The 10 best handling cars.
There’s never a shortage of wickedly fast cars that indulge the Motor
Trend staff in any given year, even if the cars are in our care for less
than a day. And there’s never been a better time to be a lover of speed, as the
technological wonders that are today’s cars continue to raise the performance
bar to impressive heights.
We test a lot of cars here, but the ones that inevitably stick out are the
ones with the gaudy numbers. Because let’s face it: Internet denizens love
flaunting these things as if their “street cred” depended on it. Straight-line
acceleration is great and all, but those who really love driving know our figure
eight is how we swiftly evaluate a vehicle’s handling potential, and it usually
takes less than 30 seconds. So without further ado, here are the best (and
record-breaking) handling cars we got our hands on in 2011.
Trend staff in any given year, even if the cars are in our care for less
than a day. And there’s never been a better time to be a lover of speed, as the
technological wonders that are today’s cars continue to raise the performance
bar to impressive heights.
We test a lot of cars here, but the ones that inevitably stick out are the
ones with the gaudy numbers. Because let’s face it: Internet denizens love
flaunting these things as if their “street cred” depended on it. Straight-line
acceleration is great and all, but those who really love driving know our figure
eight is how we swiftly evaluate a vehicle’s handling potential, and it usually
takes less than 30 seconds. So without further ado, here are the best (and
record-breaking) handling cars we got our hands on in 2011.
10. 2010 Stasis Audi R8 5.2 Challenge Extreme Edition
Figure Eight: 24.2 seconds @ 0.89 g (avg)
Skidpad: 0.99 g (avg)
The 710 horsepower from the supercharged 5.2-liter V-10 means it
pulls on the figure eight’s short straights. But despite its numerous
suspension modifications, this highly modified R8 5.2 from Stasis Engineering
isn’t as quick around our course as a stock R8 5.2 we flogged in 2010. Not that
it’s slow by any means – the Stasis car’s 24.2-second run is in the company of
Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
Figure Eight: 24.2 seconds @ 0.89 g (avg)
Skidpad: 0.99 g (avg)
The 710 horsepower from the supercharged 5.2-liter V-10 means it
pulls on the figure eight’s short straights. But despite its numerous
suspension modifications, this highly modified R8 5.2 from Stasis Engineering
isn’t as quick around our course as a stock R8 5.2 we flogged in 2010. Not that
it’s slow by any means – the Stasis car’s 24.2-second run is in the company of
Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
9. 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG/2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S
Figure Eight: 24.1 seconds @ 0.85 g (avg)/24.1 seconds @ 0.82 g (avg)
Skidpad: 0.99 g (avg)/1.03 g (avg)
Tied for ninth place are two German icons: one is the modern-day continuation
of the classic Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, the other is the newest player in
the hallowed arena where engines are mounted the “wrong way”. This particular
SLS AMG that lit up the figure eight in 24.1 seconds was painted a luscious
Designo Magno Monza Grey, while the 991-series Porsche 911 Carrera S is simply
the beginning of an all-new wave of 911s. Expect more in 2012.
Figure Eight: 24.1 seconds @ 0.85 g (avg)/24.1 seconds @ 0.82 g (avg)
Skidpad: 0.99 g (avg)/1.03 g (avg)
Tied for ninth place are two German icons: one is the modern-day continuation
of the classic Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, the other is the newest player in
the hallowed arena where engines are mounted the “wrong way”. This particular
SLS AMG that lit up the figure eight in 24.1 seconds was painted a luscious
Designo Magno Monza Grey, while the 991-series Porsche 911 Carrera S is simply
the beginning of an all-new wave of 911s. Expect more in 2012.
8. 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder
Figure Eight: 24.0 seconds @ 0.82 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.04 g (avg)
Lightweight? Yes. Fun to drive? Double yes. A driver’s car by any stretch of
the imagination and reason, the Porsche Boxster Spyder doesn’t have a hardtop,
air conditioning (though it’s a free option), or actual door handles. But you do
experience one of the most intuitive, 24.0-second runs around the figure eight
you could ever hope for.
Figure Eight: 24.0 seconds @ 0.82 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.04 g (avg)
Lightweight? Yes. Fun to drive? Double yes. A driver’s car by any stretch of
the imagination and reason, the Porsche Boxster Spyder doesn’t have a hardtop,
air conditioning (though it’s a free option), or actual door handles. But you do
experience one of the most intuitive, 24.0-second runs around the figure eight
you could ever hope for.
6. 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport/2012 Lexus LFA
Figure Eight: 23.7 seconds @ 0.82 g (avg)/23.7 seconds @ 0.89 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.09 g (avg)/1.07 g (avg)
The Lexus LFA that survived Best Driver’s Car circled the figure eight in the
same time as a mint Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, which will undoubtedly
kick-start many conversations about value, performance, and some combination
thereof. We’ve explored the much-hyped, exotic Lexus in great detail during its
long development. The tested Corvette Grand Sport is a hardened version of the
base, 430-horsepower ‘Vette with Magnetic Selective Ride Control, and it has
certainly done well for itself.
Figure Eight: 23.7 seconds @ 0.82 g (avg)/23.7 seconds @ 0.89 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.09 g (avg)/1.07 g (avg)
The Lexus LFA that survived Best Driver’s Car circled the figure eight in the
same time as a mint Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, which will undoubtedly
kick-start many conversations about value, performance, and some combination
thereof. We’ve explored the much-hyped, exotic Lexus in great detail during its
long development. The tested Corvette Grand Sport is a hardened version of the
base, 430-horsepower ‘Vette with Magnetic Selective Ride Control, and it has
certainly done well for itself.
5. 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia
Figure Eight: 23.6 seconds @ 0.90 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.06 g (avg)
After lapping Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and savoring the company of the
bright yellow Italian stallion in the real world, we named the Ferrari 458
Italia the best driver’s car you can get today. Race ace Randy Pobst loved it,
we loved it, and aspiring Ferrari owners surely love it even more. It’s pretty
good around the figure eight too, needing 23.6 seconds of all-around pleasurable
driving to make it around.
Figure Eight: 23.6 seconds @ 0.90 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.06 g (avg)
After lapping Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and savoring the company of the
bright yellow Italian stallion in the real world, we named the Ferrari 458
Italia the best driver’s car you can get today. Race ace Randy Pobst loved it,
we loved it, and aspiring Ferrari owners surely love it even more. It’s pretty
good around the figure eight too, needing 23.6 seconds of all-around pleasurable
driving to make it around.
4. 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Figure Eight: 23.4 seconds @ 0.92 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.08 g (avg)
RS stands for rennsport, which is German for motorsport/racing, also
roughly translating to “more hardcore than you.” Enter the Porsche 911 GT3 RS
from Best Driver’s Car, which took the bronze medal for its race car antics and
old-school feel. You can feel the illustrious marque’s racing heritage baked
into the GT3 RS as it completes the figure eight in 23.4
seconds.
Figure Eight: 23.4 seconds @ 0.92 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.08 g (avg)
RS stands for rennsport, which is German for motorsport/racing, also
roughly translating to “more hardcore than you.” Enter the Porsche 911 GT3 RS
from Best Driver’s Car, which took the bronze medal for its race car antics and
old-school feel. You can feel the illustrious marque’s racing heritage baked
into the GT3 RS as it completes the figure eight in 23.4
seconds.
3. 2012 Nissan GT-R
Figure Eight: 23.3 seconds @ 0.89 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.05 g (avg)
The Nissan GT-R that took down the Corvette Z06 and Shelby GT500 in our
budget supercar comparison earlier this year is the quickest all-wheel-drive car
to conquer the figure eight, out-pacing the mighty 911 Turbo by 0.2 second.
Just to illustrate how volatile the vehicle testing game can be, the GT-R that
finished runner-up in the 2011 Best Driver’s Car story needed 23.7 seconds
around the same course.
Figure Eight: 23.3 seconds @ 0.89 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.05 g (avg)
The Nissan GT-R that took down the Corvette Z06 and Shelby GT500 in our
budget supercar comparison earlier this year is the quickest all-wheel-drive car
to conquer the figure eight, out-pacing the mighty 911 Turbo by 0.2 second.
Just to illustrate how volatile the vehicle testing game can be, the GT-R that
finished runner-up in the 2011 Best Driver’s Car story needed 23.7 seconds
around the same course.
2. 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Figure Eight: 23.2 seconds @ 0.90 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.05 g (avg)
The porsche 911 GT2 RS is the most brutal 911 ever offered, and Porsche buffs will be quick to tell
you the rear-engine sports car is supposed to be tough to handle and master. If
Hurley Haywood, a respected 911 racer/driving instructor, says you have to be
patient with the GT2 RS at the limit, you’d be best off heeding his advice.
Respecting the GT2 RS’ 620 horsepower yields a figure-eight time of 23.2
seconds.
Figure Eight: 23.2 seconds @ 0.90 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.05 g (avg)
The porsche 911 GT2 RS is the most brutal 911 ever offered, and Porsche buffs will be quick to tell
you the rear-engine sports car is supposed to be tough to handle and master. If
Hurley Haywood, a respected 911 racer/driving instructor, says you have to be
patient with the GT2 RS at the limit, you’d be best off heeding his advice.
Respecting the GT2 RS’ 620 horsepower yields a figure-eight time of 23.2
seconds.
1. 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Figure Eight: 22.8 seconds @ 0.98 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.13 g (avg)
This Corvette Z06 not only went for the murdered-out look but it murdered the figure-eight rankings too. The sixth-place finisher from the 2011 Best Driver’s Car feature is the current king of the figure eight, and one of only three cars
ever (out of thousands of vehicles MT has tested) to break into 22-second
territory. One of those three cars was a full-on race car. The C7 has big shoes
to fill.
Figure Eight: 22.8 seconds @ 0.98 g (avg)
Skidpad: 1.13 g (avg)
This Corvette Z06 not only went for the murdered-out look but it murdered the figure-eight rankings too. The sixth-place finisher from the 2011 Best Driver’s Car feature is the current king of the figure eight, and one of only three cars
ever (out of thousands of vehicles MT has tested) to break into 22-second
territory. One of those three cars was a full-on race car. The C7 has big shoes
to fill.
This article is according to motertrends magizine. To read this article on there web site click here. http://wot.motortrend.com/the-10-best-handling-cars-motor-trend-tested-in-2011-148669.html