2019 Cupra Ibiza

On sale summer 2019 estimated

Price from £20,000 estimated

Seat is a brand known for its sporty Cupra cars but it's decided to discard that reputation and rebadge its most powerful cars under the Cupra name.

One of the first will be a high-performance version of the small Ibiza. The standard car is good to drive, thanks to stable and nimble cornering. Combined with a powerful 200hp engine.

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Honda Fit EXL First Review: One Size Fits All 2015

Small cars usually mean big compromises when it comes to balancing comfort, roominess, efficiency and sticker price. Since its introduction, the Honda Fit has been at the top of the list in offering an efficient package with an affordable MSRP that's also fun-to-drive. The 2015 Honda Fit EXL builds on that reputation by making the new model more substantial in looks, trim and equipment while offering better fuel economy at a price surprisingly close to the previous generation

The big enabler in Honda's ability to offer more without a huge bump in price is the shift in the car's production from Japan to a new plant in Mexico. The lower costs in both labor and transportation are at the heart of the big improvements on offer

Shorter, yet roomier

The 5-door Fit retains its cute bug eye styling, but in a slightly larger package that adds a sweeping character line to the side. This line not only gives the car a sense of forward motion, but its deep draw also makes the flanks of the car less slab sided and more muscular, which is important in a car that rides on a 99.6-inch wheelbase and measures 160 inches overall. While the wheelbase has grown by 1.2 inches and width by 0.3 inches, overall length is actually 1.6-inches shorter. The all-new platform underneath the car not only takes advantage of the extra wheelbase, but also repositions the 50/50 split rear seat to help boost that row's legroom by nearly 5 inches

These new dimensions add to the feel of a more substantial vehicle. The front passengers have more elbow room and the rear seat offers the kind of space found in cars a class or two above. The 2015 Honda Fit also retains the previous model's center-mounted fuel tank, which pays huge dividends when it comes to hauling stuff. This allows for a low rear cargo deck and a folding rear seat as flexible as a circus contortionist. Fold the seat forward and the bottom cushion nests into the footwell allowing for a fold-flat cargo area. The bottom cushions can also be lifted up and secured against the seatback providing a tall load space behind the front seats and finally, the front seats can be reclined all the way back and form a bed with the rear seats for the so-called "Refresh" mode

New Engine, Better Fuel Economy

Using direct injection, the all-new Earth Dreams 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque (up 23 horsepower and 8 lb-ft) driving the front wheels. Honda offers a choice of a CVT (with paddle shift-controlled steps for a sporty driving experience) and a 6-speed manual transmission. The CVT delivers 33 mpg city, 41 highway and a combined 36 mpg on the EPA cycle, a boost of five mpg in city and combined and six mpg highway over the previous model, which was equipped with a conventional 5-speed automatic. The manual transmission is rated at 29 mpg city, 37 highway for a combined of 32. These gains are more modest at a respective two, four and three mpg

Along with the new powertrain, Honda redesigned the suspension with a new strut-type setup in the front and an H-bar torsion beam in the rear. The slightly wider track and new suspension reinforces the feel that this car is more substantial than the model it replaces. Steering is light, quick and responsive; the car exhibits little in the way of roll. Because of the longer wheelbase, the ride is compliant for a car with such a short overall length

Safety in a Small Package

Even though the Fit is Honda's entry level model, it offers a wide range of safety features including the Lane Watch system found on larger models that projects an image of the right side of the car in the center screen when the right turn signal is activated. The Fit also offers such features as a rearview camera, Hill Start Assist and a motion adaptive electric power steering that helps initiate turn-in in the proper direction when the vehicle stability assist detects oversteer or understeer

With Lane Watch and backup cameras come either a 5.5-inch standard screen or on upmarket EX and EXL models, a 7-inch touchscreen. The screen is nestled in a dash covered with soft-touch materials, which also extend to the door panels. The interior has an upscale aura not usually associated with cars in this class. The outgoing model features only two trim levels, base and Sport/Sport Navi, while the 2015 Honda Fit starts with an LX model, with EX, EXL and EXL with Navi. The LX includes such new features for the base car as a rearview camera, the 5.5-inch screen and automatic headlamps. Pricing starts at $15,525 for a manual LX (the CVT is $800 more), an increase of just $100 over the previous base model. The EX, which replaces the Sport trim, is only $225 more and starts at $17,435 for the manual and $18,235 for the CVT with added content that includes the 7-inch screen, more powerful engine, auto headlamps and review camera. The EXL model, which is only offered with the CVT is $19,800, while the EXL Navi is priced at $20,800, just slightly more than the previous Sport Navi, which cost $19,970

With the 2015 Fit, Honda has raised the bar in a segment that has some pretty tough competition in the Nissan Versa Note, Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2. It's no longer a question of settling for less, but rather settling for the best

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FORD MUSTANG

Starting price: around $20,400

It comes with a V6 or V8 engine, and it is more powerful than most other cars in its class (by this we mean – affordable nice looking cars). The six-speed transmission in this model can be automatic or manual; both are precise and easy to handle. The interior design could be a little more modern, but it is spacious enough and comfy.

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MCLAREN P1

MCLAREN P1

When people think of electric cars, they don’t often think of speed — they usually think of them in terms of envirnoment, as of nice, silent, decent looking cars that are good enough, but not too impressive when it comes to power.  Therefore, McLaren P1 comes as a surprise. With a 903 horsepower engine, P1 is a powerful hybrid with a top speed of 217 miles per hour; if  you remove the inhibitor, it can reach speeds even higher than that. It hits 62 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds, and 186 miles per hour in 16.5 seconds, which makes it faster than McLaren F1.

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Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S

Wait, another fast Golf GTI?
Yes, as the hot hatch arms race has intensified with seemingly never-ending one-upmanship to be the King of the Nürburgring, there have been more and more variants of the humble Golf GTI brought into the world.

So what’s this one then?
The Clubsport S, the most powerful production Golf ever. And the fastest ever front-wheel-drive production car to lap the Nürburgring. It’s a £35,000 stripped-out, semi-slicked, uber powerful and aero’d version of the standard Clubsport (now known as the ‘Edition 40’).

How fast is it?
Very. It managed a 7:49.21sec around the Green Hell – 1.5sec faster than Honda’s Civic Type R – to claim the front-wheel-drive production car lap record. To give you some perspective of how fast these humble hot hatches are getting, that’s quicker than the motorsport-derived Porsche 996 GT3 (a true benchmark of quick), but a whopping 36 seconds a lap quicker than a Performance Pack GTI. Which is monstrous. Like, a full six Vines worth of time.

How much is it?
Official pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but expect it to be in the region of £35,000. Which is a lot. But with only 150 right-hand drive cars set to come to the UK, it should hold its value well.
What we don’t know is how it’ll perform on our shoddy roads. But we can’t wait to find out.

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1970 BUICK ‘GSX’ STAGE 1

1970 BUICK ‘GSX’ STAGE 1

Current value: $124,000

The 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 is one of the greatest Muscle and most amazing vintage cars built in the United States. Over time, mint condition versions of the auto have increased in value to more than $120,000, and the car is powered by a powerful engine rated at 360 to 400 horsepower. The GSX Stage 1 was extremely fast in the quarter mile for its time with a 13.38 second time; however, Buick only sold the auto in Saturn Yellow or Apollo White colors. The car also is known for being the most powerful of the Muscle Car era with an overall torque rating of 510 lbs-ft. Of the 678 models produced, there remain a number to be found in private collections that are still road capable today.

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MOSLER MT900S

MOSLER MT900S

Weighing just 2,275 pounds and equipped with an eight-cylinder, 7,000-cc, 600-horsepower General Motors LS7 engine mounted behind the driver and a six-speed manual transmission, Mosler MT900s is powerful and fun to drive. Mosler Automotive claims that the car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. At the low engine speed of 1,000 revolutions per minute in first gear, this car goes 40 mph. So far, they have made only 20 of these cars.

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Dodge Charger: Retro Muscle in a Sleeker Package 2015

The Charger has been the full-size bread-and-butter sedan at Dodge since its revival for the 2006 model year, and the division expects this extensively freshened version to maintain sales momentum when it reaches showrooms next fall

All New Skin

Aside from new aluminum axles and axle housings, the chassis carries over from the current Charger. But the skin is almost all new-grille, headlights, hood, fenders, and rear fascia. The roof and rear doors are the only exterior panels that survive, though the base of the rearmost roof pillar has been pulled aft, giving the rear window a faster slope and visually reducing the rear overhang

The goal of the design team was to imbue the new Charger with a sleek skin that would make this big sedan look smaller and lighter, even though the 2015 dimensions are almost exactly the same as those of the current car. A concurrent objective was to preserve the Charger's four-door muscle car persona

It's fair to say the styling effort was successful. Unveiled at the New York International Auto Show, the new Charger sustains the powerful presence of the current car. Dodge cites the 1969 Charger as the inspiration for the 2015 redesign, from the heyday of the muscle car era even though those '69 models were coupes

New Wheels, Hemi Power

Other new exterior details include projector beam headlamps, LED fog lamps, a three-piece rear spoiler (standard on R/T models), center high-mounted stop lamp, and Dodge's "racetrack" LED taillight array. The wheels are also new for all four trim levels, with six different 20-inch styles, including a forged aluminum set, 20 x 9 inches

The car's muscular persona is backed by Chrysler's 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque-in R/T and R/T Road and Track models. The base engine continues to be the 3.6-liter V-6 (292 hp, 260 lb-ft), with 300 hp and 264 lb-ft available in SXT models with the Rallye Appearance Group option package. Both the Hemi and the V-6 are paired with Chrysler's 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic, new with the Charger's Hemi V-8 and the only transmission offered

With the V-6, the Charger is EPA-rated for 31 mpg on the highway, best in class, according to Dodge. All-wheel drive continues to be available, and features a new active transfer case that automatically disconnects the front axle when it's not needed. Dodge engineers claim this feature can improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent

Interior Upgrades

The all-new interior includes new seats, extensive soft touch material on the dash, center console, and door panels, with eight different trim packages, including cloth and leather upholstery choices

The sporty three-spoke steering wheel is new, backed by paddle shifters (optional). A new electronic feature delivers brisk shift times-400 milliseconds, according to Dodge, diminishing to 250 milliseconds in sport mode, which also holds the selected gear to redline. Sporty also applies to the electronic power steering, updated to provide three modes-normal, comfort, and sport-that vary effort to suit the driver's mood

As with almost any of today's new cars, new telematics abound. A standard 7-inch TFT (thin film transistor) programmable screen nestles between the speedometer and tachometer, with programmable info including Dodge Performance Pages. The new center stack embraces a 5.0-inch touchscreen (standard) or 8.4-inch version (optional), with a next generation radio and premium audio options, as well as the available nav system. Chrysler's optional U-Connect Access provides a variety of connectivity features, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and mobile apps

New safety features include lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist; adaptive cruise control capable of a full stop and speed resumption; and forward collision Warning-Plus, which will provide autonomous braking if the driver fails to respond to the situation

As noted, the freshened Charger will go on sale this fall as a 2015 model

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Volkswagen Golf GTI First Review: All-Grown Up 2015

Since the model was first introduced in 1983 people who like to drive for the sheer enjoyment of it have been naturally drawn to the Volkswagen GTI, because virtually nothing in its price range offers the same level of performance and precision. But the newest, seventh-generation GTI, which also bears the Golf moniker, is not the frisky puppy that the original GTI was.  Oh, it is still frisky and still a blast to push through a series of tight turns, but its sophistication level has ramped up considerably versus that spunky little hatchback many of us fell in love with way back when. These days, it's not a lean, go-fast young hooligan nearly as much as it was, since in ensuing generations it has grown bigger.  At the same time it has become significantly more sophisticated and satisfying for all types of driving.  You might think of it as the middle-aged dude who still works out and still loves rock-n-roll

The new GTI checks a lot of the right boxes when compared with its immediate predecessor, which we liked a lot.  It is lighter, roomier, more fuel-efficient, more powerful and more versatile than ever before.  With impressive technology like an electronically controlled torque-sensing limited slip differential and DCC Adaptive Damping, it is obviously more technically sophisticated than the sixth-gen GTI, too. And while those two systems are optional, even the base GTI features a driving mode selection feature that enables you to dial up "Normal," "Sport" and "Individual" settings.  Shifting from "Normal" to "Sport" kicks up steering weight, sucking away numb from the on-center feel, and speeds throttle response. If you really care to, you can tweak both steering and throttle settings to your preferences in "Individual" mode, which in my GTI I would label Jax

Upgraded powertrain

The new GTI also features an all-new engine.  The 2.0-liter TSI, offering turbocharging and direct-injection, is a part of the vaunted EA888 engine family.  In standard GTI trim it whirs out 210 horsepower (10 more than the previous engine) and, more important, it cranks up the torque to 258 lb-ft beginning at just 1,500 on your rpm band.  The increase is noticeable in a number of instances ranging from off-the-line launch to acceleration out of corners.  A Performance Package that boosts peak horsepower to 220 is available, but the extra 10 horsepower are achieved by extending the rev range 200 rpm, so the real-world benefits might be negligible.  We didn't have enough time with that version to tell

So how does all this translate into performance where the rubber hits the road?  We think in every way the new GTI is both better and more cosmopolitan than the car it replaces.  The additional length and width result in a much roomier and accommodating cabin.  In fact Volkswagen execs made a lot of the fact that the hatchback GTI has more cargo room than a midsize sedan - 22.8 cubic feet of space if you fill it from floor to roof

Standard touchscreen

The comfy cabin is filled with niceties like the standard touchscreen information center, which offers 5.8 inches of capacitive touch-sensor display area. (Capacitive touch means it functions like the typical smartphone rather than requiring a firm button push, which in a moving vehicle is mostly a good thing.)  The display also has a proximity sensor function that senses when a hand is nearby and automatically switches its display to what VW describes as "a more finger-friendly layout."  How cool is that

Well, we think pretty much everything about the new Golf GTI is cool, from its suave, Euro-metro interior complete with plaid cloth seats to the roominess and comfort afforded by its available 4-door configuration.  It looks great, and it is a hoot to drive on canyon roads, yet it is perfectly at home in the maw of urban stop-and-go.  It is one of the few relatively inexpensive cars that we could live with - and love - for a long, long time

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ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH

ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH

Price: $294,000

The Rolls-Royce Wraith is the most powerful automobile made by the company that is street legal. The car is powered by a 6.6 liter, V-12 engine that is rated at 624 horsepower. The Wraith can go from zero to 60 MPH in 4.4 seconds, and does a great job at blending modern perks and technology into one of the industry’s classic autos. The auto’s design is based on the Ghost sedan but is a shorted version with hints of the BMW 7 series platform throughout the overall auto design. The top speed of the car is 155 MPH and it will not disappoint fans of the brand to drive the automobile. The designers also went to great efforts to ensure that the interior cabin of the car is made to maximize the driver and passenger comfort making it one of the more popular exotic cars on the market today. 

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Kia K900 First Drive: Taking a Giant Leap 2015

The biggest question to be answered about the all-new 2015 Kia K900 luxury sedan that we drove for the first time this week is not the perennial "Is it a good car?" but rather "Is the American car buyer ready for a $65,000 Kia?"  After an extensive test drive that included a day-long drive-and-interview with Eddie Rayyan, Kia Motors America's chief product planner on the vehicle, we came away convinced that the K900 is a well-executed and easy-to-like rear-drive luxury sedan. When it comes to the current generation of luxury-brand sedans (think Lexus LS, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class) the K900 does a very creditable job of checking most of the same boxes, especially in its top-of-the-line VIP trim, which is the one we tested.  The K900 is handsome inside and out; it offers a very high level of fit-and-finish plus quality materials; it is filled to the brim with luxury equipment, and it drives with the competent demeanor of a vehicle that is completely sure of itself.  In short, by every functional measure it has the goods to compete against the elite luxury sedans

That said, we'd be missing a key point if we ignored the fact that many (most?) luxury sedan buyers make their purchase (or sign their lease) based on what the vehicle says about them.  Prestige plays a big role in the acquisition decision, and that is one area in which Kia, despite its rapid strides upscale, falls short of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Cadillac

This potential issue is certainly not unknown to top Kia executives.  In the press conference that accompanied the driving event Kia marketing and communications EVP Michael Sprague spoke about defying industry convention

"We zig when others are zagging," he said.  "We take a different approach, and there has never been a better time for us to introduce this vehicle." Sprague also seemed quite realistic about the kind of luxury buyer who would gravitate most to the Kia K900.  Think self-made, confident individualist. "They are looking for something intriguing and unique," he said.  They have a more pragmatic approach to luxury; they're looking for new and upcoming brands.  They are not concerned about what everybody else thinks

An appealing way to make life's journey

Well, what we think is the K900 makes a very appealing traveling companion.  Quiet and poised, it does what you want it to do without making demands.  For instance, its ride and handling fall nearly in the center of the soft ride versus performance handling continuum.  We expect that when really pushed hard the German sedans might display an edge in overall handling, but the K900 is certainly up for some spirited driving.  At the same time, on the Interstate it will cruise in stately, serene comfort mile after pain-free mile.  You can chalk all of this up to the combination of 5-link fully independent front and rear suspension, the use of high-tensile steel, plenty of sound-deadening efforts, laminated front and side window glass and staggered tires.  The front tires are P245/45P-19 and the rears are P275/40R-19 fitted on standard 19-inch chrome alloy wheels. Not the norm, but it works

"Acceleration?" you ask.  "Yes," the V8-powered VIP version of the K900 answers.  In fact its Tau dual-overhead-cam 5-liter engine is Kia's first V8, and that is reason for celebrating.  Delivering 420 peak horsepower and a significant 376 lb-ft of peak torque, the all-aluminum engine features direct injection and variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust.  The smooth, quiet V8 is mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission that is rapidly become ubiquitous in luxury sedans. The high-tech transmission offers Eco, Normal and Sport modes with the requisite adjustment in shift-mapping. Changing modes also alters the settings on the electric power-assisted steering, but it doesn't adjust shock valving or other suspension settings

Electronic driver aids in abundance

While the suspension is not computerized, there is no shortage of electronic driver assists on the K900.  The V8 version of the car offers Kia's first installation of a rear cross traffic alert system and Kia's first installation of what it calls Advanced Vehicle Safety Management.  The latter integrates various vehicle monitoring systems, primary among them electronic stability control, with seatbelt and warning systems to alert the driver in case of danger.  If a potential collision is detected AVSM alerts the driver in three stages: audible alarm, visual warning on the head-up and dash-mounted displays and, finally a tightening of the front seatbelts.  The system does not, however, apply the brakes to avert or mitigate the crash.  The K900 can also be equipped with blind spot detection, lane departure warning and radar-based Advanced Smart Cruise Control that enables you to set a desired distance between your luxury K900 and the vehicle in front of you.  For those of you who are intimidated by parallel parking, your fears will be allayed with the Surround View Monitor system.  Using four wide-angle mini-cameras, the system displays on the dash-mounted screen where you are in relationship to potential hazards like curbs, parking meters, bushes and stray dogs.  It doesn't steer you into the parking place, but it helps take the worry out of being close

Even in the absence of the Surround View Monitoring system, parking the K900 is pretty easy.  Front and rear park-assist sensors are standard on each and every K900, and the display on the in-dash monitor indicates distance between your vehicle and objects via an intuitive green, yellow and red line system, accompanied by an ever-more-insistent buzzer

As you can guess the K900 offers an expansive in-dash display.  The VIP V8 is equipped with a 12.3-inch screen, the largest TFT instrument panel ever offered in a Kia.  Based on driving mode, the display shifts from traditional round speedometer and tachometer to higher tech digital readouts reminiscent of Formula One cars. It also features a full-color head-up display, which is configurable to offer info on speed, turn-by-turn navigation and alerts.  Easily legible in sunlight or darkness, it vanished when I put on my polarized sunglasses

In-car entertainment that will blow your socks off

On the in-car entertainment front even buyers of V6-equipped K900s will be blown away - perhaps literally - by the 900-watt Lexicon audio system, which, as you might have guessed, is the most powerful and advanced audio system ever offered in a Kia.  The system features a trunk-mounted 12-channel digital amplifier, a subwoofer below the rear parcel shelf and 17 strategically placed speakers.  Its many wonders are easily accessible via a 9.2-inch center console screen that is the gateway to Kia's UVO eServices telematics software.  The various UVO functions are easily accessed via a rotary knob on the center console that is flanked by a small array of direct access buttons to things like navigation and radio

The interior of the K900 is extremely accommodating to both front- and rear-seat passengers. Luscious Nappa leather and genuine walnut or poplar wood trim are spread lavishly around the interior, and we appreciated the added comfort of the 16-way power-adjusted driver's seat that is both heated and ventilated. Lighting is with "soft-hue" LEDs. Via controls on the fold-down center armrest, rear-seat passengers can not only manipulate the cabin temperature but also adjust seat heating and the power rear sunshade. They can even fold up the front passenger seat at the touch of a button for more legroom. In the VIP versions the rear seats also independently recline and feature power lumbar support.  All V8 models are equipped with a mammoth panoramic sunroof with retractable sunshade

Looking good in the (upscale) neighborhood

Oh, and did we mention that the K900 is attractive on the outside, too?  In the driveway of a prestigious Santa Barbara hotel it drew covetous glances from the well-heeled patrons, based on its handsome profile, interesting grille and technologic-overkill front headlights. These last consist of 16 LED bulbs grouped into clusters below clear lenses, and they adjust to point out bends in the road ahead

In an effort to cater to the luxury customer who would be interested in the K900, Kia is upgrading the sales and service experiences at the selected dealers who will carry the model when it comes to market later this year.  Kia is also set to offer a three-year, 37,500-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance program that additionally includes the use of a loaner Kia Cadenza or K900 when yours is in the shop

So to recapitulate, the 2015 Kia K900 is not only a satisfying luxury sedan, but it is also a major step in Kia's evolution from super-value specialty brand to premium full-line brand.  Kia executives know the journey won't be completed in a day or a year or even a few years, but they have definitely taken the initial step

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Porsche Boxster Spyder: A Tale of Two Roadsters 2016

It's the essence of Porsche enthusiasm to be of two minds about the 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder. While we have wonderful memories its predecessor, the 2011-2012 "987" model Boxster Spyder, which combined a modest power boost, lighter weight and sharply tuned suspension to create a truly great driver's car, the latest iteration boasts a larger engine, substantially more power and takes a slightly less hardcore approach. The 2016 Boxster Spyder is the fastest, most powerful, most formidable version of Porsche's mid-engined convertible yet. But is it good

A beast of a Boxster

Power is provided by the 3.8-liter flat-six from the 911 Carrera S-that's right, Porsche's so serious about the Spyder that it finally dropped a 911 engine into a Boxster-rated at 375 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the 2016 Spyder gets a massive 55-horsepower gain over the first Boxster Spyder, and 45 over the top-spec Boxster GTS. A 6-speed manual is the only transmission; no PDK dual-clutch automatic available. Porsche claims a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph

The 2016 Boxster Spyder's design cues mesh quite well: the front and rear fascia, taken from the Cayman GT4, add 10mm of length while contributing to the 72 pounds the Spyder loses over the GTS. They also give the Spyder a more aggressive look. The Boxster is already a good-looking car; add the classic "streamliners," that run from the headrests and the result is flat-out gorgeous

The manual top in the previous Spyder was fussy, but when down gave the car a pure roadster feel. For the 2016 Boxster Spyder, the top is more refined; think of it as a mostly manual version of the soft top available on standard models. After electrically unlatching the top, you manually fold and stow it in just a few steps. The roof is lighter than those on other Boxsters thanks to the loss of the mechanism, but still allows you to hit top speed with the roof up or take it through a car wash - two things you couldn't do in the previous Spyder

More knife than scalpel

With peak torque at nearly 5,000 rpm and horsepower at just under 7,000 rpm, this is a car that begs to be revved hard. Thanks to the 3.8-liter, those revs produces a glorious noise; the 2016 Boxster Spyder sounds like it has an angry 911 spirit animal living amidships-one constantly demanding more from your right foot. Though the new Spyder hits peak horsepower 500 rpm sooner than the 987 (while providing nearly 40 more lb-ft of torque at the same rpm), it's happier high in the rev range. Mash the gas at lower speeds and it can feel like it's waiting to spool up to deliver the Spyder's considerable power

Helping to wrangle that power is the Sport Chrono package from the GTS; optional on that car but standard here along with dynamic transmission mounts to aid cornering. Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) and a mechanical differential lock are also standard, providing "targeted brake interventions" to either rear wheel while inside of a curve to further aid steering performance. The variable power steering rack is the electric unit found in the 911 Turbo, and is not only quicker than the hydraulic one in the last Spyder, but the rest of the current Boxster line. Thanks to the steering and the 911-sourced brakes, this is an easy car to drive fast. And because of its softer suspension, it's more easy-going than the previous Spyder

A matter of perspective

Still, we are of two minds; simultaneously appreciating the 2016 Boxster Spyder for the truly epic car that it is while longing for the vastly more engaging 987 Spyder. Where that car was basically a roofless Cayman R, the 2016 Boxster Spyder is distinctly different from the current and raw, Cayman GT4 track-day special. It's suited more to an enthusiast who wants something to take to Cars & Coffee on Saturday morning, then tear through some nice back roads on the way home. Starting at $82,000 and available this fall, it's hard to nail down the car's competition - perhaps the Jaguar F-Type S Convertible, which costs about the same and comes with a tick more horsepower, a more luxurious interior, optional all-wheel drive, and a top that you don't have to get out of the car to stow

Porsche has built an awesome car in the 2016 Boxster Spyder-it's just different than the last one. The earlier model was a precision instrument; a dance partner with which you had a running conversation where you discovered and expanded your limits. The new car? It's better in every measurable way - quicker, faster, stickier, sexier, yet more comfortable and more useable. But it's lost a bit of edge. It may be a disservice to compare them - they share a name but not a mission. Buy a 2016 Boxster Spyder because you want a top of the line mid-engined convertible, with that excellent 3.8-liter from the 911 Carrera S. But keep your 2012 Spyder, too

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