The first Japanese entry we will review is the Hinode Tempest GT. Its thoroughly modern design is very handsome, but quite derivative. The GT trim shows it’s nicely subdued aggression with revised bumpers, grill, front lip, and rear lip wing.
Power comes from the smallest engine in our group, a silky smooth 2.0L turbocharged inline 6, with dual overhead cams and 24 valves. It produces 216 horsepower.
At just over 2500 pounds, the Tempest GT is the lightest car here, and it shows by matching the Courageux on the drag strip, with a 0-62 time of 5.8 seconds and a quarter mile time of 14.1 seconds. It’s launches and pulls strongly, even if the turbocharger needs 3300 RPM to start delivering its maximum power. While the gearing was a bit long for our tastes, the transmission was enjoyable to use.
It’s low weight also endow it with a good balance of sport and comfort. It is taut and compliant at low speeds, and along with the performance tires and aero kit provided impressive grip at high speeds. However, it’s composure is greatly reduced when pushed to its limits, especially for the rear axle.
As expected, 4-wheel discs with ABS are standard. Stops from 62-0 mph took 114 feet with no drama, and we only sensed a slight hint of fade after repeated abuse on the track.
Despite the lack of wood trim, the Tempest GT’s well built interior gives off a modern, luxurious, and classy feel. However, while seat-belt tensioners are standard, no airbag is available. The digital dash is sharp and relatively easy to read, but it lacks oil pressure and voltmeter readouts. We prefer a complete set of analog gauges, which would be more user friendly. Its sweeping dash looks like it was lifted straight from a sports car, with most controls and gauges angled towards the driver. Most of the the controls, including ones for the climate control and radio, are large, well marked, and easy to use. One interesting feature was the high-mounted control panel that houses the most commonly used radio control, it helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road, but some of us saw it as redundant. We did not like the slideout panel for that houses the switches for fan speed and vent settings, but appreciated the cupholders that could stow away in the below the radio. The seats are well padded and supportive, and with the 7-way power adjustments and tilt and telescoping steering wheel, can accommodate almost anybody. Both cabin space and the 16.3 cubic feet of trunk space are typical for its class.