There are certain cars that really get our pulses racing here at The Gentleman’s Journal. Each year brings with it a whole new flock of wannabes, possible contenders and absolute winners. With their supreme combination of usability, handling, attractiveness and overall performance, we have rated this bunch our most exciting cars of 2014.
LaFerrari
LaFerrari, was unveiled at Geneva in 2013 and features a V-12 engine with 800 horsepower and an electric motor that adds 163 horsepower to the mix. Price tag aside this is one seriously beautiful car. It’s a truly stunning looking machine and runs as good as it looks. The catch? The limited edition super-car is already sold out and the ‘used’ versions are already on the market at double the price.
Lamborghini Huracan
The fact that as soon as we heard about this release, we wrote a piece on it, shows how much we really love this car. And what’s not to love. 62mph in 3.2 seconds, 125mph in 9.9 seconds topping out at above 202mph, this car is packing the goods, and when it comes to looks, it’s got the smooth lines and sleek shape to back it up. An A+ from us.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz are calling this ‘the best car in the world’, but the trouble with superlatives such as these is that the product has to live up to it. We believe the S-Class most definitely does. This is the first S-Class to have been developed as a long-wheelbase saloon first, with the short-wheelbase variant a graduation of it. What’s more, this model will offer three versions, the S350 BlueTEC (255bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel), S500L (449bhp 4.7-litre twin-turbocharged V8) and S400 Hybrid ( 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine).
Porsche 918 Spyder
When it comes to the technological elite, 918 Spyder is at the top of its class. 0-60mph in 2.6sec and a top speed of 214mph, the car more than compensates for its 1674kg weight and runs like a dream. This is all thanks to the combination of batteries, electric motors and conventional combustion engine power.
Maserati Ghibli
This is Maserati’s seductive alternative to the BMW 5-series. It’s the first time that the luxury sports car brand have offered a car in this class. The Ghibli is undoubtably one of the most stylish, desirable and exciting executive debuts in years.
Audi RS7
The RS7 is the closest you’ll get to a saloon version of the new RS6 Avant. With sleek coupé styling, it’s not dissimilar to the 4-litre bi-turbo V8, and has 552bhp; just like the RS6. Performance is where this car really comes into its own, managing 0-100mph in just over 8 seconds.
BMW i8
“As the first sports car with the fuel efficiency and emission values of a compact car, the BMW i8 is ready to revolutionise its vehicle class.” The electric motor and combustion petrol engine have blended to create a plug-in hybrid, the likes of which we have never seen before. Fuel efficient, dynamic, powerful and high performance, this car has a combined power of 357bhp and a capability of doing 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds.
Alfa Romeo 4C
For a car company who have had some blips in the past (to put it politely), this model, the 4C, is set to put all that in the past. First to note is its light weight. Driving in at just 925kg (thanks in part to the new 22kg lighter, all-aluminium, direct-injection four-cylinder 1750 turbo engine), it’s a nippy, fuel efficient tour de force set to make its mark of on the scene.
Jaguar F-Type Coupé
One of Jaguar’s new generation supercharged 3.0 V6 engines, this model provides thrillingly quick performance, instant response and precise agile handling. A clever graduation from the convertible, it is undoubtably one of the most coveted models on the market.
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