PAW Jubatus PE
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Our first American entry is from Packbat Auto Works, styled the Jubatus PE. A little more traditionally sized, the Jubatus is still a little controversial, as it is actually a fastback, not a traditional “coupe.” Other than the body configuration, it fits the bill to a tee.
2.5 liters of turbocharged aluminum twin-cam fury resides in front of the firewall, putting out a healthy 170 horsepower. Forged rods and hypereutectic pistons combine for a balance of reliability and low emissions, and its exhaust system keeps the motor’s rumblings from being intrusive.
A 3-speed automatic coupled with a viscous limited-slip rear may sound boring, but the execution is very smooth and surprisingly sporty on the Jubatus. 4 wheel antilock discs keep the “coupe” pointed straight under extreme braking, though the feel was decidedly squishy. Jubatus is the only car in its class with an air ride suspension. The overall package is quite sublime on the road.
There are four belts inside this liftback. We debated as to whether or not a fifth could have been accommodated, but in the end it was a moot point. Seating surfaces are of a vinylized leather variety. PAW includes a fairly extensive list of equipment for the PE trim. Air conditioning, power steering and front windows (fixed rear), cruise, tilt wheel, and performance gauge cluster are foremost on that list. The sound system is a 2-speaker stereo AM/FM with 8-track player and digital tuning. Notably, it is the only competitor without a standard driver-side airbag. When asked about other options for the new Jubatus, the PAW representative responded that they were still “analyzing the market.” What this means for future trims and iterations, we’re not quite sure.
As tested, the PAW Jubatus PE had an MRSP of $8549, which is the second highest.
Ponni Galleon V8 Luxe
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Next up is the Ponni Galleon V8 Luxe, which is a glorious homage to all-steel Detroit opulence. The very definition of a 2-door American luxo-barge, this little gem put a smile on our editor’s face quicker than anything else we threw at him.
323 cubic inches of American pushrod iron. That’s 5299 cubic centimeters for our metric-loving readers. That’s what Ponni put under the hood of this two-door Landau-style coupe. At 189 horses it’s not the most powerful, but its vulgar, throaty growl is the epitome of everything right and wrong about Americana. We don’t even care that Ponni kept costs down by only putting on a single carburetor or using cast internals. This is the kind of thing that gets our heart beating.
As expected for the class, the Galleon features a 3-speed auto with an open rear end. Yes, burnout fans, that means that you can easily choke your neighborhood with smoke. Oversized solid disc brakes are found at all corners. A progressive monotube suspension keeps the interior relatively isolated from road imperfections, though common big-barge wallowing in corners is to be expected from Ponni’s offering.
Inside, some may find it a bit lackluster compared to the others on the block. It is, however, the only manufacture to have minimized the driveshaft tunnel, and offer a fifth seatbelt in the rear center. The doors are very long, and an automatic tilt/slide mechanism of the front seat allows easy entry and exit. Seat trim is leatherette, and door panels are clad in decidedly cheap (for the class) corduroy. That still doesn’t keep Ponni from adding power front windows, power steering with tilt column, power door locks, driver air bag, and fixed opera windows with illumination and vent treatments. An analog clock, though outmoded, is standard and very precise, especially in the event of battery interruption. The stereo has 2 speakers molded into the doors, and carries AM/FM and 8-track capabilities, as well as digital tuning and presets.
All this is included for the MSRP of $5520, making the Ponni the least expensive offering in this test.
Rado MiniLuxo TP-C
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Our last American offering seems so un-American. It’s a revolutionary little beast produced in Colorado, a place known more for skiing and pioneer history than automotive manufacturing. Still, the Rado MiniLuxo TP-C proved to be too tempting to pass up for this test.
Who would have thought that a personal luxury coupe, once the status symbol of moneyed retirees and bankers, would be powered by a 1.6 liter turbocharged iron 4-banger? It’s possibly the new reality of the class, at least if Rado has anything to say about it. Intake happens through the aforementioned turbo, DCOE side-draft carburetor, and 16-valve DOHC configuration. Turbo lag is pretty noticeable, but the tiny mill beats NMC’s V8 by putting out 131 horsepower. Forged internals are a necessity for a setup like this, and Rado provides.
Again, we find a 5-speed manual transmission mated to a motor. This one has a fairly notchy shifter an long-ish throws, but the clutch is very light and responsive, and the engagement point is very easy to find. Its rear end is open, allowing for some spinning of the wheels. Solid discs are found all around, but notably absent is the presence of any antilock system. The suspension is a progressive monotube setup, and Rado’s components have proven to be well-designed in the past.
Looking at the outside of Rado’s petite coupe, you wouldn’t expect to find full leather trim at all four seating positions, nor power windows with automatic roll-down on the driver’s side. You also wouldn’t necessarily expect air conditioning, driver’s air bag, or a standard power sunroof with bug deflector, but those are all present. Rado even includes a quadraphonic AM/FM 8-track player, though tuning is achieved through analog methods, and presets are limited to 5 mechanically-saved settings. Also, because of its size, the MiniLuxo is a bit on the cramped size, with rear legroom being a particular weakness.
The test TP-C trim of the Rado MiniLuxo comes in at an MSRP of $5719.
Wed May 20, 2015 4:23 pm 
