As always, only the newest of the new were invited to participate (no superficial refreshes allowed). All are evaluated by multiple drivers on the open road and by pro race driver Randy Pobst at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Pobst provides detailed notes, which are then combined with other feedback to produce the winner.
2014 Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martins are known for fabulous styling, luxe interiors and a V-12 that makes a glorious assault on the ears. The Vanquish, which replaces the DBS, features 565 hp developed at a delicious 6750 rpm, aluminum- and carbon-fiber-intensive construction, and a pledge that it's the marque's most thrilling Grand Touring car yet. Based on looks (and the $304,960 as-tested price), she's certainly capable of leaving you and passers-by weak in the knees. It's the first Aston to make the final list of Best Driver's Car nominees. Pobst's take on the car: He found the handling to be just a little on the ponderous / numb side, but did say the car is quite stable at track speeds.
2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 S AMG
Whaaaaat? A wagon? You know it. This is like no wagon you've ever drive, though. The family-hauler-on-steroids Mercedes-Benz E63 S AMG is powered by a twin-turbo V-8 making 577 hp. A rear-biased four-wheel-drive system keeps the power on the ground and not in wheelspin. Other go-fast goodies include a limited-slip rear differential, brake-based torque vectoring, adjustable-damping shocks, and enormous brakes. It can hit 186 mph, but would go faster if it weren't electronically limited. Pobst said he loved accelerating out of corners because the drivetrain prevented the wagon from getting loose. He said the exhaust produces a "glorious" sound.
2014 Porsche Cayman S
The 2009 MTBDC champion returns. In S trim, the 2014 model makes 5 more horsepower and weighs 24 pounds less than the 2009 champion. Much development time was spent on the PDK dual-clutch transmission, and it shows on the track and on public roads. Also, the wheelbase is lengthened 2.3 inches. Luckily, the Cayman S still has the reflexes of a spry cat. Even if that's a cat with $36,450 worth of options. Race driver Pobst said the Cayman S has great seats and might be the definition of a good-handling car. He was left wishing for more power from the 325 hp 6-cylinder engine.
2013 SRT Viper
A roaring V-10 producing 640 hp? Check. Widest tires on all corners of any BDC contender? Yep. High intimidation factor? Well, that goes without saying. This is the "base," Viper, the "affordable" one. It starts just north of $101,000. Pobst said the car demands one's full attention during performance driving. "You've got a tiger by the tail. You're really kind of wrestling the car around the circuit."
2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition
The 5-year-old supercar known as Godzilla, which won the first edition of the World's Greatest Drag Race in 2011, has gone to the gym. New injectors feed the GT-R's 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V-6 that produces 545 hp. Its Bilstein dampers are stiffer; the spring rates are higher; the front's link bushings have been relocated; and an all-new front anti-roll bar keeps the already great-handling car even stiffer. All that for only $116,000. If there's a knock on the GT-R, it's that some think its vast array of stability electronics take away from the driver's feel. Racer Pobst said none of it affects speed (in fact it helps speed in many cases), but that "it's more numbed down," than, say, a Porsche.
2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus
Audi's top car (and the choice of Tony Stark in the "Iron Man" movies) desperately needed what it now has: a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox that is buttery smooth, shifting gears in less than 100 milliseconds. It's more powerful than ever, not counting the limited-edition R8 GT. The familiar 5.2-liter V-10 now makes 550 hp. Standard items including non-adjustable dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes, and massive Pirelli P Zero tires help the $188,000 R8 pivot with cunning precision. Pobst said the transmission was the best of the BDC bunch and compared the car favorably to the Porsche 911 Carerra S, last year's winner.
2013 BMW M6
Is it the ultimate driver's car? With a twin-turbo, 560-horsepower 4.4-liter V-8; 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox; and 20-inch forged alloys wheels wearing Michelin's sticky Pilot Sport rubber? Maybe. M division's newest coupe is a Bavarian beast with speed on its mind. It's no hardcore racing machine, though. Per usual, the M6 fills the role of a grand tourer that loves to turn. Pobst said the transmission was pretty good, but that overall, "It's just is not a happy car. Not ready for prime time. Yeah, they need to spend more time with the Porsche engineers at lunch, you know, have them over."
2014 Jaguar F-Type V8 S
You want an angry-sounding car? Jaguar's smallest offering is also its most entertaining, thanks to multi-mode pipes. The Motor Trend crew said it wished all sports cars sounded as gnarly, brutish, and angry as this Jag. Under its nose lives an Eaton-supercharged, 5.0-liter V-8 producing 488 hp. An eight-speed paddle-actuated automatic gearbox and limited-slip differential direct power to the rear, 20-inch P Zeros. One has to be careful with the gas-pedal in corners. Nail it too early and the back end will be closer to where you're headed than you are. Pobst said that he liked the "difficulty" of driving the F-Type at the limits, and that it prevented bumps from jarring the cabin better than most of its competitors.
The Bentley Continental GT Speed Le Mans Edition
This 5,181-pound, luxurious-as-in-a-red-leather-interior monster is driven by a 12-cylinder engine that produces 616 hp. The Motor Trend crew marveled at how such a heavy car could move so deftly. Executive Editor Ron Kiino likened driving the Bentley to "speed skating in a Michelin Man suit." Pobst said he felt like he was going to "Bentley hell" for driving the plush car so hard. He also said it's clear that the Continental does not belong on a race track.
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
Everyone loves the engine and the doors, but there are many who just didn't care for how the previous SLS models drove. The newest Black Series is a massive improvement over the previous car in terms of its on-track handling. But really, it's better in every way a driver's car can be. Those nuts at AMG even made it faster. Power from the brutal 6.2-liter, naturally aspirated V-8 is up to 622 horsepower from "just" 583. One editor raved about the engine note: "Sounds like it's going to reach through the dash and strangle you." The editors loved the handling, and said the SLS is a race car for the street in every possible good way.
2013 Ford Focus ST
At first glance, the $27,000 Ford might seem like the proverbial knife brought to a gunfight. Sure, the ST's 252-hp, turbo-charged 2.0-liter is far below the average of 512 hp for this competition, but editors said that after five minutes behind the wheel you'll find yourself asking, "So what?" It has one of the best front-wheel drive setups the world has ever seen, once it's up to speed the Focus ST has no problem hanging with the big boys. It's also one of two cars in this year's competition to come with a manual transmission. Pobst and the editors praised its great, fun handling, but brakes that couldn't withstand track use put a ding in its scores.
2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
Last year's Best Driver's Car winner now has all-wheel drive. The flat-six, 3.8-liter boxer engine produces 400 hp. Editors praised the harmony between the engine, transmission and the road. Motor Trend Editor-In-Chief Ed Loh called the $151,000 (as tested) 911 "The most unstoppable, confidence-inspiring vehicle I've driven yet."
Of the first repeat winner in the history of the Best Driver's Car, Race driver Randy Pobst said he just didn't want to stop driving the 911, whose abilities translated to all drivers who participated in the tests. Detroit Editor Scott Burgess: "A couple of times, the person behind me was catching up to me. At first, I took this as a condemnation of my driving, but then I realized that everyone catching me was driving the 911." Kiino was succinct: ""When I said the Cayman S left me wanting more, I guess I was talking about the 911."
