Automobile Magazine’s 25 Greatest Cars of All Time

Posted on August 11, 2007
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“This feature is certain to get people talking at water coolers, kitchens, garages and bars,” said Gavin Conway, editor in chief of AUTOMOBILE.

After assembling “the best brains the magazine has,” Conway said that the final list is “as intriguing as it is eclectic.” He added that rather than looking at numbers and statistics, the editorial team evaluated cars from the perspective of drivability, aesthetics and historical significance. Conway said, “The results are predictable in part, but intriguing in their breadth.” While the Jaguar E-type makes an appearance, so does the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, a car with considerably less renown.

The winners, which cover both the 19th and 20th centuries, break down into five segments:

Driving Enthusiast Cars: BWM E30 M3, Ferrari F430, Lotus Elan, Porsche 911 Carrera RS and Volkswagen Rabbit GTI

Technologically Innovative Cars: Audi Quattro, Benz Patent Motorwagen, Citroen Traction Avant, BMC Mini and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (pictured)

Supercars: McLaren F1, Lamborghini Miura, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Ferrari F40 and Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B

Racing Cars: Lotus 49, Auto Union, Miller 91, Porsche 917 and Dodge Charger Daytona

Icons: Military Jeep, Volkswagen Beetle, Chevrolet Corvette, Jaguar E-Type and Ford Model T

In addition to profiles of each car, the issue includes commentary from a selection of well-known automotive stars such as Carroll Shelby and Mario Andretti, on their favorite cars of all time.

Knowing that the top 25 cars are sure to generate discussion, AUTOMOBILE is making the original, unedited list of 150 cars available online (www.automobilemag.com/features/lists) for readers to peruse and decide which slighted cars deserved to make the list.

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Audi A5 Sportback, half wagon, half coupe

Posted on August 11, 2007
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Confused? Well, it’s neither an Avant nor a five-door Sportback as we know them. Rather, it’s designed to be half wagon, half coupé. So this secret new A5 variant has a neat electrically powered tailgate that should combine the practicality of a five-door with the style of a coupe. So does that make it a coupate, or an estoupé? No, we’re not sure either…

As CAR Online’s exclusive images show, Audi is clearly intent on carving out a niche of its own after Mercedes stole a march on the ‘four door coupé’ segment with the CLS, which will be facelifted next year before a replacement in 2011. BMW too has showcased a 7-series based CLS rival – our July issue cover star, the Concept CS.

So, not content to simply follow the pack, Audi plans an aggressive two-product strategy to tackle the emerging practical coupe class, starting with the A5 Sportback you see here. Read on for the full story.

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Another rally-worthy street car from Mitsubishi

Posted on August 7, 2007
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By all indications, the next Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will do nothing but reinforce its status as a high-performance icon.

Called Concept X, the show car you see here was unveiled at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show in January 2007. Yet with a few small changes, it is essentially Evolution X, the all-new Lancer Evolution production car. The Evo traces its roots to Mitsubishi’s World Rally Championship program, and has long since achieved cult status among hard-core driving enthusiasts around the world. The term evolution has traditionally been used in rallying to describe the latest generation rally car. In Europe, rally cars are the ultimate hot rods. Here, the Evo is a compact sedan that beats up on serious sports cars. The Lancer Evo X goes on sale in January 2008, and Mitsubishi promises the biggest leap in performance potential ever achieved from one evolution to the next. The Evo X is based on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, which goes on sale in March 2007. As such, it’s a bit less boxy than its predecessors, though slightly larger in most dimensions. The Evo X boasts some subtle styling tweaks, of course: a giant hood scoop, oversized fenders and the trademark rear wing. High-tech LED turn signals are imbedded in the side mirrors. Only one styling element on Concept X will not appear on the production Evo X: The 20-inch wheels are a bit too large for street use on a car this size. The production version will come with 18-inchers. Underneath the flashy body, the Evo X will be loaded with the latest in running gear. The engine remains a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but it’s all new, and much lighter than the previous version. It’s also mounted lower in the car to lower the center of gravity. Just the thing for fast gravel stages. (We’re inquiring about a long-term test car.) Mitsubishi has not released production figures, but we’ll predict at least 300 pound-feet of torque and 300 horsepower, give or take 10. The Evo X will feature a new six-speed automated manual transmission. While it offers a fully automatic mode, it’s not a conventional automatic with a torque converter. Rather, it’s more like a manual with a clutch that operates electrically, like those in Ferraris and other exotic machines. This transmission can be shifted with magnesium levers on the steering column.

Buyers who prefer a conventional manual with clutch pedal can choose a five-speed. In rallying, strong, close-ratio gearboxes are often harder to get than powerful engines. The drive system is as trick as they come. Called Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC), this fulltime four-wheel system integrates electronic stability control and an active rear differential. The Evo X gets forged aluminum suspension components, rather than the stamped steel parts on a standard Lancer. Its suspension will no doubt be much firmer. Yet Mitsubishi engineers say they’ve focused on making the Evo more comfortable and less demanding for everyday use. Because the integrated body/chassis is much stiffer than before, the engineers say they have actually softened the suspension settings, allowing a more comfortable ride without losing the response or handling enthusiast drivers expect. Inside, the Evo X will offer firmer bucket seats with huge bolsters to keep occupants firmly in place. Unfortunately, the suede-like Alcantara dash inserts and neon trim inside Concept X won’t make the production version. Yet keeping with the daily driver theme, the Evo X will offer more creature comforts than ever, including Mitsubishi’s 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system, a touch-screen navigation system, Bluetooth cell phone interface, steering wheel audio controls and an automatic climate control system. The only thing we couldn’t find on the list was a co-driver.

Like the upcoming 2008 Lancer, the Evo X will offer passive safety features that set a new class benchmark: front seat-mounted side-impact air bags, curtain-style head protection airbags front and rear, and a driver’s knee-protection airbag.

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Mitsubishi Colt with facelift

Posted on August 7, 2007
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Mitsubishi thought this sixth generation by a new and interesting concept, but which presents advantages and disadvantages and I’m thinking especially at the single volume design. It is true that the available space is incomparable better, but a lot of style and dynamic aspect is wasted.

The Colt’s facelift is pretty discreet and is possible to observe only the optical blocks which are now on black background and which changes the aspect of the frontal side, by adding an improvement of style. Beside this, the car gained ornaments for the side skirts (the five door version), black background tail lights and side rear windows, plus the smoky field glass.

The motors range remained the same, compound by three engines on gas and one turbodiesel engine. Our test car disposes of the 1.3 liters gas engine with 95 Hp, which means the medium one as power from the gas engines. Taking to account that Mitsubishi Colt is a low class car, the 95 Hp should be sufficient. And they really are, but in certain conditions, more precisely in town. In traffic, the little Colt is managing very well, the accelerations being sufficient enough to start faster from the semaphore and to maintain an alert rhythm among others cars .It also depends on you to go up to higher revs, because the engine develops a maximum torque of 125 Nm at 4.000 rpm. Beside this, using the air conditioned is obviously felt at the performances level, especially when the weather is so hot that you must use the third stage for creating a comfortable climate.

In town, Colt shows a good handling, thanks to the light direction and reduced sizes. Even out of town the engine works very well, but that only if you don’t have substantial pretensions regarding dynamic statistics. Regarding to how much weight is put in the car, you could maintain a decent rhythm, the cruise speed being about 130 km/h. After this value, the engine passes his limits and becomes less comfortable regarding the noise produced. You must take care also at overtaking. Shifting gear down and racing the engine are necessary, especially when the car is loaded. That’s why you should avoid the small engine, of 1.1 liters, with three cylinders and 75 Hp. You could easily choose the one with 95 HP , if you drive most of the time in town, or the engine of 1.5 liters and 109 Hp, if you go out of town. The difference of price is (with all taxes included, at base equipage) about 1.071 euro between the version with 1.3 liters engine and the version with 1.1 liters and about 714 euro between the engine of 1.5 liters and the one with 1.3 liters. The Clot’s advantages are very important regarding the interior space. The high body doesn’t rise problems at the head level and the back seats allow to the occupiers to seat comfortable. Even more, the back seat can glide, which means there is no problem for the luggage space, even though the truck has a capacity of 220 liters.

As how is expected from an urban car, the storage spaces are in sufficient number.

To conclude, Colt remains a car addressed especially to the fair sex, the ladies being probably able to appreciate the interior space, the interesting style of the body and not to be disturbed by the engine without sportive expectations.

For men remains the temptation of the 150 Hp of the CZT model, moreover when less people expect at 8 seconds for zero to 100 km/h from an urban car.

The prices for Mitsubishi Colt with the engine of 1.3 liters begin from 11.543 euro (with all taxes included).

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