Since one of the latest topics has been performance Volvos with the upcoming S60 R AWD at the forefront, as a competitor to the S4, I would like to bring up the fact that we will soon be able to have access to two rear pocket rockets!

First and foremost is the 2001 Subaru Impreza WRX which will come to the US with a slightly "toned down" version of the 2.0L Turbocharged engine (250HP) that will put out 227 HP (for the US). In Europe and the rest of the world, this car is a 2-door, in the US it will be a 4-door; I have seen the car (the Euro versions are rated at 250HP but everyone and their grand,other is suspecting that they put out close to 300HP, it is just that the Japs have a "moratorium"--yeah right-- of 250HP on such cars...), sat inside (in Greece) but never had the pleasure of driving one. I did drive its big rival, the Mitsubishi EVO Lancer...(cannot really describe the experience...one cannot fathom the feeling of driving such a light car with AWD and that much power!). But my acquaintance who owned it assurd me that when you mash the accelerator, you "will be shoved back into the seat". That car does 0-60 in 5.2 secs, so I expect the US version to be in the high 5s...Interesting to see how many sales the S4 will lose, when you can get the Suby for about $24,000! Only 800 per month will be imported in the US!

Then, the next "big news" is that there is a Ford Focus FR200 that in its current form its 2.0L turbo engine churns out 304Hp at 6,750rpm! The car only weighs about 2,780 lbs (!!!) and its 0-60 time is "sub-5 secs" according to an insider! The quarter mle time is "in the low 12s"! Ford wil put out this car also "toned down", to 225HP rating. Will be interesting to see how this car would drive but Tom Kendall (former Trans-Am champion) who spent some time in it, put it very succintly: "It drives like it's pissed off"!!!!!!!!

So, we will will if this stuff will carry to the next generation S40 (especially since it is going to have AWD) and how "wild" the S60R will be...

Yannis