| | | | | version is only offered in Japan. Neither will ever be |
| Top Three European Cars for 2009 | | | | sold in America, even though Americans buy more |
| It has always been the dream of every American | | | | cars from the Honda Motor Company than any other |
| motoring enthusiast to travel to the countries of | | | | country. Lame? You bet. To make matters worse, the |
| Europe to see and drive the different variations of | | | | new Type-R Civic is the fastest and best handling |
| automobiles that are offered. Sadly, the closest us | | | | version yet. |
| Yankees ever come to this fantasy is to look at | | | | With a redesigned 2.0 liter iVTEC engine (variable |
| pictures in European automobile magazines or to | | | | valve timing with intelligence) this Civic screams to |
| watch footage from European TV shows (i.e. Top | | | | redline with 198 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque |
| Gear). These strange yet beautiful vehicles are usually | | | | mated to a close-ratio 6 speed manual gearbox. With |
| faster, more fuel efficient and cheaper then most of | | | | lightened body panels and suspension bits, the Type-R |
| the vehicles offered on U.S. soil, due to our | | | | weighs in at 2793 pounds, which allows it to sprint to |
| government-enforced emissions and regulations. Here | | | | 60 mph in 6.6 seconds with a top speed of 146 mph. |
| is a quick look at three of the best European cars for | | | | With an 8000 rpm redline and one of the quickest |
| the 2009 model year. None of which will be shipped to | | | | shifting transmissions on the market, this Type-R wins |
| America. | | | | in the best-to-drive category of all compact European |
| 2009 Fiat 500 Abarth Edition | | | | cars. The revised steering system and stiff Honda |
| This little pocket rocket from Italy is the modified | | | | suspension setup makes this the closest a Civic can |
| performance version of the award-winning Fiat 500. | | | | get to an actual racecar. Prices start at $18,000 (U.S. |
| The Abarth division (formed in 1949) has taken the | | | | dollars) and the Type-R also manages an impressive |
| base 1.4 liter engine and turbocharged it to the tune of | | | | 31 miles per gallon on the highway. |
| 135 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque. Abarth is also | | | | 2009 Ford Focus RS |
| offering another version of this lightweight racecar | | | | Hold on, the Ford Focus is available in America, right? |
| called the SS, which will have an astonishing 160 | | | | Yes, the boring econo-box from Ford has been |
| horsepower. | | | | available is the states for quite some time. But this is |
| Abarth has also upgraded the little Fiat’s braking | | | | the Focus RS, and it is utterly spectacular compared |
| and suspension, with pieces from the best | | | | to the model we are all used to. You see, in Europe |
| manufacturers on the market. The new 500 comes | | | | they actual race the Focus models in the WRC (World |
| standard with a beefed-up Alfa Romeo gearbox, | | | | Rally Cross) and these little Fords win many of the |
| hydraulic clutch system, big Brembo brakes, OZ | | | | races, suprisingly. That is why they offer the Focus RS |
| lightweight wheels, and fat Pirelli tires. They even offer | | | | (“Rally Sport”) only in Europe, because of rally |
| Abarth apparel (complete with scorpion logos) to | | | | regulations, which state the rally cars must be based |
| compliment your new ride. | | | | on production version cars. |
| This go-kart-esque vehicle also features a | | | | This Focus, unlike the American version is fast, it looks |
| sophisticated engine management system with three | | | | good and handles amazingly. It is the best RS version |
| different modes to increase or decrease steering and | | | | yet. It features a turbocharged 2.5 liter-5 cylinder |
| throttle responses. It also has an option to increase | | | | engine that produces a whopping 300 horsepower and |
| engine torque levels when you hit those straight-away | | | | 302 lb-ft of torque. All this power is put through the |
| back roads. All this is done with a few pushes of the | | | | front wheels, which usually creates the infamous |
| “Sport” button that is mounted on the vehicle's | | | | “torque steer”. This is the phenomenon when |
| dashboard. | | | | too much power is put upon the front wheels and the |
| All this performance and technology can be had for a | | | | tires tend to spin upon hard cornering. But this new RS |
| measly $26,000 (converted to U.S. currency). And get | | | | employs a “RevoKnuckle” system to split this |
| this; the Abarth 500 still gets 43.5 miles per gallon! Who | | | | rush of torque between the front wheels in an efficient |
| needs a Toyota Prius when you are driving a 2000 | | | | fashion, so that handling speeds are not sacrificed. |
| pound racecar for a fraction of the cost and same | | | | The European Focus will also feature 19 inch racing |
| gas mileage? | | | | wheels, sticky Continental tires and big vented disc |
| 2009 Honda Civic Type-R | | | | brakes in the front and rear for 2009. A six-speed |
| Ah yes, the Civic that got away. Or at least the | | | | gearbox and hip-hugging Recaro racing seats should |
| version that never made it to America. Honda has | | | | keep the driver comfortably-busy, during spirited drives |
| been building their Type-R variation cars for years and | | | | on dirt roads and highways. All these features should |
| only the Integra model made it to the U.S. market. For | | | | add up to an all-around amazing sports car for |
| 2009, a completely different version Civic has been | | | | everything from track days to work commutes. Pricing |
| created for the Asian and European performance | | | | and mileage results have yet to be released by Ford, |
| enthusiasts. | | | | but more coverage will follow as the release date for |
| This three-door hatchback is only offered in the | | | | the new RS is set of early 2009. |
| European marketplace and the bigger four-door | | | | |