Acura has released a teaser shot of their upcoming 2009 TSX, facelifted to give it Acura’s new corporate face, a new rear end, a better interior and some mechanical enhancements. Reserved for North-American markets only, the car is based on the European-market Honda Accord, which itself has received a similar makeover, and already unveiled.
So what does the “Five Hundred” stand for, especially since it’s in words rather than numbers? Does it have a 5.0-litre engine? Nope. 500 horses maybe? What. Celebrating 500 years as a company? Unlikely. About the only “500” we came across is that the 2008 model has more than 500 changes compared to the 2005-2007 version, which wasn’t sold here anyway. And it was still called the Five Hundred even before the 500 changes, although they did tack on the “500” number on many models decades ago. But Ford already calls the 2008 model a “Taurus”
| The Good: – Great around the curves – Turns a lot of heads – Cool unique interior design |
The Bad: – Pretty pricey for its size – Possible electronic gremlins – Rear seat fits only small animals |
So our modified Toyota Supra Twin Turbo is in the hands of a capable new owner now. Its duties as a benchmark sports car have now been taken over by our BMW M Roadster.
A full review for the Supra was in order, so we finally wrote about it, and we gave an account of what it’s like to own a really old and heavily modified car for very little money. But some of you might be wondering what a “benchmark” means.
Volkswagen is so desperate to make a buck in the United States that they simply facelifted the latest Chrysler Grand Voyager, upgraded the interior a bit, and renamed it the VW Routan. It is their attempt to cheaply add a conventional minivan to their range, cashing in on the blind faith that some people have on the VW badge.
| The Good: – Generally handsome looks – Seriously muscular engine – Greatly entertaining handler |
The Bad: – Addicted to petrol – Very firm ride – Delayed throttle response |
| The Good: – Good ride and handling – Competitive engine – As rare as a Ferrari |
The Bad: – Not enough gadgetry – No rear a/c vents – Rare due to dull design |
| The Good: – Solid off-road ability – Spacious luxury cabin – Ride quality and comfort |
The Bad: – Average handling – Heavy fuel consumption – Cramped third-row seats |
| The Good: – Pretty decent looks – Pretty decent on the road – Pretty decent off the road |
The Bad: – Needs better engine – Average rear legroom – No low-range gearing |
The not-so-prominent 2008 Chicago Auto Show is on its way, and their main exhibit seems to be the new Dodge Challenger SRT-8, dubbed as a limited-edition 2008 model. Official specs and performance figures have finally been revealed.