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Xtreme Machines
Cars that extend the limits of what driving can be.
Paul A. Eisenstein
From the Print Edition:
Tiger Woods, May/June 2008
(continued from page 4)
In today's fragmented automotive world, manufacturers are racing to outdo one another, and the extreme market seems to grow by month.
Porsche's Cayenne Turbo is a favorite—who can resist a big SUV packing the 500-horsepower soul of a sports car?—but we're eager for the arrival of the automaker's first four-door sports car, the Panamera, which is expected at the end of 2009. BMW has always pushed the envelope, and now promises what's being billed its ultimate sedan. Code-named CS, this coupe four-seater made its debut at the Shanghai Motor Show last summer and should be reaching showrooms in 2009.
At the other extreme, we're seeing a flood of new, small cars that belie conventional wisdom, packing performance and luxury into pint-sizes. The BMW 128i convertible, highlighted above, has plenty of competition, including the all-new MINI Clubman.
With interest growing in environmentally friendly cars, trucks and crossovers, it's not unusual to find a Prius parked alongside a Ferrari at affluent homes these days. But wanting to save the Earth doesn't mean settling for something boring. Take Tesla's new Roadster. We'd have highlighted this electric supercar if the company had a firm date for production. But despite ongoing issues with the power train, we're hoping the California start-up will eventually overcome those problems and start building the Roadster, which is expected to deliver 0 to 60 times in the neighborhood of four seconds—about as quick as a Porsche 911—along with about 200 miles range per charge.
It's just one of the new extreme machines that will positively electrify you.
Contributing editor Paul A. Eisenstein writes on automotive issues for Cigar Aficionado.
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