Fast-Autos News

Also joining the power race is VW, which at last has given the new Passat some real power - 300 bhp. VW tried to market a W-8 version of the previous Passat, but ther were few customers, partly because the Passat has such a reputation for being as good but boring sedan - justified, too.

The new Passat R36 changes all that, being powered by an enlarged version of the narrow V-6 in the Golf R32. The 3.6 liter direct injection engine - direect injection is the way they are going in Europe - develops 300 bhp, which should give the Passat a good turn of speed. As standard, the engine is coupled to the six-speed DSG semi-automatic gearbox.

Like the Golf R32, it has VW's four-wheel drive system to get the power onto the road - VW realises that there is a limit to how much power you get through the front wheels, and it is about 250 bhp.

With a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds, the R36 will be no slouch, though top speed is limited to 155 mph - a pretty hot pocket rocket - in sedan or wagon form. To handle that power, suspension is uprated, the brakes are bigger and the car sits on 235/40-18 tires.

Of course, we are all wondering whether the 3.6 liter engine will fit into the Golf, and when we are going to see an R36 Golf, or maybe it will be the new coupe coming in the next year or so.

Mitsubishi's new direction

Mitsubishi really means to capitalise on the success of the Evo models and really go sporty with the new Lancer range. Previously, the full range has been sold only in Japan, although a few markets do get the rather gutless coupe. Now all that changes. There is a full range of Lancers coming for world markets, and they are all look very sporty - at least the images revealed so far do.

The car has an aggressive fromt end, and the coupe looks pretty smooth. Can't wait for the Evo 10!