Savage On Wheels

Subaru engineers firmed up the chassis and suspension on this fifth-generation WRX to improve cornering and supposedly ride. To that end they mounted the rear anti-roll bar directly to the chassis, upgraded shock dampers and stiffened the torsional rigidity of the chassis by 28%.

The smartly future-forward styled Genesis GV60 Performance, a top-end luxury electric crossover, is a prime exceeder. Two examples are the first-ever facial recognition system on a consumer vehicle and its rotating crystal sphere shifter further set the pace for technology.

Tesla, you see, is the Apple of automakers where its own early-adopter cultish clan that, by scarcity, word of mouth, and superiority of intellect, chooses its future customers.

Car and Driver says the 240i will do 0 to 60 in just 4.1 seconds, while the 20i takes 5.5 seconds. All that power, in both models, is channeled through a silky 8-speed automatic to deliver kick-ass acceleration that is as impressive as it is refined.

Mitsubishi sells well around the world, but it has struggled over the past 20 years in the U.S. market until this recent uptick. Its products all have improved substantially in that period as the parent company has hooked up with Nissan to share platforms and hardware.

The restyled, redesigned HR-V now rides on Honda’s larger Civic platform, not the former’s Fit chassis. It’s longer, lower and wider, all good things for performance, while remaining svelte at just over 3,200 pound.

Volkswagen was once the automotive love child of my Boomer generation, but time changes things and VW has become one of the back markers in the U.S. auto market, although not worldwide.

Its compact SUV, the XC40, debuted just a couple years back, but now is available with full electric power from twin electric motors, one front, one rear. This version is known as the XC40 Recharge Twin Ultimate, one up from the base Plus model.

Lincoln’s long luxurious Navigator feels a lot like cruising a highway in your family room, if your family room is loaded with tech and massaging chairs.

BMW knows a little something about sporty handling and spunky performance and it shows in its X3 compact premium luxury SUV.