Kickin' Tires: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Wait a second, just hear me out. You might be questioning a review on a Hyundai, much less the unattractive and porky SUV known as the Tucson. But you're only thinking that because you haven't seen the new model, and boy will you be surprised.

Completely redesigned for 2010, the new Tucson ditches rugged to hook up with style. And since it's designed by Germans, it better be stylish!

Not only does it leap and bound beyond it's older self in terms of looks, but everything is better. It's base 4 cylinder engine puts out more horsepower than the previous top-of-the-line V6, at 178 hp. It's fuel economy trumps the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Chevy Equinox, three brands known for their great fuel economy in recent history. When mated with the all-new 6 speed transmission, the Tucson acheives 23/31 city/highway mileage.

The Hyundai Tucson is faster, lighter, and more fuel efficient than anything in its class....and did I mention it's the best value? Load one up for less than $23,000, slap on that standard 100,000 mile warranty, and you've got the best deal on wheels since the original Volkswagen Beetle.

You can bet your bottom that the new Tucson is high on my list for my first SUV.

Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Short Throw Shifter: Volkswagen Scirocco

Yet another way cool car is produced for a European-only audience. The all new Volkswagen Scirocco (sure-rock-oh) is being witheld from the largest auto market in the world, the United States. Volkswagen fears that it won't sell enough units to make it cost effective, and they also are afraid they will sell too many and distract buyers away from the GTI's.Volkswagen (and non-VW, for that matter) enthusiasts are begging for this car to come stateside, even if in limited quantities, but Volkswagen hasn't mentioned anything.

I happened to see one of these on the freeway a few months back, going down to the Volkswagen testing facility located between Phoenix and Tucson. It was dark and hard to see, but I could definitely see the amazing silhouette of the Scirocco. Unfortunately the Euro-spec Scirrocos are equipped with, at best, the same engine as the GTI. It needs a little more power to fit better with the aggressive styling, in my opinion.
Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Joyride: 2006 Subaru STi

So last Saturday we got a 2006 Subaru STi on trade. Poor sap traded it for an FJ Cruiser...which isn't all that bad, but he lost an awesome car.

I woke up this morning to cloudy skies and wet streets, water droplets arranged like morning stars on my windshield. I love this weather, and here in Arizona, we don't see it often enough. I pulled into our dealership after a longer-than-normal commute, thanks to Arizona drivers who confuse rain with snow, and lo there was the Subaru STi, staring me in the face. I could have sworn that the headlights followed me as I slowly pulled past, begging me to drive it.

And so I did. The monstrous wing on the back got my heart pumping even before I turned the key. The four cylinder engine didn't rumble as it turned over; more like it purred, softly, deceivingly.Turning out of the dealership I punched it, thick tires glued to the wet road, and before I could blink I was going 60 mph. The road was a bit rough, and feeling every single bump caused me to slow a little. The brakes felt extremely solid, and not a bit touchy, and instilled perfect confidence in me, the driver.

The freeway on ramp could have allowed me to easily get up to 120 mph, but traffic stopped me short, another chance for using the brakes. The Subaru all wheel drive kept me going in a straight line, regardless of the rain or the 300 horsepower lurching the car forward with heavy shifts. That's one thing...the shifter felt a little stiff, and although a short shifter, it wasn't nearly as smooth a transition as my Civic Si. Of course the Suby would demolish that ol' Si, even if I turboed it.
The STi was a blast to drive, and I can see why auto reviewers rave about the car. The car felt light and nimble, but with the lightness some of it felt a little cheap. The doors, for example, were extremely light and pingy sounding, and the interior felt like a $15k car, not a $30k one. I would definitely love to drive the current model, mainly to see what improvements Subaru has managed to make to the car. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice for a daily driver, with the somewhat rough ride and the shoddy shifter, but it would be a hoot to drive every now and again.
Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Short Throw Shifter: Hybrids Done Right

Gone are the days of sluggish hybrids that can't outhandle minivans. Say goodbye to "hello, my body rolls!" hybrids (yes, I'm looking at you, Prius). A new age of hybrids are here.
Honda and Volkswagen, two companies known for their well-made cars that are fun to drive, are reinventing fuel economy.

First up, the Honda CR-Z is bringing back the classic CR-X style of the eighties and early nineties. It's small 4 cylinder engine is paired with an equally small hybrid powerplant, giving it roughly 140 horsepower and an equal helping of torque. Honda says the "sporty" hybrid can whiz it's way to 60 mph in under 10 seconds. While it's not anything spectacular, it's pretty good when compared to a Prius at about 15 seconds or so. It does that and still maintains a respectable 32-35 mpg average.

The New Coupe Concept (NCC) from Volkswagen does even better. With about 170 horsepower and roughly equivalent torque, the NCC scoots to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, or about the same as a diesel Jetta. Not too shabby, especially when VW claims a 45 mpg average. Sign me up!This is the way hybrids should be, and will be in the future. Hybrid sports cars might be ridiculed simply because the Prius has made driving cars a boring venture, but the future waits to be told. Hybrid and electrical drivetrains can promise HUGE amounts of torque, something necessary for fast acceleration. The Audi E-Tron concept has proved that.

The future is now. Prepare to see these hi-tech cars on American roads within a year.
-Biggs

Kickin' Tires: Euro Focus Coming to USA

Ford has drawn considerable criticism for it's lackluster Focus here in the states, and for not offering the sportier, more stylish Euro-spec model. But all that is about to change.
Ford, who has been doing better than GM and Chrysler, who has also avoided shame from government bailouts, is really taking the market by the horns. Their Fusion sedan has won the Car of the Year award, and the F-series trucks are always at the top of their class.

Now in 2012, expect to see the European model of the Ford Focus cruising down your neighborhood streets. It's more efficient, faster, fun[er], and better looking. Ford, good move, and it's about time. Subaru, you should take notes... Special Edition STI! *cough cough*
Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Burnin' Rubber: Special Edition Subaru STI

Subaru is coming out with 400 of these special edition WRX STI's, but only in Japan. Yes, sadly, the United States is always an afterthought when awesome cars come out in Japan and Germany.

You can expect to miss out on 320 horsepower and 318 lb/ft of torque, a significant gain over the stock STI numbers here stateside, of about 305 ponies and 290 torquies. The suspension is beefier, the brakes are bigger, and the car is more potent than ever.

Too bad we never get these awesome cars.
-Biggs

Kickin' Tires: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Cadillac's CTS sport sedan has been quite a hit, and new for this year comes the coupe variant. The most anticipated version of the car is the CTS-V, the supercharged beast that will crush your granny's caddy like a tin can.

It appears that Cadillac has kept most of the popular aspects of the CTS-V sedan and made the car better. The Coupe is shorter and lower than the sedan, and sports a wider track for the rear wheels for better handling. The supercharged V8 will likely remain unchanged, good for a neck breaking 556 hp and 551 lb/ft of torque. GM (General Motors or Government Motors?) says the car can launch to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

Personally, I've not been a huge fan of the CTS Sedan, though I've never driven the CTS-V. I'm sure I'd be drooling all over myself if I did get that chance. The Coupe looks remarkable, even to someone like me who finds Cadillac's styling to be obtrusive and obtuse. I definitely look forward to hearing one of these roar past me at full throttle.
Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Short Throw Shifter: Bye Bye Bugatti

That's right, Bugatti, this Porsche is pulling away. It has 10 fewer cylinders, 100 more horsepower, twice the looks, and a fraction of the required maintainence costs of the Italian hypercar. The famous Porsche tuner 9ff has taken a 911 and used the stock engine to create a 4.0 liter 6 cylinder monster that produces 1120 horsepower. All those ponies can take this GT9-R to a near warp top speed of 257 mph, and it's on track to take the world production car speed record.

It's already reached a speed of 254 on a test run, putting it 1 mph faster than the Bugatti, and just about 1 mph shy of the speed record set by the SSC Ultimate Aero. God speed, 9ff....God speed.

Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Joyride: Maserati Cambio Corsa

Call me spoiled, but the Maserati I rode in today was hardly a joyride. The ride was rough and loud (although that might have been caused by the decaying rubber being used as tires), and the acceleration was less than stellar. The interior was already falling apart, and the buttons for windows and locks were peeling away. You think that being a high end sports car, the Maserati would hold together a little better than that. It also has an F1 transmission, which is essentially an automatic with paddle-shifters that doesn't "crawl" when you let your foot off the brake. There is no shifter, which is strange, and a "park" option is mysteriously missing.

The guy who owned it traded it in for a BMW 335i Coupe, which is now to be his daily driver. That's reasonable, especially since he also owns two Ferraris and a Porsche 911 Turbo. But the sad thing is that he paid $104,000 for this Maserati back in 2004, only to trade it in for a measely $20,000. Shocking? I wasn't really surprised, to be honest. I think Maseratis are an overpriced hunk o' junk, which is proven by their horrible resale value. In comparison, a Toyota Supra Turbo (10 years older, I might add) will trade in for around the same price.

Sounds like Maserati needs to join the ranks of carmakers that have gone the way of the buffalo. I'm sure that Saturn and DaLorean are feeling pretty lonely right about now.

Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Short Throw Shifter: What is Sport? (part 2)

So last time I compared the Toyota Corolla S against the Honda Civic Si. If you've read the post, you now know which one deserves the title of "Sport."

Now, aside from size and fuel economy, the next two cars don't have much in common. One is German, the other Japanese. One handles like a go-cart, the other, more like a mini van.

Enter the Mini Cooper S and the Toyota Yaris S...

First, the Mini Cooper S adds a turbocharger to it's already spunky base model, turning the little sled into a rocket ship for 2+2. Mini also adds a hood scoop to the hood, larger wheels, a sport tuned suspension, and a little red "S." You might not notice a huge difference on the outside, but drive the two, and you'll know.

The Toyota Yaris S, on the otherhand, has the same power output as the base model. The only additions come in the form of a different color scheme for the tach and speedometer, a different cloth pattern for the seats, and some outside body pieces. Oh yeah, and it also has a little red "S."

I imagine you have already figured out which car handles like a go-cart and which one flops like a dead fish. Again, Toyota, you fail to impress with your "S." What does that "S" mean, anyway? Slow? Standard? Sub-par? Take a hint from Mini, drop in a Toyota Racing Development supercharger (unless they only make stickers now), and then we'll talk.
Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Kickin' Tires: All New Porsche Boxter Spyder

All new to the Porsche lineup is the 2010 Porsche Boxter Spyder. Compared to the Boxter S, the new Spyder gains 10 horsepower (up to 320 now) and sheds 176 pounds of extra weight.

Porsche went to great lengths to get this Boxter back into shape, removing the radio, air conditioning, and even the inside door pulls. The result? The trimmest and quickest Boxter yet.

With a price of $62,000 plus, they don't come cheap, but if you're looking to do some carving on those mountain roads, there aren't many better choices out there. If this thing drives anything like a Cayman S (and if I had $62,000 to spare), I'd be first in line for this guy, and I don't usually like Boxters.

Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Kickin' Tires: Identity Exposed FT-86

Turns out that the new FT-86 vehicle from Toyota is the reintroduction of the famed 1984 AE86 Corolla. The AE86 was one of the leading pioneer in the drifting segment and provided Toyota with a sporty, rear wheel drive hatchback.

Toyota claims that the new FT-86 will be the segment leader in performance and price, reigniting, as it were, the drifter scene. It is a joint project between Toyota and Subaru, and both automakers will have their version of the car.

This picture from a Japanese magazine shows the old AE86 next to a newer two door, resembling the FT-86, or what it might have been. The new guy clearly pays homage to the AE86 which rocked the 1980's. Get ready for more information in the next year.
Thanks for reading.
-Biggs

Kickin' Tires: Evolution MR

The new Evolution MR adds a little more refinement to the Evolution line. Adding leather, a moon roof (simple, yes, but a first for the Evo), and a few other techy goodies. Weight is up about 30 lbs, but Mitsubishi claims it rocket to 60 in under 5 seconds, which is faster than the current 5.2 second mark. It comes with a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, which could upset some enthusiasts. However, with a little more luxury than previous Evolutions, Mitsu is beginning to compete with BMW 3-Series and the Infiniti G-37, at least in terms of performance.

Thanks for reading.
-Biggs