The 10 Hot Rides of Test Days

Jaguar has always made beautiful cars, artfully designed. And this year, the 50th anniversary of its classic E-Type, Jaguar brings us the XKR, a performance machine that has evolved from the brand’s classics. This is a stunning coupe with a classy interior. Under the hood is a 5-liter supercharged V-8 putting out 510 horsepower. It was arguably one of the best-sounding engines at the event, right up there with the GT-R.

There’s something about performance wagons that’s very appealing. Powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 making 556 horsepower, it goes from 0 to 60 in an amazing 4 seconds, considering it is such a heavy car. It even handles well, although it does seem rather bulky when cornering. Considering what it is—a wagon, of all things—it’s a great car for both the track and bringing to Costco.

Like the VW, this little car was fantastic to whip around the track. Its relatively quick acceleration was made even more prominent due to its light weight and tiny footprint. They can keep the Clubman. The Cooper Works had no problem taking all corners at speed, and its go-kart-like handling made it a blast to drive. Park it next to the VW.

This was the most surprising car at the IMPA event. VW provided the Euro-spec version, and it was deceivingly quick and agile. The 0 to 60 is in the mid-5-second range, high compared to the competition, but its small size made it feel like a rocket. It gets a lot out of its turbocharged 2-liter, 4-cylinder power plant. Its short nose and tail made it incredibly responsive and a joy to throw around the track. This is a reasonably priced car that you should have in your driveway.

Finally, a Mustang that can almost stack up to the German competition in performance. This Mustang really can do what Ford claims: perform on a track. Being both fast and able to handle corners, it is a very capable car. Although it is rather large and heavy, it did very well around Monticello’s technical track. It does, however, lack some of the driving pleasure of some of the more high-end cars.

A car that has been discussed at length and praised by all who drive it, the E92 M3 Sedan is a landmark of modern engineering. Its small, high-revving V-8 produces 414 horsepower and rockets the car from 0 to 60 in just over 4 seconds. The power is delivered through a dual-clutch transmission that shifts gears at an astonishing speed. This remains the performance sports sedan that every other carmaker aspires to make.

BMW has made its rep by making driver’s cars, and this version of the 1 Series, produced by the automaker’s M division, nails this tradition. It excels in all categories, including acceleration, handling, and, most importantly, pure driving joy. Lighter than the 3 Series, this M is the nimblest of BMW’s performance cars. It was the most satisfying car to drive at Test Days because of its traditional six-speed gearbox—compared to the paddle-shifters in many other cars—matched with its silky smooth steering feel.

Slightly lighter and more powerful than its lesser S style, the Cayman R is a purpose-built machine. Yes, it’s just a Boxster with a hardtop, but this Porsche feels like a completely different car. It was a pleasure to drive and was both remarkably quick and extremely responsive. Producing 330 horsepower, 10 more than the Cayman S, but weighing over 100 pounds less, the R lives for the track. It is constantly challenging the driver to push it harder.

This super car gives you everything you'd expect from a 530 horsepower, $90,000 machine. Its all-wheel-drive system helps launch the car’s 3,850 pounds from 0 to 60 in just under 3 seconds. The 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6, producing 448 pound-feet of torque, makes this one of the fastest production cars on the market. It has a growl that just has to be heard. Driving the GT-R just once should be on everyone’s bucket list.

This lightweight car was thrilling to drive. Weighing slightly more than 3,000 pounds, this 345-horsepower Lotus was quick, and it cornered like it had glue on its tires. The precise steering and ridiculous acceleration beg the driver to misbehave. Hard to believe that this is a Toyota engine.