trickle, trickle, racing star
It's called the trickle-down effect, where cutting-edge technologies forged in the crucible of Formula One end up in less esoteric cars. Last season's big hardware story was KERS, the kinetic energy recovery system that stores braking energy in a battery then gives a 10-hp jolt on the straightaway. It wasn't a generic third-party setup; each participating team produced its own system. And naturally, those systems were far more involved and advanced than anything found in a Prius.
A Williams F1 KERS can now be found in the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The car's conventional drivetrain is a naturally aspirated four-liter flat six that makes a mighty 480 hp and drives the rear wheels. The front axle, however, has a couple of 60 kW electric motors to provide some extra oomph.

The irony is that most F1 teams, frustrated by reliability issues, ditched KERS by the end of last season and it won't be making a return for 2010. Our hope is that this won't be some empty gesture to appease the greenies. The car will be racing this May at the 24-hour Nürburgring bash, where Porsche says the focus is not on winning the race but on using the car as a "racing lab." It could make up time by needing fewer pit stops, which it will need to catch Walter Röhrl, who'll reportedly be driving a stock GT3 RS against the field.


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Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Romeo's Giulietta
The notion of Alfa Romeos being sold Stateside again still feels like one of those mad dreams we dare not dream, but how can anyone not get all giggly when faced with the new Giulietta? The name itself conjures up wistful memories of beautiful cars with raspy exhausts. And also some pieces of crap from the '80s, but we can gloss over those. Could this be a return to the glory days, powered by a range-topping 235-hp gasoline engine? Or even a thrusty, lusty turbodiesel? To the Chrysler/Fiat brass: We bailed you guys out to the tune of millions, we deserve something great.


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Citroen DS High Rider Concept

Viva la DS
Word from over the water is that Citroën, possibly the quirkiest of the big three French car companies, has resurrected those venerable initials: DS. But rather than making it the kind of wafty sedan General de Gaulle might recognize, the DS of the 21st century is a subcompact.
However, Citroën's DS High Rider concept, made for the Geneva show, looks like it's trying to make people swear off neutrality and join the resistance. Although the idea of a coupe on stilts running a diesel hybrid drivetrain doesn't sound too great in theory, it sure beats a poke in the eye with a stale baguette in practice.

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2011 Volvo S60

Mixing Sensible With Sensual

It's all new. It's (allegedly) the sportiest Volvo ever. And it has cool things like pedestrian-detecting radar with automatic braking. This handsome beast is the 2011 Volvo S60 premium midsize sedan. The range-topping model, the T60 AWD, will have a turbocharged, 3.0-liter straight six, cooking up 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque that turns all four wheels.

Volvo recently stated its intention to make accident-free cars and the gadgets on the new S60 go some way to fulfilling such an ambitious promise. Sensors and cameras are on constant vigil, checking for hazards. They can also communicate with the brakes and operate them. A slightly less fancy system already works fine in the XC60 SUV. And considering how well that vehicle drives, the S60 could really be fun. How often does that get said about a Volvo?

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Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

In our first installment of the View Finder series we looked at a photo shoot of a perfect 1971 Lamborghini Miura. In that article I remarked on how incredible it is to shoot an older vehicle like a Miura. All the little details, all the intricately machined and assembled components not seen on today's cars.

This time we are taking you behind the scenes at a shoot for a brand new Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. This much younger sibling of the Miura may be from the same manufacturer and cut from the same cloth, but in actuality is a much different animal.

While the Miura was beautiful in every detail, the Gallardo is aggressive and emotional as a whole. Some will argue that it doesn't have as much soul, as much feeling as the Miura, and maybe it doesn't, but it inspires lust in a whole different way. This car truly lives up to the charging bull depicted on its hood. While cars keep getting more and more complex, the aesthetics seem to be regressing into simpler, smother, less complex shapes.



On the inside the Miura is extremely simple. No electronics to save unskilled drivers, no computers to monitor the engine and the environment to constantly adjust one to the other. On the outside however, the Miura is an amazing collection of complex curves and contours. I don't know if there is actually a single flat panel on the entire car. Lamborghini was not apologetic at all about the need for adding vents, lights and bumpers to the outside of the car. The designers in fact seemed proud of the need for the outlets on the hood as if showing off just how much heat that big V12 produces that it needs to spread it around the car. Not only did they scoop out the sculpted front fenders for the pop-up headlights, they even painted them black to add to the effect.

The Gallardo on the other hand is an exercise in simplicity. While this car is anything but understated, the intimidating character is translated in much less complex and less deliberate way. The Miura is the SWAT Team member in full body armor and the Gallardo is the Secret Service Agent in the black suit and glasses, they may look very different but you know the outcome will be the same if you mess with them.



Getting the car into the studio was the same exercise as with the Miura. No running cars in the studio and no tires rolling on the painted floor means everything happens on the wheel jacks. The first concern with the wheel jacks was whether they were up to the task of straddling the massive rear tires, luckily this is the baby Lambo and the rear tires measure a "mere" 295mm wide. They barely fit, I am not looking forward to trying to get the jacks on the Murcielago's 335 steamroller-esque monsters.

The pearl white paint almost glows under the studios lights, almost as if it is lighting up the space as much as the light box above it. In the studio is were a cars lines can really be appreciated. There are no reflections in the paint, no weird shadows or glares from the outside, just smooth uninterrupted light bathing the car. To see a car like this is like studying it in an art gallery or museum. Suddenly the shape of the car is sculpture, the lines are pure and the car can truly be judged as a vision and not as machine.

It didn't take nearly as long to position this car. With its flatter panels and in your face styling, everything is right in front of you. Shadows and highlights don't hid from you like on the Miura. You see how the light lays on the surface and it doesn't play any tricks on you.

Photographing the car still took the same amount of care. Senior Editor Rob Hallstrom was the matador with this bull, he has a little more down to business attitude about shooting than Editor Les Bidrawn. Both are excellent photographers but you get the feeling that Les shoots from the hip a little more than Rob. Rob came in with a plan; he knew what he was after and what it would take to get it done. Les is a little more free flowing, waiting to get the car in the studio to see what happens.




credit by: http://www.europeancarweb.com
By Michael Febbo, Photography by Michael Febbo

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Carlsson SLK CB25 S - Escape Pod

In aesthetic terms, Mercedes aftermarket tuners tend to fall into one of two categories: mild or wild. Brabus and Carlsson support the former school of thought, while Lorinser, MAE Design and Asma Design are proponents of the latter.

I expected no less than simple elegance when I came to see Carlsson’s take on the new SLK, and I was not disappointed. As usual, their designer, Rolf Schepp, has done a fine job of getting a feel for the standard car’s styling, and then seamlessly blending in the Carlsson house style for a relatively subtle but distinctively elegant result.

On the SLK, a designer has to be extra careful with bold design motifs that can become crowded if more than one appears together, or simply out of proportion if applied for their own sake.


                      Sound is important in a sports car, and the SLK presses all the right buttons here.


A case in point is the SLR-style nose treatment nose on the previous R171 SLK. The bulbous nose cone sat very uneasily on the front of the much shorter and narrower SLK. And when the AMG body styling was applied with its various larger intakes, the end result appeared far too fussy on a car of such small physical dimensions.

The latest R172 SLK has a much more sculpted look, with pronounced haunches that give it Coke-bottle rather than wedge-shaped flanks. This helps to balance the design when seen from different angles. But like so many production cars, in its base form with standard wheels, the SLK looks unfinished and just cries out for bigger wheels and wider rubber. The new, more muscular looking SLK takes to subtle body styling enhancements much better than its predecessors

muscular look. Carlsson uses the AMG package as its base, adding a new front spoiler to which you can also fit the company’s RS front bumper lip. The nine-piece, electro-polished stainless steel mesh kit for the grille and underbumper intakes looks particularly good on a black car, giving the front end a more classically sporting look

The optional AMG body styling ties in beautifully with the curved rear haunches, giving the car a more


At the rear, the new diffuser insert, which can be ordered in carbon fiber, has cutouts for the four big polished exhaust outlets. The small bootlid trailing edge spoiler is the finishing touch, and adds a bit of downforce to counter lift over the rear axle at speed.

Fitted with 235/35ZR19 and 265/35ZR19 rubber, the 8.5- and 9.5x19 Carlsson 1/10 Graphite Edition alloy wheels fill out the arches. Together with the 1.2-inch ride height drop provided by the sport spring set, they help to give the car its broader, more hunkered down stance.

The latest turbocharged 1,796cc four-cylinder is the best four-pot petrol engine Mercedes has ever made. Smooth, powerful and economical, in the SLK in particular it’s a hoot to drive. Sound is important in a sports car, and the SLK presses all the right buttons here. On the intake side, the factory-tuned resonance chamber gives the induction system the acoustic properties of a brace of carburetors when you use the throttle in anger. Carlsson’s stainless rear exhaust silencer helps to reduce backpressure and gives the exhaust a deeper, more mellifluous tone to match the gurgling induction roar.


For the tuners, the downside of the new motor is the Siemens ECU, which has pretty robust security protocols. For now at least, tuners have had to resort to using an external piggyback ECU to intercept the signals between the factory ECU and motor. The Carlsson C-Tronic unit performs this task in real time by tricking the Siemens unit into thinking that the information received is within normal operating parameters.

As manufacturers look ever more closely at controlling costs, the presence of components with significant performance headroom that can be taken up by the aftermarket tuners is dwindling. In the case of the SLK, the factory intercooler does not have far to go before it reaches its limit, so a 10 percent more efficient unit is part and parcel of Carlsson’s CB25 S engine upgrade kit. Apart from allowing a 15 percent higher boost pressure over the stock 1.2 bar, it also benefits reliability by helping to limit the thermal stress imposed on the uprated engine.

The result of these modifications is an increase in power from 204 hp at 5,500 rpm to 239 hp, while torque goes up from 229 lb-ft between 2000 and 4300 rpm to 273 lb-ft. The higher peak figures are attained at the same engine speeds.

As the ECU remapping also affects the response of the e-gas throttle, there is more to the change in driving characteristics than just the power and torque increase. In Sport mode, the already responsive engine feels like it has just had its claws sharpened, delivering its newfound output with even more verve and eagerness. Couple that to the more sporting exhaust note, and you have a small roadster that gives you a fine stereo effect from both induction and exhaust when you’re wringing it out on a twisty road.

You feel the extra torque more than the power because you use it all the time, especially around town and exiting bends. That same twisty road also reveals that the extra grip provided by the bigger tires and the enhanced stability of the lowered suspension are running ahead of the comparatively modest power increase. It feels like the chassis upgrade would only come into its own when paired with the more powerful V6.

With clients becoming more enlightened to the joys of bespoke interior trim, Carlsson was able to go some of the way with this car, which was bound for a customer in Thailand. The black and orange interior trim is extroverted to say the least. The headrests, side bolsters, and door inserts are covered with orange leather, while the seat inserts have three black panels each, with a quilted effect highlighted by orange cross-stitching.

In a reverse effect, the orange door inserts are set off with black quilt-effect cross-stitching. The same colors are used on the Carlsson gear knob, whose black leather gaiter has orange stitching highlights.

Finishing touches are the orange edging on the black Carlsson floor mats with larger than normal Carlsson logos, the alloy pedal set and footrest and the stainless steel doorsill entrance plates. While this interior color scheme might not be to everyone’s taste, the quality of the workmanship is undeniably top-notch.

Mercedes claims the new SLK has been a big hit with customers. The fact that they managed to deliver the first cars this summer has certainly helped. Carlsson’s modifications really make the car look complete, and the admiring glances we received from other drivers and people on the street when driving to and from our photo location certainly underlines that



Carlsson SLK CB25 S
Layout
Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive

Engine
1.8-liter I4, dohc, 16-valve, turbocharged. Carlsson CB25 S upgrade kit, sport exhaust, C-Tronic piggyback ECU

Suspension
Lowering springs (1.2 in.)

Wheels and Tires
Carlsson 1/10 Graphite Edition alloys, 8.5x19 (f), 9.5x19 (r)
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 235/35 (f) and 265/35 (r)

Exterior
Carlsson front spoiler and RS carbon lip, stainless steel grille/intake mesh, rear diffuser insert, bootlid lip spoiler

Interior
Custom black and orange leather interior trim with contrasting stitching, Carlsson alloy pedal set and gearknob

Performance
Peak Power: 239 hp
Peak Torque: 273 lb-ft




Credit by: http://www.europeancarweb.com

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2012 Victory Hammer S

 

 A Muscle Cruiser with a Sport Bike Soul.

At the intersection of sporty styling and cruiser muscle are the Hammer and Hammer S. Minimal, sporty bodywork highlights the meaty 250mm rear tire and the dual disk brakes up front. The Hammer S is a limited-edition model with special muscle car-inspired styling.

Go one-step further than the Hammer with the Hammer S V-Twin cruiser motorcycle wide tire cruiser motorcycle. We take the raw aggression that riders love about the Hammer and push it to another level with the styling on this machine. Blacked out custom detail and exhaust provides a striking contrast to the custom painted wheels and hard-to-miss paint job.
Add that to the power of the 106 cubic-inch Freedom V-Twin engine that drives 97 horsepower and 113 ft.-lb. of torque to provide you with an unforgettably powerful ride on an unforgettable bike. This V-twin cruiser is the height of style and performance. Nobody is going to miss this machine rolling down the highway or the city streets.
The style takes the aggression of the Hammer model and steps it up. The suede red and black color scheme with the white stripe immediately brings to mind the muscle cars and cruisers of the past. PROVEN OUTSTANDING RELIABILITY
Victory has a track record of consistently outstanding reliability and dependability, which has led to the industry's highest customer satisfaction ratings. This proven reliability, along with the new transmission design, allows Victory to recommend extended oil service intervals for 2011 drivetrains.

o The recommended oil change interval for 2011 models is every 5,000 miles (8,000 km).
o Less-frequent oil changes results in a lower cost of ownership.

NEW TRANSMISSION
The Victory drivetrain team scrutinized every component of the engine and transmission and fine-tuned the designs and performance of numerous parts. Approximately 40% of the drivetrain is new for 2011, with the transmission receiving so many improvements it is virtually a new transmission.
The changes: improved manufacturing efficiency and quality assurance; enhanced drivetrain's already-impressive reliability; improved engine performance; and, for riders, improved ridability and delivered a more appealing-sounding transmission.

o In terms of operating sound, selected modulation frequencies have been eliminated. This produces a more-appealing sound - consistently in each gear. In 4th and 6th gears in particular, gear whine has been reduced.
o Driveline lash has been reduced by 66%.
o "Neutral Assist" has been added to make it easier for a rider to shift into neutral when stopped. This will reduce the rider's effort, will reduce clutch wear and will lessen the performance demands on the oil.

ENHANCED INSTRUMENTATION
All cruisers now have instrumentation similar to that of the Victory Cross Roads, which provides a rider with a wealth of information in one, easy-to-read location. The new instrumentation includes:

o An analog speedometer, which may be set to show MPH or KPH.
o Blue backlighting.
o A large LCD that displays: Clock (time of day is viewable at all times), gear position, tachometer and diagnostic readouts for Victory dealership service technicians.
o The gauge face includes lights such as high-beam and neutral indicators and the oil warning light. Cruisers no longer have these indicator lights atop the triple clamps.
o The Cross Roads instrumentation also has an always-viewable fuel gauge.

CHASSIS CHANGES ACROSS THE LINEUP
All brake calipers, rotors, lower belt guards, and floorboards are black.

o All left- and right-hand switch cubes are black, as are the audio control switch block and cruise control switch block.
o The triple clamp is black on all models except the Hammer S Jackpot (which retains its chrome triple), and the Victory Cross Roads (which retains its brushed finish).
o A new side stand on each model features an integrated hooked-end design for easy locating and easy control of the side stand.

o All cruiser exhausts have a larger outlet for improved sound quality and a lower exhaust note.



2012 Victory Hammer S Model Highlights
- 106 cubic-inch Freedom V-Twin Engine

- 113 ft lbs torque

- Muscle car styling

o Sport-styled bodywork, with high rear fender exposing the 250mm rear tire.
o Dual front disk brakes and inverted forks.
o Colour-matched cowl detaches to reveal passenger seat.
o Chrome bracket holds tachometer and new speedometer (which can show MPH or KPH) featuring blue backlighting, indicator lights on the gauge face and large LCD that provides: Clock (viewable at all times), gear position, odometer, trip meter and diagnostic readouts.

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BMW i8 Concept. The most progressive sportscar.

The concept car BMW Vision EfficientDynamics created excitement and very positive feedback at the IAA 2009. The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics made ​​it clear that an emotional sports car with the fuel economy of a small car is no contradiction, but could soon be reality.

After successful initial testing of the vehicle concept, the decision for a series-production vehicle was quickly made. The BMW i8 Concept is the next step in the evolution of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. The result: The most progressive and innovative sports car of its time. Its innovative plug-in hybrid concept combines the modified electric drive system from the BMW i3 Concept – fitted over its front axle – with a high-performance three-cylinder combustion engine producing 164 kW/220 hp and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) at the rear. Working in tandem, they allow the two drive systems to display their respective talents to the full, delivering the performance of a sports car but the fuel consumption of a small car.
Acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds combined with fuel consumption in the European cycle of under three litres per 100 kilometres (approx. 94 mpg imp) are figures currently beyond the capability of any vehicle powered by a combustion engine of comparable performance. Thanks to the eDrive technology with its large lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a domestic power supply, the BMW i8 Concept can travel up to 35 kilometres (approx. 20 miles) on electric power alone. Added to which, the 2+2-seater offers enough space for four people, giving it a high level of everyday practicality.

The LifeDrive architecture of the BMW i8 Concept has been carefully adapted to enhance the vehicle's sports car character, and therefore to deliver unbeatable performance and excellent driving dynamics. The motor in the front axle module and combustion engine at the rear are connected by an "energy tunnel", which houses the high-voltage battery. This gives the car a low centre of gravity – and the dynamic benefits that come with it. The positioning of the electric motor and engine over their respective axles and the space-saving and well-balanced packaging of all components result in an optimum 50/50 weight distribution.

An Icon of Progress – the BMW i8 Concept.

The emotional design of the BMW i8 Concept ensures its qualities are clear for all to see. Its dynamic proportions give the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of surging forward before it even turns a wheel and lend visual form to its extraordinary performance.

The sporting character continues into the interior. Boasting a driver-focused environment unmatched by any BMW Group vehicle before it, the BMW i8 Concept immerses the driver fully in the unique driving experience. The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable.
The design of the BMW i8 Concept is as special as the car's overall concept embodying the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic allure. Its sweeping lines and flat silhouette lend the vehicle a strikingly dynamic appearance even when standing still. A large, transparent greenhouse lends the exterior an extraordinary feeling of lightness and highlights the exceptional efficiency of this vehicle concept. Short front and rear overhangs round off the sporting overall impression. Despite its dynamic appearance, the 2+2-seater can accommodate four people, giving it a high degree of everyday practicality.
As with the BMW i3 Concept, layering again serves as the central design element of the interior and exterior. The individual vehicle components are also clearly visible from the outside, the black and transparent Life module clearly setting itself apart from the silver-coloured body components around it. This layering approach lends the BMW i8 Concept an extremely technical and cutting-edge appeal.

View Gallery The BMW i8 Concept's Exterior

Dynamic side view.
Taut surfaces and precise edges form an extremely sculptural and organic surface structure. The precise lines along its flanks and BMW i "stream flow" also give the BMW i8 Concept a strong sense of powering forward even when it is standing still. The BMW i8 Concept's doors swing upwards like wings to provide an undeniably emotional and sporting allure. Below the doors, the silver-coloured layer moulds the car's flanks into a powerful wedge shape, opening out from the door sills towards the rear. A blue flourish accentuates the dynamic presence of the sills. Together, the bonnet and door sill sculpting emphasise the BMW i8 Concept's forward-surging stance, and their smooth lines imbue the car with a touch of lightness.
Striking front end.
The BMW i8 Concept also displays its dynamic sports car persona when viewed from the front. A number of different levels interact with one another in the design of the front end, while the expressive surface treatment exudes dynamic verve and advertises the car's sporting potential. The full-LED headlights of the BMW i8 Concept are designed as two U-shaped configurations.
A black, semi-transparent "V" rises out of the bonnet just behind the kidney grille, opening out towards the windscreen and guiding the eye to the electric motor below. The "V" also offers the first glimpse of the CFRP module and extends back towards the rear like a black band to provide a visual connection between the different sections of the car.
Sporty rear end.
Similarly to the front end, the rear of the car is also very low, horizontal and sculptural in design. The silver-coloured side sections form a striking vertical frame around the rear of the car, with a precise line extending out to the sides enjoying particular prominence. In its centre the silver-coloured and blue-framed rear diffuser is a wider and lower interpretation of the version on the BMW i3 Concept, adding a distinct sporting flavour to its relationship with its stablemate.
At the rear, the car's exceptional sporting credentials are also expressed in width-accentuating lines, three-dimensional air outlets and "floating" tail lights with air through-flow. The tail lights, which also have a distinct horizontal design, are integrated into the upper layer of the rear and share the signature U-shape of the BMW i light concept.

View Gallery The BMW i8 Concept's Interior

Purpose-built interior.
The transparent surfaces in the doors and roof give the exterior and interior design of the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of merging into one another. The colour concept and underlying structure of the BMW i8 Concept interior closely mimic those of the BMW i3 Concept. Here again, the Porcelain White support structure, black technical level and comfort section with Mocha Brown leather are split into three different layers. The arrangement of the air vents, control panels and displays also betrays the car's family ties to its BMW i3 Concept sibling. Overall, however, these features have a more sporting character and are geared much more clearly towards the driver. Indeed, a level of driver focus beyond that of any BMW Group vehicle before it allows the BMW i8 Concept to immerse the driver fully in the unique experience behind the wheel. Driver-relevant functions such as the gearshift lever, start-stop button and parking brake are arranged around the driver on the centre console and are graphically strongly geared towards the driving seat as well. The three-dimensional displays are extremely clear and flash up the relevant information for the driving situation at hand. At the same time, occupants in the BMW i8 Concept sit in a highly integrated position low down in the car and are separated by the battery running lengthways through the interior. This longitudinal bisection of the cabin underlines the sporting and forward-looking character of the BMW i8 Concept interior.
Optimum information.
The freestanding information display in the dash is joined by an equally large display taking the role of the instrument cluster. Designing the central instruments in this way enables driver-relevant information to be conveyed in a three-dimensional and high-resolution format. In keeping with BMW i style, the displays are premium, modern and purist. Depending on the driving mode, the two drive systems are depicted by a pair of ellipses, which supply information on their operation at any given time. Other information – such as the available range and fuel level – can be found here, too.

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EARLY 2013: BMW i3 Electric City Car

 

BMW claim that it's new $35,000 Chevy Volt-beater will have 99 miles of range from its rear-mounted electric motor and floor-mounted batteries. BMW (being BMW) is also claiming 100 mph for the car's top speed, and the i3 could bring the equivalent of 150 horsepower. Cargo will be divided between the rear seats and in the front trunk (a la the original, rear-engine VW Beetle). Much of the body will be made of carbon-reinforced plastic.

Wireless charging is one intriguing concepts we hope makes it to market. In conjunction with industrial giant Siemens, BMW is working on a magnetic field charging system, like those used in wireless laptop and cell phone charging pads, where a car would parked above a charging station. At that point, a coil in both the ground and the vehicle would recognize each other and begin the charge. This beats having your Volt or Prius PHV plugged in via wire at a garage or mall for a few hours, where vandalism or other hazards exist.

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LATE 2012: Corvette C7

 

The current 'Vette has looked the same for nearly 13 years. Though it's still an amazing car, delivering Ferrari-like performance for one-fifth the price, it's dated in many respects. Expect a lot from the all-new C7 Corvette, then, with cool exterior cues like a split rear window and a vastly upgraded interior that's well above the coach-class quarters of the present car. But handling, which has always been the car's strongest suit, will remain largely unaltered. Horsepower targets in the 400-450 range would be a safe bet for this $50,000 car, even as GM aims to lower displacement to shave weight and nudge up the fuel economy. There might even be forced induction of some kind, and it's perfectly reasonable to expect direct fuel injection for the newest crown jewel of the Chevy badge.


 

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OCTOBER 2012: 2013 Ford Shelby GT500

As much as we love the new Camaro ZL1, the 2013 Ford Shelby ST500 bests its Chevy competitor in the contest for the most powerful production V-8 car on the planet. And the fact that the next Shelby Mustang also beats the Camaro ZL1 on both horsepower and torque (650 hp and 600 lb-ft versus 580 hp and 556 lb-ft in the Camaro) yet weighs 200 pounds less just adds insult to injury.

You’ll pay for all that power, though. We expect the 200-mph top-speed Mustang to cost more than the Camaro—possibly a lot more when you add in the goodies you’ll want, such as an optional Performance Package with electronic adjustable dampers and a Torsen limited-slip, along with a track package that combines an engine oil cooler, rear diff cooler, and transmission cooler. That could raise the sticker north of $70,000, while the ZL1 sits at a more reasonable $54,995

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FALL 2012: Ford Fiesta ST

The Fiesta ST will have an altered body for improved cooling, but may be available only as a three-door hatch. It will have better suspension tuning, possibly Recaro racing seats, some unique trim, 17-inch wheels, speed-rated performance tires and dual exhaust. Ford reportedly experimented with cramming the 2.0-liter engine from the Focus ST into this car. Unfortunately, that won't be coming to the showroom, partly because Ford is working hard to differentiate its two hot hatches. The automaker is launching them at least six months apart and trying to give the Fiesta as much of a sport focus as possible, while selling the Focus with more of an upscale feel. So expect the Fiesta to carry a directly injected, turbocharged 1.6-liter four.

We don't know the Fiesta ST's price yet, but one would think it couldn't go much higher than $23,000, with rivals like the Nissan Sentra SE-R coming in at $20,000 and the Civic Si smack at $23,000.

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JULY 2012: 2013 Cadillac ATS

To say that Cadillac is chasing the BMW 3 series with this car would be an immense understatement. The ATS’s footprint is such a spot-on copy of the BMW that the Caddy could proverbially step right into the BMW’s shoes. Even the EPA interior space is close, which is no accident at all. With the all-new ATS, Cadillac didn’t want to fit somewhere between Bimmer’s 3 and 5 series, which is what happened to the CTS, as well as Infiniti G sedans and more than one Acura. Nor did Caddy want to make the great mistake Lexus did with its IS—copying the BMW look, but falling down on the job of making a real driver’s car.

Nope, Cadillac says it wanted to beat the BMW 3 series in every part of the game. The ATS is a lighter car, at 3400 pounds, with more engine options that pack more punch. The Caddy’s 2.0-liter four delivers 270 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, topping the 240 hp and 260 lb-ft you’d get from the new 2.0-liter four in the 2012 328i. The ATS also offers a V-6 good for 320 hp, besting the BMW 335i by 20 hp. (Note, however, that the 335i can put down 300 lb-ft to just 267 for the V-6 Cadillac.)

Given what Cadillac has achieved with the CTS, which is a heavy platform, it’s going to be exciting to see what the carmaker can do with its sights set squarely on the lighter and nimbler 3 series. MSRP is still a ways off, but figure the ATS will have very similar pricing to the 3 series, perhaps minus the expensive markups.

Read more: Best New Cars for 2012 - 12 Cool Cars Worth Waiting For - Popular Mechanics

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JULY 2012: 2013 Dodge Dart

That the world is excited about a compact sedan by Dodge tells you just how much the market has shifted since President Obama bailed out Chrysler. With the new Dart, we’re not talking about some mediocre Dodge Caliber. We think we’re about to get a strong competitor to an already superb small-car segment that includes the Chevy Sonic and Cruze, Ford Fiesta and Focus, Hyundai Accent and Veloster.

 

 

 

While Ford can claim Euro influences on its small cars, the Dart will be the only “American” small car with an Italian soul. It’ll ride on an Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform with a rigid, high-strength steel body. And the standard equipment makes the Dart sound enjoyable already. It’ll come with standard four-wheel discs, MacPherson front struts, and a multilink independent rear, all of which make us think the 184-hp R/T model may be the way to go, as that car will get the stiffest suspension. But if you want juice and better fuel economy, you’ll be able to opt for the 1.4-liter, SOHC turbocharged MultiAir from the forthcoming Fiat Abarth 500. In the Dart it’ll be good for 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The R/T will have a manual-shift option; the 1.4-liter car may have a double-clutch manumatic option. Expect pricing to start in the low $16,000s.

Read more: Best New Cars for 2012 - 12 Cool Cars Worth Waiting For - Popular Mechanics

 

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APRIL 2012: 2013 Mini Paceman

The Paceman is a two-door concept coupe that debuted last year, and our sources say it's a lock for production. Mini will have to work hard with this model, though, which is essentially the forthcoming Countryman minus two doors. The Paceman should either get real horsepower and ride considerably lower than the Countryman (think: a big version of the Mini Cooper S, but with all-wheel drive), or be made even more all-road capable than the Countryman, as a rival to the likes of the Subaru WRX—of course in full rally-car livery. The latter may actually be more likely, as Mini is racing a 2011 Countryman in the World Rally Championships. That car? It gets 300 hp!

Read more: Best New Cars for 2012 - 12 Cool Cars Worth Waiting For - Popular Mechanics

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APRIL 2012: 2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1

The best reason to herald the arrival of this ZL1 isn’t the Cadillac CTS-V-derived supercharged V-8 with 580 hp (up from 556 hp in the Caddy), nor is it the top speed of around 180 mph. It’s that Chevy engineers finally listened to those of us who howled about how great the Camaro could be.

Not only does the new ZL1 get a ridiculous amount of muscle good for 0 to 60 runs in the low 4-second range, but it also benefits from revised front and rear dampers as well as antiroll bars. Finally, then, the $54,995 Camaro ZL1 is starting to fulfill its potential to offer supercar driving at a price that more than the 1 percent can afford. Even better: These same revisions will trickle down to the more affordable $31,930 Camaro SS.

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EARLY 2012: Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen had been one of the few brands in the United States that hasn't decided to Buick-ize its styling and sponge down its ride. And, indeed, the Golf R promises to be anything but vanilla. With the Golf R's AWD, 280 hp and a real six-speed gearbox, Volkswagen is at last bringing a genuine WRX fighter to the U.S. Volkswagen is even committing two body styles to the contest, pitting this car against the Mini Paceman (only a three-door). Fuel economy is said to be 20 percent better than the old R32, at a price that should be near $32,000. It will have new brake rotors, plus more aggressive stability-control settings with "track setting" or the equivalent. Expect both two- and four-door body styles, both of which will get R-body-style cosmetics and sport exhaust.

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FEBRUARY 2012: 2013 Mitsubishi Evo XI

With Mitsubishi scrapping its gas guzzlers and launching brand-new electric and gas-electric hybrids, all aimed at meeting ever-tighter global emissions standards, the rumor mill is suggesting that even the Lancer Evolution is going to go green. Or green-ish. The idea is to keep it high-performance and AWD, but also use some of the technology already behind the forthcoming i-MiEV electric city car and wed it to either a turbodiesel or a gas motor. The potential would still be there for exceptional output when both gas/electric power plants combine, but it's possible Mitsubishi may allow the driver to roll up to highway speeds on battery juice alone, vastly improving fuel economy. Evo XI may become both larger and more refined too, positioning it more naturally against rivals like Audi.

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JANUARY 2012: 2013 Ford Focus ST

The new Focus is at last debuting in the U.S., with a 2.0-liter, direct-injected, 160-hp motor and variable valve timing, as well as a five-speed manual. But, the car to wait for is the 2013 Focus ST, which debuts in early 2012. It gets a six-speed manual with the same EcoBoost (turbocharged) 2.0-liter as the much larger Edge and Explorer and will be good for somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 hp, which puts it in league with hot hatches like the MazdaSpeed3 and beyond the output of the VW GTI. Ford is also promising a tauter suspension and meatier tires as well as bigger brakes to go with all that horsepower. Expect to pay at least $25,000.

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