Weekly Top 3: Cool European Cars We Can't Buy
It's heartening to hear that Ford will bring its excellent Euro-spec Fiesta and Focus compacts to the US market by early next year. Too often, though, Europeans get the good stuff while we're stuck with the dregs (e.g., the current Focus). Here are the three Euro-only models I miss the most.
3. BMW M5 Touring. Actually, I'm not a big fan of the M5. Give it a wagon bodystyle, though, and I could be persuaded. Mercedes-Benz gives us the wonderfully absurd E63 AMG wagon -- why doesn't BMW follow suit with the M5 Touring? Or better yet, give us an M3 Touring, which has been the subject of rumors for some time now but almost certainly won't make it across the pond if/when it appears.
2. Ford Focus RS
. With 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque from its Volvo-derived 2.5-liter inline-5 engine, the front-wheel-drive Focus RS runs neck-and-neck with the fleetest sport compacts, and it might be feasible to sell it stateside for about $28,000
. It's apparently more refined than the typical street racer, too. If Ford ever wants to establish a presence in this segment in the U.S., it knows what to do.
1. Smart Fortwo Diesel. This is what the Smart should have been in the first place. On the European fuel economy cycle, the diesel-powered Smart gets 38% better fuel economy than the gas-powered one familiar to American consumers, which would come out to about 50 mpg combined in EPA terms, a 14 mpg improvement. And you don't even have to go to Europe to find one -- the diesel Smart is sold in Mexico. Sheesh.
What Euromobiles would you all like to see at your local dealerships?
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
- Posted by
- Josh Sadlier June 5, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- BMW, Ford, Smart, Weekly Top 3
BMW 1-series diesel hatchback.
Smart my friend? Perhaps that would make for a better Smart, but not a "Cool European Car."
Here are my nominations: Fiat 500 Abarth, Alfa Romeo 159 and GT, BMW 123d (and hatchbacks), Citroen C6, Koenigsegg CCX, Pagani Zonda, Renault Kangoo (just to say I've driven something called the Renault Kangoo).
#2 should be #1
I also think an E87 135i hatchback could be enough to steal my interest away from an STI.
Others for consideration:
EDM Ford Mondeo/Mazda MAZDA6/Atenza
EDM WRX STI 380 and Evo FQ400 models
To avoid confusing folks, there isn't any 135i hatch currently out there. I just thought it'd be cool to shove the twin-turbo 3.0L inline-6 into it. Thanks to jriz for the tip!
Anything and everything diesel. Also, more models without all the typical "luxury" features that the Euro manufacturers tend to load up on when sending their cars to the US. How about a no-frills MB C-class diesel wagon, for instance?
The diesel smart is sold in Canada too. Or at least it was until recently. My gf drives one - ridiculously good mpg.
Josh, nice list but as one who's blogged about Ford for years, I would add the Ford Kuga, Mondeo and the Focus CC coupe convertible. I've talked about the cool Euro Fords we can't get since 2005 at myforddreams.com