Carmagazine: Performance Car of The Year 2009

[MikeJ]

Here are the lap times round Rockingham Race Circuit (driver: Darren Turner) for those who are interested:

1. Noble M600 1:30.64
2. Lambo LP670 1:31.74
3. Corvette ZR-1 1:32.40
4. Audi R8 V10 1:33.34
5. Lambo Gallardo Balboni 1:34.28
6. Ferrari California 1:34.67
7. Aston Martin V12 Vantage 1:34.82
8. Mercedes E63 AMG 1:36.22
9. Mitsu Evo FQ400 1:36.64
10. Porsche Panamera Turbo 1:36.83
11. Porsche Cayman S 1:37.07
12. Audi TT-RS 1:37.79
13. Lotus Evora 1:37.94
14. Nissan 370Z 1:38.65
15. Cadillac CTS-V 1:38.85
16. Audi S4 1:39.07
17. Jaguar XFR 1:39.37
18. Honda Civic Type R 1:39.48
19. Subaru Impreza 330S 1:39.51
20. BMW Z4 1:39.92
21. Ford Focus RS 1:40.09
22. Vauxhall Insignia VXR 1:41.53
23. Mazda 3 MPS 1:42.00
24. VW Golf GTI 1:42.85
25. Infiniti G37 1:43.78
26. Mazda MX-5 1:44.25
27. Renault Clio Cup 1:44.29
28. Fiat 500 Abarth Esseesse 1:46.29
29. Seat Ibiza Cupra 1:46.69
30. Renault Twingo Cup 1:47.38

 

[martinbo]

Thanks Mike, those are some seriously topsy-turvy, ***, placings there...

Honda Civic Type R faster than a Focus RS? Hmph. That took me by surprise. Then I saw it was the hard-as-fossilised-Tyrannosaur-balls Mugen thingy...
The E63 AMG is faster around the track than an Evo FQ400? Sheesh - that's impressive. In fact, the E63 is the fastest non-supercar in this group. Astounding. Kudos too.

Shock horror... The Prodrive 330S puts in a good showing for a hot hatch and earns itself a 5 star rating in the areas where it counts.

Ferrari's feeble (on-paper) multi-role boulevard cruiser is faster than Aston's best-effort Vantage V12 and only fractions of a second off a Lambo LP550-2 VBE. The latter being bested by almost a second by Audi's greatest gift to mankind: the R8 V10. That's a pleasing result.

For all its lightweight, delicate, superb-driver-feel accolades, the Evora languishes in the middle of the pack. Now, I'm certainly a true advocate of the driving experience but for such a supposedly sensational Performance Car of 2009 - I'd have expected a better showing. Parochial winner as I'd eluded to on page 1 of this thread. I don't care how nice it is to drive...

The LP670 SV was robbed in my humble opinion.

 

[Merc1]

I can't wait to see the E63 tested by the U.S. magazines. The CTS-V is waiting.

M

 

[Mr Robert]

I can't wait to see the E63 tested by the U.S. magazines. The CTS-V is waiting.

I think that is where there will be comparisons with the CTS-V. That model is often excluded, due to several reasons, availability being one, here in Europe.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

The CTS-V sucks bricks! All Power No Looks!

 

[klier]

Damn I'm good.

Carmagazine is English. This was bound to happen.

The real winner is the E63 AMG

 

[Beemer B773ER]

The CTS-V sucks bricks! All Power No Looks!

..and how is that any different to the E63 ?

 

[HighestOfHigh]

..and how is that any different to the E63 ?

Lol..that's cruel! The E63 AMG is rather boxy, but it looks far better then the CTS-V.

 

[MikeJ]

I'd say the real winner was the R8 V10. They even preferred its handling to the RWD Gallardo's.

 

[martinbo]

I'd say the real winner was the R8 V10. They even preferred its handling to the RWD Gallardo's.

If I were to come into an absurd amount of money - the R8 V10 with a manual box would be the first supercar I go and buy. Even before Porsches, even before Ferraris - the R8 V10 is just so much car for the money. A very complete package and very sophisticated and classy.