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Monday, November 18, 2013

ROAD & TRACK NAMES ITS 2013 PERFORMANCE CAR OF THE YEAR

Road & Track picks its performance car of the year.
By Damon Lowney, Autoblog.com - Road & Track recently staged its first annual Performance Car of the Year test, pitting 13 new and updated performance cars against each other on track, then graduating the top six to a road test before picking a winner.  Additional, the magazine staff picked the best automobiles of the year in eight categories.

But first, let's cover the PCotY segment.  Here's the list of cars brought to the comparison test: Audi R8 V10 Plus; BMW 435i, BMW M6 Competition Package; Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51; Ferrari F12 Berlinetta; Ford Fiesta ST; Jaguar F-Type V8 S; Jaguar XFR-S; Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Wagon; Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series; Mini John Cooper Works GP; Nissan GT-R Track Edition; and Porsche Cayman S.

To find out the results of the comparison, check the press release below, where you'll find the magazine's top-rated vehicles in eight categories.

ROAD & TRACK NAMES THE BEST CARS OF 2013Performance Car of the Year Award Goes to the Chevrolet Corvette
NEW YORK, NY (November 14, 2013) -- Road & Track today announced its first-ever "Best Cars" list, distinguishing the best new automobiles and trucks of the year.  The honorees will be recognized in the December 2013/January 2014 issue, on newsstands November 19.  Among the winners, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette has been named Road & Track's Performance Car of the Year.

To select the Corvette, the editors tested 13 of the world's hottest sports cars on challenging mountain roads and on The Motown Mile, Road & Track's private circuit.  A knockout formula whittled the field down to six from which one winner prevailed.

"We selected the Corvette because it represents an incredible achievement: Not only is it wickedly fast, it's now also a delight to drive on the challenging, twisty roads that used to be the car's nemesis," said Larry Webster, editor-in-chief of Road & Track.  "Plus, it's a real bargain and looks fantastic."

In addition to the Corvette, eight other vehicles were selected as "Best Cars" in the following categories:

The Best Cars of 2013

Best Luxury Sedan: 2014 Cadillac CTS - With its 420 hp twin-turbo V-6, locking rear diff (technology borrowed from the C7 Corvette), and magnetorheological shocks, the CTS Vsport is the surprise performer of the class.

Best Family Sedan: 2014 Mazda 6 - This car is as close to perfect as you can get for the money.  The steering and chassis make other sedans feel ordinary.

Best SUV: 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport - A new lightweight aluminum structure dramatically increases efficiency.  But mostly, the Sport is a little louder, a little more locked-down, a little more our speed.

Best Pickup: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado - A better interior, infotainment that isn't ancient or tacked-on, and a fresh take on clean, no-nonsense styling.  Plus, a comfortable ride that nearly rivals the best in class.

Best Wagon: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class - Our pick is for the E-class, the only true wagon sold here that offers rear-facing third-row seats.  And a 577-hp twin-turbo AMG V-8.

Best Economy Car: 2014 Mazda 3 - The $17,740 3 is light-2800 pounds for the one you want, the 2.0-liter, manual version-and stiff in the chassis where it counts.  You can drive it all day with a grin on your face.  And you'll want to.

Best Diesel: 2014 Audi A8 - The A8's TDI V-6 renders the old diesel tropes null and void.  The only difference between a diesel A8 and a gasoline-fueled version, in practical terms, is what fuel goes in and what economy numbers come out.

Best Electric: 2014 Fiat 500c - The people at Fiat's electric-vehicle division must like having big fun on the clock, because this thing will chirp its tires and lay elevens all day.

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