2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R - First Drive Review

VW teases us with a race-inspired Scirocco.

BY MANFRED JERZEMBEK AND JENS MEINERS
December 2009

Born into the oil crisis of the early 1970s and based on the compact Volkswagen Golf platform, the first-generation Scirocco was an efficient and sporty answer to the many domestic two-door coupes in the U.S. VW followed it up with a slightly bigger, second-gen car—as well as the Corrado, the Scirocco’s spiritual successor. But the company’s sports-car ambitions ultimately died with the Corrado in the 1990s.

However, the Scirocco is back—in Europe. VW doesn’t believe the U.S. market can support both the new car and the GTI (which is mechanically similar) without one cannibalizing the sales of the other. However, we can’t help feeling deprived of one of the hottest hot hatches on the market: the 265-hp Scirocco R, which we recently had a chance to put through its paces in the mountains near Nice, France.

Turbo Hotness

We like the sleek, unusual shape of the Scirocco—essentially, it’s a two-door “shooting brake” in the tradition of the Volvo 1800ES and Reliant Scimitar—the basic architecture of which is shared with the Golf, as well as the Audi A3, TT, and several other Volkswagen Group cars. VW fitted the 265-hp, direct-injected, 2.0-liter turbo four from the Audi S3 in the still-front-wheel-drive R model, which was inspired by the GT24 Nürburgring race car. “We could have made it even more powerful, but we wanted to achieve affordability,” says VW spokesman Martin Hube. In fact, the Scirocco R is the least expensive of the Volkswagen brand’s “R” models, which include the 270-hp, all-wheel-drive Golf R, as well as the European-market Passat R36 and Touareg R50. (The Seat Leon Cupra R, which is mechanically similar to the Scirocco R, undercuts the VW by about $5K in Europe.)

Some marketing types were concerned that customers would prefer a V-6 engine for cylinder-count bragging rights, but VW CEO Martin Winterkorn’s engine-downsizing strategy seems to be right on target. The Scirocco R’s turbo serves up 17 psi of boost, which makes available the engine’s 258 lb-ft of torque from 2500 to 5000 rpm. VW claims 62 mph comes in six seconds flat, and top speed is governed at 155 mph. The R gets an impressive 29 mpg in the combined European cycle with the available Direct Shift Gearbox. Stefan Ellrott, development chief at Volkswagen Individual, says he had the engineers tune the R’s soundtrack—“not too high-pitched, not too dark”—and the result is impressive. This four-banger sounds so sporty and powerful that we never wished for an extra couple of cylinders.

Although a six-speed manual transmission is standard, most buyers will opt for VW’s six-speed DSG automated manual. We’ve driven it in numerous VW and Audi vehicles, and despite being less fine-tuned than Porsche’s seven-speed PDK, it’s one of the best dual-clutch gearboxes available. We do, however, applaud VW for still offering a proper manual.

Front Drive = Less Weight

The front wheels cope with that much power and torque surprisingly well. Torque steer is minimal, and the R’s electronic front differential keeps the car from leaping into the shrubbery on corner exit without hindering steering accuracy. Of course, a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system would be more fun, but that adds weight, cost, and additional drivetrain losses.

The Scirocco R is claimed to be more than 200 pounds lighter than the all-wheel-drive Golf R. The Scirocco R’s chassis also is up to the task of taming the 2.0T’s power. The disc brakes—13.6 inches in front, 12.2 inches at the rear—are hefty and effective. The super-sensitive electromechanical power steering weights up nicely with a push of the sport button on the console and offers good feedback—there is little of the artificial feel often associated with electric power steering. The GTI’s flat-bottom steering wheel is a nice touch, too.

Visually Arresting

Eighteen-inch wheels are standard, but the 19-inch Talladega wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza rubber look better and offer impressive grip. Other design cues that differentiate the R from lesser Sciroccos include oversize air intakes, LED daytime running lights, darkened taillights, wide rocker panels, and two chrome exhaust pipes framing a black diffuser. Also featured are angular but supportive sport seats and blue needles on the instrumentation—a trademark of VW’s R models—as well as brushed-aluminum trim and pedals and headrests embroidered with the “R” logo.

Unfortunately for VW, some of the Scirocco R’s closest competitors come from within the VW Group: namely, the Golf R and the Audi TTS, both of which sport all-wheel drive. But the Scirocco R is the least expensive—about 10 percent less than the Golf R, or about 25 percent more than the GTI. It’s also the most brutal of the bunch, but it’s sure to bring many smiles to its driver’s face. It did to ours. We’d now like to file another complaint with VW about the decision not to bring it here.

2011 BMW 335is Coupe - First Drive Review

2011 BMW 335is Coupe - First Drive Review
Minding the gap—between the 335i and the M3, that is.

BY TONY QUIROGA
January 2010

To fill the gap in the 3-series lineup between the 300-hp 335i and 414-hp M3, BMW is introducing the 2011 335is coupe and convertible. We were unaware that said gap needed to be filled, but we’re told that the 335i is seen in the U.S. as just an ordinary 3-series, and as such, there’s room for something more exotic than a 335i but less outlandish than an M3. Now that we’ve been given the chance to drive the 335is coupe, we’re coming around to accepting this whole gap idea.

More Power and a Body Kit and . . .

Conceptually similar to the 330i Performance package model that was available as part of the previous-generation 3-series lineup, the 335is doesn’t go so far as to threaten the M3’s supremacy, but it definitely ups the sportiness quotient. To that end, the 335is gets 320 hp and 332 lb-ft torque from the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine, and an overboost function allows for seven-second blasts of 370 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the regular-grade 2011 335i, the 335is sticks with the older twin-turbo engine for the simple reason that BMW engineers had more experience tuning it. This same engine can also be found in the Z4 sDrive35is that was introduced at this month’s Detroit auto show. In the Z4, the engine makes 335 hp; a more restrictive intake on the 3-series accounts for the 15-hp difference.

To make the 335is a track-worthy vehicle, BMW upgrades the cooling system with an additional radiator and beefs up the engine mounts. Inside are standard sport seats, steel pedals, an M Sport steering wheel, and textured aluminum trim. Between the seats sits the familiar six-speed manual, but it’s modified here to have shorter throws. For those who prefer not to shift for themselves, BMW is offering its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The DCT system is identical to the one in the M3 and comes with steering-wheel-mounted paddle-type shifters.

Exterior styling builds on that of the 3-series’ 2011 freshening and adds an aggressive M Sport body kit. The kit has a more aggressive front fascia that ditches the coupe’s fog lamps in the interest of increased cooling capacity; the 335is convertible keeps its fog lamps. (And just to confuse you, we posted photos of preproduction coupes with fog lights; the decision to ditch them apparently came after these cars were built.) A new rear bumper incorporates a diffuser-style piece, and the twin exhaust pipes are finished in matte black. New gray-painted, split-five-spoke wheels are the only change to the chassis, despite the extra power—there are no tweaks or modifications to the suspension or brakes.

Same Poise, Even Better Soundtrack

Immediately on starting the engine, one detects a more noticeable hum from the new exhaust system. Less-restrictive mufflers snarl menacingly and only get angrier once the throttle is matted and the revs rise. As we’ve seen with other applications of the twin-turbo six, power is delivered with the immediacy of a large-displacement, naturally aspirated engine. The extra horsepower bestowed on the 335is isn’t exactly massive, but the car will still quickly shrink a straightaway, and it rockets into triple-digit speeds as if towed by a Boeing 747. Indeed, a few laps around Portugal’s Estoril racetrack revealed this car to be exactly what’s suggested by the spec sheet: a powerful 3-series with a fantastic soundtrack. As one might expect from the carry-over chassis, the balance, the predictability, and the unflappable poise that make the 3-series one of our favorite cars are all there in spades.

The 335is doesn’t exactly threaten the M3 performance-wise, and with a starting price of $50,525, the 335is coupe costs $8750 less than an M3 coupe. But compared with the M3 sedan, the 335is coupe saves only $5750; faced with that choice, we’d pony up for the four-door M3. Convertible versions of the 335is start at $59,075, or $8850 less than the M3 convertible. The 335is convertible will arrive in April; coupe buyers will have to wait until June. And don’t go looking for the 335is at dealerships outside North America; for once, BMW is building something just for us.

2010 Volkswagen Golf R - First Drive Review

The most spectacular Golf of all is fantastic but pricey. Will we get the chance to buy one?

BY JENS MEINERS
January 2010

Volkswagen sure knows how to please. The new, sixth-generation Golf is one of the better compact cars, a great-handling hatchback that’s comfortable, too. And we think the sportiest Golf, the 200-hp GTI, is even better—witness its inclusion on our 2010 10Best Cars list. (The previous GTI, based on the Golf V, made the 10Best roster the three years before that.) Now Wolfsburg is adding the Golf R, an all-wheel-drive variant that is the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive Golf ever.

If you follow the logic of previous über-Golf naming schemes, this Golf R should be called the R20; its predecessors were both called R32 on account of their 3.2-liter V-6 powerplants. But Volkswagen has recently announced that it will be starting a special R performance division, akin to Audi’s Quattro subsidiary and BMW’s M division, so expect all super-VWs to carry the single-letter badge going forward.

More from Less

Compared with the two R32 models, the new car loses two cylinders but is up 30 hp, being powered by a 270-horse, 2.0-liter turbocharged four, with maximum boost cranked up to 17 psi. In the new Golf R, all 270 hp arrives at 6000 rpm; maximum torque is 258 lb-ft, available from 2500 to 5000 rpm. Two gearboxes are available in Europe, including a slick-shifting six-speed manual and the six-speed dual-clutch automated manual, or DSG. The last R32 offered in the U.S. was DSG-only, and there’s no word from VW as to whether that strategy would change.

In real-world driving, the Golf R is supremely competent. Okay, that’s an understatement, as acceleration in the lower three gears is vicious: the 0-to-62-mph sprint is conquered in a claimed 5.7 seconds, 0.6 second quicker than the time posted by a 2010 GTI in a recent comparo. The R’s DSG, with its seamless shifts, shaves another 0.2 second, despite its additional 50-ish pounds and parasitic power losses from the hydraulic clutches. At higher and admittedly superlegal velocities, the R bites a bit less but pulls well up to its 155-mph governor—a symbolic sign of modesty, since the car theoretically could squeeze out an additional 5 mph. So the Golf R is a quick car, but if you are acquainted with real sports cars, you won’t be overwhelmed. More specifically, it definitely feels quicker than the front-drive, 200-hp GTI, but it’s not in another league.

You might expect that the R and GTI would share an engine, only differing in tune, but you’d be mistaken. The GTI’s Audi-developed EA888 2.0-liter turbo four is not yet sturdy enough to handle the power and torque required for the Golf R, so the burlier model keeps the older, VW-developed EA113 engine. It’s the same as that found in the Audi S3, the Golf R’s twin brother, which is fine with us—the EA113 does everything right. Fuel consumption drops sharply compared with that of the old Golf R32. It is rated at 28 mpg in the European cycle, and to see mileage drop below 20 mpg, you’ll need to become pretty, uh, conspicuous to local constabulary. We saw 19 mpg from the most recent R32 in a comparison test of performance compacts.

Although the Golf R’s drinking habits are far more mature than we expected, the sound of the Golf R is decidedly adolescent. This engine makes the right noises at the right time. We liked the silky 3.2-liter VR6 in the R32, but this four is so sweet we didn’t miss those couple of pistons for a minute.

Very Capable, but No Club Racer

The Golf R’s handling is more neutral than the GTI’s, but just slightly, as the GTI’s XDS electronic differential does a fairly good job of minimizing the handicap of front-wheel drive. But even the Golf R can’t entirely mask the front-drive roots of its chassis. If you want to drift it, you need to be aware that 100 percent of the power goes to the front wheels under normal driving, and the shift of power to the rear wheels takes a moment. Yes, VW has upgraded the all-wheel-drive system versus that used by the R32. It now works with an electrical pump and can shift almost 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels. The system reacts electronically to changing conditions, and it is quicker than the old setup. Despite that, we found it necessary several times to use the vehicle’s inertia to initiate a drift.

What’s more, the stability-control system can’t be switched off entirely. There is an off position that lets you hang out the tail considerably, but you will inevitably reach a point where the system kicks in, even if you don’t touch the brakes. VW disabled the system completely on some cars for our benefit, but the customer won’t be able to do so. The Golf R thus isn’t a pure sports machine; for further evidence, consider that the DSG upshifts automatically at redline in manual mode. We think it would be more appropriate to let the engine hit the rev limiter instead of second-guessing the driver’s shifting strategy.

Upscale and Well Mannered

The Golf R’s dual personality is again emphasized by the optional DCC electronic chassis. The DCC’s comfort setting softens the chassis and lightens the electromechanical power steering. The normal setting is middle of the road, neither harsh nor soft. Sport is what enthusiasts crave, delivering stiffer damping and sharper steering reflexes. VW says it anticipates that Golf R buyers will be far more mature than GTI buyers, desiring a comfortable long-distance cruiser that they can still take to the track every once in a while. For them, the DCC makes sense. But we’ll take it hard-core, thanks.

At a claimed 3350 to 3400 pounds, the Golf R is a heavy compact; the last six-speed-manual GTI we weighed rang in at 3180 pounds. Given that, we find the lighter, front-drive GTI and the 265-hp Scirocco R to be more tossable. Lightweight components, such as aluminum or carbon-fiber panels, were considered for the Golf R but were ultimately dismissed to keep costs under control.

Instead of exotic materials, customers get R-exclusive styling elements, including twin central exhaust tips and lots of glossy black trim inside and out. The 18- or 19-inch Talladega-design wheels are one of the R’s trademarks; they look a lot like the rollers used on the Audi RS 6. The taillights are now dual L-shaped LED units, a styling element that has already trickled down to the European-market GTI and will become standard on all Golfs. There are no fog lights; VW says it needed the room to fulfill the cooling needs of the engine and transmission. (Do we sense a trend? The same reason was given for the omission of fog lamps on the 2011 BMW 335is.)

Upscale Price

At €36,400 (the equivalent of $50,790) in Germany, the Golf R is nearly $14,000 more expensive than the GTI. If it came to the U.S., the premium would likely be about ten grand above the GTI’s $24,215 base price. But will it make the transatlantic voyage? It was basically a done deal last year, but VW remains undecided at this point. Although we crave the Golf R’s presence on U.S. shores, and we have to say that the car is damn good, its superiority may come at a price that few will be willing to pay. So we understand VW’s hesitation—wait, what are we saying? Bring the Golf R here now.

The Toyota Sienna has been the automotive equivalent of Wonder Bread: satisfying, but also squishy and bland, a product purchased for the sake of the

2011 BMW 5-series / 535i - Second Drive
Honey, I Shrunk the Seven: The sixth 5-series is almost a 7.

BY TONY QUIROGA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLIE MAGEE
February 2010

Before the controversial and oft-derided 7-series stormed onto the scene in 2001, the design of BMW’s flagship dictated the look of the rest of the sedans in the lineup. The 7’s design would trickle down to the smaller sedans with only a few alterations. The main difference was the size: Buyers could opt for small (3-series), medium (5-series), or large (7-series) versions of what looked like the same car. Some criticized this strategy and accused the brand of merely offering “sausages of different lengths,” another way of saying BMW’s design lacked variation and adequate differentiation between models. But when the 5-series and 3-series that followed the 2002 7-series were unveiled, it was a relief to see that, aside from a few 7-series cues, they’d been spared the paunchiness of the overwrought 7. The smaller the car, the less controversial its styling, which seemed to signal an end to the strategy of “sausages of different lengths.”

Now that BMW has launched a redesigned 7-series (for 2009) and a new, sixth-generation 5-series, it’s clear that the ­variable-length sausages are back. We’re envisioning someone at BMW headquarters saying, “Pull out zee shrink ray, Claus, it’s time to make zee 5er.” Indeed, the design presentation of the new 5-series largely consisted of BMW’s chief designer, Adrian van Hooydonk, pointing out the minor design differences between the 5 and the 7 in what seemed like an attempt to convince us that he does not, in fact, possess a shrink ray.

Making the 5-series a smaller 7-series is fine by us. Unlike the 5-series that preceded it, the new car’s styling is more conservative and elegant, more like the E39 5-series built from 1997 to 2003. The interior design is barely different from the new 7’s, and the plastics and leather feel, smell, and look like the materials used in the big sedan. Our 535i test car cruised the freeways around Lisbon, Portugal, with the poise, supple ride, and silent solidity of a 750i—not surprising considering that the 5-series’ platform and chassis are closely related to those of the bigger car.

As in the 7-series, the 5-series’ suspension has, for the first time, ditched front struts for a multilink setup. The rear wheels are managed by a new five-link independent suspension design borrowed from the 7-series. All of the electronic handling aids of the 7-series are offered on the 5-series as well. In the U.S., opting for the estimated $3500 Sport package yields “driving dynamics control,” which allows for a choice of four preselected settings (comfort, normal, sport, and sport plus) for throttle sensitivity, steering effort, shock stiffness, and transmission shift points. The automatically adjusting shocks are part of the Sport-package deal, as are active anti-roll bars that adjust to manage body roll. Sport-package models will also get a larger wheel-and-summer-tire package—standard versions get 18-by-8.0-inch wheels with 245/45R-18 all-season tires.

Our European-spec 535i didn’t have the U.S.-spec Sport package but was equipped with all of the computerized handling gizmos that would come in that package, plus “integral active steering,” which includes four-wheel steering. With or without active steering, all 5-series cars now have electrically assisted rack-and-pinion setups. BMW’s active-steering system changes the steering ratio according to vehicle speed and how far the driver turns the wheel, its goal being to reduce the amount the driver has to crank at the helm. What it does on the road is make the steering feel eerily fast on turn-in and often twitchy in midcorner as it doles out varying ratios despite a constant steering-angle input from the driver. Fortunately, active steering is a stand-alone option and therefore avoidable. For comparison purposes, we drove a car without that feature and found the steering predictable, although the effort from the new electric assist in either guise is a tad light for our tastes.

The 535i poses along Portugal’s scenic Estoril Coast.

One disadvantage of  being closely related to the 7-series shows up in the claimed curb weight—nearly 4100 pounds for a 535i and 4400 for a 550i automatic. Despite the use of aluminum in the doors, hood, trunk, and front fenders, the new 535i is 400 pounds heavier than its predecessor (according to BMW’s numbers). On our scales, however, a current-generation 535i manual weighed in at nearly 3900 pounds, so we’ll have to do a full road test to ascertain the severity of the 5’s weight gain. Overall length is up by two inches, and the wheelbase is now 116.9 inches long, an increase of 3.2 inches. The car might be a little bigger outside, but interior space is nearly unchanged. Even with the added bulk, the 5-series contentedly sluiced through the tight corners of the Estoril racetrack near Lisbon with the nimbleness of a lighter car.

Two models, the six-cylinder 535i and the V-8 550i, will be offered when the 5-series goes on sale here in June. We expect a small price increase over the 2010 models, with the 535i likely to start at about $54,000 and the 550i commanding at least $62,000. Early in 2011, a naturally aspirated 240-hp, 3.0-liter 528i will join the lineup, and at that time all-wheel drive will be added as an option for all three models.

Until the next M5 shows up sometime in 2011, the most powerful 5-series will be the twin-turbocharged 400-hp, 4.4-liter V-8 550i. Borrowed from the 750i, the twin-turbo V-8 makes 40 more horsepower than its naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V-8 predecessor. BMW estimates a 0-to-60-mph time of 5.0 seconds for both the six-speed-manual and eight-speed-automatic versions of the 550i, which is likely conservative.

Strangely, BMW calls its new single-turbo six-cylinder the TwinPower Turbo.

Powering the 535i is a new single-turbo inline-six that replaces last year’s twin-turbo six. Cleaner burning than the twin-turbo engine, the single-turbo six displaces 3.0 liters and puts out 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. Through the use of Valvetronic variable valve lift, as well as variable valve timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger, BMW claims its new engine is more responsive than before and points to its 1200-rpm torque peak, 200 rpm lower than the twin-turbo’s. We couldn’t detect any turbo lag. There’s also no turbo whine, just the subtle snarl of the inline-six that grows less subtle as the engine approaches its 7000-rpm redline. BMW again estimates identical 0-to-60 times for automatic and manual versions, which should be in the low- to mid-fives.

Although a six-speed manual will be available, all of the test vehicles came bearing the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, which, when equipped with the Sport package, adds paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. Benefiting acceleration and fuel economy is the eight-speed’s wider spread of ratios (first gear is shorter, eighth gear is taller) compared with the previous six-speed auto’s. We did notice that first gear is so short-lived that the transmission seems to stumble the one-to-two shift.

Should the driver stumble, the 5-series’ many safety systems are at the ready. In addition to stability and traction control, available safety equipment includes lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, night vision with pedestrian detection, radar-based automatic cruise control with collision warning and automatic braking, and auto-adjusting high-beams. Other optional niceties include automatic parallel parking, in which the car steers itself into a spot (Ford has a similar system on the 2010 Lincoln MKT), and a number of external cameras that provide the driver with a 360-degree view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

The great 5-series cars of the past have offered almost as much luxury as the 7-series but at a more manageable and sportier size. This latest iteration may have gained some weight, but it has also gained in refinement. And, despite the added mass, the sporty dynamics that have made the 5-series the sports car of its segment remain intact. BMW is back to selling its sausages in differing lengths, but damn if they aren’t tasty.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $54,000–$62,000

ENGINES: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter inline-6, 300 hp, 300 lb-ft; twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve 4.4-liter V-8, 400 hp, 450 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 8-speed automatic with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 116.9 in Length: 193.1 in
Width: 73.2 in Height: 57.6 in
Curb weight: 4100–4400 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 4.8–5.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.0–13.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.4–14.0 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 130–150 mph

PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 16–17/23–26 mpg

2011 Toyota Sienna - Second Drive

A sporty minivan? From Toyota? What's next—a Pulitzer for Palin?

BY TONY QUIROGA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID DEWHURST AND THE MANUFACTURER
March 2010

The Toyota Sienna has been the automotive equivalent of  Wonder Bread: satisfying, but also squishy and bland, a product purchased for the sake of the kids.

So we weren’t expecting much at the recent launch of the new model—that is, until we learned that Toyota put a former go-kart racer in charge of the 2011 Sienna. While Kazuo Mori, the project’s chief engineer, still dreams of designing sports cars, for the past 17 years he’s been all about Toyota vans. With the third-generation Sienna, he seized the moment to put style and performance above bland refinement.

First there was chassis tuning. The front strut suspension and rear torsion-beam axle remain, but a comprehensive retuning cuts out the flabby softness of the previous model. With roll dramatically reduced, firmer damping keeps the body under closer watch. A new electric power-steering system requires greater effort and now has some semblance of feel. Not enough? Toyota has a new SE trim level that offers an even firmer chassis, larger wheels, retuned power steering, and a body kit.

A body kit probably would have looked ridiculous on the last Sienna, a vehicle we have characterized as “rolling anonymity.” And although the new Sienna retains the mommy-knows-best one-box minivan shape, the design is more striking than before. Slab sides give way to a defined shoulder line and bulging front fenders. The front end seems to have been inspired by Toyota’s F3R minivan concept from 2006. We might go so far as to call the Sienna the best-looking minivan extant.

Inside, the interior is similarly modernized. The look is Venza-like, as are materials and textures that are perfectly acceptable as long as you don’t start touching them—then they feel a bit cheap. As one would expect of a minivan, storage space abounds: two glove boxes, massive door pockets, at least three more cup holders than there are seats, and even a place on the floor for your purse (or your wife’s). A 60/40 split third-row bench collapses easily into the floor, but the second row doesn’t do a disappearing act. Top-of-the-line Limited models and all-wheel-drive XLEs get manually adjustable “recliner-style” second-row seats with footrests.

A 266-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 remains available on all five trim levels (base, LE, SE, XLE, and Limited), but a six-speed automatic is new and improves fuel economy to 18 mpg city and 24 highway, an increase of 1 mpg on both cycles. For those willing to sacrifice some acceleration, Toyota now offers the segment’s only four-cylinder option, a 187-hp 2.7-liter that’s also mated to a six-speed automatic and delivers 19 mpg city and 26 highway. Prices are held to previous levels: Base models open at $25,060, and loaded AWD versions surge into the mid-$40,000s

We find it a bit odd that Toyota’s minivan is the one vehicle in the carmaker’s lineup that doesn’t trade athletic responses for refined sogginess. None of Toyota’s vehicles is the sportiest among its competitors, except the Sienna. Well, you’ve got to start somewhere.

2011 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible - First Drive Review

2011 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible - First Drive Review

The Italian antidote to the German same-olds.

BY EDDIE ALTERMAN
March 2010

We’d like to be able to tell you that the new Maser­ati GranTurismo convertible is great with the top up or down, but we can only confirm the former. Our test drive, originating in Rome, coincided with the heaviest snowstorm that city has seen since 1986. We sat in our hotel, looking out at the flakes accumulating on the Fiat Cinquecentos and Smart Fortwos that crammed themselves onto both sides of the black-pavered streets like impacted molars. Maserati’s PR chief paced nervously. He knows the destruction journalists are capable of  in dry weather, and there was no way he was letting us out in his $139,700 droptops on Pirelli summer tires in that kind of meteoro­logical dandruff.

So we waited, and waited some more, until the snow stopped and we could make a break for it, shooting out of Rome down the E80 autostrada in a 220-km/h (137-mph) convoy.

Outfitted as a one-powertrain model, the GranTurismo convertible is blessed with the top-hole GranTurismo S automatic coupe’s 433-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 and ZF six-speed manumatic. It also maintains its sibling’s great lines. Maser­ati traded the elegant sweep of the GT’s C-pillars for the trim greenhouse of an Aston or a Bentley, and the softtop—available in six colors, weighing just 143 pounds in all, and retracting in 20 seconds—is a three-layer job that steals just two inches of rear headroom from the coupe and leaves enough room in the trunk for at least one golf bag.

The GT convertible has the longest wheelbase in a class that ranges from the Mercedes-Benz SL and BMW 6-series to the Bentley Continental GTC. Maserati engineers didn’t even have to change the ­rear-seatback angle to accommodate 62.5-percentile humans—a rarity in a segment whose cars force their unfortunate rear-seat passengers into the straitjacketed position popularized by Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.

In the absence of a roof, Maserati ­reinforced the A-pillar inners and trussed the floor with an aero-optimized aluminum undertray, a ’70s Formula 1 touch we can’t help but admire. Static stiffness still can’t match the coupe’s, but dynamic bending is just as good, according to the company.

We did notice some shuddering through the steering column on the rough old Roman roads and some side-to-side creaking of the body over sunken SPQR manhole covers. But on the E80, the car felt solidly overbuilt, tracking true through corners with beautifully weighted steering, its powerful pump giving instant feedback in high-speed lane-change maneuvers. The engine’s torque delivery is very smooth, and throttle response gets gutsier with speed to keep the engine reactive at lower revs. Think of the throttle-response curve as S-shaped.

There’s a sport button on the dash that condenses throttle mapping, stiffens the suspension, and opens a bypass valve in the exhaust system above 3000 rpm. We had to kill sport mode at high speeds because the high-frequency drone was too grating. But hearing this open Italian exhaust caroming off the tunnel that runs under the Vatican is the closest this writer has come to a religious experience.

We made it down to the coast for a quick charge up and down a hill, but we kept the top up because it was still drizzling. The road’s lowered coefficient of friction invited all sorts of throttle-guided cornering, during which something incredible happened: The chassis reacted before its electronics did. The Maser’s long wheelbase makes the car easy to catch, as does steering that stays sensitive as the car loses traction. But the A-pillars, as thick as a sprinter’s thighs, make it almost impossible to execute tight left-hand turns with any confidence.

That said, this top-up experience with the GranTurismo convertible reminded us why  we like the coupe so much. Both cars are lively and fluid—big, comfy GTs that mask their size with direct controls and tons of power. We would happily fly back to Rome and do the whole thing again, this time with the top down.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door convertible

BASE PRICE: $139,700

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 286 cu in, 4691 cc
Power (SAE net): 433 bhp @ 7600 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 361 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 115.8 in Length: 192.2 in
Width: 75.4 in Height: 54.3 in
Curb weight: 4600 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 4.9 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.5 sec
Top speed (drag limited): 176 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 11/18 mpg

2010 Hennessey HPE700 Chevrolet Camaro - First Drive Review

Hennessey’s hell-raisin’ Camaro is at once civilized and sinister.

BY STEVE SILER
March 2010

Of course, most of what we cover here at Car and Driver involves OEM vehicles rather than aftermarket specials. But we can always find room for stuff like the wicked wheels that roll out of Hennessey Performance Engineering of Sealy, Texas, stuff like the 2010 HPE700 Camaro.

This is the super-Chevy that GM hasn’t (yet) built: a new Camaro SS with the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 heart of the Corvette ZR1. As we’ve long known and find to be the case yet again with the HPE700, Hennessey’s creations are way more than back-alley chop jobs. So when we were offered to drive the HPE700 Camaro on the roads around Hennessey’s outpost in Lake Forest, California, we jumped at the chance.

Promises Made, Promises Kept

In fact, we were overdue. The better part of a year has passed since the HPE700 was first announced, and when we last wrote about it, the car was little more than computer-generated renderings and big promises. Now that many of the 24 HPE700s Hennessey has planned for 2010 have been built, it appears those big promises have been kept, and some even surpassed.

The juiciest promise of them all was that of big, big power under the hood. The aforementioned 6.2-liter LS9 V-8 makes 638 hp and 604 lb-ft in the ZR1, so it’s ridiculously powerful to begin with. But Hennessey, being a tuner shop first and last, couldn’t leave well enough alone. Most significant among Hennessey’s enhancements was boosting the potency of the LS9’s supercharger to about 15 psi versus the stock 10.5 psi. A new intake system and stainless-steel headers are fitted, too. Otherwise, most of the ZR1 engine bits are retained, as are the Camaro SS’s stock exhaust system and its Tremec six-speed manual transmission (the HPE700’s sole transmission offering). To that, HPE adds its own upgraded clutch, flywheel, shifter, and shift knob.

Surprisingly little alteration was required to fit the new engine, since the Camaro SS’s 6.2-liter V-8 is dimensionally close to the LS9. Certain plumbing components had to find new routes, but precious few fabrications were necessary. The centerpiece of the engine compartment remains the LS9‘s trademark blue-and-silver engine cover, but a sexy carbon-fiber intake assembly designed by Hennessey is sure to garner some supplemental oohs and aahs once the hood is popped for show and tell.

Twist the key, however, and it becomes immediately clear that there are differences between the HPE700 and the ZR1. This HPE700 is L-O-U-D—closer in volume to a space shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral than the full-tilt howl of a muscle car. The boost in power over the LS9 is similarly huge. Hennessey claims a monstrous 725 hp at 6400 rpm and 741 lb-ft of torque at 3200 rpm for its tuned LS9. These figures trump its previous estimates of 705 hp and 717 lb-ft, which, frankly, we would probably have been fine with. But, hey, why hold back at this point? Furthermore, the company claims that dyno tests verify that some 691 hp and 661 lb-ft of torque of that make it to the rear wheels at 6000 and 4700 rpm, respectively. In any case, Hennessey’s LS9 is an entirely beastlier powerplant than that of the ZR1.

A Big, Brash, Loud, Thirsty Hoot

Idling out of Hennessey’s facilities and onto the minivan-ridden streets of Orange County—ever mindful of the expensive (and gorgeous!) carbon-fiber front splitter hovering mere centimeters from the ground—we savored the HPE700’s ready-to-go demeanor. Although there was no untoward bucking as we negotiated parking-lot speed humps, the smooth, low-rev rumble made it clear there was copious power waiting to be unleashed. What wasn’t clear is at what point that power would outstrip the car’s ability to contain it.

So we cautiously eased deeper and deeper into the throttle leaving every stoplight and were rewarded each time with more and more accelerative force and ever-higher volumes of that inebriating exhaust sound that wailed with all the restraint of Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet stocker. People held their ears as we roared past, and cars ahead could hear and see us from behind as we barreled toward them. We don’t think we broke any windows in nearby homes or storefronts, but if we did, we sincerely apologize. (And send the repair bill to Sealy, Texas, please.)

And, yes, we found that at a certain point, those 20-inch rear wheels and their expensive 305/30-series Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires will indeed break loose, but not as early as one might expect. Be judicious, learn this car’s limits, and within a few attempts, it rewards you with buckets and buckets of face-peeling acceleration. Hennessey claims the HPE700 hits 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 11.3 at 126 mph. Those numbers are easily believable, if not conservative; this car is faaaast. (A stock SS manual we tested hit 60 in 4.8 seconds and legged a quarter-mile in 13 seconds at 111 mph.)

Now, with so much torque ever ready to unglue the rear end, the steering wheel becomes—how shall we say this?—less necessary for the purposes of rotating the vehicle around turns. Tail-out antics are ultra-fun and easily controlled. Much credit goes to HPE’s suspension modifications, which snap the car down via adjustable KW coil-overs and upgraded front and rear anti-roll bars. The HPE700’s steering remains as light and precise as that of the stock Camaro SS, in spite of the HPE’s wider, 20-inch front wheels with 275/35-series rubber. Aside from some noticeable fidgetiness at triple digits, the HPE700 felt as comfortable as any factory Camaro we’ve sampled, and its low-speed ride quality is quite hospitable.

Yet we remained in a constant state of disbelief at the suspension’s ability to allow so much driver control over all that power. Maximum grip is 1.01 g, according to Hennessey, and the arresting power of the huge six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo brakes is stupendous (and certainly reassuring). As for fuel economy, we didn’t measure it in our limited time, but we seemed to go through fuel at the pace of about a quarter-tank every half-hour. Yeah, this thing is a hoot. A big, brash, loud, thirsty hoot.

More Menacing Than the ZR1

So we learned that this dragon can be tamed. But you wouldn’t know it by looking. Indeed, to some of us, the muscle-bound, chiseled-faced HPE700 looks more sinister than the bright-eyed ZR1 Corvette to which much of its visual mods pay homage. Specific ZR1-isms include its full skirt of unpainted carbon-fiber aero extensions; lacy, thin-spoked racing wheels; and in the case of this particular example, the ZR1’s “launch” color scheme: Cyber Gray metallic paint with blue accents, the latter coming in the form of hockey-stick fender stripes and matching brake calipers. Initial renderings had also shown a cool ZR1-like plastic window in the hood to display the supercharger assembly, but according to Hennessey, the engine’s lower mounting point in the Camaro’s engine bay made it hard to see through the aperture, so the idea was scrapped. We doubt anyone will really miss that, however, as the HPE700 hardly needs any help making a statement.

The cabin remains largely stock, which is okay, since the Camaro’s interior isn’t totally terrible. However, materials that are merely questionable at the $25,000 level suddenly seem very low rent at the $120,000 asking price for this car, even with the carbon-fiber trim pieces Hennessey adds for good measure. Then again, the sounds that fill said cabin are not reproducible by anything at this price, including the ZR1. So we can deal with the occasional hard plastic bit and so-so leather upholstery.

Indeed, the Hennessey HPE700 is a special automobile that delivers an unforgettable performance experience, along with the sort of curbside amperage normally reserved for Porsche GT2s, Lamborghini Murciélagos, and Nissan GT-Rs. As a complete package with more than a sentimental connection to the fastest Corvette in history, this beast stands head-and-shoulders above HPE’s other superhero Camaros and, for some, perhaps even above the living legend that inspired it.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe

BASE PRICE: $119,500

ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled pushrod 16-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 376 cu in, 6162 cc
Power (SAE net): 725 bhp @ 6400 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 741 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 112.3 in Length: 190.4 in
Width: 75.5 in Height: 54.2 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3950 lb

PERFORMANCE (MFR’S EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 3.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.3 sec @ 126 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: not available