Statut Pub: avril 2016

2016 Chevrolet Cruze Manual First Drive: Can a Stick Shift Make the Cruze Sporty?

Those seeking a compact car with a stick shift usually fall into one of three categories: Budget buyers on the prowl for the best deal (perhaps subscribing to the theory that manual transmissions yield better fuel economy), game-show winners, and those looking for a more involving, fun driving experience. We fall into the last camp, and the excellent driving dynamics and transmissions in the Mazda 3, the Ford Focus, and the new Honda Civic make them natural targets for our affection. Chevrolet not only has the price shopper covered with the manual-only, base model of the Cruze (the path chosen by Subaru, among others), it deserves credit for also offering the stick on nicer models at upper trim levels. Either way, for the purposes of this review we’re more interested in the transmission’s fun potential. READ MORE ››

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2016 Chevrolet Cruze Manual – First Drive Review

2016 Chevrolet Cruze LT turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-4 engine

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ATLast: Porsche Announces New Car Delivery Experience in Atlanta

There’s no such thing as a free lunch–unless you’re picking up your new Porsche at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta.

As part of its New Car Delivery Experience, Porsche is providing customers the chance to pick up their new 911, Boxster, Cayman, Macan, or Cayenne at the brand’s $100 million facility that houses a 1.6-mile driver development track, a classic car gallery, a restaurant, and more.

Along with a tour of the Porsche Experience Center, Porsche also provides New Car Delivery Experience participants with an in-depth orientation to their new Porsche car or SUV, a 90-minute session on the driver development track, and lunch at the Center’s Restaurant 356.

Of course, “free” is a relative term. Although the New Car Delivery Experience is a no-cost option, it does require the purchase of a new Porsche, the least expensive of which–the Macan–will clear your bank account of $48,550. Customers who choose to participate in the New Car Delivery Experience also are responsible for getting themselves to the Porsche Experience Center, as well as covering any overnight accommodations that may or may not be required. Despite these associated costs, Porsche is projecting that 400 customers will take advantage of the program this year.

In addition to the recently introduced New Car Delivery Experience at the Porsche Experience Center, Porsche continues to offer a European delivery option at both its Leipzig and Zuffenhausen factories. The brand says it took approximately 400 European delivery orders in 2015, and it expects to take another 400 in 2016.

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Smart Fortwo Automatic Tested: A Better Execution of a Still-Dubious Premise

-Driving a Smart Fortwo is an eye-opening excursion into the “might makes right” psyche of the average motorist. If any car inspires bullying, it’s the Smart Fortwo. No one lets the tiny Smart merge or even change lanes. Every stoplight becomes an impromptu drag race, even though you’re just minding your own business. It quickly becomes apparent that no one wants to get stuck behind a Smart. Bicycles get more respect. READ MORE ››

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Porsche Could Revive the 928 as a Panamera-based Coupe

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-The Panamera certainly isn’t the best-looking car that Porsche makes today, but it definitely sells well. Last year, it actually sold in greater numbers than did the Boxster and the Cayman. We already know that a second-generation Panamera is under development and could break cover within the next year, but what if that project also generated a two-door version? And a convertible?

If Porsche listens to its U.S. customers, that’s exactly what we’ll get. Speaking to Motor1, Porsche North America CEO Klaus Zellmer said not only that Americans have been asking for a Panamera coupe and convertible, but also that the demand for these variants is higher than it is for any new Porsche SUV.

A front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe based on the Panamera—and the convertible that would probably follow—sounds a lot like a Porsche 928 revival if you ask us. And while it probably wouldn’t end up being called the 928 (or ever exist at all), we have to say we like the idea of Porsche filling out its lineup with a grand tourer to take on the BMW 6 Series.

At this stage, Porsche building a coupe based on the next-generation Panamera is barely even worthy of being called a rumor. And, remember, there were similar rumors of a coupe variant prior to the introduction of the first-generation Panamera in 2010 and those amounted to nothing more than speculation. But now we have Zellmer pointing out that there’s demand among the big-spending customers in the U.S., a crucially important market for the company.

If there’s already enough demand there, we say why not give it a shot? It’s certainly a better idea than a drop-top Macan would be, though it’s worth mentioning that there’s also potential for a smaller, less expensive four-door that we’ve called the “baby Panamera” to join the Porsche range. You could speculate that a derivative 944- or 968-analog would be just as likely as a 928 revival. You could. We’re not. At least not yet.

A version of this story originally appeared on Road & Track.

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