Pursuit - Sports Car Edition - The Cars (1)

t;span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-align: left">The Cars
By Kelly Taylor





It takes a lot to win a category at the Automobile Journalists’ Association of Canada’s annual TestFest, but the Audi TTS did just that, edging out the Mercedes SLK to earn Best New Convertible for 2009 honours.

A large part of the TTS’s win is under the hood: the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is a model of efficiency, cranking out V6 horsepower and sub-5.0 second 0-100 km/h times, yet remaining as economical as a four-cylinder engine when the turbo isn’t wailing. From a start, there’s a touch of turbo lag, but get the TTS moving, and keep the engine revving above 2,500 rpm–where peak torque begins–and it’s a bundle of joy to drive. The six-speed double-clutch automated manual transmission is fun to drive and, in daily driving, as easy to live with as a normal automatic.

A redefined exterior body style helps, too. Designers stretched the TT just a bit and in doing so, removed the odd proportions that held the previous car’s design back just a bit. Signature white high-power LEDs under the high-intensity-discharge headlights are a highly successful Audi design trademark.

The Specs:
Engine	2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Power	265 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque:	258 lb-ft from 2,500-5,000 rpm
Transmission	six-speed double-clutch automated manual
Brakes:	four-wheel ABS with brake assist, brake force distribution
Fuel Economy:	9.6 litres/100km city, 7.1 l/100km highway, 8.5 l/100km combined
Price:	$57,600
Warranty:	4 yrs, 80,000 new vehicle, 12 years corrosion perforation, four years roadside assistance

Every car maker has that one model that is considered its benchmark for design. For Jaguar, it’s the E-Type. For Pontiac, it’s the GTO. For BMW, it’s the 507. The heritage of the beautiful 507 is clearly evident in the new BMW Z4. The new car’s lines are clean, striking and pure. Gone are overthought cues such as the forward slash in the front fenders and accent creases that criss-crossed the old model like paint splashes gone wild.

Remaining, thankfully, is the crisp, responsive handling, the slick six-speed manual and the urgent rush to speed the Z4 was renowned for. The engines are both powerful, with the Z4 sDrive 35i being the engine to choose if money is no object. It’s a 3.0-litre in-line six with twin turbochargers and 300 horsepower. Also offered, and the model I drove, was the Z4 sDrive 30i, with a 3.0-litre normally aspirated in-line six delivering 255 horsepower. A six-speed manual is the purist’s choice, with a seven-speed double-clutch transmission offered on the 35i and a six-speed automatic available on the 30i.

Nearly 50/50 weight distribution is evident in the superb handling. This is one car that will get you noticed.

The Specs:
Engine	3.0-litre in-line six cylinder; 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder with twin turbochargers
Power	255 hp (non-turbo); 300 hp (twin turbo)
Transmission	six-speed manual; six-speed automatic (opt. on non-turbo); seven-speed double clutch transmission (opt. on turbo)
Brakes:	four-wheel disc with ABS and vehicle stability control
Price:	$53,900 (non-turbo, base); $61,900 (turbo, base)
Warranty:	four years, 80,000 km (new vehicle warranty); no-charge maintenance, four years, 80,000 km.

The Genesis Coupe is the latest indication from Hyundai of its take-no-prisoners battle for market recognition. With a drop-dead gorgeous skin and an interior that stands up to any of the other vehicles in this event, it’s a car that says loudly there are no more compromises to buying a Hyundai.

While it shares part of its name with Hyundai’s up-market luxury sedan, the similarities end there. A pair of engine choices is on offer, from a 2.0-litre, 210-horsepower turbo four-cylinder to a screaming 306-horsepower V6 and a choice of a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic (a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters is optional on the V6).

The four-cylinder models start off basic but can be optioned up nicely to include heated seats and an Infinity six-disc CD changer sound system. The V6s come nicely equipped out of the gate, with all the trimmings of the loaded four-cylinder models plus HID headlights and automatic climate control.

On the road, the Genesis Coupe has a distinctly sports-car ride: a little harsh on rough surfaces but with a suspension that sticks like glue. The V6 model I drove has power and panache.

The Specs:
Engine	2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder (210 hp), 3.8-litre V6 (306 hp)
Transmission	six-speed manual (all models), five-speed automatic (opt. on four-cylinder models), six-speed automatic with paddle shifters (opt. on V6 only)
Brakes:	four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and vehicle stability control
Fuel Economy:	(2.0-litre): 10.1 litres per 100 km city, 6.6 l/100km highway (manual); 10.4 l/100km city, 6.6 l/100km highway (auto) / (3.8-litre): 12.0 l/100km city, 7.6 l/100km highway (manual); 11.9 l/100km city, 7.3 l/100km highway (automatic)
Warranty:	five-year, 100,000 km comprehensive and powertrain warranty; three-year, unlimited kilometre roadside assistance.