VW Rabbit wins Consumer's kudos

Gerry Malloy

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Consumer Reports magazine has named the Volkswagen as the top-rated affordable hatchback following tests of six such vehicles in its June issue. The Rabbit scored even higher than the magazine's previous top-hatch winner, the Mazda3.

"With agile handling and a versatile, well-finished interior, the Rabbit feels solid and is a pleasant car to drive," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center. "The Rabbit has commendable fit and finish, a versatile interior and agile handling."

The Rabbit was tested against the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, Toyota Matrix, Saturn Astra and Mini Cooper Clubman as well as the Scion xD, which is not sold in Canada. It achieved an "Excellent" overall rating, the only vehicle of the group to do so.

The Impreza and Matrix were rated "Very Good" overall, as were the Astra and Mini Cooper, although the latter two had lower scores.

Consumer Reports tested the Toyota Prius separately from this group. Although not directly comparable for that reason, its score was second, behind the Rabbit, just one point ahead of the previously tested Mazda3.

Of the vehicles in the report, Consumer Reports recommends only the Rabbit and Impreza as it does not yet have reliability data on the other models. CTS-V blitzes Nurburgring

A production-spec 2009 Cadillac CTS-V has lapped Germany's Nurburgring under the magic eight-minute mark – a time typically reserved for race cars and exotic sports cars, according to General Motors.

While there is no single official repository for Nurburgring data from private test sessions, GM says the company's research suggests that the CTS-V's time of 7:59:32 is the fastest ever for a production sedan.

One of the stated objectives of the Cadillac team is precisely that – to make the 550-hp (estimated) CTS-V the world's fastest production sedan.

Just a couple weeks ago, Nissan revealed that a production, Japanese-spec GT-R had lapped the 'ring in 7 minutes, 29 seconds, making it the fastest production car ever on the track – some three seconds quicker than the previous record holders, Porsche's 911 GT2 and Carrera GT. The GT-R's time is half a minute faster than the CTS-V – but then it's a four-door sedan, not a sports car. So Cadillac's claim is intact. And an impressive feat by any measure.

According to GM, video documentation of the car's breakthrough Nordschleife performance will be posted online at Cadillac.gmblogs.com.

John Heinricy, an engineering executive in the company's Performance Division and a seasoned racing driver, wheeled the CTS-V through its sub-8 minute lap at the 'ring.

I've driven with Heinricy in a test mule at Road America, North America's mini-Nurburgring, and can confirm that he is one hot shoe, so don't think you can come anywhere near matching that performance level yourself, if you should visit on a lapping day. But don't dismiss the accomplishment either; other companies employ equally talented drivers for their own tests.

The CTS-V is said to be nearing completion of an intensive pre-production testing program to verify calibrations prior to its fall introduction. GM says more updates will be released soon, as details are finalized, including the car's certified SAE power ratings, acceleration specifications and pricing.

New A4 due this fall

Audi has released details of the North American spec 2009 A4, which goes on sale here this fall. The Euro-spec A4 made its auto-show debut in Frankfurt last fall.

Only two powerplants will be offered here – both gas fuelled.

V6-powered A4s will continue to use the 3.2 L FSI (direct-injection engine), now with variable intake-valve lift. It is rated at 265 hp and is said to consume 10 per cent less fuel than its predecessor.

Audi's 2.0 L four will be replaced by an all-new, turbocharged FSI four-cylinder of the same displacement, incorporating variable exhaust-valve lift and rated at 211 hp.

Even more impressive, it produces 258 lb.-ft. of torque over a rev-range extending from 1500 to 4200 rpm. And it, too, is said to provide a 10 per cent reduction in fuel consumption.

The sedan will be offered in front-wheel-drive form with the four-cylinder engine and a choice of six-speed manual or Tiptronic automatic transmissions. Quattro AWD – with a 60/40 rear torque bias – will be available with the four, but only in combination with the six-speed Tiptronic.

Also available in the sedan will be the 3.2 L V6, in combination with Quattro AWD and the 6-speed Tiptronic. Audi/VW's super-efficient DSG gearbox won't be offered, nor will previously-available CVT.

Pricing will be announced closer to the release date, but no significant increase is expected. The Audi A4 currently starts at $35,350.

Nano to get competition

India's recently released Tata Nano, touted as the world's lowest-priced car, is about to get some competition.

Renault, Nissan and Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto this week revealed plans to form a joint venture specifically to develop, produce and market a "low-cost car" in India. It will have a target wholesale price of $2,500 (U.S.) – the nominal price of the Nano.

The new firm will be 50 per cent owned by Bajaj Auto and 25 per cent each by Renault and Nissan.

The car will be built in a new plant, with a projected initial capacity of 400,000 units a year. Sales are expected to start in that primary market early in 2011 in India, with subsequent expansion to other emerging markets around the world.

Rumblings:

Subaru has reduced the price of its base-level Tribeca CUV to $39,995 – a savings of $2,000 over the redesigned, second-generation 2008 model.

The price of the seven-passenger Tribeca Limited remains at $45,195, the same as its 2008 counterpart, while that of the Premier Package has been reduced by $4,300 to $48,195.

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