LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR ROADSTER

A supercar with supercapacitors

The Aventador is not an everyday supercar, which is exactly what makes it so delightful.

by Tim Stevens / December 5, 2016

You can usually judge the impact of a truly special car by the questions you get when people see it. When I first reviewed the Tesla Model S, early in its production run, the first question was usually: "Is that a Tesla?" Years later, on the Model X, it was: "How do the doors work?" When it comes to most Ferraris and Lamborghinis, people want to know how fast they'll go or how much they cost.

 

2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk review:

THE GOOD

On paper it's got the most off-road capability in its class. The Cherokee comes with the excellent Uconnect system.

THE BAD

No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Cherokee has much less cargo space than competitors and the Trailhawk trim line suffers a bit on the pavement.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you expect to go off-road, the Trailhawk is a great choice. However, if you plan to stay in civilization, the top-of-the-line Overland trim line may be the better choice.

 

Benz's hottest sports car to date

Green is a stupid color for a car. It makes it stand out in the worst possible ways. For example, if you painted a BMW 5 Series bright green, you'd only get scorn from fellow road users. However, if you paint green a supercar with a massive engine, silly wing, and big snouty face...well, who cares what other people think, because it looks awesome.

That's precisely the thinking that Mercedes-AMG has put in to practice with the new AMG GT R, the newest, most hardcore version of its already pretty good GT. It's been given a full AMG overhaul, so you get a big wing, more power, less weight and active aero at the front that helps air flow under the car to make the rear splitter work better and suck the whole car on to the ground at speed. You also get a noise akin to Godzilla having a troublesome morning movement.

2017 chevrolet camaro zl1

Welcome to the Camaro ZL1, the latest iteration of Chevy's sixth-generation Camaro, a car that has impressed us at every turn. Smaller, lighter and sharper than the previous model, Gen 6 came out swinging in 2015, facing off against a similarly reborn Mustang and, in the eyes of many, coming out ahead.

Chevrolet has followed that up with the predictable bevy of editions since, but now it's time for the big boy. It's the $63,435 Camaro ZL1, and this year it's rolling with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque courtesy of the supercharged, 6.2-liter LT4 V8.

 2017 Camaro ZL1

 

Driving at the ragged edge

In a world where sports car makers strive to implement control, making it so every input meets a precise response, the 2016 Fiat 500 Abarth feels refreshing in its madness. Its little engine snorts with a downright unruly sound and occasionally backfires for good measure. Taking the this little car through the twisties, its point of grip remains an ever-changing target.

The 500 Abarth delivers a thrill ride that, over a week's drivetime, whitened my knuckles and made me clench repeatedly through its willingness to ride the edge.