The Airacruiser nameplate is a hefty promise. Launched on a longitudinal front-drive platform in 1985, it has survived by making customers salivate for the next iteration - not dread it. After four generations of such sporty front-drivers, the decision was made in 2022 to send drive to the rear wheels: both to foster homogeneity with the more luxurious Somervell Sinclair and Waldersee Ritter, and to simply be able to say: We, a mainstream, non-luxury brand, can sell a burnout to a layman.
The fifth-gen Airacruiser sells itself on style as much as substance. Appearing as a blunt-looking, high-haunched muscle sedan with Arlington’s signature split grille, quad taillamps and a raised, vented hood, it continues in the tradition of cars such as the original 1995 Somervell Sinclair, giving customers genuine standout looks without undermining usability.
The underpinning platform is a full-fat, wishbone-front and multilink-rear affair with no strut towers to speak of: you can even add shims to adjust caster and everything. All models are shipped with relatively overbuilt brakes and a top-line selection of tires from Arlington’s development partners, including a cutting-edge summer tire on sports trims. Shock absorber selection starts with monotube and allows the choice of a magnetorheological active system.
The Airacruiser is available with 4- and 5-cylinder staggered-inline engines - with 3 options of the latter. The base 'cruiser and the premium Highline trim get a 175hp 1.8-liter S4; the upgrade engine is a 2.3 S5 with AVVC valve control, enabling a 255hp output and coming standard in the FQ-spec and Limited.
The performance FQ package gets an AVVC-strapped 3.1 S5 churning out 330 hp, and the all-out RFQ comes with a fixed-lift, supercharged version of same - good for 445 hp.
The transmission selection consists of a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed, column-shift automatic with optional (standard in FQ-spec) paddle shifters. All drivetrain packages are adjusted with suitable final drives and shift logic for the engine of choice, and traction is managed by stability and traction control, as well as a helical limited-slip differential and launch control on the sportier versions.
One major area of concentration for all longitudinal Arlingtons - but especially the compact 'cruiser - is space management. To that end, the short length of the Staggered engines provides a reasonable dash-axle ratio that leaves a spacious-for-wheelbase passenger compartment, which contributes in its own manner via slim (yet well-reinforced) doors and walls and a crimped center console.
Inside, one is greeted with touch-or-knob infotainment, a rational horizontal layout of physical light, audio and climate controls, and a single-stalk wiper/signal package to leave the right side vacant for the column shifter. Steering wheel-mounted controls include audio backups, cruise control (standard), and the engine start. As for style, interiors can be had in a cloth/leatherette blend or actual leather upholstery; the sporty trims allow the customer to option red accents.
In a final coup of space efficiency, the Airacruiser is available (and, in fact, primarily advertised) as a liftback. The six-window body’s cavernous maw serves to drive home that fundamental point: Even as a brutallly efficient and undeniably advanced performance vehicle, the Airacruiser remains nothing less than the best mainstream compact car on the market today. Starting at $22,000 for a base sedan, and with an FQ-spec liftback with 9AT, MagDamp and the mechanical LSD available at as little as $28,400, this Texan is all hat and more cattle.
Notable Specifications
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141ci, 20v, Si5 engine; 254 hp @ 7600, 193 lb-ft @ 5700.
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9-speed computer-controlled automatic with paddle shift functionality;
Rear wheel drive; helical-geared rear differential with 4.84:1 final drive
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Suspension (F/R): Control arms, 210# coil springs, magnetorheological shock absorbers, tubular stabilizer / Multilink, 200# coil springs, magnetorheological shock absorbers, tubular stabilizer
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Dimensions (WB/L/W/H): 108.3 in / 183.1 in / 72.3 in / 54.8 in)
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Weight: 3270 lb
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Acceleration (0-60/Qt.Mi.): 5.2 s / 13.6 s
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Lateral Grip: 1.02 g
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Fuel Economy (Combined): 35.7 mpg-US