GAME ON

10 SERIOUSLY CLEVER CARS, 5 FULL-THROTTLE DAYS – IT’S AUSTRALIA’S ULTIMATE FAST CAR PRIZE

- DAVID MORLEY

WHAT? NO SUPERCARS THIS YEAR? Nup. But look a little closer: This year’s PCOTY field is still 10 deep (literally) with cars you would give your left whatsit to drive, let alone own. There’s something for every budget, and for every personality disorder from Jason Statham-style ‘Transporter’ to track-day lunatic.

So what are we dealing with here? Well, let’s start at the big end of town. The Mercedes-AMG GT63 S is a new concept for the brand – having a four-door bearing the GT badge – but some of the best bits of the GT remain, namely that wonderfully retro grille, twin-turbo V8 powerplant and all-wheel drive. It’s all based on a mutant E-Class platform, but with 470kW and no less than 900Nm, even the two-tonnes-plus weighbridge ticket shouldn’t slow it down. Ever. Mind you, the $351,640 sticker might throw things into reverse for a lot of us. Yes, it’s a big, heavy car, but AMG doesn’t allow that to get in the way of producing a high-end German muscle car.

The Porsche 911 is the other uber-pricey contender, and when you’re spending $265,000 you might imagine you’d get something with a GT badge. But no, this is the Carrera S, complete with turbo three-litre flat-six and rear-drive. Output has grown to 331kW and torque is now 530Nm at just 2300rpm; proof that the modern turbo-motor has quite a bit going for it in terms of flexibility. Transmission is now an eight-speed PDK, which is also new for the 911. Now in 992 guise, the 911 is still a big bugger (about 1.8 metres across the front guards) and the real story is about the upgraded interior over the 991. Porsche has tapped into the retro vibe for the cabin and it kind of works well with an exterior that has always been retro.