Wheels Australia – August 2019

1. PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4S
   Interior design language is slick but
   deliberately understated compared to
   the flamboyant colours and finishes
   of rivals here. Surprising ergonomic
   misses include a manettino dial that no
   longer displays drive mode, and outer
   pair of classic five-dial instruments
   that are obscured by the admittedly
   delightfully sized and sculpted wheel.


2. MERCEDES-AMG C63 S
   The only coupe here derived from a
   sedan, C63 S stands out by virtue
   of having the best rear seats and
   less-honed dynamics. It’s easier
   to live with than the focused 911
   and Lotus, though, and its interior is
   never anything less than an event,
   with generous swathes of leather,
   Alcantara, carbonfibre and aluminium.


3. LOTUS EXIGE SPORT 410
   Pared back functionality of the
   Lotus cabin also challenges driver’s
   dexterity, just to get in and over the
   high and wide sills. Rear vision is
   atrocious and at road speeds the cabin
   is a buzzing cacophony of engine noise
   mixed with pings and thumps from
   beneath its aluminium chassis. But
   point it at a corner and all is forgiven.


4. PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN
   Cabin isn’t showy and borders on dour
   in this company. Screens and driver
   interface now look last-generation due
   in part to upgrades to 911 big brother.
   But there’s a fundamental rightness
   to the Cayman’s driving position that’s
   informed by decades of sports car
   development. So too its sparkling
   performance and dynamics.


5. JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR
   What’s that you say? Yes, it’s a little
   loud in here but with its garish quilted
   red leather trim the F-Type interior is
   a nice counterpoint to the reserved
   Porsche cabins. Best to use the shift
   paddles to over-ride the auto gearbox,
   though, which can kick down savagely
   and unexpectedly when giving the
   lairy, blary Brit its head.

TheforthcomingPorsche

718 Cayman GT4

could well have people

wondering if it might

be a better driver’s car

than the 911 proper. If

so, it won’t be the first

time a little brother has

threatened to cut the

Carrera’s lunch. Those

with long memories may

recall Steve Cropley’s

May 1985 test in Wheels,

where he put the 964

Carrera up against its

junior sibling, the 944

Turbo. Cropley opined

that the cheaper, torquier

944 was the better car.

Zuffenhausen has been

diligent in ensuring that

this hierarchy hasn’t

been threatened in the

intervening years. But is

that about to change?

UP

START

Respect

the

pp

hierarchy

@wheelsaustralia 97