Whether they build this or not (bet you $100000 they do.) what Porsche has done is show us what hybrids can be. They don't have to be designed in a wind tunnel first, with aesthetics as an afterthought. They don't have to be built with tunnel-vision, looking only at the efficiency of the engine, thinking that's all people care about. This car would draw a crowd of car geeks, gear-heads, moms, dads, hippies, and oil barons.  Everyone can appreciate a beautiful car, but it often comes with a caveat, like, "It's a gorgeous Lamorghini Frederick, but 11mpg is just offensive nowadays." Not with the 918. This car can get on the freeway at the same time as a Honda Insight, and the Insight will be pulling into a gas station first. It's the supercar of the future, that could preserve the future. If I had a car that did 200mph and got 78mpg, I don't think I would need anything else.

This year's Civic SI is no different. For $22,000 you get a well-equipped 4-door sedan, with loads of creature comforts and a 200hp engine that still returns over 30mpg. It's roomy inside, it will still run long after your turtle dies, and the materials-on the touch points at least- feel more expensive than they are.

There's only one problem; In 2010 giving your "performance model" 200hp is like sending your kid to buy a new video game with pelts. It's outdated. Right now a base Accord has more power than that. Normal family sedans are creeping toward 300hp as a standard offering, and still return good MPG. Now, for $22,000 a Civic SI is ok. It's the cheapest sport sedan on the market, sitting a few thousand underneath a base WRX or GTI.

But that's very, very close. And the Civic Si I drove had the HFP Package, which stands for Honda Factory Performance. And that package costs an extra $4,900(with dealer install), raising the price to $27,000. Add the Sat/NAV the car had (which is horrible) and I was sitting in a $29,000 Honda CIVIC.

Sure, the HFP pack gave me better suspension, brakes, exhaust and a nice bodykit, but at it's core it still had the same 200hp engine the Civic SI comes with. I'm sorry but spending $29,000 for 200hp, bad NAV, and FWD is a bad decision. For that money you can get a fully loaded Subaru WRX, which has 265hp, tons of torque, and AWD. It's cheaper, faster, safer, more versatile and still gives you 28mpg. The MSP3 or GTI are also better, faster and cheaper choices.

A regular Honda Civic SI is a decent performance sedan. It's handling is crisp, and the acceleration is acceptable. But Honda is been using the same formula for too long, while the rest of the field took the idea and ran with it, passing Honda years ago. If you want a daily driver that can also reward you in the canyons or on a track, your better off shopping down the street.
 

For a detailed review or this car, with more pictures, click here.
 

The FT-86 will have the drivetrain that driver's want, an efficient engine that is powerful in stock form but has huge mod potential, wrapped up in a sexy coupe body. For $20,000, that is a hard combination to beat. The ONLY concern I have is if it turns out nothing like the concept. Yes that's a fairly big concern, but the response to the concept was so positive, you'd have to be a vegetable to change it too much. This car will not only give Toyota it's spine back (sorry Prius, you're as boring as dead air), it will give the driving enthusiast a great option if they're looking for cheap, yet practical, fun. This has "bargain of the year" written all over it. Now go look for change in that couch.

For a full-length article and more pictures on the FT-86, click here: sub5zero.com

Well don't, because what the 2010 370Z Roadster is is the Neapolitan of sports cars. It's fast enough, plenty agile, and looks fantastic whether the top is up or down.

When I heard I was going to be driving the soft-top version of the new 370Z, I will admit I was disappointed. Convertibles usually don't do justice to the original coupe's design, they're noisy they're soft in the corners and pigeons have the option of bombing you and your passenger. Some people are drawn to open-air motoring as if it's some magical fountain of youth. I am not that person. So when I grabbed the keys, I thought I was going to be driving a heavy, ugly car with the moves of a manatee.

I was wrong. This car has so much grip and poise, that even on a racetrack with quick elevation changes-mid-corner mind you-it never missed a step. High speed corners are taken with complete confidence, and body roll could only be measured with a carpenter's level. Strucutural rigidity is usually the biggest comlaint about a soft-top, but you can erase that term from your dictionary. That's because Nissan planned to have a convertible from the start, so they put the right bits in to make sure it drove as good as the coupe and by achieving .94g (a mere .03 less than the coupe) is proof that Nissan did. It just feels planted.

It's also powerful, with a 3.7 liter V6 producing 332hp and 270 ft lbs of torque, it reaches 60 mph in under 5 seconds. That kind of acceleration is on par with far costlier, uglier convertibles. The powerband is high, with power peaking at 7,000RPM, but the thrust feels smooth and endless. You're not waiting for that big push right before redline, the 370Z urges you forward continuously, as if being pulled forward by an electro-magnet. It's also buttery smooth, with zero vibration, more proof of the exceptional build quality. The only complaint I have is the lack of a proper exhaust note. It looks and feels like a sports car, so it should sound like one.

The transmission in the car is a wonderful 6 speed manual that has a great mechanical feel, without feeling clunky or coarse. The throws are short, and I never had a problem finding a gear. It's fitted with Nissan's new Synchro Rev Matching system, enabling perfect throttle-blip downshifts every time. Heel-and-toeing is fun, but this system is so flawless it allows you to give all your attention to the driving at hand, be it hitting an apex or passing a truck. And to keep your "purist" friends happy, a simple button turns the system off. Altogether the drivetrain on this car is perfect for the car.

Nissan must have spent as much time on the interior as they did on the drivetrain, because it's laid out very well. It's a very driver-oriented cabin, with every button you might need inches away, and the ones you need the most often (stereo volume, bluetooth, NAV) mounted right on the steering wheel. The cabin is a mix of leather, Alcantara, feaux aluminum and quality plastic. A center-mounted tachometer reinforces the sporting nature of the car, as do the auxiliary gauges aimed at the driver. There's enough stowage for your gadgets and drinks, and even space behind the trick-looking, well-bolstered seats. The only problem arises when you try to look in the rear-view mirror with the top up. You can see cars behind you, but I wouldn't rely on looking over your shoulder to parallel park. That aside, the interior looks the part and plays it well.


Lastly, there's the view of the car itself. As I said above, I almost always prefer the look of a coupe to a convertible. The 350Z is a perfect example why; it's hideous. What happened is they designed a great coupe, then simply erased the top half of the car, leaving a belt-line as flat and boring as Arizona. This time around, as I said, Nissan planned to build a convertible all along, so the designers figured out how to make a car with no roof look good. And boy did they succeed. The long bulging hood leads back to high rear fenders and a wrap-around trunk. Long hood, short deck, prominent fenders; classic sports car. The metal has been sculpted into a shape filled with flowing lines and sexy curves and is easily one of the best looking drop-tops around.

This car exceeded my expectations, and not just those of a convertible, but of a sports car. For $44,000 it has every option available, a well-equipped, smart-looking interior, plenty of power, and grip that many AWD cars strive to attain. For that money you can only get a bare-bones Porsche Boxster, or a Miata that has have the power and isn't nearly as pretty. With the gorgeous sculpted body and a build quality on par with NASA, and you have one of the best sports cars, hard-top or soft, available today. In fact this car is so good, I would - and I can't believe I'm saying this- pick this over the coupe.

 
For the full test-drive, with specs and more info: 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster

   Great Design:

• The A3 is a hatchback. You can fold down the back seat and still have plenty of room for ski’s, bikes, a dog, etc. However, the car is still small and compact. This makes parking easy and also allows for decent gas mileage.

• Two sunroofs allow for a semi-convertible feel in the summer and lots of light in the winter.

I feel in control:

• The car is low to the ground and hugs the road like a race car. It’s not top heavy like an SUV. I have astonishing control even at high speeds and never feel off balance. This has proven especially useful in the many road trips I take and makes driving much more relaxing. I worry less about heavy winds or drafting from other vehicles or trucks pushing me around on the road.

• All wheel drive – super important for winters in the Midwest. I don’t worry about sliding off the road.

• Clear vision. The front window is huge and gives me almost panoramic view. The windows towards the rear are position for a minimal blind spot.

• The steering wheel is taut. If you move it, the car reacts immediately. This is useful in traffic and when passing other cars.  You don’t feel like you’re fighting the road or the car.

• Power on Demand. This car has instant acceleration. If I need to move fast, it goes. This definitely secures a sense of confidence.  My A3 is the sports version, so it also has a Sport Setting with Tiptronic controls (paddle shifters) located on the steering wheel. This allows for more speed and control, essentially allows you to control the car manually without grinding the clutch.

• The A3 comes with an Electronic Stabilization Program which improves the vehicles general stability and helps you maintain control when the car is having problems gripping the road. This helps during acceleration, cornering, and especially evident in inclimate weather conditions like heavy rain, ice or snow.  There is nothing scarier than hydroplaning and this prevents the car from skidding out. 

Maximium comfort:

• The interior seats are awesome…all leather with adjustable seat warmers.

• It has a great stereo that includes a radio, tape player and 6 disc CD player. The sound system can also be controlled using the buttons located on the steering wheel.  In other words, the driver is King!

• Power everything: windows, locks, side mirrors.

• Cruise control (again great for long trips).

•  The front and rear windshield wipers react automatically to debris or liquid. If it starts to rain I don’t even have to hit the wiper lever, it comes on for me.

• It’s BlueTooth enabled- which honestly I never use, but would be helpful for those who talk on their cell phones while driving.

• Heat:  Dual heat control. Both the driver and passages have their own temperature switches. I love this, because I usually tend to be cold when others are warm. Makes everyone happy.

Cons:

• The only con I can think of is that the back seats are a bit snug for passengers. The roof of the car tends to be low and this can be a bit uncomfortable for tall men.
  
  
  One of the best purchases I've ever made! Highly Recommended!