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I’m writing this as I make way over to Cobo hall – word has it the Malibu and the CX-9 were awarded.

CX9 I get – it’s surprisingly well executed, esp given it’s roots.

The Malibu we all saw coming, didn’t we? Especially as this award is voted on by the same journalists who have been heralding the Malibu as the best new car when it really isn’t all that new. Aren’t they all in essence defending their own decisions?

I’ll report back on what my personal best in show picks were…

In this piece on the new TT (worth a read in its own right) one of my favorite new journalists explains the differences between three kinds of cars. So next time someone says one car is ‘better’ than another, ask them to clarify which kind of car they gravitate towards…

The Driver’s Car – It’s hard to explain unless you’ve driven one, but there are cars in this world that are just as fun to drive at 15 mph through a school zone as they are to blast down back roads. They are cars like the first-generation Mazda Miata, the original VW GTI, and the BMW E30 M3. They are cars that read the road surface to your fingertips with all the subtlety of a megaphone, that demand all of your attention all of the time. They don’t necessarily need to be that capable (and by modern standards, those that I’ve mentioned aren’t); they just need to be communicative and involving.

The Atari Car – Cars to which I refer as “Atari Cars” are a modern phenomenon. They are cars that feel like a video game. Atari Cars are immensely capable – they can often out-perform supercars without even breaking a sweat. And that lack of sweat defines them – they shrug off insane speeds and laugh at corners. Nothing unsettles their suspension. They’re so good that the driver has no idea how fast he’s actually driving. These are cars like Audi’s very own RS4, a Mercedes E63 AMG, Bentley Continental GT, and, to a lesser extent, cars like the Subaru WRX STi.

The Sports Car – A sports car (in the World According to Me) is that rare car that combines the communication of a Driver’s Car with the capability of an Atari Car. The quintessential sports car that comes to mind is the Porsche 911. It, like other sports cars (the Ferrari F430 and Lotus Elise come to mind), is among the world’s most capable machines, and yet remains so communicative and interactive that its owners take the long way to the grocery store.

It’s always amazed me how profoundly a slight tweak here or there can change the composure of a car as it goes down the road or the confidence a driver feels behind the wheel.

Many times it comes down to a change of bushing, a tighter damper, or a change in final drive ratio, not a lower ride height or bigger wheels.

The details can make your head spin and its not just in high performance cars. ‘07 Mazda 3s get relocated tie rods and rear trailing arm mounts for even quicker turn in response, the difference in body control and response in an X5 sport package comes from different front shocks and springs…

This passage from 4Car is what got me thinking along these lines…

This is a much better suspension set-up than the GT HDi 110’s, because it’s less jittery over broken surfaces yet handles with more enthusiasm. It’s surprising what a difference stiffer rear bushes for the front suspension’s wishbones, a rear torsion beam stiffened by 12.5% and recalibrated dampers can make.

pushing into understeer through tight bends, floating slightly through fast sweepers… you can adjust its attitude by playing with the throttle, but it always feels, and behaves, like a front-driver rather than a four-wheel-drive car, albeit a front-driver with excellent traction from apex to exit. – evo

don’t dismiss the exterior remodelling as purely cosmetic: improvements to aerodynamics have led to fuel consumption gains of up to 6% compared to the outgoing 3s… Aided by new wheel/tyre combinations, noise intrusion into the cabin is down, thanks also to more insulation under the bonnet, a quieter fan, better cabin sound-proofing, increased chassis rigidity and reduced vibration from the suspension. – 4Car

Changes for ‘06 include variable valve timing for the 2.0-liter engine. ABS and variable-intermittent front wipers become part of the standard features list for all 2.3-liter models and the 2.3’s automatic now has 5 speeds rather than 4.

I’m still waiting for standard side airbags and stability control, Mazda…

Minus points include the small boot opening, which prevents large loads being carried, poor economy of 25mpg and an interior which seems to have dated in front of our eyes. The hard plastics now appear cheap and, although nothing has actually broken or fallen off, the cabin does not feel as high-quality as you’d expect…

source: AutoExpress

(To this list I’d add the lack of stability control, the automatic’s having only 4 ratios and the fact that ABS and side airbags are not standard).

The problem stems from the fact that – like too many ‘all wheel drive’ cars, the Mazdaspeed 6 sends all of its power to the front wheels 99% of the time. You can read more on why this essentially ruins the car’s handling here.

some staffers cited excessive tire and transmission noise, a cruising range of less than 300 miles, and an excessively tricky clutch as reasons to prefer other cars. source: Aaron Robinson, Car and Driver 09.05

(If the auto transmission didn’t have 4 speeds, we’d prefer that model over the manual – especially as it eliminates all the complaints other than the short cruising range. If any car needs a sequential manual transmission it’s this one…)

...read this excerpt from Autocar:

...the MX-5 isn’t about speed, it’s about ability and agility and that’s what makes it quick. The steering (which thankfully isn’t electrically assisted) is refreshingly direct and quick, although it doesn’t have quite as much feel as the old MX-5’s. Compact dimensions and excellent visibility mean town driving is stress-free, and country roads are immensely fun. And the gearchange must be one of the most accurate (and delightful to use) ever built. The rear tyres will happily give up their grip unless the road surface has been towel-dried, but it’s always benign and easy to control. Should [you] buy one? Obviously. These days there are few cars that trade power and speed for entertainment, but the MX-5 is one of them. It’s also a more practical proposition than the old MX-5, although you’ll still struggle to fit more than a single suitcase in the boot. That’s not a reason not to buy one, and there are many reasons why you should.