Automotive Reviews
Three Doors
2011 Scion tC
Mar 7th
When the Scion tC debuted in 2004, it was a bit of a departure even for Scion, a brand whose modus operandi is edgy and unexpected. Unlike the cheerfully angular xA and boxy xB, the tC was a brooding sports coupe with muscle-car lines. All-new for 2011, the tC’s gotten just a bit more hard-core. This is a car that lives in dark, neon-lit places, traversing perpetually wet concrete as the lights of the city wash over its bodywork and reflect from the glass roof.
It’s the environment that’s to blame, really. In 2004, the tC’s competitors were the Hyundai Tiburon and Toyota Celica GT, both of which cost more and had less power. Now, though the compact coupe market is still generally a small one, cars like the Kia Forte Koup, Honda Civic coupe, Nissan Altima coupe and the upcoming Hyundai Veloster are prepared to shoulder the tC aside. Scion’s ready for the fight, though; the redesigned tC follows the same general theme as before, but it’s got more aggressive looks and a new engine. More >
2010 Audi TTS
Nov 13th
Let’s talk a bit about the Audi TT. Although it’s named for a famous motorcycle race–the Isle of Man’s Tourist Trophy–and it’s a compact sports car, it hasn’t made much of a mark as a racing car. The TT turns up on the track occasionally, but it lacks the racing connections of its big brother the R8. Considering that its competition includes cars like the Honda S2000 and Porsche Boxster, both of which have lots and lots of track time, the TT has always come across as a stylish but somehow incomplete sports car.
That changed for 2009, with the introduction of the Audi TTS. The addition of Audi’s “S” badge means performance, and the TTS is no exception. A comprehensive suite of engine upgrades serves to transform the TT from a sexy fashion accessory into a serious performer. With more power under the hood, the TTS manages to neatly split the difference between serious sports car and comfortable daily driver. Does it increase the TT’s street cred? Well, if it’s any indicator, the organizers of the Tourist Trophy race chose the TTS as their official cars shortly after its introduction. More >
2011 Honda CR-Z
Oct 31st
At first glance, you might think it’s obvious what Honda’s trying to do here. The shape of this stubby car, the fact that it arrived just as the S2000 roadster bowed out, and even the new CR-Z’s name all suggest that it’s the legendary CR-X sports hatch returned from the grave and updated for the new millennium.
It’s not, though. Don’t forget that Honda is “not about chasing market share,” as they put it. This company has a strong corporate vision of sustainable performance, in marketing-speak. In plain English that means that Honda has a good idea of the sort of cars it wants to build, and it’s not driven solely by focus groups or public opinion. More >