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    最近两款新跑车斯巴鲁（Subaru）BRZ和Scion FR-S（上图）的面世，让所有车迷都稍感心跳加速。这两款车实质上一模一样，它们都是由斯巴鲁和丰田（Toyota）的子公司Scion联合研发的，采用的全新后驱底盘以及发动机来自斯巴鲁，设计和其他部分则由丰田（Toyota）完成。两公司强强联合的成果就好比当年绿箭口香糖曾打出的广告：“快乐加倍，乐趣加倍”。

    这两款新车的问世具有重要意义：低价跑车近年来一直呈供应不足的状态。这类车以年轻人为目标市场，但年轻人手头并不宽裕，跑车的保险成本又很高，而且跑车的上架时间很短，容易迅速过气。跑车不仅带来驾驶乐趣，也是时尚的代名词，因此它们往往上市18个月后就闲置在销售展厅里无人问津了。即便是经久不衰的马自达MX-5 Miata跑车（今年已迈入第23个年头），如今也已成为市场上的稀有品种，2011年的销量仅为5,672辆。

    以下谨为大家介绍几款在汽车史上占有一席之地的平价跑车，纪念它们远去，同时也庆祝平价跑车在2012年的复兴。

Starting on a dime

    The hearts of auto enthusiasts everywhere beat a little faster recently with the introduction of two new sports cars: the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S (above). The two autos are essentially identical because they were developed jointly by the two companies. The all-new, rear-drive chassis is from Subaru, as is the engine; Toyota did the design and extra bits for the motor. As they used to say in the old Doublemint chewing gum commercials: Double your pleasure, double your fun.

    The appearance of the two is notable: Affordable sports cars have been in short supply in recent years. The target market of young men isn't exactly flush with cash, insurance costs weigh heavily, and sports cars have a short shelf life. As much about fashion as they are about driving, they tend to wilt in showrooms after 18 months. Even the durable Mazda MX-5 Miata, starting its 23rd year on the market, has become a specialty item -- 2011 sales totaled 5,672 cars.

    Herewith, some reasons to lament the eclipse of the affordable sports car and to applaud its renaissance in 2012.

MG-B

    这一辆是我的私人藏品。在我得到第一份工作后不到几个小时，我就拿出相当于三分之一薪水的钱买了一辆1965年的MG-B跑车。不过当时我还不知道，维修这辆车的钱还会再花掉我三分之一的薪水。这辆MG-B安装的是手摇式车窗，它的帆布软顶需要通过一个可拆卸式的支架才能安装起来，一旦天降暴雨便令人抓狂。它从静止加速到60公里需要11秒多的时间，可见加速并不犀利，不过操控感还是令人满意的，而且它多少让我与名爵（MG）这个后来很快走向消亡的英国经典品牌建立了一点联系。

MG-B

    This one is personal: Within hours after getting my first job, I agreed to lay out about a third of my take-home salary on a 1965 MG-B. Little did I know that repairs would soon lay claim to another third. The B came with roll-up windows but the canvas top still had to be assembled over a removable frame, which was no fun in a downpour. With a zero-to-60 mph time of more than 11 seconds, the B was no speed demon, but it handled sweetly and allowed me to make a connection -- however distantly -- to the great -- and soon to disappear -- British motoring marques.

Datsun 240Z

    日产公司（Nissan）的第一款Datsun 240Z跑车一经推出便受到了如潮的好评，读到这些评论后，我那不靠谱的MG立时被打入冷宫，我一心只想买下这款日本跑车。没出几个星期，我就花了3,500美元从一位私人车主那里购买了一辆几乎全新的1970年的Datsun 240Z。几天后，我开着它在密歇根到洛杉矶间跑了一个来回，没有开空调，一路上它的表现时时刻刻都让我满意。几年后，这辆车因融雪盐腐蚀而报废了，不过它扎实的可靠性还是让我在之后的很多年都很买日本车的账。

Datsun 240Z

    After reading rave reviews for the first Z-car, my unreliable MG became yesterday's news, and I coveted nothing less than the Japanese Jaguar. Within weeks, I located a barely used 1970 model and paid full sticker of $3,500 to buy it from a private owner. Days later I drove it from Michigan to Los Angeles and back again, sans air conditioning, and loved every minute. Road salt took its toll on the Z after a few years, but its rock-solid reliability sold me on Japanese cars for a long time.

庞蒂克Fiero

    通用（General Motors）研发这款车的初衷是好的，只是结果事与愿违。通用董事会将这款中置引擎跑车定义为一款“通勤车”。1984年，这款扯得发布会召开时，时任庞蒂克（Pontiac）老板的比尔•霍格兰德对它寄与厚望，亲自来到纽约参加推介会。当时我拉着他到野外进行试驾，我们在西点军校（West Point）附近的某个地方迷了路，午餐迟到了整整一小时。由于性能、可靠性和安全问题，Fiero跑车提前结束了历史使命。现在它的历史地位也只是一件古董，仅供猎奇，而非经典。

Pontiac Fiero

    One of General Motors' good intentions that went awry, the mid-engine Fiero was snuck past the automaker's board of directors as a "commuter car." Excitement was so high that Pontiac's then-boss, Bill Hoglund, came to New York for the introduction in 1984. I took him for a test drive upstate, and we got lost somewhere around West Point, arriving an hour late for lunch. The Fiero's life was cut short by performance, reliability, and safety issues, and is now more curiosity than classic.

丰田MR2

    MR2是丰田推出的一款个性非常模糊的中置引擎后驱双座跑车。在1984至2007年间，美国公路上不时可见第一代MR2的身影。尽管它的工艺无可挑剔，但对于那些习惯了销售卡罗拉（Corolla）和凯美瑞（Camry）的经销商来说，MR2还是太难卖了。“丰田”这个金字招牌也没能增加它的需求。终其一生，MR2的销售都非常有限，丰田也早已把注意力转移到更加迫切的问题上，比如混合动力轿车。

Toyota MR2

    A very uncharacteristic two-seat, mid-engine, rear-drive creation of Toyota, the first generation of "Mr. Two" squirted around American roads off and on from 1984 to 2007. Despite its engineering brilliance, the MR2 was a bridge too far for dealers used to selling Corollas and Camrys, and the Toyota insignia didn't add to its desirability. Sales remained miniscule throughout its life, and Toyota has turned its attention to more pressing issues, like hybrids.

庞蒂克Solstice/土星Sky

    前通用汽车CEO鲍伯•卢茨在其任内曾出过许多昏招，他本来希望通过庞蒂克Solstice和土星（Saturn）Sky这两款跑车让通用焕发青春，就像道奇蝰蛇（Viper）之于克莱斯勒（Chrysler）。2005年，庞蒂克Solstice仓促上马，一开始销售势头甚猛，但不久后，随着媒体曝出Solstice的车顶问题以及储物空间过于狭小，销量开始一落千丈。它的销量在2006年达到顶峰，共卖出19,710辆，到了2009年已一路下跌到4,826辆。土星Sky的表现甚至还不如前者。它的最高销量是2007年的16,567辆，2009年则只卖出4,178辆。

Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky

    Among Bob Lutz's less brilliant ideas, the Solstice and Sky were supposed to rejuvenate GM the way his Viper did for Chrysler. Rushed into production in mid-2005, the Solstice created an initial sales fever that quickly cooled off when news got out about the quirky top and the absolute lack of any storage space. Sales peaked at 19,710 in 2006 but then tumbled all the way to 4,826 by 2009. The Sky did even worse. It reached sales of 16,567 in 2007 and two years later sold only 4,178.

捷豹XK-E

    1961年的时候，有多少热血青年曾渴望拥有一辆捷豹（Jaguar）XK-E！它是旧（钢丝轮毂和拨动开关）与新（华丽的车身工艺及无懈可击的比例）的完美结合，它为汽车创造了一个新的审美标准，几乎前无古人后无来者。不过它的价格不算十分亲民——早在50多年前，它上市第一年的售价就达到了4,995美元。现在想要收藏这款老爷车的仍然大有人在，我也是其中之一。

Jaguar XK-E

    How many hot-blooded young men lusted after this car when it came out in 1961? A seductive blend of the old -- wire wheels and toggle switches -- and new -- spectacular bodywork, impeccable proportions -- the XK-E set a standard for beauty that has rarely been equalled. Never exactly inexpensive -- $4,995 was the first year's base sticker price more than 50 years ago -- it was still not so far out of reach as to be beyond aspiration -- mine included.

奥迪TT

    奥迪（Audi）TT独特的半球造型是设计师J•梅斯和弗里曼•托马斯一生的经典之作，在公路上谁都不会把它与别的车型弄混。此外，专门设计的内饰和备选的棒球式针脚真皮座椅也让人欣喜。这款跑车于1999年问世，当时这个“轮子上的艺术品”标价33,724美元。升级版TT现在仍在量产，不过价格不那么亲民了。

Audi TT

    The uniquely hemispherical profile of the TT was career-defining for its creators, J. Mays and Freeman Thomas, and it gave it an unmistakable presence on the road. After that, the well-tailored interior with optional baseball stitching on the leather seats was a bonus. At its debut in 1999, you could get this "rolling work of art" for $33,724. Updated models continue to be produced, albeit at less affordable prices.

大众-保时捷914

    早在大众（Volkswagen）与保时捷（Porsche）合并之前四十年，两家公司就联手研发了这款中置引擎的敞篷跑车。当时无论是大众还是保时捷之前都没有生产过这么古怪的汽车。它于1969年问世，1976年停产，它的长轴距在转弯时提供了非同一般的稳定性，但四缸版的发动机只能泵出80匹马力，略显不给力——要从静止加速到时速62英里需要13秒。后来两家公司因为营销协议的问题分道扬镳了，914跑车也很快淡出了人们的视线。如今一辆914老爷车只需3,000美元。

VW-Porsche 914

    Four decades before they finally decided to join forces, Volkswagen and Porsche collaborated on this mid-engined, targa-topped roadster that was one of the strangest cars either company ever produced. Built from 1969 to 1976, the 914's wide track provided unusual stability in cornering, but the 80 horsepower that the four-cylinder version put out made it a bit of a slug -- getting to 62 mph required 13 seconds. The two companies feuded over marketing arrangements, and the 914 quickly sank from view. Used models today go for as little as $3,000.

本田CRX

    本田（Honda）CRX采取了掀背式造型，因此很难把它归类为跑车，但它只有两个座位，快速过弯的本事一点不逊于一款纯粹的跑车。它只有1,900磅重，62匹马力的发动引擎输出的燃油经济性让今天所有的轿车都望尘莫及——城市道路每加仑49英里，高速公路每加仑52英里。1990年问世时，它的售价仅为11,130美元，但次年即遭停产。本田或许现在仍在后悔这个草率的决策。

Honda CRX

    Though it is difficult to categorize as a sports car because of its hatchback body style, the CRX came with only two seats and scooted around corners the way a proper sports car should. Weighing only 1,900 pounds, its 62-horsepower engine delivered fuel economy today's cars can only dream about: 49 mph city/52 mpg highway. Its price when new in 1990 was a mere $11,130. Honda stopped production in 1991 and probably still wishes it hadn't.

MINI Cooper Coupe

    MINI Cooper Coupe或许有些向经典英式跑车致敬的意味。这款跑车最近在今年的底特律车展（Detroit Auto Show）上展出，它基于四门版MINI Cooper的底盘，但只有两个座位，车顶轮廓线也更低。操控感完全满足MINI品牌的标准，但逼仄的车身造型却限制了它的实用性。它的起价为23,000美元（高配版售价32,000美元），显然是普通家庭可以负担得起的价位。而且它又明显与众不同，在驾驶乐趣上也应能获得较高的分数。

    译者：朴成奎

MINI Cooper Coupe

    Does the MINI Cooper Coupe represent a proper homage to the Great British Sports Car? Featured at the most recent Detroit Auto Show, the Coupe is built on the sedan's chassis but has two less seats and a lower roofline. Handling is up to MINI standards, but the taut body style limits functionality. For $23,000 (and up to $32,000) it is clearly affordable, certainly distinctive, and should score high on the fun meter.