Agreed, some of the magic of Pikes Peak is gone now, buried under the asphalt.

This would be excellent, but perhaps expensive. That said, Honda has renewed its HPD-based grassroots racing efforts in recent years. Would be great to see even a mixed-make roadster series with MX-5s and S2000s both.

More cockpit space I can definitely agree with--I can't comfortably drive them due to the lack of knee room and the fixed steering wheel position.

IMO, 3100 lbs is too heavy, period, especially with just 200 hp on tap. Also, 200 hp and 2700 lbs is the Scion FR-S. The S2000 would need to be either more powerful or lighter to justify its price point and to match or exceed the previous model. Otherwise though, I like the direction.

Actually, center locking wheels are already a standard or optional item on several production Porsche models.

To be fair, this is most likely the F Sport version of the LS, so the regular versions of the LS are likely to look somewhat less sporty.

That's an interesting point. I think a lot of initial buyers of the ATS will use that same rationale--standing out from the crowd rather than blending into it. Maybe others looking for an American alternative to the German/Japanese mainstays will find the ATS to be their solution, too.

Though commonly stated as "power to weight" the ratio typically used is pounds (or kg) per horsepower (or kw).

As for the likelihood of the Ducati going up on its back wheel or over backwards, that's more a function of center of gravity and wheelbase, as even a very drag-prone object like an 18-wheeler isn't going to do a wheelie or flip over, because it has a long wheelbase and a relatively low center of gravity compared to a motorcycle.

Not sure what you mean by this, Thomas. The RS 5 is a sports coupe, not an SUV.

That's a legitimate option (though no one really knows what the 2014 will be like just yet--I think even the 2012 would be a sound alternative) but it places a priority on space and sport over luxury and comfort.