Upcoming car you are most excited about.

[the Teuton]

I kinda hope Ford will give us a Fiesta RS, but I'm really looking forward to the Impreza coupe/SVX successor.

[68_427]

That Subaru coupe thing and Cadillacs new flagship.

[Raza]

I'm more excited about this:



Doesn't even have to be an Abarth.

The standard 500 is a bit boring.  All flash, no substance.

[2o6]

The standard 500 is a bit boring.  All flash, no substance.

Since when?

[Raza]

Since when?

Since...always?

It's a cute car that's not as practical as the car on which its based.  It sacrifices utility for style, and frankly, I don't care about style that much.  I'd take a standard Panda over a standard 500.  The Abarth and Abarth SS pack some punch with that cuteness, which is nice. 

[GoCougs]

As to cars that I've been disappointed in, the Subaru Outback and Honda Accord Crosstour are profound disappointments, especially the Honda.

I was expecting the Crosstour to be the LHD version of the JDM Honda Accord Tourer (which is essentially a TSX wagon). I can attest that in person it is stunning:

[Raza]

[2o6]

Since...always?

It's a cute car that's not as practical as the car on which its based.  It sacrifices utility for style, and frankly, I don't care about style that much.  I'd take a standard Panda over a standard 500.  The Abarth and Abarth SS pack some punch with that cuteness, which is nice. 

From what I hear, the 500 is nicer inside and drives better.

[Raza]

From what I hear, the 500 is nicer inside and drives better.

Please cite your sources.  I've never read a review that didn't mention that the 500 isn't as sharp as the Panda to drive. 

[2o6]

Please cite your sources.  I've never read a review that didn't mention that the 500 isn't as sharp as the Panda to drive. 

Or as sharp as.



I like both, but I like the 500 more.

[Vinsanity]

That Subaru coupe thing and Cadillacs new flagship.

meh, I'm kind of the opposite of excited for the new Caddy. Word is it'll be on the Epsilon chassis, so chances are it'll pretty much be a Cadillac Lacrosse. Hope I'm wrong, though, but I was really hoping for a proper full-size more closely related to the Holden Statesman and Chinese Park Ave.

[omicron]

And look what I find here...
So much for weighing less than Camaro

That 302 cubic inches is 4951cc is news to me.

[Raza]

That 302 cubic inches is 4951cc is news to me.

It's pretty close, isn't it?  302 is 4949cc according to Google.

[68_427]

meh, I'm kind of the opposite of excited for the new Caddy. Word is it'll be on the Epsilon chassis, so chances are it'll pretty much be a Cadillac Lacrosse. Hope I'm wrong, though, but I was really hoping for a proper full-size more closely related to the Holden Statesman and Chinese Park Ave.

I guess we'll see it at Detroit on January 12 along with the CTS-V Coupe.

[MrH]

New BMW M5.  That's about it.  The Audi A8 is a big disappointment.

[the Teuton]

I've got to say that I agree with GoCougs about the turbo BMW V8 in the M cars. The Ms were always so cool because their engines were exclusive. You will be able to go to Vishnu with a few grand and pump out a 700 hp 550i in a few months when the F10 comes out.

Sure, the M5 will have the adjustable suspension, LSD, and DCT transmission, but a stonking V10 at 8000 RPM WOT just has a way of making the soul race that a turbo V8 won't be able to do.

BMW's turbo engines are stump pullers, but the M cars should be a whole different game from BMW's mainstream cars.

[MrH]

Power is power.  The new M5 is going to kick some serious ass.

[the Teuton]

Power is power.  The new M5 is going to kick some serious ass.

I can't disagree with that, but I can say that some of the exclusivity will be lost with this model. A compact, turbo V8 like an F1 car, would be cool. A screaming V10 is cool even though it sounds like a tractor at idle.

A F/I V8 is what an American company makes so it can sell a world beater for $60k. A $100k BMW should be better.

[MrH]

It'll make more power, and sound great.  I fail to see the problem here. 

[the Teuton]

It'll make more power, and sound great.  I fail to see the problem here. 

The I6 in the original M5, M6, and M1 was a hand-built 286 hp I6 that made more power than pretty much anything on the market at that point.

The S14 in the original M3 revved to 8,500 RPM. It, too was hand-built, and while BMW shared the block with the M14, the displacement was different, same with the 320 hp I6 that made its way into the second gen M5. They both had ITB and revved like hell.

The US S50 was basically just a bored M50. It even essentially shared the same heads with the M50 328i motor. The S52 was more wholesome goodness from BMW.

The V8 M3 and V10 M5/6 motors were exclusive to the M cars. They were marvels of engineering based on F1 designs.

For BMW, the new turbo motors won't really be anything special. What I'm complaining about isn't how much power they will make, or even cool tech in them like DI and piezo injectors. What I'm complaining about is that the engine really doesn't justify the price difference from a $70k 550i and a $100k M5. At least the old cars had motors that were hand-built, relatively exclusive, and went nothing like any other motor BMW had been producing at the time.

[Byteme]

I would only get interested in something I would actually consider purchasing, so I would find the New Mazda 2 interesting.

[SVT666]

And look what I find here...
So much for weighing less than Camaro

According to a Ford press release I post in the Mustang thread, the V6 Stang will have a curb weight of less then 3500 lbs, so I have a hard time believing the GT will weigh almost 500 lbs more.

[hotrodalex]

After Wimmer's sighting of the new 5 series, I can't wait to see all of it.

[CALL_911]

Toyota FT-86/F10 5er.

[sportyaccordy]

The I6 in the original M5, M6, and M1 was a hand-built 286 hp I6 that made more power than pretty much anything on the market at that point.

The S14 in the original M3 revved to 8,500 RPM. It, too was hand-built, and while BMW shared the block with the M14, the displacement was different, same with the 320 hp I6 that made its way into the second gen M5. They both had ITB and revved like hell.

The US S50 was basically just a bored M50. It even essentially shared the same heads with the M50 328i motor. The S52 was more wholesome goodness from BMW.

The V8 M3 and V10 M5/6 motors were exclusive to the M cars. They were marvels of engineering based on F1 designs.

For BMW, the new turbo motors won't really be anything special. What I'm complaining about isn't how much power they will make, or even cool tech in them like DI and piezo injectors. What I'm complaining about is that the engine really doesn't justify the price difference from a $70k 550i and a $100k M5. At least the old cars had motors that were hand-built, relatively exclusive, and went nothing like any other motor BMW had been producing at the time.

I agree to a large degree. However, the next ///M5 to me is really like an ///M7. I doubt there will be a manual option. I am almost certain it will weigh in excess of 4,000#. It will be turbo (like the original 745i). It will be highly computerized (like the 2nd 745i). IDK.... all the gadgets are cool but there is just something endearing about the original & second M5s that I think was lost forever in the competent but techy E60. Long story short, I am not excited about this new one. I am sure it will perform incredibly and be a great car, but eh. I'd rather take my chances with a turbo E28 or E34.

[omicron]

The I6 in the original M5, M6, and M1 was a hand-built 286 hp I6 that made more power than pretty much anything on the market at that point.

The S14 in the original M3 revved to 8,500 RPM. It, too was hand-built, and while BMW shared the block with the M14, the displacement was different, same with the 320 hp I6 that made its way into the second gen M5. They both had ITB and revved like hell.

The US S50 was basically just a bored M50. It even essentially shared the same heads with the M50 328i motor. The S52 was more wholesome goodness from BMW.

The V8 M3 and V10 M5/6 motors were exclusive to the M cars. They were marvels of engineering based on F1 designs.

For BMW, the new turbo motors won't really be anything special. What I'm complaining about isn't how much power they will make, or even cool tech in them like DI and piezo injectors. What I'm complaining about is that the engine really doesn't justify the price difference from a $70k 550i and a $100k M5. At least the old cars had motors that were hand-built, relatively exclusive, and went nothing like any other motor BMW had been producing at the time.

Damn right. A current-model 550i buyer can head down to the local speed shop and get just as much power, if not more; hell, they could probably get race-ready suspension thrown in for the vast price gulf that exists here between the M5 and the 550i, but they certainly don't get an M engine from the factory. What is M if it is not unique? AMG has its own V8 and is slowly introducing its own models, yet M is on some sort of odd path towards becoming a sports package for upper specification levels. Mind you, they're still exceptionally good cars, but perhaps no longer with the bespoke, tailored quality of the past. Are we now to expect this only from CSL?

[nickdrinkwater]

As to cars that I've been disappointed in, the Subaru Outback and Honda Accord Crosstour are profound disappointments, especially the Honda.

I was expecting the Crosstour to be the LHD version of the JDM Honda Accord Tourer (which is essentially a TSX wagon). I can attest that in person it is stunning:

Stunning?  It's smart looking but it's hardly jaw droppingly beautiful.  Just another Japanese wagon really.

[rohan]

I'm completely in love with the new 7 but with it costing north of $100,000 (one's on my dealers lot anyway) this one looks very much like it and it's got my heart pounding!  Only thing I dont like about this one is it's a little too much like the 7 but who cares with a 4.4l twin turbo 8 that the dealer says is making 0-60 numbers south of 5 seconds?  And honestly it makes the E-class look like a bunch of 5th graders drew it up.

[S204STi]

Wow, very nice.

[rohan]

Yeah that's hot.  Wife is really anxious to see one in person.  The SUV thingy version of that is just not good at all and I can't see a reason to have one.  Gran Tarismo or something like that.