The editors of Road and Track named the Nissan 350Z one of the best sports cars under 30 grand and said, "This is a true sports coupe." I'd have to agree, seeing as though the 350Z's VQ engine received the 2007 Ward's 10 Best Engines Award. And due to the fact that I admittedly have a soft spot for sports cars with the Z badge.
A classic sports car favorite among most of us and one of J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality winners as well. Incidentally, Ford won a total of five of these awards this month for their various vehicles. The Ford Mustang GT classic 4.6L engine shows that sometimes 300 HP just feels better when it's coming from a grumbling V8 that will put a smile on your face in 4.9 seconds (Road and Track). And with a price tag of only $25,695 you'll never be sorry with the Ford Mustang GT.
Possibly the purest sports car in this group, what the Honda S2000 lacks in overall power and amenities, it more then makes up for in handling and driving pleasure. The S2000 can make sports cars costing twice as much blush on the twisties. Since this little monster's debut as a 2000 model, not much has changed to the overall design. A few changes on the outside have kept a modern look, but the interior is way past its expiration date. Some nice tweaking over the years by Honda has improved the mid-range torque issues and everyday drivability over earlier models.
The new GXP version of the Solstice is powered by a 260 horsepower two-liter engine with direct fuel injection, variable valve timing and a turbocharger. The GXP also gets sportier suspension tuning, StabiliTrak, and styling enhancements.
With the popularity of movies like The Fast and The Furious,
Gone in Sixty Seconds and The last Ride, there has been some
reference to the good old muscle cars which were immortalised in
movies like Bullit, Vanishing Point and of course The Dukes of
Hazzard series. This top ten list has a look at some of the
muscle car icons born from the late 60's and early 70's.
The main measure of these cars is power, with Brake Horse Power
(bhp) being the term flung around most commonly. What this
refers to is the power released by the engine before the
gearbox, generator, differential, water pump, and other
components sap its power. If you are used to Kilowatts, then
take into consideration that 250kw translates to 335.26bhp.
The 1969 Pontiac GTO
Conceptualised to gain appeal to the younger market, Pontiac put
a 6.3 litre V8 engine into the midsized Tempest shell, making
for a cheap fast car. To the surprise of Pontiac's marketing
team the GTO became massively popular and in 1969 they fitted it
with a 6.5 litre V8 which could kick out 366bhp. The Judge was
born
The Plymouth Roadrunner
Built to beat 14 seconds over a quarter mile, the Plymouth
Roadrunner was stripped down to the bare essentials, sacrificing
even the carpets in order to make this into a beast of a
machine. It featured a beefed up steering, brake and suspension
systems and a 6.3 litre engine which pushed 335bhp. An optional
boost came from the 7.0 litre version's 425bhp.
The Dodge Challenger
Hitting the market in 1970, the Dodge Challenger was a hit from
the get go, selling more than 80,000 in the first year. Although
various options were made available, the R/T is the model which
attracts the most attention with its 7.0 litre Hemi engine
kicking out 425bhp. Later models lost the plot, with the '72
model dropping to a measly 240bhp. See the Challenger in the
cult classic movie, Vanishing Point.
The 1966 Ford Fairlane GT
Launched in '62 with a 3.6 litre V8, the Ford Fairlane was given
a makeover in 1966, complete with a 6.4 litre engine capable of
335bhp. As if this were not enough they decided to upgrade to a
7.0 litre NASCAR engine with 435bhp. Rigid front suspension and
disc brakes gave the car better handling, and the brute power
kicked the dial over 60mph (100km/h) in six seconds.
Oldsmobile 442
The Cutlass model was equipped with a police specification
engine capable of 310bhp. The 442 refers to the four barrel
carburettor, four speed manual gear box and the twin exhausts.
The 442 had a reputation for its handling when compared to other
muscle cars, thanks to its improved springs, shocks and the
comforting safety of an anti-roll bar.
The 1968 edition was redesigned as a shapely coupe, with a 7.5
litre block blasting 390bhp.
Plymouth Barracuda
Although the Barracuda was launched in 1964, just a couple of
weeks before the Ford Mustang, it was not until 1970 that
Plymouth gained wider popularity with sexy lines and some
serious growl under the hood in the form of a 7.2 litre 390bhp.
The other choice was a smaller 7.0 litre Hemi block which
knocked out some extra power at 425bhp!
Even with a revamped suspension the power was so much that the
'Cuda gained a reputation for difficult handling.
I absolutely love classic cars. Maybe it comes from the many times as a kid that my Dad would take my twin brother and I to the different car shows in San Diego. He would explain about the different cars from the classic Muscle Cars to the roadsters. It was always a fun experience.
Compact, attractively styled and full of surprises: This is Skoda Yeti. Very similar to the original Yeti concept, seen at Geneva in 2005, the production version adds five doors and a simpler front end, with a traditional Skoda grille and spotlights.
Skoda also showcased Yeti Concept at the Auto Expo 2008. It will be launched this year globally and Skoda may bring it in India in 2010. This 4.2 metre long, five-door vehicle bears the well-known features of the brand. An impressive front end with a ribbed grille and friendly looking headlamps confidently demonstrate
Yeti`s relationship with the Skoda family. Sturdy flanks and distinct wings give Yeti its robust and solid look on 17 inch wheels, without coming across as bulky and heavy. The Yeti is a clever response by Skoda Auto to the increasingly important ecological issues in the popular and growing SUV class.
Skoda has met the demands for a cleanly styled body, a high seat position and versatile operating options with a design, which despite its robustness, exudes lightness rather than bulky shapes. The Yeti also meets the needs for environmental care, luggage space, safety and great road holding.
The Skoda Yeti is very well equipped for load lugging, too. The luggage compartment volume is highly flexible; up to 1,760 liters is available by removing the rear seats. A luggage cover and net as well as lashing rings are available to secure any load.
The Skoda Yeti is a clever compact vehicle that is bound to create a stir. Excellent handling characteristics and high agility are features of all trims. The 4×4 variants are characterized by outstanding off-road ability and excellent traction, coupled with low emission values and fuel consumption.
Audi R8
