A couple of cars that were on the original list have dropped out. Lamborghini is unable to supply a Huracán Tecnica, which is a shame, but then a Huracán figured prominently in last year's contest, the STO finishing second behind the truly remarkable M5 CS.
The other absentee, and the one car we're truly sorry not to have for this eCoty, is the Lotus Emira, but then we're not alone in our frustration here. Delays in getting cars to customers have been well-documented. Still, there's always next year (which may well be the latest communication from Lotus's customer service department too).
Fortunately, we have two excellent substitutes in the shape of the Audi R8 V10 Performance RWD and Mercedes-AMG SL55. The R8 has long been an evo favourite and the latest V10 RWD is right up our B-road. The SL is more of a wild card, in that none of us have driven it until now, but given AMG's track record and the fact the new SL is entirely AMG's own creation, we reckon it's well worth a punt.
A number of eCoty team regulars are also missing in action. Henry Catchpole has a long-standing filming commitment, while Adam Towler has been laid low and John Barker is recuperating after finding himself pedalling his mountain bike in mid-air after taking a wrong turn and launching off a 10ft vertical drop. The forest floor eventually broke his fall (along with an impressive number of bones). Happily both Adam and JB are recovering well; no word on Henry, but he's such a luvvie these days that he's sure to be fine.
Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Evo UK.
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Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Evo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BMW M135 xDrive
The M135 has lost an and gained chassis revisions and a restyle. Is it enough to make it a benchmark hot hatch?
Audi S5
S5 by name, S4 by nature, is Audi's new mid-size petrol-powered saloon a step in the right direction?
Lamborghini Urus SE
Lambo's super-SUV gets a major mid-life overhaul, going hybrid in the process. Has it become any easier to like?
HALL evo OF FAME
The evo Hall of Fame was established to recognise the great and the good of our corner of the universe. Prepare to welcome this year's inductees
CIRCUIT DAY
After three days of assessing their behaviour on the road, it's time to head to the Circuito de Navarra to find out how our nine contenders respond when their handling limits are explored
EVO CAR OF THE YEAR 2024
Nine brilliant cars, from flyweight roadsters to bombastic supercars to a be-stickered estate(!), do battle on some of Europe's finest and most spectacular roads. Which will emerge victorious? Place your bets now.
Porsche Panamera GTS
It lacks the raw power of its hybrid rivals, but does the new GTS’s more traditional approach give it its USP?
Alpine A290 GTS
The new electric Renault 5 has won plenty of plaudits. Is the hotter Alpine version a car to win petrolheads' hearts too?
BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
TYRE 2024 TEST
Want to fit the very best tyres to your performance car? The annual evo Tyre Test identifies the cream of the current crop
