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Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.
American enthusiasts, eat your hearts out: The ultimate Golf VI is here, and it won't come to the U.S. Volkswagen has launched the Golf R Cabriolet, powered by the hardtop R's 265-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It comes only with VW's well-proven six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The launch of this model could strike observers as curious, since the all-new, next-generation Golf VII just arrived. But a Cabriolet based on the new Golf is a considerable distance away; at least the regular Golf VI Cabriolet previewed some VII styling elements—such as its more angular taillight contour—so it shouldn't look like a total outlier in Volkswagen showrooms. The car looks great, is the most powerful offering in its class by far, and its performance should nearly catapult it into Boxster territory.
I have criticized the compact Mercedes-Benz CLA's styling, but must admit the car's look is daring and funky. Especially so is the Edition One version, which is being offered in Europe for twelve months at a hefty premium of almost €7000. The interior is contemporary and ultra-sporty, with a yellow-on-black scheme Benz is calling Neon Art. It goes well with the black-painted AMG wheels and available matte-silver paint.
Citroën is perfecting the compact people-mover with its Technospace concept car, which previews the successor of the C4 Picasso. It is muscular, well-proportioned, and features an unusual and futuristic headlight treatment which will hopefully be carried over to the series production model. The interior is dominated by a huge, 12-inch screen.
Honda is launching the Civic wagon concept, a vehicle that also is close in execution to an upcoming series production model. The production car will be offered with a range of gasoline and diesel engines, and I think it would make a great addition to Honda's lineup on the U.S. market—if Honda ever decided to send it here. The Civic sedan that is sold in America leaves me cold, and this year's hastily deployed facelift hasn't changed that.
One of the most curious vehicles of all time, the SsangYong Rodius, is getting a slightly less-offensively styled replacement. Called Rodius (or Stavic or Korando Turismo) it offers up to eleven seats and is powered by a 155-hp, diesel four-cylinder mated to either a six-speed manual or a Mercedes-designed five-speed automatic. Otherwise, the Rodius draws heavily from SsangYong's outdated parts bin. So far, the company—owned by Indian carmaker Mahindra—has not claimed the Rodius's platform is shared with the Mercedes-Benz S-class, as it did with the car's predecessor.
Suzuki is leaving the U.S. market, but the company continues to charge forward elsewhere. In Geneva, the brand will show a series production car inspired by the S-Cross concept car that was unveiled at the Paris auto show last fall. For some time, Suzuki and Volkswagen had been jointly working on a crossover SUV project, and the disappointment surrounding that collaborative effort may have played a significant role in the two companies' falling out.
Opel chief designer Malcolm Ward is leaving his mark at GM's German subsidiary: A crossover concept based on the Adam minicar. The little SUV stands taller and wider than the Adam, is fitted with a sliding fabric top, and wears a number of minor but clever stylistic changes. It's not exactly a new theme, but it usually works—in the case of the Adam, the crossover-ification adds a welcome masculine touch to what comes across as a ladies' car. The concept is far more convincing than its name, Adam Rocks. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com | |||
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Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Continental: The Ultimate Golf VI, Plus Some Geneva Auto Show Debuts
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