As James noted on Wednesday on his TFTC, there was some hubbub regarding Inside Line's latest Mechanic post. Some commenters wrote that just listing a bunch of cars is lazy journalism. Oh, great. Where does that leave CarPool's Weekly Top Three, the pinnacle of lazy automotive journalism? Unloved and scorned, that's where. WTC -- the John Gosselin of blog posts.
It's actually been busy here at storied Edmunds editorial offices the past couple of weeks. We've started to build up editorial coverage of pre-production cars (i.e., cars you can't buy yet). We have plenty of advanced coverage and spy shots on Inside Line but not necessarily on the Edmunds site. We suggested adding links to Inside Line (see, lazy) but our execs don't just want links, they want actual stuff you can read. So yours truly has been eyeballs deep in pre-production models.
This makes me mildly qualified to highlight the three vehicles that I'm most excited to see come out in the next 12 months. They follow after the jump.
2011 Ford Mustang. OK, this isn't a surprise given the above photo, and it's been covered heavily elsewhere. But the 2011 Mustang looks like it's going to rock. First, Ford has ditched the weedy V6 and installed a modern 305-hp V6 backed up to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Then Mustang GT, which wasn't exactly underpowered, gets an all-new DOHC 32-valve V8 good for 412 hp. (I have to think that the guys over at 5.0 Mustang magazine must have had a week-long party at the office when they learned the 5.0 was back. Understandably, their coverage is substantial).
Oh, and for good measure, Ford ditched the Shelby GT500's previous iron-block boat anchor of an engine and installed a new one that's all-aluminum and more powerful (550 horsepower). It's like Ford saw Chevy's new Camaro, replied with the '11 Mustang, and said, "How do you like them apples?"
2011 Ford Fiesta/2011 Chevrolet Cruze/2012 Ford Focus. Well, this happens to be three cars rather than one, so it's more of a theme -- the resurgence of the American small car. The Focus was actually pretty impressive for the first few years of this decade, but then it hit middle age and got the equivalent of a beer gut and a comb-over. Chevrolet, meanwhile, has never fielded a truly competitive small economy car. All three of these look to be cars you might actually want to buy. I'm looking forward to seeing them match up to the Honda Fit and 2011 Civic; in typical fashion, Honda is being quite secretive about the Civic's redesign.
2011 Chevrolet Volt. With all the hype and initial coverage on this thing, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Volt's already been on sale for months. But nope, it doesn't come out until this fall. Mostly, I'm looking forward to the Volt because it shows an automaker is willing to take a chance on something innovative. Sure, I'm pretty excited about cars like the Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C, too. But honestly, it's just more of the same, just turned up to 11 (or 12). The Volt is an all-new amplifier. For Government Motors' sake, let's hope this plug-in hybrid is well received.
Incidentally, the last time I wrote WT3 I listed three used cars for a friend planning on selling his 1974 Porsche 914. I thought you might like an update: he completely ignored my advice. Shocking, I know. That weekend after the post went up he went around used car lots and ended up buying a 2000 Audi A6 with the twin-turbo V6. He should have checked Edmunds True Market Value (TMV), as he paid more than I think he should have, but that second-generation A6 was a respectable choice in its day. Hopefully, it will be reliable for him.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
By yankeez
on March 12, 2010
06:56 AM
Dodge, you really need to step up your powertrains in the Challenger... and quickly!
By guy1974
on March 12, 2010
07:26 AM
Brett - a good writeup and I agree with your choices. However please remove the gratuitious reference in the last section to Government Motors. There is no such company. It is General Motors which is part owned by the US Government. Just as VW is part owned by German local Government. This just injects politics into an article that didn`t need it.
By ne1butu2
on March 12, 2010
07:58 AM
I'm looking forward to the Volt. Fingers crossed for this one!
By 1487
on March 12, 2010
11:02 AM
does anyone really know if the Civic is being redesigned for 2011? Honda has been extending many of their products beyond the old 4-5 year lifecycle they used to stick to religiously.
I was a little surprised at the token government motors reference. While other automakers (except VW) aren't government owned their governments set up policies that effectively protect them from imported competition- which might as well be the same thing. Shockingly, in other countries industry and government work together for the best interest of the country. Toyota doesnt need any additional government help because Japan's trade rules help keep their market 95% domestic. Imagine that.
By blueguydotcom
on March 12, 2010
02:06 PM
Wow, 10 year old Audi. That's a scary prospect.
By misterfusion
on March 12, 2010
03:53 PM
Glad I wasn't the only one disappointed in the offhand "Government Motors" reference, but 'nuff said.
I agree about the small cars, it'll be nice for North America to finally have some new choices in this segment.
Also, can't wait to (vicariously) experience all flavors of the 2011 Mustang.
By ed124c
on March 12, 2010
03:54 PM
I would love to have a 2011 V6 Mustang, except for two things I am already concerned about.
1. No sunroof. Oh, you can get a glass roof that doesn't open-- if you want to pay $2000, and if you want the premium model with leather, etc., for a total of over $4000 extra.
2. I sat in a 2010 GT, and I was not happy. I couldn't get comfortable, and the interior, revised for 2010,is stil archaic looking, with no power seat at all-- for $29200.
By mcloffs
on March 12, 2010
09:40 PM
Hoping for reliability from a 10-year-old turbocharged Audi? Good luck with that.
By firstwagon
on March 13, 2010
11:21 AM
I am somewhat looking forward to the new Mustang. The current model is already really good so the new one will be great I sure. Chevy should be nervous.
I am very much looking forward to the new Focus and Fiesta. I'm more of a "wait and see" on the new Civic and Cruze. Honda has been going the wrong way with new models lately and GM's track record on small cars is poor. Early reviews I've read on the Cruze were luke warm leaving me with a feeling it will be a good replacement for the Cobalt but not likely to compete well with new models from Ford.
I'm not positive at all on the Volt. It will sell well at first beause of all the hype but I think it's too expensive and too compromised to make anyone but the extreme eco crowd happy. It is however the car I would most like to see a long term test on.
By wrinklebump
on March 14, 2010
10:10 PM
Tell him to make a Halloween costume out of the A6 interior once it falls off
By greenpony
on March 21, 2010
06:51 AM
People will get offended by anything, eh Brent?