Christian Rado will be using an X-Runner as a drift machine and that could shake up the entire notion of what makes a performance vehicle in that sport. Or it could fail miserably. Who knows? But we do know the stock X-Runner is a dang nice truck, and if Toyota keeps its price down to about $21K fully equipped, it'll be a good deal. The new Tacoma should be on sale as you read this.
Just Driven: ChryslerCrossfire SRT-6The Crossfire SRT-6 is the first Chrysler-branded product to get the SRT label and the first to wear the number six. That six indicates, and the brighter among you have surely already picked this up, the car has a six-cylinder engine-in this case the supercharged version of the 3.2-liter Mercedes V6 that once found a home in the dearly departed Mercedes C32 AMG sedan and SLK32 AMG roadster. What that supercharger brings is 330 hp and 310 lb-ft of peak torque to the Crossfire that was originally offered with just the 215-hp, naturally aspirated version of this engine. The only transmission supporting this sterling, AMG-built powerplant is Mercedes' five-speed automatic.
That the Crossfire could accommodate this engine is no surprise since it's built (in Germany) atop the basic platform of the just-superseded version of the SLK. But what accounts for the dip in output from the SLK32's 349 hp? The Chrysler P.R. squad says it's a difference in calibration to deal with stricter emission standards and a different exhaust system. Having felt this engine scoot the 3,240-pound Crossfire, we suspect there may also be some corporate ass-covering going on as they seek to protect the image of Mercedes products. But it's just a suspicion.
Compared to the regular-strength Crossfire, the SRT-6 has had its suspension fortified with spring rates stiffened between 40 to 50 percent. But the Crossfire already wore big 225/40ZR-18 front and 255/35ZR-19 rear tires so those are retained, though they're now wrapped around new, lighter weight 15-spoke wheels. And those wheels ride just outboard of new, larger rotors up front and double-piston calipers front and rear.
Cosmetically the SRT-6 changes are effective and slightly more than subtle. Up front there's a new chin spoiler, while the standard Crossfire's retractable rear spoiler has been replaced by a new, larger, fixed wing that nicely complements the Crossfire's lines. Inside, there are newly bolstered suede and leather seats, a whole corral's worth of SRT-6 logos strewn about and a 200-mph speedometer. However, the only way a Crossfire will exceed 200 mph is if it's head-butted by a DC-9.
The SRT-6 drives an awful lot like, well, an SLK32. The car reacts with enthusiasm to driver inputs and with the traction control off the car breaks away at the limit with graceful oversteer. The transmission's manual control mode is good, but an actual manual transmission would be even better. This tiny car is still a cruiser, however; more atuned to styling in continent-spanning blitzes than dicing with a Boxster S on a road course. In fact, while the SRT-6 is fine as a coupe, it's likely going to be even better as a convertible. Chrysler claims the car rips to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds and, frankly, it feels a bit quicker than that to us.
The SRT-6 went on sale in June carrying a very Mercedes-like $45,695 sticker price. The roadster hit showrooms in August at $49,995.
Scion v1.0When people think about Toyota's still-newish Scion subdivision, it's almost invariably the boxy-beyond-boxy xB that they're thinking about. No one thinks about that other original Scion, the not-so-box-like xA. To pump up the profile of that vehicle, Scion is now releasing the xA Release Series 1.0 to sell alongside the vibrant orange xB Release Series 1.0 that's already in dealerships.
The xA 1.0 is painted in a color called "absolutely red," which is, well, red and gets a new grille, color-keyed rear spoiler and a power tilt-and-slide moonroof. There are black fabric seats inside with red trim and red lighting in the center storage compartment. And because so many collectors will be hoarding these cars, each also will get a sequentially numbered badge somewhere in the interior.
Only 1,550 of these xA 1.0s will be produced and each will carry a $1,395 premium over the base xA price. And the xA is cheap.
Rumors & Lies* Christian Rado, who has been MIA all year from drag racing, will return to the strip next year with breakthrough sponsorship from Pepsi.
* Also expect Rado's long-awaited, outlawed-once, Pro FWD Celica to be re-bodied as a Scion tC before its debut. Scion will be a Rado sponsor.
* Pontiac's new G6, the replacement for the Grand Am, went on sale in September with a base price of $21,300. The G6 GT is $23,925.
* As you read this, about 1,200 people are losing their jobs at Mitsubishi's Normal, Ill., plant.
* According to the "Detroit News," Ford will name its Mazda6-based sedan the "Fusion." Originally the company had wanted to call it the Futura, but it turned out that name belongs to Pep Boys, which uses it on its line of tires.
* According to a report in Australia's "Sydney Morning Herald," career criminal and heroin addict Shannon Johnston, who had been shot by a police officer while allegedly fleeing a robbery, has sued the state of New South Wales. When asked by the defense attorney how much money he was hoping to get through the civil action, Johnston replied, "I don't know, maybe enough to buy a WRX." Johnston was supposedly driving a stolen WRX when he allegedly tried to run down the officer.
Doom Awaits Celica & MR2In July Toyota announced that neither the Celica nor the MR2 Spyder would live to see the 2006 model year. That means the Celica will have completed 35 years of continuous sales in the United States when it's put down for good. And the MR2 Spyder dies 21 years after the first MR2 was announced (though it was out of production from 1995 to 2000).
Why kill these two? "The Celica and MR2 have been a favorite amongst sports car enthusiasts since their introductions in the United States," said Don Esmond, general manager of the Toyota Division, in a release. "The past few years, however, have been very challenging for both the Celica and the MR2, as competition in a segment where 'what's new' dominates, and we continue to add more exciting and youthful products to the lineup such as the Matrix and Corolla XRS, Solara sports coupe and recently the Scion xA, xB and tC." The SCC cryptographers have a translation of that statement: "Through June of calendar year 2004, we've only been able to sell 5,441 Celicas and 1,702 MR2s. That's just not worth the effort."
Interestingly, assuming the MR2 and Celica aren't replaced, this will leave the Land Cruiser as the sole Toyota-branded vehicle sold in America that's actually made in Japan.
WebsideIf you're stuck at the Courtyard by Marriott in Romulus, Mich., with nothing to do but listen to the jets flying directly overhead onto the runway at Detroit Metro Airport and surf the free high-speed Internet, hey, come on down to room 118 because we just ordered from Domino's! Or at least send us an e-mail at SCCNews@Primedia.com and suggest some sites we should wander into.
JSC Speedwww.jscspeed.comHere's the e-mail from Chris Candido:"I wanted to submit my Web site, www.jscspeed.com, for your column. We specialize in several vehicles, including the WRX, EVO 8, SRT-4, but also provide parts for Celicas, Minis, Hondas, etc. We pride ourselves on the layout of the site and the ease of navigation.
"Additionally, each one of our employees does Web site work. We also have a customer forum, detailed write-up on our project STi (which is in the process of having a GReddy T67 bolted on), and coverage of the various shows we've attended. There's even a picture of the SCC SRT-4 on the front page of the SRT-4 section. The stack of 24-plus issues next to the shitter in our shop should prove our loyalty; thanks for a good read."
Hey, Chris, if we have to go anywhere near the shitter to measure your loyalty, how loyal can you be?