Vehicle: 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Price as tested: CDN$98050
Performance: Corvette Z06 has always been the American standard of a proper sports car, the same goes for the latest iteration. For 2006, Z06 continues to up-the-ante with a 7.0L LS6 pushrod V8, which has a whopping 505 horses and 637 lb/ft of torque. Powerful is an understatement [...]
Vehicle: 2007 Jaguar XK8 coupe
Price as tested: Est. CDN$120000
Performance: The new XK is currently powered by only 1 engine. Its the silky-smooth “AJ-V8″ 4.2 liter DOHC V8 with 300 hp and 300 lb/ft of torque. This engine is very capable as it provides exceptional refinement and flexability right from the bottom to top end. [...]
Vehicle: 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT-P with 5-speed Sportronic
Price as tested: CDN$39293
Performance: Just like its coupe silibing. The Spyder is powered by 2 engines. An anemic 2.4L with 162hp and 162 lb/ft of torque. Or the more powerful 3.8L MIVEC V6 SOHC that is good for 260 ponies. This engine has refinement that is close [...]
Vehicle: 2006 BMW 650i with Executive Pkg and 6-speed Steptronic
Price as tested: CDN$107900
Performance: Just like 5-Series which 6-Series it based on, its 4.5L V8 has been upgraded to 4.8Lfor 2006. This engine is everything a BMW. As its refinement and smoothness are simply superb. It got entertaining engine note which is very Teutonic. Not to [...]
Vehicle: 2006 Volvo XC90 V8 with Luxury Package
Price as tested: CDN$70460
Performance: For 2006, Volvo ditched the T6 twin-turbo I-6 motor in flavor of Yamaha-developed V8. While the outgoing T6 has a healthy hp rating, its barely adequate for a heavy vehicle like XC90. As for the 2.5T, it remains a base engine in XC90 despite [...]
Short review of 2006 BMW 525Xi/550i
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Price as tested: CDN$ 66700 (525Xi) CDN$93500 (550i)
For 2006, BMW not only added 530Xi Touring sportswagon and V10 M5 into the 5-Series range. They also added X-Drive into entry-level 525i and replaced the 545i with 550i.
The horsepower jumps to 360 from 325, while torque increases from 330 lb/ft to 360 [...]
Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530Xi Touring with M Sport Package and Premium Package
Price as tested: CDN$85700
Performance: No one has ever doubt BMW builds the world’s best straight-6 engine. The same goes for the sweet-sounding 3.0L DOHC straight 6 24-valver with Double VANOS in our tester. Regardless of which engine rpm, this engine provides plenty of power [...]
Vehicle: 2006 BMW M Roadster with Premium Package
Price as tested: CDN$72800
Performance: BMW has taken their famous straight-6 powerplant into another new height with the introduction of new M Roadster. This 3.2L 24-valver DOHC straight-6 with Double VANOS is good for 333 horses and 262 lb/ft of torque. Regardless of which rpm, this engine is responsive [...]
Vehicle: 2007 Honda Fit Sport with automatic transmission
Price as tested: CDN$20780
Performance: The North American bound Fit is powered by only one engine. Its 1.5L SOHC VTEC is go for 109 horses and 105 lb/ft of torque. This little mile is really a delightful surprise as it provides plenty of bottom end torque even if its [...]