Main Menu
Popular
Of Interest
Kawasaki Fairing
buy resveratrol
Useful Sites

Top Three European Cars of 2009

PostDateIconSunday, 16 August 2009 12:58 | PostAuthorIconWritten by Robert Dillman | PDF Print E-mail
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

It has always been the dream of every American motoring enthusiast to travel to the countries of Europe to see and drive the different variations of automobiles that are offered. Sadly, the closest us Yankees ever come to this fantasy is to look at pictures in European automobile magazines or to watch footage from European TV shows (i.e. Top Gear). These strange yet beautiful vehicles are usually faster, more fuel efficient and cheaper then most of the vehicles offered on U.S. soil, due to our government-enforced emissions and regulations. Here is a quick look at three of the best European cars for the 2009 model year. None of which will be shipped to America.

2009 Fiat 500 Abarth Edition

This little pocket rocket from Italy is the modified performance version of the award-winning Fiat 500. The Abarth division (formed in 1949) has taken the base 1.4 liter engine and turbocharged it to the tune of 135 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque. Abarth is also offering another version of this lightweight racecar called the SS, which will have an astonishing 160 horsepower.

Abarth has also upgraded the little Fiat’s braking and suspension, with pieces from the best manufacturers on the market. The new 500 comes standard with a beefed-up Alfa Romeo gearbox, hydraulic clutch system, big Brembo brakes, OZ lightweight wheels, and fat Pirelli tires. They even offer Abarth apparel (complete with scorpion logos) to compliment your new ride.

This go-kart-esque vehicle also features a sophisticated engine management system with three different modes to increase or decrease steering and throttle responses. It also has an option to increase engine torque levels when you hit those straight-away back roads. All this is done with a few pushes of the “Sport” button that is mounted on the vehicle's dashboard.

All this performance and technology can be had for a measly $26,000 (converted to U.S. currency). And get this; the Abarth 500 still gets 43.5 miles per gallon! Who needs a Toyota Prius when you are driving a 2000 pound racecar for a fraction of the cost and same gas mileage?

2009 Honda Civic Type-R

Ah yes, the Civic that got away. Or at least the version that never made it to America. Honda has been building their Type-R variation cars for years and only the Integra model made it to the U.S. market. For 2009, a completely different version Civic has been created for the Asian and European performance enthusiasts.

This three-door hatchback is only offered in the European marketplace and the bigger four-door version is only offered in Japan. Neither will ever be sold in America, even though Americans buy more cars from the Honda Motor Company than any other country. Lame? You bet. To make matters worse, the new Type-R Civic is the fastest and best handling version yet.

With a redesigned 2.0 liter iVTEC engine (variable valve timing with intelligence) this Civic screams to redline with 198 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque mated to a close-ratio 6 speed manual gearbox. With lightened body panels and suspension bits, the Type-R weighs in at 2793 pounds, which allows it to sprint to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds with a top speed of 146 mph.

With an 8000 rpm redline and one of the quickest shifting transmissions on the market, this Type-R wins in the best-to-drive category of all compact European cars. The revised steering system and stiff Honda suspension setup makes this the closest a Civic can get to an actual racecar. Prices start at $18,000 (U.S. dollars) and the Type-R also manages an impressive 31 miles per gallon on the highway.

2009 Ford Focus RS

Hold on, the Ford Focus is available in America, right? Yes, the boring econo-box from Ford has been available is the states for quite some time. But this is the Focus RS, and it is utterly spectacular compared to the model we are all used to. You see, in Europe they actual race the Focus models in the WRC (World Rally Cross) and these little Fords win many of the races, suprisingly. That is why they offer the Focus RS (“Rally Sport”) only in Europe, because of rally regulations, which state the rally cars must be based on production version cars.

This Focus, unlike the American version is fast, it looks good and handles amazingly. It is the best RS version yet. It features a turbocharged 2.5 liter-5 cylinder engine that produces a whopping 300 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque. All this power is put through the front wheels, which usually creates the infamous “torque steer”. This is the phenomenon when too much power is put upon the front wheels and the tires tend to spin upon hard cornering. But this new RS employs a “RevoKnuckle” system to split this rush of torque between the front wheels in an efficient fashion, so that handling speeds are not sacrificed.

The European Focus will also feature 19 inch racing wheels, sticky Continental tires and big vented disc brakes in the front and rear for 2009. A six-speed gearbox and hip-hugging Recaro racing seats should keep the driver comfortably-busy, during spirited drives on dirt roads and highways. All these features should add up to an all-around amazing sports car for everything from track days to work commutes. Pricing and mileage results have yet to be released by Ford, but more coverage will follow as the release date for the new RS is set of early 2009.

Comments (26)
  • |114.233.85.xxx |2009-12-11 11:36:28 Anonymous
    From the 1980s onward, digital replica watch technology vastly improved. In 1982 Seiko produced a watch with a small replicas watches screen built in, and Casio produced a digital replicas watch with a thermometer as well as another that could translate 1,500 Japanese words into English. In 1985, Casio produced the CFX-400 scientific calculator watch. In 1987 Casio produced a watch that could dial your telephone number and Citizen revealed one that would react to your voice. In 1995 Timex release a watch which allowed the wearer to download and store data from a computer to his wrist. Some watches, such as the Timex Datalink USB, feature dot matrix displays. Since their apex during the late 1980s to mid 1990s high technology fad, digital watches have mostly devolved into a simpler, less expensive basic time piece with little variety between models.
    Reply | Quote
  • |114.233.85.xxx |2009-12-11 11:36:29 Anonymous
    From the 1980s onward, digital replica watch technology vastly improved. In 1982 Seiko produced a watch with a small replicas watches screen built in, and Casio produced a digital replicas watch with a thermometer as well as another that could translate 1,500 Japanese words into English. In 1985, Casio produced the CFX-400 scientific calculator watch. In 1987 Casio produced a watch that could dial your telephone number and Citizen revealed one that would react to your voice. In 1995 Timex release a watch which allowed the wearer to download and store data from a computer to his wrist. Some watches, such as the Timex Datalink USB, feature dot matrix displays. Since their apex during the late 1980s to mid 1990s high technology fad, digital watches have mostly devolved into a simpler, less expensive basic time piece with little variety between models.
    Reply | Quote
Write comment
Your Contact Details:
Comment:
[b] [i] [u] [url] [quote] [code] [img]   
:D:angry::angry-red::evil::idea::love::x:no-comments::ooo::pirate::?::(
:sleep::););)):0
Security
Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

!joomlacomment 4.0 Copyright (C) 2009 Compojoom.com . All rights reserved."

Last Updated (Sunday, 16 August 2009 13:06)

 
Partner Message
Compare the car insurance market online now to find a quote that suits your driving style
Churchill has your car insurance covered. Get your online quote now
Latest News
Tags
american  automobile  automobiles  beautiful  cars  cheaper  closest  come  countries  different  dream  drive  efficient  emissions  enforced  enthusiast  europe  european  fantasy  faster  footage  fuel  gear  government  look  magazines  motoring  offered  pictures  sadly  shows  soil  strange  travel  usually  variations  vehicles  watch  yankees  2009
by Zaragoza Online
Partners

Copyright © 2009 www.eclairage2009.org.
All Rights Reserved.

Webdesign Tirol designed by pc-didi.