Automotive surprises

[Z34guy]

I decided to make this thread for our biggest surprises in researching cars. This way we could provide others with surprising info as well.

My biggest surprise recently was this. The Dodge Stratus (1995-2000) has a racing pedigree and DOMINATED! It was a failed racing series from 1996-1997 called the North American Touring Car Championship, or the NATCC. Below are videos from the first race, held at Lime Rock Raceway in Connecticut.

[zaklax13]

thats pretty cool, suprised this didnt catch on, the 'touring' style races are stilll huge in europe

[Z34guy]

I myself am surprised it didn't catch on. There was supposed to be a second attempt at an American TCC in 2009 but it seemed to have flopped before any races started. There was alot of action in that race and it was never boring. I actually started looking up Dodge Stratus's in my area, looking specifically for a base model 2.0L SOHC engine with the 5 speed manual as it would be the best starting point for a road variant. Engines were to be production based so that would've been the engine they used. Unfortuneately, it's harder to find a 2.0L model than I initially thought. Most are 2.4L twin cams, or 2.5L SOHC V6's with automatics.

In fact I was just thinking. Which automaker sponsored American market cars would be in the series if made today and which engines? Here's My thoughts based on it being sedan only and a 2.0L engine size-cap.
2007-present Nissan Sentra base, 2.0L MR20DE
2011-present Chevrolet Cruze, 2.0L Turbo LNF (sourced from Chevrolet Cobalt or Buick Regal)
2011-present Buick Regal, 2.0L Turbo LNF
2011-present Volkswagen Jetta, 2.0L TSi
2008-Present Ford Focus, 2.0L Duratec
2011-present Chrysler 200, 2.0L GEMA engine (sourced from Dodge Caliber)
2008-present Dodge Avenger, 2.0L GEMA engine (sourced from Dodge Caliber)
2007-present Mitsubishi Lancer, 2.0L GEMA 4B11T
2009-present Toyota Corolla, 2.0L 3ZR-FE
2009-present Acura TSX, 2.0L K20-Z3 (sourced from Honda Civic Si)
2008-present Honda Accord, 2.0L R20-A3
2005-present BMW 320i, 2.0L (find me what this engine is called and you get bonus points. The engine is only available in the US in the 1-Series I believe. Otherwise, it's a euro-only engine.)
2009-present Audi A4, 2.0L TSi
2008-present Kia Forte, 2.0L Theta 2 engine
2010-present Hyundai Sonata, 2.0L Theta 2 Turbo
2007-present Suzuki SX4 Sport, 2.0L J20B

...That would make for some enticing racing. Especially with all of them turboed, with 6 speed sequential manual transmissions and 300 HP

[zaklax13]

i would love some 3 or 5 door races, give the hatchbacks some love

[Z34guy]

It would have to be 5 doors as the only 3 doors on the US market are the Mini, Honda CR-Z, Hyundai Accent and the Toyota Yaris.

A 5 door hatch series would be as follows with a 1.6L engine size cap:

Chevrolet Aveo, 1.6L Ecotec
Toyota Yaris, 1.6L 4ZR-FE
Honda Fit, 1.6L R16A (sourced from overseas model Honda Civic)
Suzuki SX4 Sportback, 1.6L J16
Ford Fiesta, 1.6L Duratec Ti-VCT (Sigma engine family)
Dodge Caliber, 1.6L Tritec engine (sourced from Euro-spec Chrysler PT Cruiser. It's a engine used in the Mini Cooper from 2001-2006)
Nissan Versa, 1.6L HR16DE (sourced from the Nissan Versa base model sedan)
Mini Countryman, 1.6L Prince turbo
Kia Rio5, 1.6L Hyundai Alpha 2
or
Kia Soul, 1.6L Gamma