1-800-33-Honda *Carrying too much cargo or improperly storing it can affect the handling, stability and operation of this vehicle. Before carrying any cargo, be sure to consult the owner’s manual for load limits and loading guidelines. 4WD EX-L model shown. © 2009 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com crosstour.honda.com Introducing the all-new Accord Crosstour from Honda. Designed to be practical without looking like it was designed to be practical. The Crosstour’s sleek, contoured body cloaks a cargo-savvy,* tech- enabled interior. It’s versatility, modernized. Style that screams, space that whispers. www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com CADILLAC.COM/2010SRX THE ALL-NEW 2010 SRX THE CADILLAC OF CROSSOVERS Adjectives are well and good, but for those who know, the numbers speak for themselves. Choose the 265 hp 3.0L V6 with direct injection and variable valve timing, or opt for the 2.8L V6 Turbo that produces 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque,* both with a six-speed automatic transmission. And whatever your engine choice, there is a sophisticated chassis underneath to make the most of the powertrain. Plus, available ZF SACHS Continuous Damping Control suspension technology reads the road every 2 milliseconds for improved driving dynamics. Finally, when the weather turns bad, one of the most advanced All-Wheel Drive systems available manages torque to each wheel, and is augmented by a rear electronic limited slip differential, which provides enhanced control. Introducing the new standard for luxury crossovers. The all-new 2010 Cadillac SRX. Starting at $34,155.† As shown $49,640.† www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com COVER STORY: ROAD TESTS FIRST DRIVES FERRARI CALIFORNIA MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG 42 28 We travel to Italy to test this new Ferrari named Like the original Gullwing, the SLS mixes in some Ferrari afer the Golden State—By Jonathan elfalan GT with its sports car heart—By Matt DeLorenzo ROAD TEST UPDATE PORSCHE 911 TURBO 92 30 • BMW X6 M Stuttgart’s flagship now has direct injection and 458 • MAZDASPEED3 PDK with actual paddles—By Mike Monticello AUDI R8 FSI 5.2 V10 QUATTRO • BMW X6 HYBRID • CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT 32 This month’s updates: Proof that diversity is the Lots of high technology in here…but this X6 still Italia doesn’t get especially good mpg—By Calvin Kim name of the game in 2010—By the R&T Staff COLUMNS FEATURES Fitted with a screaming THE ROAD AHEAD—By Matt DeLorenzo FERRARI 458 ITALIA 9 34 RESEARCH AS A WAY OF LIFE: At Honda 570-bhp V-8, the agile new Do you think Ferrari would put the Italia name on Motor Company, that’s just the way it is… just any old car? Think again—By andrew Bornhop 458 Italia throws down 12 AMPERSAnd—Edited by Mike Monticello 48 AUDI R8 ODYSSEY, PART I THE VIPER LIVES: And a 2010 ACR sets A long-term test of the trans-America variety, with a new track record at Laguna Seca the supercar gauntlet. visits to membership racetracks!—By the R&T Staff SIDE GLANCEs—By Peter Egan MAXIMUM VELOCITY 24 64 SIGNS THAT YOU MIGHT BE A CAR GUY: With Our Driving Impressions Euro tuners take to the circle-shaped Nardo test track full apologies to comedian Jeff Foxworthy in Italy for a top-speed contest—By Mike Monticello and Technical Analysis— TECH TIDBITS—By dennis simanaitis LONG-TERM TEST 78 70 “MINIVANS SMELL OF DIAPERS:” Bears at our In which we welcome the Hyundai Genesis and update national parks have discerning noses (and eyes!) gleaned at the Fiorano track you on the Jetta TDI and 370Z—By Jonathan Elfalan TRACKSIDE 80 and on the twisty roads COMPETITION TROFEO ABARTH 500: A Silverstone sampling of this one-make series featuring the tiny Fiat 500 82 DAYTONA AND BEYOND near Maranello—begin The 2010 Grand-Am season will be hard-fought. 89 The PodiuM—By Chip Ganassi Especially in the Rolex series—By Pete Lyons IT’S ALL ABOUT RACING: From slot cars to on p.34 NASCAR, Chip proves he’s an owner extraordinaire BLAME MONTOYA 86 SPEED ZONE— Why are F1 drivers Trulli and Salo testing NASCAR 94 By Douglas Kott stockers? Just Juan reason—By John Lamm WEARABLES FOR THE WELL-DRESSED CAR GUY: DEPARTMENTS Driving shoes, Serengetis, belt buckles, all you need 4 FOCAL POINT TECHNICAL COUNTERSTEER—By sam Mitani 96 10 REVVED-UP BMW TECH TALK THE AFTERMARKET AND THE ECONOMY: 68 22 YOUR TURN The engineers in Munich are hard at work on a A lively SEMA show fuels our optimism 98 TECH CORRESPONDENCE variety of fascinating issues—By Jonathan elfalan 100 ROAD TEST SUMMARY 102 THE FINISH LINE PS 111 OS BY STEPHANE FOULON COVER AND CONTENTS PHOT CONTENTS www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com GRANDE VITESSE Unlike Toyota and BMW, which have pulled out, the Renault F1 team will soldier on in 2010, putting the past season behind them and starting fresh with Robert Kubica, the Polish driver with the speed to rival the likes of Sebastian Vettel. In this dynamic shot, Bernard Asset gives us a unique perspective on the controlled fury that is modern F1. PHOTO BY BERNARD ASSET Nikon D700 1 sec. at f/16.0. ISO 200. Nikkor 18-35mm lens Purchase this print (and other Focal Point images) at the Road & Track Photo Store 4 www.roadandtrack.com/focalpoint. www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com www.roadandtrack.com FEBRUARY 2010 5 www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com ONLINE FEBRUARY 2010 Explore the New RoadandTrack.com New Homepage with quick links to Delivering the latest Road & Track content stay connected! with quality and style, loaded with eye- popping new features, enhanced site search and navigation, interactive widgets and much more. • Visit the new Road & Track • Get our latest Road Blog for the latest news. Tests, Comparison Tests, http://blog.roadandtrack.com First Drives, Impressions and Long-Term Tests all in • Quick links to gain access to one place. 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Let us know how we’re doing by sending feedback to: [email protected] or keep it for your collection! 6 ROAD & TRACK www.roadandtrack.com www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com Lee Relaxed Fit jeans are the best-fi tting, most comfortable, reasonably priced jeans guaranteed. Available at Kohl’s® and Kohls.com/lee www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com Think About It FIND OUT IF POWER REALLY CORRUPTS. The sordid lure of kinetic gratification. Coupled with the 2010 Genesis Coupe, it can only mean trouble. Press the starter button and you’ll hear the darkened rumble of a 306-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine that catapults you into the land of shady business. Round a corner and that’s where the naughty rear-wheel-drive layout and Torsen® limited-slip differential1 come into play. Will it corrupt? Maybe. But it’s certain to spoil. And resistance is futile. > RACE ONE AT HyundaiGenesis.com 1Available as part of Track model. See dealer regarding availability. 3.8 Grand Touring model shown. Hyundai Introducing the Genesis Coupe. is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor America. All rights reserved. ©2009 Hyundai Motor America. www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com BY MATT DELORENZO » EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Research as a Way of Life While Honda is best known for its cars and motorcy- down from the lower circle, while two round seat pads deploy cles, the company has a long-standing fascination with gadgets. from the top. The U3-X has an unusual twin-hub wheel with Maybe it’s the influence of its power products division—after integrated rollers allowing movement in all directions and unlike all, who but Honda would show a butane-powered roto-tiller at a the Segway, which has a gyro to maintain balance, this device major auto show? uses an inclinometer to keep the wheel under the rider’s center The tinkerer spirit of founder Soichiro Honda, who of balance. fixed engines and motorized bicycles, lives on at the Subtle body movements translate to forward, back- company’s research and development center just out- ward, sideways and diagonal movement; however, you side Tokyo. This is the place where Asimo—Honda’s must use your toe to pivot or turn the vehicle. While robot—was born. And it’s also the place where the it’s interesting to ride, sudden movements (as a few of idea of creating the HondaJet was hatched. That’s my colleagues discovered) will pitch you off. Mostly quite a wide spectrum of technology. Rather than a novelty, the U3-X’s real application genius is its busying itself with pure science-type research, Honda unique wheel arrangement that may find use on other, has a practical bent to its efforts, most of which re- more conventional vehicles.