Rabbit RebornVolkswagen Unleashes The Golf VIVolkswagen has released the sixth generation of its iconic hatch and it's taking all the right stylistic cues from its Euro-only big brother, the Scirocco.
Underneath that aggressive grille and muscular haunches lies the same basic platform as its predecessor, with a MacPherson front suspension and a four-link rear arrangement. The wheelbase remains the same, measuring in at 2580mm, with a front and rear track spanning 1540mm and 1520mm, respectively.
In Europe, a range of gasoline and diesel powerplants will be available, spanning from 1.4 to 2.0-liters. Turbocharged 1.4 and 1.8-liter engines, ranging from 122 to 170 horsepower, will be fitted on entry-level models abroad, while those of us in the States will have to make due with the 170 hp, 2.5-liter five-cylinder. Early reports suggest that VW is attempting to make the next GTI a bit edgier, beginning with the addition of the Audi A5's 2.0-liter TFSI, which puts out 208 horsepower at 4,300 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque beginning at 1,500 rpm. The R32 model will ditch the tried-and-true VR6 in favor of a high-boost 2.0-liter mill producing around 265 horsepower and sending power to all four wheels. Six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG gearboxes will be available on all models throughout the range.
Volkwagen will also offer a host of technological improvements over the last generation, including automatic distance control, an updated ESP system, adaptive damping - allowing drivers to choose from three levels of suspension stiffness - and automatic parking.
The Mk. VI Golf will arrive in dealers throughout Europe this month, with sales expected to commence in the U.S. and throughout the rest of the world early next year.
Infiniti UnleashesComplete G37 Line-UpFor 2009, Infiniti finally saw fit to equip its G sedan with the same 3.7-liter V6 found in its two-door sibling. The new model will arrive later this year, equipped with an optional brake package utilizing four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, new 18-inch wheels, and Infiniti's Scratch Shield paint.
Joining the G37 sedan is the G37x coupe, featuring Nissan's ATTESSA E-TSO all-wheel-drive system. While it's not quite a GT-R-lite, the AWD system is sure to make treks into the snow-covered expanses of the Northeast a bit more bearable, and infinitely safer.
At the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, Infiniti will unveil the G37 convertible, featuring a three-piece folding hardtop, a widened rear, a hefty weight penalty, and a seriously compromised trunk. All the details will be available later this year, and if you listen closely, you can hear executive assistants everywhere cooing at the idea of a drop-top G.
Next HondaS2000 Could Be OSMHonda debuted its Open Study Model (OSM) concept at the London Motor Show, and it's the first indication that Honda is looking to seriously revamp the aging S2000.
Honda's recent designs have spanned the spectrum from the sublime to the unfortunate, and the OSM concept seems to split the difference. While it lacks the taut aggression of the S2K, its shapely proportions and short overhangs are a good starting point for Honda to build its next generation roadster.
The OSM, in its current iteration, is strictly a design exercise, but Honda insists that it will put a premium on a lightweight structure and agile handling. Speculation about powertrains runs the gamut from boosted four-cylinders to naturally aspirated V6s, but considering Honda's recent push towards eco-motoring means that a hybrid drivetrain is assuredly part of the package.
Subaru Unveils New STISubaru seems to think that American consumers just can't handle hotter versions of the STI. More proof of this unfortunate fact comes in the form of two new models bound for our brethren abroad.