Part 2
The editors and test drivers for Road & Track have hundred of new vehicles pass through their assessment radar each year. The publication's staff knows what it's doing and it's been doing it for a long time.
I don't always agree with the publication — it places a large importance on speed. But the clout the publication has, and it recently picked its top-five 2008 cars — gee, about four months before the year starts.
Road & Track's top-five cars for 2008 and a brief assessment capsule of each car follows: Audi R8, BMW 1 Series, Dodge Viper SRT 10, Honda Accord, Volvo C30.
BMW 1 Series
" . . . BMW adds an all-new vehicle for 2008 with the rear-wheel-drive 1 Series Coupe. When it makes its debut early next year, the car will be the least expensive in the company's impressive lineup.
Available in two versions, the 1 Series uses the capable powerplants from its big brother, the 3 Series. The entry-level 128i is powered by the 3.0-liter, 230-bhp inline-6 from the 328i while the 135i features the 335i's 3.0-liter 300-bhp twin-turbocharged inline-6, this latter unit taking the rakish 2-door from 0–60 mph in a little more than 5 seconds. And while this born-again BMW 2002 may be easier on the checkbook, it won't skimp on features from its pricier relatives . . ."
Volvo C30
" . . . The C30 is a tidy but roomy 3-door hatchback derived from Volvo's S40 4-door sedan. But it's more than that. Think "Scion-izing" of this Swedish company's approach to marketing. The C30 is aimed at the 28–38 crowd whose urban-hep lifestyles include car personalization. A C30 begins as one of two models, the Version 1.0 at $23,395 or Version 2.0 at $26,395.
Both are powered by Volvo's 2.5-liter dohc turbocharged 227-bhp T5 inline-5 driving the front wheels through a 6-speed manual. V1.0/V2.0 differences include body-cladding options (some coordinated, others contrasting), sizing of wheels (17s or 18s) and strength of stereos (8-speaker 4 x 40w or 10-speaker 5 x 130w Alpine Dolby ProLogic II Surround). Stand-alone options for either version include Geartronic 5-speed automatic transmission, sunroof and leather. With a modest C30 sales goal of 8000 annually in the U.S., it's statistically unlikely that you'll see yourself coming and going . . . "
Dodge Viper SRT10
" . . . Six hundred horsepower! As if 510 weren't enough. After all the taunting by the boys at GM with their Corvette Z06, it's no surprise that Dodge has one-upped them. Essentially the same car with an improved powertrain, the 2008 Viper can be spotted only by its optional Razor wheels and better-ventilated snout. Then, of course, there are the new vibrant paint/stripe options that are sure to get attention. If not, 560 lb.-ft. of tire-vaporizing torque certainly will.
Under the new hood is a revision of the ohv V-10 that features variable valve timing, achieved through a cam-within-a-cam design. For better airflow and combustion, heads are CNC machined, bigger valves are fitted and the bore is increased by one millimeter, resulting in an 8.4-liter engine that shreds rear tires even more violently than its predecessor. Helping keep the power at bay are a stronger yet lighter twin-plate clutch and a revised transmission with bigger gears and better shift action.
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