MOTOR

TESTEDPRICE ENGINE KW/RPM NM/RPM DRIVE

KERB

KG

KW/

TONNE

0-100

KM/H 0-400M

FUEL

CONSPROS & CONS

(FACELIFT) SL63 AMG

11113

$399,000 (7dc) V8/5.5TT430/5500 900/2250 rear 1845 233 4.2 – 10.2 Perfect combination of performance and luxury

Luxury doesn’t extend to ride quality; it’s plain ugly

(FACELIFT) SL65 AMG

11133

May 14 $481,000 (7a) V12/6.0TT463/4800 1000/2300 rear 1950 237 4.0 – 11.7 Hilarious performance; more agile than you’d expect

Lacks the theatre of the SL63; it’s super pricey

GLA45 AMG

11113

Jan 15$80,430 (7dc) I4/2.0T 265/6000 450/2250 all 1585 167 4.8 – 7.5 Roomier and more comfortable than the lumpy A45

Not particularly attractive; gearbox isn’t the best

ML63 AMG

11123

Nov 12$182,900 (7a)

($1000)

V8/5.5TT386/5750 700/1750 all 2345 164 4.84 12.90 18.6 Laugh-out-loud fast with a devilish soundtrack

Crying out for the chassis upgrades of AMG sedans

GL63 AMG

11133 $216,930 (7a) V8/5.5TT410/5250 760/2000 all 2580 159 4.9 – 12.3

Need to move seven people at high speed? Here you go

Needs to tow a fuel tanker around behind it

G63 AMG

11333

Jul 14 $234,300 (7a) V8/5.5TT 400/5500760/2000 all 2550 157 5.4 – 13.8 There is no reason why this thing should exist

But we’re very glad it does

Mini http://www.mini.com.au

Cooper S

11123

Dec 14 $36,950 (6m)

$39,300 (6a)

I4/2.0T 141/4700 280(300)

/1250

front 1160 121 6.70 14.70 5.9 Solves all the old model’s problems but creates a new one...

...it’s not as engaging

Cooper S 5-door

11123

$38,050 (6m)

$40,400 (6a)

I4/2.0T 141/4700 280(300)

/1250

front 1220 116 6.9 – 6.0 A slightly smaller alternative to a Golf GTI

Extra 60kg means it’s not mini in any sense

Cabrio S

11133

$48,800 (6m)

$51,150 (6a)

I4/1.6T 135/5500 240/1600 front 1230 109 7.3 – 6.4 Maintains hardtop’s feisty dynamics; looks better than Mk1

It’s pretty wobbly and crashy at times

Cabrio JCW

11133

$58,500 (6m) I4/1.6T 155/600 260/1850 front 1240 125 6.9 – 6.9 Same great engine as the JCW hatch

Same dynamic problems as the Cabrio S

Coupe S

11133

$42,990 (6m)

$45,340 (6a)

I4/1.6T 135/5500 240/1600 front 1185 114 6.9 – 6.3 Ironically, much more practical than the hatch

Looks ridiculous; pretty pricey for what it is

Coupe JCW

11233

Sep 12 $52,600 (6m) I4/1.6T 155/5500 260/1600 front 1225 127 6.92 14.79 5.8 Mini driving experience turned up to 11

Buy a Megane RS265 instead; you’ll thank us

Roadster S

11133

$45,500 (6m) I4/1.6T 135/5500 240/1600 front 1185 114 7.0 – 6.8* Possibly the best looking Mini; cheaper than the Cabrio

There are better drives around for less money

Roadster JCW

11133

$55,100 (6m) I4/1.6T 155/6000 280/1900 front 1195 130 6.7 – 7.3 Grippy and playful; manic fun on the right road

You’re not on the right road very often

Countryman JCW

11233

$56,900 (6m) I4/1.6T 160/6000 280/1900 all 1405 114 7.0 – 8.0 Kinda makes sense; a Mini with room for space for four

Not really a Mini, is it? Only just fast enough as a JCW

Paceman JCW

11133 $56,900 (6m) I4/1.6T 160/6000 280/1900 all 1400 114 6.9 – 8.0

Surprising fun to drive; looks good as a JCW

That price! And they say the Germans can’t do comedy

Mitsubishi http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au

Lancer Evolution Ralliart

11333

Aug 09 $37,990 (6dc) I4/2.0T 177/6000 343/4750 all 1480 119 6.20 14.50 10.3 Doesn’t feel that much slower than the Evo

But feels dynamically underdone

Lancer Evolution X

11133

Sep 08$52,990 (5m) I4/2.0T 217/6500 366/3500 all 1490 146 5.59 13.90 10.3 Much more livable car than the hardcore IX

Manual version hobbled by ludicrous gearing

Lancer Evolution X MR

11123

Dec 13 $58,990 (6dc) I4/2.0T 217/6500 366/3500 all 1540 141 5.3 13.6 10.6 SST ’box works well when you’re driving hard...

...but less impressive day-to-day

Morgan http://www.morgancars.com.au

Plus 4

11233 $94,990 (5m) I4/1.6 82/6000 131/– rear^795103 8.0 – 6.4

Ye olde charm; definitely a unique driving experience

You’re essentially buying a brand new antique

Roadster

11233 $133,990 (6m) V6/3.7 209/6000 352/– rear^950220 5.5 – 9.8

Power-to-weight rivals a 911 Carrera S

You’d really have to love it to live with it

Aero Coupe

11233

$274,990

(6m/6a)

V8/4.8 270/6300 490/3600 rear 1175230 4.5 – 11.0* Supercar fast; incredible noise; futuristic retro looks

Headlights make it seem cross-eyed; $270K+, really?

Aero Supersports

11233

$339,990

(6m/6a)

V8/4.8 270/6300 490/3600 rear 1180 228 4.5 – 11.0* Even more character and noise than the coupe

The price is another classic example of English humour

Nissan http://www.nissan.com.au

Pulsar ST-S

11233

$25,490 (6m)

$28,090 (cvt)

I4/1.6T 140/5600 240/2000 front 1304 107 – – 7.7* Ballsy engine at a very attractive price

Rest of the package struggles to keep up

Pulsar SSS

11233

Jul 14 $29,790 (6m)

$32,390 (cvt)

I4/1.6T 140/5600 240/2000 front 1340* 104*7.80 15.56 8.9 A famous hot hatch nameplate returns

Shame it’s not attached to something more inspiring

370Z

11133

Sep 10 $56,930 (6m)

$59,930 (7a)

V6/3.7 245/7000 363/5200 rear 1468 162 5.85 14.04 10.4 Lighter and sharper than its 350Z predecessor

Agricultural engine; snappy handling; gets hot on track

370Z Roadster

11133

$65,930 (6m)

$68,930 (7a)

V6/3.7 245/7000 363/5200 rear 1478 229 5.8 – 10.9* Suffers little in the conversion to drop-top

But it doesn’t add anything to the recipe, either

GT-R

11113

Jul 14 $172,000 (6dc) V6/3.8TT404/6400 628/3200 all 1730 234 2.7 – 11.7 MY14 means the GT-R finally rides properly

Still pretty agricultural; just starting to feel its age

Peugeot http://www.peugeot.com.au

208 GTi

11123

Nov 14 $29,990 (6m) I4/1.6T 147/5500 275/1700 front 1160 127 6.96 15.14 9.1 Quicker than rivals; good on a bumpy road

Superb rivals highlight its flaws; odd driving position

RCZ

11133

Aug 11 $58,990 (6m/6a) I4/1.6T 147/5500 275/1700 front 1372 107 7.66 15.49 6.9 Concept car looks; great engine; go kart handling

Could handle another 30kW; terrible vision

RCZ-R

11113

Jan 15$68,990 (6m) I4/1.6T 199/6000 330/1900 front 1355 147 6.58 14.44 8.75 Top-notch front-driver; supercar styling

Huge pricetag; torque steer; ride issues

Ferrari 458

Speciale

$550,000

Driving perfection

Audi R8 V10 Plus

$408,200

Our 2013 PCOTY winner

Ferrari F12

$690,745

A GT masterpiece

SUPER

CARS

1 ST

2 ND

3 RD

Liberty GT

THE turbocharged

Subaru Liberty can

be thanked for many

things. In a way, the

original Liberty RS

was the forefather

of the WRX; it made

Subaru’s name

in rallying. More

recently, it was the

performance Subaru

for those keen to

avoid the Impreza’s

boisterous styling.

Currently though, its

legacy is to end. The

new Liberty is only

offered in 2.5-litre

and 3.6-litre engine

variants, with no sign

yet of a turbo model.

Ferrari4 58

1 ST

Ferrari F12

2 ND

di l

3

MERCEDES-BENZ – PORSCHE

TOP 3

DELETED!

142 march 2015 motormag.com.au