It’s been a busy year for motoring, and as it draws to an end, it’s a good chance to reflect on some of the best cars I’ve seen and driven this year. So, in no particular order…
Adenine Valence - A fools guide to making a mid-size sedan
Proof that corporate designed cars aren’t always dull. It’s one of the smartest looking cars of the year, and its solid specs should sell it to anyone who isn’t convinced. What a range too; sure, the sportier models aren’t exactly presitigious but they’ll save you a lot of money compared to the averge Rennen or Bonham. You’d be an idiot not to at least consider it if you’ve got $25k to spend on a car.
Sachiuri Sagitta - Yep, the Anikatians do know how to have fun.
It’s a bit too overstyled for its own good, but it sure has soul, and as a piece of engineering, it is outstanding. This is the kind of sports car that you admire for its achievements, and the also the kind that will keep impressing you every time you drive it. My new benchmark for the sports coupe.
Read the roadtest here
DSD Saratoga - Pyschotic sports perfection
Nope, the Saratoga still isn’t and will never be pretty, but heck it’s a good car to drive. The R+ trim that I drove in Switzerland was such a stellar driving experience that I’ve struggled to find things that compare to it. Pure sports cars aren’t all that common any more, and to find one this fast, this balanced and this mad makes it unexpectedly special too.
Read the roadtest here
Scagliati Serenisima - The one GT car I’d buy if I had the money
Ultra comfortable, seriously quick and with just the right amount of vulgarity to complete that Grand Tourer arrogance. It’s the kind of a car a dictator would turn up in to arrive at the UN for, the kind of car Mafia bosses would demand to be driven around in, the sort of GT car that pompously and smuggly flips the bird to the establishment. How can you argue with that?
Read the review here (at the bottom!)
Merciel Corsaire GTE - I’m still soiling my pants just thinking about it
Race cars aren’t made for the road, which is exactly why they should be driven on damp, narrow Yorkshire Dales b-roads at very illegal speeds. You can’t afford it, you’d hate to live with even the detuned production version, but what I’d give just to drive this again. 722 hp never felt so good.
Read the review here
Zenshi Nimessa Newman R…ish - There’s a reason I bought the damn thing
Oh man. I got it oh so very wrong in my review. I wanted to like this car so much that I was able to glare over it’s major, major issues. The massive understeer, the messy sway bar set up, the insanely expensive engine, the cramped rear seats; there’s an idea here, but it’s executed with sloppiness so bad that it is thoroughly detrimental to its package as a sports car.
How did I end up solving these issues? By complete chance, in fact. After Gryphon Gear and GBf, er, ‘responded’ to my review of the Bellua, I ended up getting in contact with them in the following months. One thing leads to the next and I manage to bump into some of them at a car event, which I drove my Nimessa to. They were interested to see what it was like, and came to the conlusion that I was talking out of my arse and that it really wasn’t very good.
After offering to take them out for a drink and indeed quite a few drinks later, we managed to agree a little deal; they’d rework my Nimessa Newman R into the car I wanted it to be, in return for a few more reviews - not paid for, might I add, just some priority towards them in terms of what gets published.
The result is the Zenshi Nimessa Newman R GG-Tune; I really need to fix that name, but it’s made quite the difference. Gone is the active suspension and the 2.5l turbo i6. Now, it’s a V6 powered, all-analogue super sedan. It won’t cost me half my annual wage to service it. It handles like a dream now. It’s engine still has that 6 speed ring to it, but now the turbos are far more usable.
In short, it’s the car that I feel Zenshi wanted it to be, and indeed what it should have been. I can’t promise GG are going to do this for everyone (it was essentially me exerting some industry privelege), but hell it’s made a difference. I can’t really call it my car of the year when it’s been modified, but I’m certainly not going to be letting go of it any time soon.
Honourable mentions
Cavallerra Fiacci Rally Concept: What a great looking car. Now if you wouldn’t mind making it a real thing Cavallera…
Maesima Devina and Znopresk Zap!: It doesn’t matter what your age is or who you are or which Bruce Springsteen album is your favourite, these are the two small cars you need to consider if you’re buying anything under $15k.
IMP Impakt range: Still one of the most solid mid-size sedan offerings in the world. It’s German dependability at its best.
Bonham Chaucer: Great news, yuppies! Now you can have a luxury saloon that doesn’t make you look like an arrogant prick.
Zavir Luna Spider: Almost makes you wonder why anyone would spend any more than this for a comfortable soft top coupe.
That does it for this year. See you in January folks, I’m off to consume 4 metric litres of Snowballs, Eggnog and Mulled Wine over the next 2 weeks. Adios!
- Gavin Anderson
