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After Motor Trend named the all-new Camaro our 2016 Car of the Year, Angus Mackenzie wrote an article entitled “Revelation” in which he said that the Camaro SS was a better driver’s car than the then new BMW 340i. Thing is, Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman have both driven the 340i, and they felt that being better than said Bimmer isn’t much of an accomplishment. Being better than the much-ballyhooed M4 on the other hand, well, that would be something. After all, the M4 is the car that all other companies look to when trying to figure out how to break into the luxury performance game. But does a Camaro – any Camaro – no matter how sweet it drives really have a shot at knocking the German king off its throne? Watch and find out!
The Mercedes G-Class, or Geländewagen, was first introduced to the world in 1979 and has been on sale ever since. The four-wheel-drive G-Wagen features body-on-frame construction, two solid axles, and three mechanically locking differentials. Mercedes tried to replace the G a decade ago with the unibody GL, but G-Wagen sales have only increased since then. The G65 is the first SUV since the 1980s Lamborghini LM002 to feature a V-12 powerplant. Papa G’s big twin-turbo heart pumps out 621hp and a mind-blowing 738 lb-ft of torque. All that power comes with a price: more than $220,000. For the same amount of money, you can also have the Icon FJ44. Based on a 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser — the only original part left is the chassis plate — the FJ44 has been completely reimagined. From its aluminum, powdercoated body panels and Learjet sun visors, to its supercharged 6.2L V-8 and custom Art Morrison frame, no stone has been left unturned, no detail left unfussed with. The question becomes: If you’re going to spend north of $200K, which one is best? Watch as Head 2 Head hosts Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman find out!
The fastest SUV in the world squares off with the quickest SUV in the world. The 600hp Germano-British Bentley Bentayga can reach speeds of 187 mph, making it the fastest SUV of all time. But the Tesla Model X P90D Ludicrous can rip off a 3.2-second 0-to-60. Which is faster through the quarter-mile? We drag race the two to find out. Then we pit them against a pair of Alfa Romeo 4C Spiders. Why? You’ll need to watch to find out. But trust us, it’s worth your time. Are both of these SUVs worth the money? That depends on your definition of luxury— it’s Ye Olde Tyme English drawing-room posh versus High-Tech Silicon Valley rolling computer. Wood and leather versus EV silence and AutoPilot. Normal doors versus Falcon doors. MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman take them on an adventure to find out. Which do they prefer? There’s only one way to find out: by watching this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack.
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman try to tackle an age-old problem: What do you compare Audi’s iconic TT against? This is the 292-horsepower TTS, and therefore you might think that the Porsche Cayman would be the obvious competitor. Only problem is the Cayman begins life as a Porsche, whereas underneath its smartly fold skin, the Audi is a Volkswagen Golf. So what about the Alfa Romeo 4C? Behind the driver sit the engine and transmission from an economy car, and bits of the interior are contemporary with Bill Clinton’s first presidential run. Now we’re talking! And you know what? All the performance data is eerily similar. So which fun-to-drive, small, sporty car is best? Watch and find out!
In this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Detroit’s steroidal hammer meets Japan’s savvy sword. Many car folks feel the midsize luxury sport performance sedan peaked with the E39 BMW M5. They may very well be right, but that doesn’t mean carmakers are going to stop trying. In the black corner, packing a supercharged Corvette engine under its vented hood and producing a staggering 640 hp is Cadillac’s third-generation CTS-V. Gone, but never to be forgotten, are the coupe, wagon, and manual transmission. However, the Alpha platform underpinning the third-generation CTS is one of the sportiest, best driving in the business. In the twinkly orange corner, complete with polarizing looks and a naturally aspirated 467 hp 5.0L V-8, sits the first-ever Lexus GS F. Since the GS debuted, we MOTOR TRENDers have been singing the car’s handling praises. We just wished it had more power. Now it does! But which of the two is the better road car? Which is better on the track? Also, which has the worst navigation system? There’s only one way to find out!
In this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman head down to the L.A. River to answer the hundred-thousand-dollar (and then some!) question: S Class or 7 Series? When you think of fullsize luxury sedans, the first image that pops into your mind is most likely the Mercedes-Benz S Class. A true giant of the automotive field, the S Class not only defines the segment, it—along with the E-Class—defines Mercedes-Benz. Imposing, potent, opulent, safe, technologically advanced—for a six-figure price, the S Class has it all. Buying one is something of a no-brainer. That doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives—the Jaguar XJ, Audi A8, Cadillac CT6, Lexus LS, and, of course, the BMW 7 Series. Now in its sixth generation, the 7 Series is bigger, more powerful, more leather-lined, and more technology robust than ever before. The 2016 BMW 750i presents the first credible challenge to the W222 S Class since it debuted. Is the BMW better than the Mercedes-Benz? Watch as Jonny and Jason find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman set out to find the ultimate hot hatch. These cars feature plenty of power, grip, agility, and, most importantly, fun — and who doesn’t love fun? There’s perhaps no quicker, more enjoyable way to bomb down a winding road than in a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive compact hatchback.
Volkswagen invented the hot-hatch genre in the mid-1970s with the front-wheel-drive GTI. Adding all-wheel drive and more power to the GTI begets the 292-hp Golf R, which makes it the fastest iteration of the car that won Motor Trend’s 2015 Car of the Year award. But it’s got a new competitor, and, looking at the numbers, the Ford Focus RS could be king of the segment. With 350 hp from a 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4 and a fancy torque-vectoring rear differential, it threatens to out-gun the Golf R both in a straight line and in the corners. Plus, it has Drift Mode! Can the Ford’s fancy technology beat the VW? You’re going to have to watch to find out!
It’s high time for a Japanese supercar smackdown, and we present a good one on this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack! (http://www.tirerack.com ) Ever since the Nissan GT-R finally came to America for the 2009 model year, it’s lacked a hometown rival. For 2017, Godzilla gets a refresh just in time to do battle with the brand-new Acura NSX. The NSX is a rolling tech showcase, combining a mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged, 75-degree, 3.5L V-6 and (for the first time ever) two electric motors up front, providing real torque vectoring across the front axle. It also features a third electric motor sandwiched between the gasoline engine and a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic to provide torque-fill, boosting output while the turbochargers are spooling up. This new tech makes the GT-R sound decidedly old-school—its front-mounted, 3.8L twin-turbo V-6 mates to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, with no electric motors to help it out. MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman discuss the two supercar slayers before handing the keys over to SCCA Hall of Fame driver Randy Pobst to lap them both around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Which is quickest? Which is best? As always, there’s only one winner on Head 2 Head.
In this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, you’ll experience the closest contest in the show’s recent history. The brand-new Corvette Grand Sport combines the Stingray’s 460hp V-8 with the wide body from the Z06. The refreshed 911 Carrera S uses two turbochargers for the first time, making 420 hp from its rear-mounted flat-six. In execution, these two sports cars couldn’t be more different, and yet, they both offer supercar-slaying performance with a more affordable price tag. They’re both brilliant sports cars, but the big question is whether the Chevy’s outrageous cornering grip is enough to beat the 911’s ludicrous straight-line speed. Motor Trend Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman declare a virtual dead heat in this head-to-head—until they’re joined by pro racer Randy Pobst to set a tie-breaking lap time at the Willow Springs Raceway. In fact, our first-ever episode of Head 2 Head was between the previous versions of these cars, and the Corvette got clobbered. Will history repeat itself? Watch and find out.
This is a special Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack because we’re comparing two cars that look nearly identical on the outside. They’re both 600hp BMW 6-Series Gran Coupes, but the similarities between the B6 and M6 start to fade after that. The Alpina B6 is a well-rounded, incredibly fast luxury car with all-wheel drive, smooth suspension, and an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. The BMW M6 is a motorsports-bred, rear-wheel-drive monster with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, quick-ratio steering, and suspension that favors handling over ride quality. MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman spend time with both to decide which makes the better Gran Coupe. Then, with the help of hall-of-fame race car driver Randy Pobst, we find out which four-door coupe is faster around the track. This episode has it all—burnouts, drag races, hot laps, and backseat drivers.
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, we bring in the big guns! Each of these convertibles costs more than a quarter-million dollars, seats four people, and has a twin-turbocharged, 12-cylinder engine. This is the first time in 45 years Mercedes-Benz has made an S-Class convertible, but can the Mercedes brand compete with a Bentley? Then again, the Continental is loosely based on a decade-old Volkswagen Group architecture. MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman head to New York City and then out into the fall leaves to figure out which is the best big convertible.
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Motor Trend Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman are in a bind. Before having driven Alfa Romeo's first rear-wheel-drive sports sedan in 30 years, they didn't know what its closest competitor would be. So they brought all of them: a 2016 BMW M3 Competition Package, a 2016 Cadillac ATS-V, and a 2016 Mercedes-AMG C63 S. After looking at hall-of-fame race car driver Randy Pobst's laptimes around Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, they picked the strongest competitor to do battle with the Alfa. Then, the duo hit the road to see which is the best midsize luxury sport sedan..
