550i 1st in Motor Trend Loveland Pass Challenge
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Speaks pretty well for the 550i, given the test was 11K feet above sea level, a real challenge for a naturally aspirated motor. Imagine the results at sea level!
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Great video, and a nice win for the 550 Sport - but who'd have predicted it that the 550 would be pushed so hard by the Lincoln MKS? I'd have expected the Jag to do better to be honest. Good to see the 550 hold its own, but some major kudos is due to the MKS (altitude notwithstanding).
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Definitely speaks well for the MKS, though clearly a turbo-driven choice of venue. That benz looked like it was wallowing all the way through the course. The Maserati is awesome, but isn't it a bit big compared to the others? Probably the coolest sounding, if not the fastest anyway... (the Quattroporte)
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Well, a second place finish and the course's top speed are very impressive results for the 6 cylinder Lincoln MKS.
I am not surprised that the 550i Sport won. It is just so capable in the twisties. I have never driven another sedan that is as grippy, fast and predictable in the twisties as my 550i Sport. FYI. the 550i Sport in the test had the Sport Automatic Transmission. The driver said, that maybe it was not as powerful as the others but "it went around the corners, it could carry speed". Exactly.
Surprise, surprise, the test driver complained of understeer in the MB E550. I think that the MB's interior and engine have the 550i Sport beat but it still has not caught up to the E60 in the handling department. Sort of hard to believe given that the E60 debuted in the 2004 model year.
I am not surprised that the 550i Sport won. It is just so capable in the twisties. I have never driven another sedan that is as grippy, fast and predictable in the twisties as my 550i Sport. FYI. the 550i Sport in the test had the Sport Automatic Transmission. The driver said, that maybe it was not as powerful as the others but "it went around the corners, it could carry speed". Exactly.
Surprise, surprise, the test driver complained of understeer in the MB E550. I think that the MB's interior and engine have the 550i Sport beat but it still has not caught up to the E60 in the handling department. Sort of hard to believe given that the E60 debuted in the 2004 model year.
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Originally Posted by sdg1871' post='1031512' date='Oct 13 2009, 02:34 PM
Well, a second place finish and the course's top speed are very impressive results for the 6 cylinder Lincoln MKS.
I am not surprised that the 550i Sport won. It is just so capable in the twisties. I have never driven another sedan that is as grippy, fast and predictable in the twisties as my 550i Sport. FYI. the 550i Sport in the test had the Sport Automatic Transmission. The driver said, that maybe it was not as powerful as the others but "it went around the corners, it could carry speed". Exactly.
Surprise, surprise, the test driver complained of understeer in the MB E550. I think that the MB's interior and engine have the 550i Sport beat but it still has not caught up to the E60 in the handling department. Sort of hard to believe given that the E60 debuted in the 2004 model year.
I am not surprised that the 550i Sport won. It is just so capable in the twisties. I have never driven another sedan that is as grippy, fast and predictable in the twisties as my 550i Sport. FYI. the 550i Sport in the test had the Sport Automatic Transmission. The driver said, that maybe it was not as powerful as the others but "it went around the corners, it could carry speed". Exactly.
Surprise, surprise, the test driver complained of understeer in the MB E550. I think that the MB's interior and engine have the 550i Sport beat but it still has not caught up to the E60 in the handling department. Sort of hard to believe given that the E60 debuted in the 2004 model year.
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Originally Posted by jm545i' post='1031504' date='Oct 13 2009, 03:31 PM
The Maserati is awesome, but isn't it a bit big compared to the others? Probably the coolest sounding, if not the fastest anyway... (the Quattroporte)
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Not to take anything away from the Lincoln MKS but I'm questioning how objective this test is since there was a present of a Ford engineer (check out the very end of the video).
The choice of venue is definitely an advantage for turbo cars.
The choice of venue is definitely an advantage for turbo cars.
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Originally Posted by zen68' post='1031839' date='Oct 13 2009, 11:21 PM
Not to take anything away from the Lincoln MKS but I'm questioning how objective this test is since there was a present of a Ford engineer (check out the very end of the video).
The choice of venue is definitely an advantage for turbo cars.
The choice of venue is definitely an advantage for turbo cars.