New Cars That Are Worth Waiting For
It's a distinctly American trait to want what's next—even before it's here. Yes, Americans are spoiled, with too many choices in every genre of product, especially cars. But so what? This is the place where cars blossomed, where the first (and arguably best) car culture still exists. And where we haven't stopped loving—and lusting after—the cool car around the next bend. With that in mind, here's PM's calendar of 12 cool cars under $50,000 that will go on sale in the next 18 months. Note that the exact dates may not be 100 percent accurate: The timetable is based on what the notoriously vague car flacks told us. So we've pried free what info we could, and we share it with you here
JANUARY 2012: 2013 Ford Focus ST
The new Focus is at last debuting in the U.S., with a 2.0-liter, direct-injected, 160-hp motor and variable valve timing, as well as a five-speed manual. But, the car to wait for is the 2013 Focus ST, which debuts in early 2012. It gets a six-speed manual with the same EcoBoost (turbocharged) 2.0-liter as the much larger Edge and Explorer and will be good for somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 hp, which puts it in league with hot hatches like the MazdaSpeed3 and beyond the output of the VW GTI. Ford is also promising a tauter suspension and meatier tires as well as bigger brakes to go with all that horsepower. Expect to pay at least $25,000.
FEBRUARY 2012: 2013 Mitsubishi Evo XI
With Mitsubishi scrapping its gas guzzlers and launching brand-new electric and gas-electric hybrids, all aimed at meeting ever-tighter global emissions standards, the rumor mill is suggesting that even the Lancer Evolution is going to go green. Or green-ish. The idea is to keep it high-performance and AWD, but also use some of the technology already behind the forthcoming i-MiEV electric city car and wed it to either a turbodiesel or a gas motor. The potential would still be there for exceptional output when both gas/electric power plants combine, but it's possible Mitsubishi may allow the driver to roll up to highway speeds on battery juice alone, vastly improving fuel economy. Evo XI may become both larger and more refined too, positioning it more naturally against rivals like Audi.
MARCH 2012: 2013 Toyota Prius C
At this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota debuted an entire line of Prius models, including the intriguing Prius C Concept. They still stress that this is a concept, but a small, sporty hybrid hatchback is surely on its way. We can merely hope Toyota is smart enough to retain these design cues, especially as this is meant to be a "fun to drive" hybrid with taut handling and a sub-$20K price. Toyota is promising the highest mileage of any hybrid on the road that isn't a plug-in.
EARLY 2012: Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen had been one of the few brands in the United States that hasn't decided to Buick-ize its styling and sponge down its ride. And, indeed, the Golf R promises to be anything but vanilla. With the Golf R's AWD, 280 hp and a real six-speed gearbox, Volkswagen is at last bringing a genuine WRX fighter to the U.S. Volkswagen is even committing two body styles to the contest, pitting this car against the Mini Paceman (only a three-door). Fuel economy is said to be 20 percent better than the old R32, at a price that should be near $32,000. It will have new brake rotors, plus more aggressive stability-control settings with "track setting" or the equivalent. Expect both two- and four-door body styles, both of which will get R-body-style cosmetics and sport exhaust.
APRIL 2012: 2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1
The best reason to herald the arrival of this ZL1 isn’t the Cadillac CTS-V-derived supercharged V-8 with 580 hp (up from 556 hp in the Caddy), nor is it the top speed of around 180 mph. It’s that Chevy engineers finally listened to those of us who howled about how great the Camaro could be.
Not only does the new ZL1 get a ridiculous amount of muscle good for 0 to 60 runs in the low 4-second range, but it also benefits from revised front and rear dampers as well as antiroll bars. Finally, then, the $54,995 Camaro ZL1 is starting to fulfill its potential to offer supercar driving at a price that more than the 1 percent can afford. Even better: These same revisions will trickle down to the more affordable $31,930 Camaro SS.
Not only does the new ZL1 get a ridiculous amount of muscle good for 0 to 60 runs in the low 4-second range, but it also benefits from revised front and rear dampers as well as antiroll bars. Finally, then, the $54,995 Camaro ZL1 is starting to fulfill its potential to offer supercar driving at a price that more than the 1 percent can afford. Even better: These same revisions will trickle down to the more affordable $31,930 Camaro SS.
APRIL 2012: 2013 Mini Paceman
The Paceman is a two-door concept coupe that debuted last year, and our sources say it's a lock for production. Mini will have to work hard with this model, though, which is essentially the forthcoming Countryman minus two doors. The Paceman should either get real horsepower and ride considerably lower than the Countryman (think: a big version of the Mini Cooper S, but with all-wheel drive), or be made even more all-road capable than the Countryman, as a rival to the likes of the Subaru WRX—of course in full rally-car livery. The latter may actually be more likely, as Mini is racing a 2011 Countryman in the World Rally Championships. That car? It gets 300 hp!
JULY 2012: 2013 Dodge Dart
That the world is excited about a compact sedan by Dodge tells you just how much the market has shifted since President Obama bailed out Chrysler. With the new Dart, we’re not talking about some mediocre Dodge Caliber. We think we’re about to get a strong competitor to an already superb small-car segment that includes the Chevy Sonic and Cruze, Ford Fiesta and Focus, Hyundai Accent and Veloster.
While Ford can claim Euro influences on its small cars, the Dart will be the only “American” small car with an Italian soul. It’ll ride on an Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform with a rigid, high-strength steel body. And the standard equipment makes the Dart sound enjoyable already. It’ll come with standard four-wheel discs, MacPherson front struts, and a multilink independent rear, all of which make us think the 184-hp R/T model may be the way to go, as that car will get the stiffest suspension. But if you want juice and better fuel economy, you’ll be able to opt for the 1.4-liter, SOHC turbocharged MultiAir from the forthcoming Fiat Abarth 500. In the Dart it’ll be good for 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The R/T will have a manual-shift option; the 1.4-liter car may have a double-clutch manumatic option. Expect pricing to start in the low $16,000s.
While Ford can claim Euro influences on its small cars, the Dart will be the only “American” small car with an Italian soul. It’ll ride on an Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform with a rigid, high-strength steel body. And the standard equipment makes the Dart sound enjoyable already. It’ll come with standard four-wheel discs, MacPherson front struts, and a multilink independent rear, all of which make us think the 184-hp R/T model may be the way to go, as that car will get the stiffest suspension. But if you want juice and better fuel economy, you’ll be able to opt for the 1.4-liter, SOHC turbocharged MultiAir from the forthcoming Fiat Abarth 500. In the Dart it’ll be good for 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The R/T will have a manual-shift option; the 1.4-liter car may have a double-clutch manumatic option. Expect pricing to start in the low $16,000s.
