Future Sports Cars Sneak Preview: 2009 to 2012
- By the Road & Track Staff
Want to know which sports cars you'll soon be daydreaming about? We've got them all right here, from the all-new Ferrari F149, to the 2010 Alfa Romeo Mi.To, to the fantastic new 2010 Lotus Eagle. From 2009 to 2012, these are the hot sports cars of the future.
Sneak Preview:
1. Ferrari F149
2. 2012 Maserati Sports Car
3. 2012 Jaguar F-Type
4. 2011 Mazda RX-7
5. 2010 Suzuki Kizashi 3
6. 2010 Lotus Eagle
7. 2010 Alfa Romeo Mi.To
8. 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V
9. 2009 Nissan 370Z
10. 2009 Ford Focus RS
Ferrari F149
Meet Maranello's first front-engine V-8 road car.
By Matt DeLorenzo
Meet Ferrari's new baby! But don't call Maranello's latest an "entry-level" Ferrari. Actually, this front-engine rear-drive 2-seater is the Italian automaker's response to increasing concerns about the automobile's impact on the environment. Instead of pursuing more displacement and maximum power, the new philosophy concentrates on delivering a high power-to-weight ratio. As a result, this first front-engine V-8 road car in the company's history will take its place alongside the F430 in the lineup, perhaps priced marginally less.
While it shares some similarities with the larger V-12-powered 612 Scaglietti and 599 GTB, the shorter wheelbase and lighter weight of the car promise outstanding performance. Codenamed F149, the car also boasts a retractable hardtop. Contrary to speculation that the car would be marketed as a Dino, a Ferrari spokesman insists that this new model is a full-fledged member of the company's lineup. "It is a true Ferrari and will perform like one," the executive stressed. Expect the engine to displace 4.3 litres and produce something on the order of 450 bhp.
2012 Maserati Sports Car
It's a clear hint of a more dynamic Maser, competing not only with Aston's V8 Vantage, but also with Porsche's 911.
By Matthias Pfannmuller
Maserati has been through some tough times. But after years of loss, the Italian sports-car maker finally returned to profit in 2007. The comeback was possible because of new models like the Quattroporte Automatic and the brand-new GranTurismo luxury coupe. Demand for Maseratis has been growing, pushing production to an all-time high of about 9000 cars. Maserati CEO Roberto Ronchi talks of increasing output "to 20,000 cars after 2012."
Clearly a third model line is essential for this ambitious plan, and a sporty coupe (or spyder) for younger customers looks to be the likely choice. A Geneva study by IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) has been a good test of the public's reaction. Ronchi says the show car "has the right proportions, but still needs some detail work." It's a clear hint of a more dynamic Maser, competing not only with Aston's V8 Vantage, but also with Porsche's 911. The car should be on the road by 2011 or 2012.
Tech-wise, Maserati will benefit from R&D at Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Fiat. Additionally, there is still the Sigma platform developed in cooperation with GM. Denied in the past, it could still be used in the next Alfa Romeo 169 in 2009 (offering both rear- and all-wheel drive).
2012 Jaguar F-Type
Jaguar could very easily end up with the coolest sports car of the 21st century.
By Ian Adcock
Ratan Tata, the soft-spoken urbane boss of the Indian giant conglomerate that has acquired Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.3 billion, was understandably very coy about his plans for the two iconic British brands at the Geneva show, as the deal still had to be confirmed.
That was finally done in late March — so what does the future hold for one of Britain's premier marques? One new car that seems a betting certainty is a successor to the fabled E-Type, to be dubbed the F-Type.
In 2000 Jaguar unveiled an F-Type concept at that year's Detroit show to much acclaim. Its swoopy curves and retro machine-turned fascia drew a lot of admiration, but it was ditched in favor of more mainstream products.
Now, it seems that the F-Type might just be resurrected under Jaguar's new owners. Certainly the important players within Jaguar, from design to engineering to marketing, want it.
But how? The simple route is to chop down the XF's platform, making it into a narrower and shorter 2-seater, while still using the XK's aluminum suspension components to save weight (just as the XF does).
Don't think a future F-Type will be simply a slimmer version of the XK. Instead, take the E-Type, morph it into the radical C-XF concept and XF production car and then develop those themes to become the F-Type. Jaguar could very easily end up with the coolest sports car of the 21st century.
2011 Mazda RX-7
Mazda's aim is to bring it in under $30,000.
By Sam Mitani
An anonymous source at Mazda revealed to one of our spies in Japan that there will be another rotary-engine car coming from the Hiroshima-based company. It's still early, but a team is being assembled to produce such a car. The basis for the future car — we have yet to confirm if it will be called the RX-7 — is the 16X rotary engine, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The 16X is an all-new Wankel — an evolution of the Renesis 13B powerplant in the RX-8 — with a revised eccentric shaft designed to produce more low-end torque. While Mazda hasn't published horsepower figures yet, we hear it's in the neighborhood of 200–250 bhp.
Because of the increase in torque, there probably won't be a turbocharged version of the 16X, at least not in the beginning. But our source went on to say that Mazda is still experimenting with forced induction. So, our first glimpse of the 16X will not be in a pure high-performance sports car like the last RX-7, discontinued more than a decade ago in the U.S., but rather something along the lines of the original RX-7 — an affordable, user-friendly sports car that was nimble and fun to drive.
The new rotary-powered car will most likely be a 2+2 with distinct sports-car styling. It will be built on an extended MX-5 platform, which means it will share the dimensions and proportions of the Kabura concept car. Expect upper-and-lower A-arm suspension systems at both ends, as well as a low curb weight, something south of the 3000-lb. mark.
The expected on-sale date of the new-generation rotary car is 2010 to 2011, according to our source. Price? It's still too early to say, but Mazda's aim is to bring it in under $30,000.
2010 Suzuki Concept Kizashi 3
An accessible alternative to the near-luxury segment.
By Mike Monticello
The Concept Kizashi 3 is the third and last of the Kizashi concepts, the previous two seen at the 2007 Frankfurt and Tokyo shows. Besides the fact that the Concept Kizashi 3 is the best-looking of the trio, it's also the most important because Suzuki says it will produce a sports sedan based on this design to go on sale in North America by 2010. Kizashi, by the way, is Japanese for "preview."
The Concept Kizashi 3's power comes from a 3.6-litre dohc V-6 with 300 bhp. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters and the car rides on 21-in. wheels. Its overall length of 183.0 in. means it is just a bit larger than a BMW 3 Series. Suzuki says the goal for the new car will be to "provide an accessible alternative to the near- luxury segment."
2010 Lotus Eagle
Codenamed "Eagle," Lotus' new sports car will be unveiled at the London Motor Show.
By Ian Adcock
Lotus is gearing up for its most important product launch since the Elise bowed 13 years ago at the 1995 Frankfurt show. Codenamed "Eagle," Lotus' new sports car will be unveiled at the London Motor Show in late July. It will feature a unique aluminum chassis with a bonded one-piece carbon-fiber roof — including the "A" posts and cantrails — that has a torsional rigidity of 26,000 Nm per degree. "That's slightly more than a Lamborghini Gallardo," said a Lotus insider.
Taking lessons from the Elise's aluminum chassis, the Eagle's version has lower-profile side members to ease ingress and exit from the cabin and, although it uses the same materials and bonding process as the Elise, its modular structure means it can be stretched up to 2.4 in. wider than what's planned for the Eagle, with a wheelbase varying from 95 in. to 118 in. This chassis will also form the basis of a future supercar challenger from Lotus.
Power for the Eagle is rumored to come from Toyota's Camry V-6 in 3.3- and 3.5-litre forms, producing 210 and 268 bhp, respectively, in standard tune. However, sources tell us there could be as many as seven variants in the car's lifetime, including 2-seaters, 2+2s and convertibles. And with Lotus Engineering's engine expertise, the Toyota engine is likely to be in for some innovative tuning and turbocharging to boost maximum power to at least 300 bhp later in its life cycle.
2010 Alfa Romeo Mi.To
Alfa wraps its style in a tidy package.
By Mike Monticello
Alfa Romeo will bring to market a sporty new 3-door hatchback this July in Europe. Although we heard such possible names as "Junior" and "Furiosa" being bandied about, Alfa brass settled on Mi.To. Although seemingly a strange choice, the abbreviation designates the collaboration between the city of Milan (Milano) — where the Mi.To was styled — and the city of Turin (Torino), which is where the car will be manufactured.
Alfa officials say the Mi.To is its "most compact sporty car to date." They are also quick to point out similarities in style with the flagship 8C Competizione, such as the shape of the frameless side windows, the front-end treatment as well as the head and taillights. Except this Alfa wraps its style in a tidy package that's only 159.8 in. long (still about 14 in. longer than a Mini Cooper), 56.7 in. tall and 67.7 in. wide.
There will be an assortment of gasoline and diesel engines, ranging from 90 bhp to 155 bhp at the car's launch, with higher-powered versions due later (especially if the car comes to the U.S.). The Mi.To has Alfa's new DNA system, which allows the driver to switch among three driving modes (Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather) that affect the behavior of the engine, brakes, steering, suspension and gearbox.
Alfa officials promise the Mi.To will have a truly sporting suspension setup, one that minimizes body roll and aids aggressive driving. What they aren't promising is whether the Mi.To will come to the States. The rumor is it will, possibly by 2010.
2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V
The Spec V will be to the GT-R what the Porsche GT3 RS is to the 911.
By Sam Mitani
According to our source, the Spec V will be to the GT-R what the Porsche GT3 RS is to the 911. It will be significantly lighter than the base car — we hear by at least 220 lb. Extensive use of carbon fiber — on the hood, rear wing, front spoiler and doors — will help the GT-R weigh in at about 3600 lb. The interior may come standard with a rollcage or structural brace like the one in the original GT-R Concept, as well as carbon-fiber Recaro front seats.
There were reports that Nissan engineers contemplated deleting the air-conditioning unit from the package, but decided against it, keeping in mind that not everyone who buys this car will convert it into a racing machine. But this should be enough to tell you that the GT-R Spec V is a serious performance car, one mainly intended for the track. New lightweight 6-spoke wheels will help you distinguish it from the base GT-R.
We also uncovered that the Spec V's 3.8-litre V-6 will pump out about 520 bhp at 6500 rpm and 435 lb.-ft. of torque from 3200 to 5200, roughly a 10-percent increase from the base engine. The extra oomph comes by increasing the boost of the turbochargers.
Combine this added power with the car's lighter weight and you have a machine that'll be so fast it's downright scary. Zero to 100 km/h will be near 3 seconds flat...on a cool day on an ideal driving surface, it may even break into the 2s. The quarter-mile mark will be right around 11.0 sec.
As for price, let's just say that extensive use of carbon fiber will definitely have an effect. The projected MSRP of the GT-R Spec V is $120,000 US.
2009 Nissan 370Z
The new Z will be a rocket.
By Sam Mitani
The Tokyo-based company has quietly been working on the next-generation Z. We knew months ago that the 350Z would undergo a significant makeover, but now our friends at Mag X, Japan's leading car spy magazine, uncovered key elements in the upcoming Z's styling along with providing vital information.
The first thing you notice when looking at the new Z is the headlights. They're an odd "V" shape, which creates a "squinting" effect. But the face is now more distinctive than before. Also adding spice to the new-look Z are "fangs." These body-colored dividers are incorporated inside the grille to separate the air going to the radiator and the brake vents.
The overall shape and profile of the new Z will remain relatively unchanged. However, it will be slightly smaller than the current car, measuring roughly 163 in. from bumper to bumper, about 6.5 in. shorter than today's 350Z. Interior space will stay the same, but the car will weigh some 200 lb. less, tipping the scales at about 3010 lb.
What this means is the new Z will be a rocket. A reliable source in Japan has told us it will be powered by a 3.7-litre V-6, the same engine used in the Infiniti G37 coupe, with output bumped to 350 bhp at 6500 rpm and torque to about 280 lb.-ft. at 4500. This new power-to-weight ratio for the "370Z" will allow the car to reach 100 km/h in less than 5.0 seconds, and should give the Porsche Cayman S a run for its money around any racetrack.
2009 Ford Focus RS
Ford's legendary RS badge returns this summer on the latest-generation Focus.
By Ian Adcock
Ford's legendary RS badge returns this summer on the latest-generation Focus, although it won't go on sale until 2009. A concept version of the 300-bhp stormer will be unveiled at the London Motor Show in July to whet the appetites of Europe's motorsport fans.
The project has been constantly under review, but with Ford of Europe just missing out on a $1 billion profit last year, there's sufficient cash in the bank for the car to get the commercial go-ahead.
Power will probably come from a twin-turbo version of the Volvo-sourced 5-cylinder currently used in the Focus ST model, with clever electronics to minimize lag and ensure good in-gear performance. While the RS will boast Ford's Getrag version of a dual-clutch transmission, it will not utilize all-wheel drive. That would have piled on cost and added weight to the car. It will, however, boast a trick electronic differential developed with British specialist Quaife.
Knowing what a good job Jost Capito's Special Vehicle Engineering department has already done with the Focus ST, the RS should be one heckuva road rocket — and affordable, too.
