From the US to Europe (and Japan), high-performance cars remain in ...

From the U.S. to Europe (and Japan), high-performance cars remain in vogue George Spaulding Sunday, April 26, 2009

After last week’s column highlighting Chevrolet’s revitalized Camaro, I have concluded not every potential car buyer wants to drive an underpowered motor car.

As demonstrated in today’s column, most of the leading carmakers have not given up on serving customers' desires. The love affair with the automobile is still alive.

As Bill France, founder of NASCAR told me in 1978, “George, people want spirit in a car.” Still true. Read on …

-- 2010 Shelby GT500. This is the latest upscale Mustang boosting horsepower to 540. Surprisingly, the company says, fuel efficiency is improved. The base MSRP is $46,325 for the GT500 coupe; $51,225 for the convertible.

-- Volkswagen is showing off a Blue Sport concept at this year’s auto shows. Looking at the side, it reminds one of the Pontiac Solstice. The company claims the Blue Sport will hit 140 miles per hour, but most importantly, will achieve 35 miles per gallon in the city, 50 mpg highway.

-- The Infiniti Essence concept Sports Coupe has no outside mirrors, being replaced with miniature cameras (I hope they don’t run out of film). A turbocharged V6 engine produces 434 hp, but the company hints that could soar to 600 hp in a production version.

-- Mercedes-Benz unveiled its E-Class Coupe at the Geneva Auto Show last month. It will replace the CLK. It is expected fuel economy will be better because of lower-rolling-resistance tires ad aerodynamics. Sales start here in June.

-- Road & Track magazine says this about the new Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro: “The mid-mounted V10 doesn’t completely change the R8 – it just makes it better; 525 hp can have that effect ,,, expect the V10 version to cost about $45,000.

-- Bentley Continental SuperSports is the most powerful Bentley ever, with a top speed of 204 mph. It can run on gasoline or biofuel, or any combination of the two. It is due in the U.S. in summer 2010.

-- Aston Martin is displaying its ONE-77 at auto shows with stats being very impressive: V12 power developing 700 hp wit 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Top speed: 200 mph.

-- Porsche 911GT3: This old standby ups its horsepower to 435 with a top speed of 194 mph. Sales start in the U.S. in October with a stocker of $112,000.

-- The Ford Taurus will come with a 365 hp EcoBoost V6 and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Engineers had a goal of V8 performance with a V6 engine; 25 mpg is estimated.

-- Chevrolet responds to the European in the horsepower and top speeds with the Corvette ZR-1. It tips the charts with 638 hp and speeds above 200 mph.

Are you getting the trend here? It’s not just the American carmakers building fast, powerful motorcars – it can almost be said, the Europeans are leading the way. In my opinion, the American auto manufacturers would be remiss in mot meeting the competition head on.

Are all of these supercars over the top?

Let the consumer, not the government through regulations, decide. That’s the American way!

George Spaulding is a retired General Motors executive and distinguished executive-in-residence emeritus at the School of Business and Economics at the College of Charleston. He can be reached at 2 Wharfside St. 2A Charleston SC 29401.

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