6- 2011 Buick Regal
Buick is making, well, attempting to make a serious comeback. This is true in North America, where Buick sounds like 75 year-olds driving Centurys wearing depends and bow-ties. This is all about to change. The Regal is the latest and far from the last, that we will see coming from the mid-range luxury brand. Have you seen the adds? “Its arrival is a departure.” I'll buy that for a dollar.
Hot on the heels of the LaCrosse, the Opel Insignia-based Regal will attempt to sway entry-level luxury car buyers with its distinct and racy bodylines. As far as I'm concerned, the fact that no V6 is offered is a stroke of genius; it is better to not have than to remove a few years down the line. So, the choice will be between two 4-cylinder; a 2.4L 183 hp and a turbocharged 2.0L unit goof for 220 hp. 6-speed autoboxes will be standard and a 6-speed manual will be available with the turbo. If this thing drive half as good as it looks, Buick is in business.
7- 2010 Hyundai Tucson
As my tweet (@Matt_St_Pierre) suggested at the unveiling of Hyundai's new compact crossover, at first glance, this “little” all-purpose vehicle could have all the necessary ingredients to sit amongst the top contenders in the category. Designed and engineered in Europe at Hyundai’s Frankfurt-based design and technical centres, the new Tucson has a World-wide aura about it. Its distinctive and distinguished styling are appealing.
On board, it's much the same. The design is thoughtful, accommodating and just about luxurious. Fit and finish are impressive. As with the Sonata, gone is the V6, replaced in whole by the Theta II 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine putting out 176 hp. The key is that AWD, which was only available with the V6, is now offered. A 6-speed automatic transmission will be standard.
8- 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
Not quite here yet but already generating a buzz, I could help but that a closer look at the car that actually had our collaborator Justin Pritchard enthused about a Suzuki product (Click for his first drive). Available in one trim only in Canada, the Kizashi, quite unlike its name, is far from being an oddball. By far the most eye-catching design to come from Suzuki, the Kizashi looks the part of a sport sedan.
Putting the 180 hp 2.4L 4-cylinder's engine to the wheels is a CVT transmission mated to an AWD system. This, by the way, is the only way to get the car in Canada. According to Justin, the car is actually entertaining to drive so this could be a real departure or new frontier for the Japanese brand.
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Buick is making, well, attempting to make a serious comeback. This is true in North America, where Buick sounds like 75 year-olds driving Centurys wearing depends and bow-ties. This is all about to change. The Regal is the latest and far from the last, that we will see coming from the mid-range luxury brand. Have you seen the adds? “Its arrival is a departure.” I'll buy that for a dollar.
Hot on the heels of the LaCrosse, the Opel Insignia-based Regal will attempt to sway entry-level luxury car buyers with its distinct and racy bodylines. As far as I'm concerned, the fact that no V6 is offered is a stroke of genius; it is better to not have than to remove a few years down the line. So, the choice will be between two 4-cylinder; a 2.4L 183 hp and a turbocharged 2.0L unit goof for 220 hp. 6-speed autoboxes will be standard and a 6-speed manual will be available with the turbo. If this thing drive half as good as it looks, Buick is in business.
7- 2010 Hyundai Tucson
 |
As my tweet (@Matt_St_Pierre) suggested at the unveiling of Hyundai's new compact crossover, at first glance, this “little” all-purpose vehicle could have all the necessary ingredients to sit amongst the top contenders in the category. Designed and engineered in Europe at Hyundai’s Frankfurt-based design and technical centres, the new Tucson has a World-wide aura about it. Its distinctive and distinguished styling are appealing.
On board, it's much the same. The design is thoughtful, accommodating and just about luxurious. Fit and finish are impressive. As with the Sonata, gone is the V6, replaced in whole by the Theta II 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine putting out 176 hp. The key is that AWD, which was only available with the V6, is now offered. A 6-speed automatic transmission will be standard.
8- 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
 |
Not quite here yet but already generating a buzz, I could help but that a closer look at the car that actually had our collaborator Justin Pritchard enthused about a Suzuki product (Click for his first drive). Available in one trim only in Canada, the Kizashi, quite unlike its name, is far from being an oddball. By far the most eye-catching design to come from Suzuki, the Kizashi looks the part of a sport sedan.
Putting the 180 hp 2.4L 4-cylinder's engine to the wheels is a CVT transmission mated to an AWD system. This, by the way, is the only way to get the car in Canada. According to Justin, the car is actually entertaining to drive so this could be a real departure or new frontier for the Japanese brand.