Awesome, so this thing has been benchmarked against the Porsche Turbo, and by the time you get done paying the dealer markup, you would have been able to buy a Porsche Turbo...

@AndyDuncan: Err, and wind-up is also prevented by actual wheel slippage on low-traction surfaces like gravel.

@Shapeshifter: It's not better. It's cheaper, lighter and is easier to integrate into a transversely mounted engine. But it lacks a true center differential, which means that it can't operate full time and must be electronically engaged when needed. The two benefits to this system versus previous haldex systems…

Godzilla, in the flesh, has to take the cake. Next up would be the STI+EVO together, as you can't really separate the launch of those two cousins. The biggest disappointment, for me, was realizing that the "WRC" STI they had on display was little more than a shell. I doubt it even rolls, nonetheless runs.

@milo_carrera: Actually it's even worse than that, in the 0-200mph test, they couldn't put full throttle down on the hennessey until it was over 100mph. (and the veyron beat it to 100 handily).

@mxrz: And electronics, and safety features, and a million frigging radiators. I'd love to see a long-distance high-speed test between the hennessey viper (or this GT) and the Veyron. So many of these tuner cars are garage queens. They post fast drag-race times, sure, but try to run them hard for more than a couple…

The hennessey vipers have never really been known to be very drivable, (not that the stock viper could be considered drivable either). I think it's downright scary that they say this will be a more "challenging" car to drive. It's like they're admitting up front that they're not even going to try to make it usable.

@MountainDrew: Since you live in Canada you should be quite aware that the exchange rate of the week doesn't translate to pricing of goods and services.

@UDMAN: Well, supposedly this is the latest and greatest Haldex system which has been on Ford and VAG cars for years. It also looks like Saab is applying the same level of marketing spin that VAG has regarding how active those rear wheels really are.

Those racks are useless for any board under 9 feet. F*cking longboarders.

They keep saying that it can transfer "100%" of the torque to the rear wheels, but I can't see how that's possible: It still uses a power-take-off on the front axle and a clutch pack to engage the rear diff.

As usual with BMW though, you can just go ahead and tack another $5k on there for floor mats, keys, a radio, etc.

@416Hammy: If they build the evo sportback concept, then maybe. Until then, I'm going with the hatchback.

@SwatLax: 135is are $35k? You can get a WRX STI for that!

The extra couple inches of depth on the front bumper of the WRC car make a world of difference. Wonder how long it will take the aftermarket community to come up with a [glass|carbon]-fiber reinforced plastic version.

@TR3-A: Nope, still blows air across the top-mounted intercooler:

@harrisch: Because then nobody would buy the MR. Also might be a strength-size-weight issue with their available manual tranny options.

@turbo1168: Well, it's the same tranny from the GM, mercedes and BMW (upcoming) dual-mode hybrids too. I believe they're built by allison, so durability is probably pretty good.

@abgwin: I understand that the engine requires very little modification (I'm not saying none, because it still has to deal with stop-start operation, hopefully they've beefed up the lube systems a little).

Isn't part of the potential benefit of adding an electric motor to the drivetrain that you can use a smaller gasoline engine and still achieve similar performance? Seems kind of silly that all these two-mode systems are using the same gas engines with additional electric power. I'd like to see a v6 coupled with the…