First let's dismiss the "Weekend" part of this car's name simply because there's no reason to restrict one's racing to Saturday and Sunday. Second, let's appreciate the various body panels they dreamed up for this car including a revised front fascia, scalloped hood and that pretty damn okay hardtop. Since the Solstice's structure is virtually all in its chassis, the body panels can be swapped for new pieces without affecting structural heft.
Mechanically, there aren't many changes to the Club Racer, but we expect a turbocharged (or supercharged-the rumors change hourly) version of the Solstice to hit dealers next year. And everything in the GM Performance Parts catalog for the Ecotec family of four-cylinder engines has the potential to inflate the output of the Solstice's 2.4-liter version.
Mitsubishi Concept-XThis isn't quite what the next Mitsubishi Evolution will look like, but it's obviously very close. And that very close is very good; this body is a big leap forward from the Lancer box, within which the EVO IX currently lives, and once the usual assortment of mechanical upgrades is thrown in, this should be one devastating thrill machine.
According to Mitsu, the Concept X is powered by a 2.0-liter, DOHC, MIVEC-controlled four-cylinder turbo engine producing lots of power and a flat torque curve. Concept-X backs that with a clutchless, paddle-shifted six-speed auto-manual that feeds a new all-wheel-drive system featuring "Super All Wheel Control" (S-AWC) technology.
The production EVO X should be here by the middle of next year.
Honda Sports 4Theoretically, there's an Accord somewhere under all the sleek sheet-metal covering Honda's Sports 4 concept. There's also Honda's latest all-wheel-drive system (called Super Handling All Wheel Drive, or SH-AWD) similar to that used in the Acura RL. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four. Honda calls this styling theme "Keen Edge Dynamics" and with any luck the next Accord and TSX will look something like this.
Volkswagen EcoRacerVW's EcoRacer wasn't on anyone's radar going into the Tokyo show, but it was the hit of the show anyhow. A slight, mid-engine two-seater built around a lightweight carbon-fiber tub, the EcoRacer has a 1.5-liter turbodiesel four and DSG gearbox that should still be good for 0-to-60 in 6.3 seconds and a 138-mph top speed, according to the company. Production plans? Zip. Pity.
Audi Shooting Brake"Shooting Brake" is one of those British terms that makes no sense even after an Englishman explains it to you. Essentially, what it seems to mean is a sporty two-door station wagon. Some of the styling here is likely to show up in the next TT, though without the wagon body. The engine is a 3.2-liter V6 making 250 bhp that's shuttled through Audi's DSG twin-clutch transmission and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The next TT will be here this year.
Mazda SassouThough it debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show, we missed Mazda's Sassou the first time around. Smaller than a Mazda3, the Sassou's most innovative feature may be the replacement of the ignition key with a USB memory stick.
Mazda SenkuMazda's Senku is pretty much a pure concept car, but it still may hint at where the next RX-8 could go. The doors slide open to make entry to any seat easy, and while the car is still powered by a rotary engine, it's lashed to a hybrid drivetrain to further both performance and political correctness. The styling seems to have been inspired by a syringe needle.