Editing AMC Gremlin (section)

=== Performance ===
[[File:1973 AMC Gremlin X package in TransAm red white stripe and tan interior at 2021 AMO 6of8.jpg|thumb|{{convert|258|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} six-cylinder engine]]
The Gremlin was faster than other subcompacts of the time. ''[[Motor Trend]]'' magazine recorded [[0 to 60 mph|zero to 60&nbsp;mph]] (0 to 97&nbsp;km/h) in 12.6 seconds with the {{convert|232|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} engine. The Ford Pinto and the VW Beetle were in the 18-second range. Fuel economy was {{convert|28|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on}} to {{convert|30|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on}} with the small six, compared with the 35-plus mpg economy of the VW Beetle.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vance |first=Bill |title=Reflections on Automotive History |volume=2 |publisher=Eramosa Valley Publishing |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-9698922-3-6 }}</ref>

Although front-heaviness was generally thought to compromise the handling, [[Tom McCahill]] wrote in ''[[Mechanix Illustrated]]'' that the Gremlin was "fast and easy", with a comparatively stiff ride because of the shortened rear springs. He ran a 232-engined Gremlin with automatic transmission from [[0 to 60 mph|zero to 60&nbsp;mph]] (0 to 97&nbsp;km/h) in 11.9&nbsp;seconds, saw {{convert|100|mph|km/h|0}} on the [[Daytona Speedway]] straightaway, and summarized: "On a dollar for dollar basis, I rate the Gremlin the best American buy of the year".

''[[Car and Driver]]'' magazine also recorded 0 to 60&nbsp;mph in 11.9 seconds with a 232-powered Gremlin.<ref name=interior/>

''Automobile Quarterly''{{'}}s article "A Critical Look at the 1973 American Cars" summarized that the basic "Gremlin offers outstanding performance for an economy car and excellent fuel mileage."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vorderman|first1=Dan |first2=Jan P. |last2=Norbye |title=Critical Look at the 1973 American Cars|work=Automobile Quarterly|year=1972 |volume=10 |issue=4 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dhKFQJd7husC&q=Gremlin+offers+outstanding+performance+for+an+economy+car&pg=PA344 |page=344 |isbn=978-1-59613-139-2 |access-date=June 27, 2014}}</ref>

When ''Popular Mechanics'' magazine tested the car with the Audi four-cylinder engine introduced in 1977, they said its acceleration with a four-speed manual felt "amazingly strong", with 0-60&nbsp;mph and quarter-mile times one second slower than with the 232 cubic inch straight-six (16 vs. 15, and 21 vs. 20 seconds respectively).<ref>{{cite news|last=Lamm|first=Michael|title=Driving the new 30-mpg Gremlin |work=Popular Mechanics |date=February 1977|volume=147|issue=2|pages=87 & 144 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=6eEDAAAAMBAJ&q=AMC+Gremlin+performance&pg=PA87 |access-date=June 27, 2014}}</ref> The smaller engine produced [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] mileage of {{convert|35|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on}} highway and {{convert|22|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on}} city.

The Gremlin's body was heavier and stronger than its domestic or imported rivals.<ref name="cranswick_237-8">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=r9j7MWLE_jMC&q=Gremlin+easily+had+the+strongest+body+in+subcompact+land+very+defects+Consumer+Reports&pg=PA237 |pages=237–238 |last=Cranswick |first=Marc |title=Cars of American Motors: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7864-4672-8 |access-date=June 27, 2014}}</ref> The engines were also more powerful than the Gremlin's main domestic and imported competition. The powertrains were smoother and more reliable, and the car had fewer [[Product recall|recall]]s.<ref name="cranswick_237-8"/> Its chief import rival was the [[Volkswagen Beetle]], which did not handle as well and got similar gas mileage from about 40% of the Gremlin's horsepower. The same overall size as the Gremlin, it was packaged marginally better. Gremlin designer Richard Teague commented in ''Motor Trend'' that to compare the Beetle (whose basic design originated in the late 1930s) to the Gremlin in profile and body design was like "comparing a [[Ford GT40]] to the [[LZ 129 Hindenburg|Hindenburg]]".<ref name="Cranswick-157"/>

The Gremlin holds the "distinction of offering one of the widest engine ranges of all time—from two liters to five liters."<ref name="vance-winnipeg"/>