Road & Track: Next Gen VW Beetle Spied!

Hmmm, not sure what to think of the 'normal' windshield rake....
Spy photographers have captured images of the next generation New Beetle coupe undergoing road testing in Germany. A lower roofline and re-profiled tail offer hints that Volkswagen is planning to boost the retro appeal of the next Beetle, while also providing a welcome increase in usability and rear passenger comfort.

The New Beetle has always been about nostalgia. Unfortunately, our complaints about the current model sound like we could be writing about the original Beetle, which lasted in the U.S. market until 1980. A cramped rear seat, dated chassis, limited cargo room, and recent sub-par safety ratings have seen the competition go flashing past VW’s retro machine during its 13 year production run.

That’s right, the New Beetle has been on sale (and virtually unchanged) since 1998. If you love the rounded looks and have loads of happy Beetle memories, this comes as great news. But if you’re looking for an economy car that is fun to drive and has a premium feel to it, there are many better choices out there. The Mini Cooper , Scion tC and even the latest version of the VW Golf all make the New Beetle feel its age.

At a glance, these spy images don’t look dramatically different from the current new Beetle. Take a closer look and you’ll spot a longer and lower greenhouse that is less rounded than before. This should offer a much needed increase in rear headroom. The test mule also appears to have a longer tail-end, the rear screen is more vertical than before and there is a noticeable increase in rear overhang.

The new tail treatment should be far more practical, especially when it comes to cargo room. The 2010 New Beetle offers a miserly 12 cubic-feet of luggage space. A 2010 VW Golf is only fractionally better (12.4 cu-ft), but its wide-opening hatch and squarer shape of the cargo space is more convenient to use.

Engines will come from the Golf, which means a 170-bhp 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine will be standard with a choice of 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. At present, the New Beetle convertible is an automatic-only offering. We’ll see if that holds true when the newest New Beetle officially arrives early in 2011.

It will also be interesting to see if VW sticks to its recent ‘more for less’ pricing philosophy. The recently updated Jetta and next year’s New Midsize Sedan (most likely badged a Passat) are aggressively priced – in the case of the 2011 Jetta, the base model costs thousands less than the cheapest version of the outgoing model. The current New Beetle is priced at $19,440, a not insignificant sum for a car that puts a premium on form instead of function.

Source;
http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/spy-photos/spy-photos-of-next-generation-volkswagen-new-beetle

2009 Honda Accord Sedan: Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award Winner

By Matt DeLorenzo
November 2008

With all-new head-turning styling introduced last year, the Honda Accord has cemented its reputation as one of the best-selling family sedans in the American market. That popularity as a practical yet stylish 4-door is one of the reasons why the Accord has captured the first ever Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award.

This new honor is an annual award to designate the No. 1 car on Yahoo! Autos. The award criteria are based on user interest, intent and satisfaction. These factors are measured by search queries, leads submitted, rating and reviews by Yahoo! users. The award is not sponsored by any manufacturer and Yahoo! is not being paid for this initiative.

In capturing the fancy of Yahoo! users, the Honda Accord Sedan relies on fresh styling to set it apart from others in the mid-size category. A bold grille, large jeweled headlamps and crisply executed character lines gives the Accord a commanding presence more in line with European luxury models. The Honda Accord Sedan is slightly larger than its main rival, the Toyota Camry. Compared with the previous Accord Sedan, the new car has a wheelbase that has increased by nearly an inch, and the overall length has increased by nearly 5 in. And at 72.7 in. across the beam, the Accord is an inch wider than the Toyota.

This translates into an abundance of room in the passenger cabin, which sports a contemporary design that matches the freshness of the exterior. In fact, while the Accord Sedan competes in the mid-size segment, its space-enhancing redesign means the EPA now considers it a large sedan, a designation confirmed by the excellent front and rear leg, head and hip room. The front bucket seats are comfortable, the center console has plenty of storage cubbies and there is a choice of no less than three audio systems, all with MP3/WMA playback capability.

But what makes the Honda Accord Sedan stand apart from the crowd is its fun-to-drive nature. Both the LX and EX trim levels come with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces a robust 177 bhp, which is delivered to the front wheels via a choice of a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission. Top level EX-L models can be equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 making 271 bhp. That engine not only delivers power, but good fuel economy thanks to an ingenious cylinder deactivation system that allows the powerplant to run on either three or four cylinders when under a light load.

The Accord's ample output is enhanced by variable-assist power steering that provides ample feedback through the twisty bits and an easy action in low-speed parking maneuvers. Independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes imbue the car with a lively personality that has become a Honda hallmark.

While the head-turning styling and spirited performance appeal to the senses, other amenities of the Accord Sedan address rational concerns. Besides Honda's emphasis on great efficiency, the Accord boasts numerous standard safety features, including electronic stability control, six airbags and anti-lock brakes.

This combination of performance, safety and comfort — at prices ranging from $20,755 to $28,555 — make the Honda Accord Sedan a natural choice as the winner of Yahoo! Autos' inaugural Excelerator Award.

Source:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=7242

Road & Track give Initial Road Test of the New 2009 Acura TL

Acura shows how not to screw up a good thing.

By Mike Monticello • Photos by John Lamm
August 2008

Acura says the new fourth-generation TL is "by far the most technologically advanced sedan in Acura's history." But often technology and luxury spell H-E-A-V-Y, and for sure the adoption of all-wheel drive hardware on the SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) model can't come without a penalty. The question is, would one of our favorite sports sedans lose its way and forget about enthusiasts?

The TL's new body — penned at the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, California — is dominated by its equally pointy front and rear, large wheel arches and the adoption of Acura's "power plenum grille." Despite an increase in size (6.0 in. longer, now up to 195.3 in.), the TL's body-in-white is actually 17 lb. lighter than the previous car's, while gaining rigidity due to a 48-percent increase in the use of high-strength steels. Still, the car gained about 85 lb. overall, the base TL tipping the scales at 3710 lb. and the SH-AWD at 3970.

The front-drive TL will use the 3.5-liter sohc V-6 from last year's TL Type-S, now rated at 280 bhp and 254 lb.-ft. of torque. The SH-AWD uses the 3.7-liter V-6 from the RL and MDX, with VTEC variable-valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves (versus just the intake for the 3.5), producing 305 bhp and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. Its freer-flowing exhaust gives the SH-AWD a nice rip above 3000 rpm. Both engines are terrifically smooth pieces, providing decent power for passing…or for just "getting on it" for the fun of it. Both also come only with 5-speed automatics (with paddle shifters), but expect a 6-speed manual on the SH-AWD for 2010.

Acura added Electric Power Steering, which improves fuel mileage (estimated at 18/26 mpg for the TL, 17/24 for the SH-AWD) versus a traditional hydraulic pump, but they erred on the light side of steering effort. Although the EPS tightens up as speed increases, it just doesn't give enough feedback in medium-speed corners.

The suspension, however, works great. It strikes a nice compromise for both cruising through town and scurrying down a twisty back road. As the sportier model, the SH-AWD has firmer suspension settings as well as tighter steering. And SH-AWD not only constantly transfers power front to rear (ranging from 90 percent front to 70 percent rear), but it also varies torque between the rear wheels, giving more power to the outside wheel to help with turn-in.

For more of the article, follow the link;

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=6989

Honda S2000CR Makes Road & Tracks 'Fast and the Frugal'

Nice list compiled of vehicles that are performance orientated but also good on gas.

"Like the Nismo 350Z, the Club Racer (CR) version of the Honda S2000 leaves the drivetrain stock, thus avoiding the need to recertify the car's fuel economy. This in the case of the S2000 is a good thing, as it is rated at 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway while still delivering sub-6-sec. 0–60-mph acceleration. However, the tweaks to the chassis, including additional body bracing to go along with the stiffer suspension and high-performance tires, raise the S2000's grip levels and thereby its fun factor. The results are quite impressive as the CR is capable of pulling nearly 1.0g on the skidpad and it flies through the slalom at 71.7 mph. And it's not a bad looker, either, with the extra aero bits that also add to the car's high-speed agility. Further enhancing the S2000's performance is stellar braking, the best of the bunch at 109 ft. from 60 mph. Equipped with a 13.2-gal. tank, the theoretical maximum range of the CR approaches 400 miles — that's a lot of autocross cones between fill-ups."

Here's a link to the whole article and the other cars;
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=6871