An intercooler weighs very little and it's weight is easily compensated odor by shifting other components around but again, an intercooler is rather light. If my 535 can have 51/ 49 weight distribution and it's a chunky family sedan there would be no reason GM couldn't accomplish the same with minimal changes.

The GM small block can be lauded for it's reliability and power. I'm not taking anything away from it. I think it's an awesome motor. I'd like to see something new though, a departure from the norm with proven performance.

1. Perhaps, perhaps not. Eventually they're going to have to get with the times and build a respectable V6, turbo or not so a lot of the investment can be spread amongst the platforms like Ford with the Ecoboost or BMW with the N54. What about the simple 5300 makes it exponentially less expensive to produce than than…

Mostly because that V6 is the same V6 I was referring to as being mediocre. It's just not good. The numbers might be there on paper but with respect to being fun to drive, wanting to wind it out, etc its just not there. The 5300 is better in every respect... Performance, sound, fun...

I don't disagree... I just wish GM would put some eggs into another basket. The 3.6 is really a miserable powerplant and other than their V8's GM has nothing. They have some respectable 4 cylinder turbo mills but they are married to the direct injection 3.6 as far as 6 cylinders go and it's just not a good engine. …

Just to get the demographic down into the 30 somethings would be a huge move and the car is a good step in that direction already. To date, I would never have considered the Corvette as a viable sports car. Yeah it's a very capable car but as far as everything else I care about (interior quality, features, tech,…

If only GM could build a twin turbo six cylinder worth a lick. A 350+ horsepower turbo six in a 3300lb car (probably less due to the weight of a the 6 cylinder mill) would prove to be a lot of fun, offer better gas mileage and further separate the Corvette from the middle age crowd by finally breaking free of the…

Don't hate me but I have to disagree with you. The price point and size means that people are going to be comparing against other similarly priced luxury cars, most of which are rear wheel drive and most of which (at least with respect to most BMWs) are known for their handling ability and also known to be rear wheel…

I get your point about the weight but you reach a point of diminishing returns. The A8 is already quite heavy at 4200lbs which is plenty sufficient to provide a good ride. I don't argue your reasoning; I just don't think it has the benefit you think it does. The negatives of 600lbs additional weight far outweigh…

It's easy to remember. That's the only thing I don't like.

Thanks! I think...

I didn't say the Phaeton wasn't available with that V8. What I said is that the V8 equipped A8 is a tick slower than the 600lb heavier W12 equipped Phaeton and the A8 is still a boat.

Baby keeps parking the cozy coupe too close for comfort so I have to take up two spaces.

Not the best picture but I was lucky enough (or unlucky if you ask my wife) to obtain these.

The problem with the Phaeton is that the Audi A8 exists and once you realize how closely the two are related and how much better of a car the Audi is, the Phaeton quickly loses it's charm.

Bravo! +1 internetz.

JB4 tuner will put you solidly at 400hp. Add E85 and run it on Map 5 and you'll be up around 450hp. Add an intake to that. The intake/ JB4 combo is just $600. You can go further from there but you probably won't need or want to. :-)

Small 4 door that's truly fun to drive? You're driving it. Seriously... You have to be the first person I've ever heard complain of the 3 series equipped with the TT N54 engine. This is an engine that's overwhelmingly lauded for it's flat power curve, pleasant sound, acceleration and also for being under-rated on…

It's kind of hit and miss. Realistically the cap isn't that low. Reliably you can put a lot more power through them and now we have 15 years of data to pull from to back that up. The problem is that the 3800 guys used to pop in shift kits and combine them with PCMs that maxed the line pressure in the transmission…

4T65E? I blame Volvo's modifications. That was a swell transmission in the GM cars it was put in and they put serious power through them.