On the premiere episode of Head 2 Head, Angus Mackenzie compares the razor sharp Corvette Grand Sport to Porsche's all new 911 Carrera S. Join us as we take to the streets of Southern California to pick a winner.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Super Streetbike's Dave Sonsky heads to the drag strip with the new 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX14R and the updated Suzuki Hayabusa. Find out which sport bike takes the title of baddest straight-line stallion on the planet!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Chevrolet's new 2012 Camaro ZL1 faces off against the reigning champion of the pony cars, Ford's 2012 Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition Mustang. Pro race driver Randy Pobst hot laps both cars around Inde Motorsports Ranch in Willcox, AZ to find out which modern muscle car reigns supreme.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman pits the supercharged 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon against the twin-turbo 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon. Witness the mother of all mommy-mobile matchups, capped off with a 150MPH half-mile drag race!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Automobile Magazine's Jason Cammisa hits the road and the track with the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R and the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR. Find out which four-wheel drive four-banger reigns supreme!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman pits the new 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition against its twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive rival, the 2012 Porsche 911 Turbo S. With 500+ horsepower planted firmly to the ground, both supercars annihilate California's canyon roads, then square off for an epic quarter-mile drag race.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Angus MacKenzie pits the 2013 Subaru BRZ against its American rival - the 2013 Ford Mustang V6. After carving up canyon roads in both cars, Angus hands the keys over to pro race driver Randy Pobst for limit testing and hot laps around Streets of Willow racetrack. Find out which front engine, rear-wheel drive coupe reigns supreme!
On this special episode of Head 2 Head, Automobile Magazine's Jason Cammisa pits the world's most exclusive super cars against each other in a no-holds-barred drag race battle! Do the carbon fiber-bodied Aventador, LFA, and MP4-12C have what it takes to take on the king of the super car realm - the Bugatti Veyron?
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman pits the new 2012 BMW 328i against it's compatriot rival - the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250. The 3 Series and C Class have been battling for sports sedan supremacy for decades. Now with both cars replacing their traditional six-cylinder engines with turbocharged four-bangers, its time once again for a classic German showdown.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Carlos Lago pits the new 2012 BMW 335i against it's natural rival from Ingolstadt - the 2012 Audi S4. The 3 Series has long enjoyed its reputation as the benchmark of European sports sedans. But does the more powerful S4 finally have what it takes to end BMW's reign?
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Angus MacKenzie brings you the ultimate modern musclecar showdown -- 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 vs 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. It's an epic 3-round bout, with canyon carving up and down Mulholland Highway, hot laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with pro driver Randy Pobst, and a classic quarter-mile drag race finale. It's a winner-take-all battle for ultimate musclecar supremacy!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Automobile Magazine's Jason Cammisa rekindles a classic European sports sedan battle, pitting the legendary BMW E30 M3 against it's Cosworth-powered rival, the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16. Find out which homologation special is the most special of all!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman takes a closer look at the past, present and future of the Japanese super car, pitting an original Acura NSX against the Lexus LFA.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Mike Febbo and off-road racer Joe Bacal head to the desert to pit the Ford Raptor against the Ram Runner. Find out which high performance prerunner tames the tarmac and destroys the dirt the best!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Automobile Magazine's Jason Cammisa heads to Germany to pit the last Volkswagen Scirocco sold in the United States against the current 2012 version - a Twincharged I-4-powered TSI which remains tantalizingly out of reach to American buyers.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman pits the 2013 BMW M5 against the 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS in an epic super sedan showdown. The battle begins in California's Mojave desert with a classic quarter-mile drag race. Then Jonny takes both V-8 powered sports saloons up to Big Bear, California to find out which one carves up the winding mountain roads the best.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman pits the all-new Cadillac ATS against the car it was built to compete with, the dominating BMW 328i. Jonny uses test data to illustrate how similar these two cars are and then takes them out for a true drivers test on one of his favorite California back roads.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Carlos Lago takes a closer look at the technology that makes the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 Carrera S go around corners as fast as they do. Does technology take away from the driving experience or can it actually improve it?
On this episode of Head 2 Head Jonny Lieberman finds out which plus size super sedan is king of the hill. Can the rear-wheel drive BMW Alpina B7 take on the Quattro all-wheel drive of Audi's S8?
On this episode of Head 2 Head, it's the battle of the hybrids as Jonny Lieberman pits the 2012 Toyota Prius V against Ford's 2013 C-MAX Hybrid SEL. There is a lot going on with these cars so to help break down the technical information, so Jonny also talks with Motor Trend's hybrid guru Kim Reynolds about the Ford / Toyota rivalry & the controversy surrounding their hybrid technologies.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman stages a rematch between the all-new Cadillac ATS and the BMW 3-Series. But this time, he trades the smaller engines and manual gear boxes for more power and automatic transmissions. And just to throw a wrench in things, he brought along the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C350.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman takes you into the world of the top 1% as he pits the Bentley Mulsanne against the Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG. Which car is the ultimate toy for the rich and famous?
On this episode of Head 2 Head, it's the battle of the hot hatches as Carlos Lago pits the 2013 Ford Focus ST against a returning contender - the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R. Carlos hits the road and heads to the track but there is a slight problem with the Golf R and Carlos is forced to bring in the Subaru BRZ as a pinch hitter.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman pits the new 2013 SRT Viper GTS against its domestic rival, the 2012 Corvette ZR1. It's an all American prizefight as Jonny heads north to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to hot lap these two monsters with pro race driver Randy Pobst. And of course, no match up between these two contenders would be complete with out a drag race. It's one for the record books as Jonny and Randy find out which car has the bigger "bollocks."
The Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE battles the Ford Mustang GT on this episode of Head 2 Head. These two contenders have a long storied history together dating back over half a century and this chapter is sure not to disappoint. Hot shoe Randy Pobst joins in on the action as the two pony cars duke it out on the Streets of Willow. Drag races, hot laps and burnouts; You know you want it!
German engineering meets British charm as Jonny Lieberman pits the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG against the 2013 Aston Martin DB9 on this episode of Head 2 Head, While both brands are synonymous with luxury, underneath their hoods lies some seriously massive hand built V-12 engines. Dynamic testing & mountain roads await as we find out which is the better super coupe for the modestly wealthy.
The 2013 Mazda Miata Club Edition takes on the 2013 Scion FR-S on this episode of Head 2 Head hosted by Carlos Lago. Forget numbers, its a fight for fun as resident wizard and Motor Trend Testing Director Kim Reynolds lends his analysis and insight on quantifying fun. Can Carlos get Kim to forget about charts and graphs?
The 2013 Ford Focus ST is undefeated in Head 2 Head match-ups and the 2013 Mazdaspeed3 has high hopes of being the first to dethrone Ford's hot hatch. After some road loops & a torque steer battle, pro racer & Motor Trend hot shoe Randy Pobst hitches a ride with Carlos Lago at Streets of Willow. Does the Mazda have the chops to take down the Focus? Join Carlos and Randy as they find out!
It's a once in lifetime match up as Jonny Lieberman pits the classic 1956 Citroën DS-19 against the ultra modern 2013 Tesla Model S. Innovation is the name of the game as conventional combustion collides with bleeding edge tech. Will the upstart American electric disrupt the tried & true French four-cylinder? Which of these two contenders will go down in automotive history as the true revolutionary? Join Jonny on location in Seattle as he puts both cars through their paces & schools us the true meaning of "Musking."
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman pits the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg TDI against the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 Ecodiesel. From off road capabilities to interior luxuries, Jonny drags these diesels through the dirt providing in depth driving impressions as well as some insight on why more manufacturers should adopt diesel technology. Filmed on location in Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, join Jonny as he finds out which of these two diesel powered SUVs is the better bang for the buck!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Mike Febbo & the 2013 Scion FR-S take on European Car's Greg Emmerson & the 2013 Volkswagen GTI. Joining the mix is a beloved classic, as the 1989 BMW E30 M3 makes an appearance . Compared to the Scion & VW, the E30 carried a heftier price tag for it's time but represented the definition of a fun, affordable sports car. And so, it serves as the benchmark for this episode's Asian & European contenders. Join Mike & Greg as they hash it out in their quest to see which is the "better" car.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman pits the 2013 Range Rover against the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG. Several technical & challenging obstacles await as these two SUVs navigate a purpose-built off road course. Did we mention that the course also happens to be the testing grounds for Motor Trend's SUV of the Year? Old school meets new school as tried & true German engineering squares off against cutting edge British gadgetry. Of course, no comparison between these two status symbols would be complete without a visit to their natural habitat... the mean streets of Beverly Hills, CA. While both of these contenders will get you through the dirt in style, which of these two uber-luxury six figure SUVs is most befitting of high society? Join us as we find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Carlos Lago pits the 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Pack against the 2014 Audi R8 V-10 Plus. Performance wise, both these all-wheel drive monsters represent the cream of the crop from their respective manufacturers. Nissan's GT-R comes out of the gate swinging with it's track pack, but the R8 packs a twin-clutch transmission as well as more power than previous R8's. In between some dynamic testing & canyon carving, Randy Pobst weighs in with his two cents as he joins Carlos at the Streets of Willow racetrack. Does Audi's V-10 goliath have what it takes to topple the legendary "Godzilla"?
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman pits the 2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design against returning contender, the 2013 Audi S4. Before hitting the road, the engine placements of both competing sedans are compared against segment contemporaries such the Cadillac ATS & BMW's 335i. Why? Because while both competitors are AWD, they start life as FWD. As a result, both vehicles have unusual engine placements. A mix of limit testing & canyon carving follows as Jonny provides insight on both cars, examining everything from driving impressions to interior ergonomics. Does Volvo's beefed up S60 have what it takes to dethrone Audi's "sleeper sedan?"
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman gets behind the wheel of two of the finest long wheelbase luxury sedans - the 2013 BMW 750Li and the Jaguar XJL Supercharged - to see which one of them does justice to their $100,000 plus price tags. First, Jonny heads to the track to see what kinds of numbers these large, premium sedans put down, then he sees how they both handle on the rough roads outside of Santa Barbara, before finally getting chauffered in the back seat of the cars to examine their distinct approaches to high-end luxury. So which one will stand out as the best in its class? Stay tuned to find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman pits two members of the "more than 600 horsepower club" against each other - the 2013 SRT Viper & the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series. It's a three-bout heavyweight match that begins with real world canyon carving, moves on to an all-out quarter mile drag race, and then finishes with blistering hot laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with hot shoe Randy Pobst. Despite a huge gap in price, both of these long-nosed, front-engine, RWD, two-seat brawlers represent significant revisions of their wild predecessors. Will good old fashion American muscle beat out German Engineering? Join us as we find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, it's sibling rivalry time. Jonny Lieberman heads to the American Southwest in Utah with two of the best convertibles money can, the Audi R8 Spyder and the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. Amazingly, these two high-end, high performance wonders are both manufactured by the Volkswagen Automotive Group. Starting in Las Vegas, Lieberman works his way to a near magical road in Escalante, Utah to figure out which of these German wonders is the best drop top. Why Utah? After getting a good look at Highway 12, you'll never ask that question again. The two cars aren't bad to look at either. Will the Audi's AWD grip and extra horsepower be enough to counter the Porsche's lower weight and RWD sports car advantage? Will the manual Porsche have the strength and the chops to take on the higher tech, dual-clutch equipped R8? Please join us to find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, two of England's most prestigious brands duke it out as Motor Trend's Carlos Lago pits the 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed against Aston Martin's 2014 Vanquish. With names like Vanquish & GT Speed, it's inevitable that some spirited driving awaits. Join Carlos as he he flogs both these fine automobiles through Motor Trend's dynamic testing course before heading out to carve up the canyon roads. Both Aston Martin & Bentley are synonymous with luxury, class & the finer things in life. However, there's nothing gentlemanly about the 12 cylinder motors each car packs under it's bonnet. Even more savage is their more than 500 horse power capabilities. Add carbon ceramic brakes into the mix & price tags near $300,000 & you've got an exotic match up.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Mike Febbo pits two tuner cars against each other. In one corner, the BMW 335i loaded with an BMW M Performance kit and aftermarket options. In the opposing corner, the Cadillac ATS tuned by D3. Because both cars are modified, Mike puts them on the dyno at european auto source. The contenders then head out for dynamic testing and real-world driving impressions. Do the combined forces of Cadillac and D3 have what it takes to out-run the German powerhouse? Find out in this episode, and check out Greg Emmerson's in-depth story in the December 2013 issue of european car Magazine or at http://www.europeancarweb.com
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman referees the battle between two hotly anticipated Japanese sports sedans - the 2014 Infiniti Q50S and 2014 Lexus IS350. Lieberman starts out at the track where he puts both cars through the usual battery of Motor Trend instrumented performance tests. After that, it's off to one of California's premiere canyon roads to see how the cars behave in the real, curvy world. Will the new Lexus take the prize? Or is the all-new and quite surprising Infiniti Q50S the winner? Find out on this episode of Head 2 Head.
On this week's episode of Head 2 Head, certified wagon-freak Jonny Lieberman pits two of the very coolest station wagons in the world against each other. More than just cool, these are also two of the rarest wagons on earth. In fact, the E63 AMG Wagon is the rarest car Mercedes sells in the U.S. It's special order only through the dealer — it's not even on their website. Of course, the Icon Derelict is its own form of rare, being one of one. The Derelict started life out back in 1952 as a Chrysler Town & Country Custom Wagon, but things have changed. As for the E63 Wagon, we learned at Best Driver's Car that the stealthy Mercedes is quicker than several supercars. But does it have what it takes to defeat Icon's icon? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Carlos Lago and Randy Pobst restage our annual Best Driver's Car competition with this year's winning Porsche 911 Carrera 4S plus two contenders that missed the initial dance, the all-new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the explosive, exotic Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. The Ferrari is the most powerful car we've ever taken around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with its ferocious 6.3-liter 731 horsepower V-12. The Corvette comes packing the latest version of GM's venerable small block, a 6.2-liter cam-in-block V-8 that kicks out 460 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque. The Porsche and its relatively tiny 3.8-liter flat-6 might seem out gunned, but remember that for the last two years the 911 has beaten back every BDC challenger we've thrown at it. Does the Corvette have what it takes to dethrone the 911? Does the wailing Ferrari? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman pits an American icon against itself. Since 1984 AM General's Humvee has served as the U.S. Military's primary multipurpose workhorse. However, after adding nearly three tons of armor plating, the already slow, ill handling beast gets slower and clumsier. One solution is to replace it with a new truck, but that would cost us a fortune. The other comes from Banks Engineering, which adds more sophisticated turbocharging as well as a revised, active suspension. If the Humvee is going to go down in history as the truck version of the B-52, it needs upgrades similar to what Banks is selling. That said, the Banks Humvee does cost a good deal more than the base Humvee. However, it's a much cheaper alternative to something like an MRAP or the Oshkosh L-ATV. But is it that much better than the regular production Humvee? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head Jonny Lieberman is joined by Mike Shaffer and two extremely potent hyper sedans, the 2014 BMW M5 Competition and the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S Model. Between the two of them, these two mighty Germans produce 1152horsepower and 1092 pound-feet of torque. On paper. After a day of horsing around/testing Shaffer and Lieberman grow suspicious of each twin-turbo V-8's actual output. So, they take them to the dyno gurus at K&N engineering to learn what's what. The results very well may shock and amaze you. However, the boys come to the conclusion that numbers are only exactly that: only numbers, and numbers only matter so much. One true test of a super sedan is how it handles a twisting stretch of tarmac. The other is how much you yearn for the car after you've walked away from it. How much the keys itch in your pocket. While the results are definitive, this Head 2 Head is much closer than most. Have a watch!
The 2013 Lexus GS F Sport has taken down the likes of the BMW 535i, Audi A6 and Infiniti M37 in previous comparisons, and is our reigning king of the luxury performance sedan segment. The new 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport brings two turbos, over 100 more horsepower, and a history of excellent track-day capability to the table, but weighs over 100 lbs. more than the Lexus. Can the light, balanced, and nimble Lexus hold its own against the American powerhouse Cadillac CTS V Sport? On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman takes both cars to the testing grounds, canyon roads, and finally the racetrack to find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman heads to Graz, Austria, the home of one of the world's toughest off roaders - the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. The last time a G63 appeared on Head 2 Head, it beat out the all-new and quite excellent Range Rover Supercharged. This time, however, the G63 faces even stiffer competition — another G63. Of course, this particular G has an extra axle, because it's the $500,000+ G63 AMG 6x6! Costing roughly twice as much as the awesome twin-turbo V-12 powered G65, the 6x6 is the ultimate expression of the Gelandewagen... on paper. But is it actually any good? Is the 6x6 as awesome as it looks, or is the regular G-Wagen just too well thought out? And why is the 6-wheeled truck always jumping in the air like that? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Kim Reynolds re-enacts the Battle of Britain by pitting the Union Jack's two great luxury names again each other — Bentley versus Rolls-Royce. However, these two require testing that's elevated above the routine, so we've devised as few, ah, unorthodox challenges. With almost 1200-hp, twenty-four cylinders, and four turbochargers between them, the Flying Spur and Ghost can both paint tire streaks on the dragstrip. But can they paint with acrylics on canvas as well? We'll find out. And which car can turn more heads in ritzy Santa Monica? We aimed video cameras at the sidewalks and counted the eyeballs. All that, and the answer to which car has a $40,000 paint job, is just a click away
Randy Pobst – “For Head to Head, it’s episode 48, the Jaguar XKR-S GT versus the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, because I got to drive the Jag in from Vegas the day before, and because the XKR-S GT was surprisingly wonderful hot lapping the Willow Springs track. It was a clear improvement on all other Jags I'd driven, especially in its ability to put its prodigious power down.”
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman looks at a type of car that Germany does better than anyone else: the Super Sedan. The Porsche Panamera Turbo has long been one of Motor Trend's favorites. Massive, ferocious, surprisingly nimble, and if your checkbook's got the overhead, totally luxurious. But don't discount Audi. Ever since the S8 showed up, Audi has shocked the car world by making such a big car so dang fast. The only thing that could even compete was the Panamera Turbo. The RS7 comes with an even more powerful version of the familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 -- 560 horsepower to be exact. For 2014, Porsche's seemingly underrated 4.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 is up 20 hp to a more-than-modest 520 hp. Faced with tough choices after the two hit the test track and a canyon road, Jonny enlists the help of resident Motor Trend Hot Shoe Randy Pobst to figure out which super sedan is best.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman gets his hands on the all-new, 2015 Subaru WRX, as well as one of Motor Trend's favorite pocket rockets, the Ford Focus ST. Each car costs about $30,000, sports a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with similar power outputs, and features a 6-speed manual transmission. The Subaru of course features a sporty version of the brand's "symmetrical AWD" while the Focus makes due with just the front wheels driven. However, since it first appeared, the Focus ST has wowed the Motor Trend staff with ability to dance around corners and, generally, not drive and feel like a front-wheel driver. We like the Focus ST so much that we invited it to last year's Best Driver's Car. But does the Ford have what it takes to beat the latest street-tamed rally baby from Subaru? You're going to have to watch and find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman sets out to discover which German hot-rod-personal-luxury-coupe is the best you can get. The 507 Coupe is the last iteration of the W204 C63. With the exception of the very limited-run Black Series, it's the best C63 that AMG has ever done. Under its hood sits a hand-built, 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8 good for 507 horsepower. What more do you want? Perhaps something more high-tech, and that's where the Audi RS5 comes in. The sexy coupe from Quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm features a 4.2-liter V-8 that spits out 450 hp. That¹s less power than the 507 Coupe makes, true, but the Audi also features AWD, a dual-clutch transmission, bigger wheels and tires, plus a trick torque-vectoring rear differential. Which one is quicker? Which one is more fun to drive? Which one is best? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman travels to Barber Motorsports Park for a head to head matchup with the brand new Chevy Camaro Z/28 and a well known heavyweight, the Nissan GT-R. But not just any GT-R, the 2014 Track Edition which packs a 545 hp twin-turbo V-6, a 6-speed dual clutch transmission, sticky Dunlop tires and AWD traction into a car without rear seats. The Z/28, by way of contrast, features a massive 7.0-liter naturally-aspirated V-8, a 6-speed manual transmission, and tail-out RWD. While it does still have rear seats, nearly every other non-essential component has been removed. Moreover, the Z28's tires might be even stickier! The front ones, enormous 305-sections, are certainly the widest tires ever bolted to a production car. Both cars are phenomenal, and both cars make rational men scream, "Gimme!" But only one can come out on top. Watch and find out!
Fast, small German cars are back with a vengeance on this episode of Head 2 Head! Join host Jonny Lieberman as he compares and contrasts the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG with the brand new BMW M235i. Mercedes and BMW have had small car rivalries like this in the past, most notably the Benz's 190E 2.3-16 versus Bimmer's E30 M3. Fast forward three decades, and times have changed. Forget natural aspiration, as turbocharging rules the day. The CLA45's engine is even mounted sideways in a complete departure from Mercedes' tradition. Regardless of the details, both cars are fast and fun. So much so that Jonny feels the need to get racecar driver Randy Pobst involved in the decision-making process. In the end, this one proves to be the closest H2H comparison yet. Watch and enjoy!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, the newest luxury heavyweight takes on the reigning champ. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has ruled the luxury roost since it created the segment decades ago. However, Elon Musk's revolutionary Tesla Model S has single handedly disrupted the established luxury paradigm and has recently outsold the mighty S-Class. What's most amazing is that the Model S doesn't use a drop of gas. The S-Class does, but it rewrites the luxury car playbook in other ways. So which $125K big lux whip is best? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, two of the best driver's cars on the market face off. The 550-horsepower Jaguar F-Type Coupe R and 430-horsepower Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Edition both have carbon ceramic brakes, active dampers, and active differentials, and both are rear-drive. Both are intent on making driving enjoyable and rewarding. But which one does it best? Watch and find out!
On this week's episode of Head 2 Head, the Motor Trend long-term 2014 Jaguar F-Type V6 S faces-off against the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG in an all-out fight to figure out which small luxury roadster is the best to live with. The F-Type sports a righteous 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 making 375 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, and the SLK55 AMG packs a big 5.5-liter V-8 sending out 413 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Despite the big disparity in cylinders and displacement, the two drop-tops match up incredibly evenly. Which will come out on top? Watch this week's Head 2 Head to find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head we jump in the way-back machine. The 1960’s were the defining decade of the modern era. From the Cuban Missile Crisis, to the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK, to the hippie counter culture, to a man standing on the moon, few ten-year spans in history have seen as much tumult. Fewer still have seen as many awesome cars. On this episode we look at two of the most important cars from the 1960’s: a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Tri-Power and a 1968 Porsche 911L. The Corvette is all sound and fury, with a monster motor that still feels quick today and a soundtrack to die for. The 911, by way of contrast, is the more nimble driver-focused sports car solution, with steering feel that modern cars can only dream of. But one of these two is better than the other. Watch to find out which!.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, Carlos Lago pits the Chevrolet Camaro SS against the new Ford Mustang GT. Not only are both packing around 430 horsepower, but they both have the most aggressive handling packages available with their respective performance packs. These cars have been going at it for longer than some of you watching have been alive, and they've never been better. To find out which is best, we'll run them through the full gamut of MT testing, a drive on the road, and hot laps with Randy Pobst. Find out which one wins this classic American rivalry!
This week on Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, Carlos Lago pits two rear-drive luxury coupes - the 2015 BMW M4 and the 2015 Lexus RC-F - against each other in a battle for tire-smoking glory. Also, we find out which one is faster and more fun to drive by visiting the instrumented test track, the winding road course at Hyundai’s Proving Ground, and Streets of Willow racetrack with pro driver Randy Pobst. Has Lexus built a sports coupe with performance on par with BMW's M Division? We can't wait to find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Carlos Lago hosts a face-off between the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Porsche 911 GT3. Both cars are bred for track performance and driver’s satisfaction, each packing high-revving, dry-sump engines, carbon ceramic brakes, and big wings. The huge price disparity makes this an odd pairing, but after considering each car’s hardcore focus on performance, we couldn’t resist the idea of getting them together. The Camaro makes more power, but the Porsche’s lighter. Which one’s faster? Find out of this episode of Head2Head.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman travels just over the Golden Gate Bridge to beautiful Marin County (http://www.visitmarin.org/motortrend) in two of the most powerful cars ever to roll out of American factories. Five years ago, the idea of a Chevy Camaro ZL1 with 580 horsepower would have seemed like nothing more than the bedroom poster fantasy of a 12-year-old. However, in 2015, 580 ponies seems like something’s wrong. That’s because the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat comes strapped with 707! Crazy, we know. However, the Hellcat is heavier than the already pretty large Camaro. Bigger, too. The question then is: which of these two steroidal pony cars should you get? Watch this episode of Head2Head and find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, it's a clash between the two most capable cars from the USA and Japan: the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the Nissan GT-R Nismo. Both of these juggernauts pack massive horsepower, from 600 to 650 hp, and incredible racetrack capabilities with wide and sticky tires, but which one is the top performer? Through Motor Trend's standard gamut of tests, a drive on the road, and a day at the racetrack with Randy Pobst, we find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman travels out to the wilds of the Anza Borrego desert with the goal of figuring out which small, sporty, pricey, German SUV is best: the Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG or the Porsche Macan Turbo. But it’s not the off-road trails that Jonny’s interested in – the AMG may very well be allergic to dirt – but rather the serpentine road that climbs up, and then up some more. These two may look like SUVs, but they’re much closer to sports cars. Packing 400-horsepower, will the Porsche’s 45-horsepower advantage beat out the smaller, lighter, and still plenty powerful, GLA45? Or will the jacked-up red hatchback from Affalterbach put a beat-down on a genuine Porsche Turbo? There’s only one way to find out!
On this very special episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, we present a hypercar battle for the ages: the McLaren P1 versus the Porsche 918 Spyder. Both of these cars have carbon fiber tubs and body panels. Both have small displacement, high revving V-8s packed between their passenger compartments and rear axles. Both use twin-clutch transmissions, carbon ceramic brakes, and active aerodynamics. Both have roughly 900 hp. Both are plug-in hybrids. And today, with the help of pro racing driver Randy Pobst, we find out which one is fastest around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, host Jonny Lieberman puts the quickest sedan in the world up against the fastest sedan in the world. Unlike most "this versus that" competitions, the object of this match up is to figure out which family sedan is the bigger badass. In the red corner, making 691 electric horsepower and 687 pound-feet of torque, is the dual-electric motor, all-wheel drive Tesla Model S P85D. And in the blue corner, packing a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that’s good for 707 hp and 650 pound-feet of torque. As you can gather from the power figures, these two are evenly matched. But one’s a bigger badass than the other. Watch and find out which!
Welcome to the world of the rich and famous! On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack host Jonny Lieberman takes out two of the most luxurious and expensive cars on the market, the Mercedes Maybach and the Bentley Mulsanne Speed.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman heads off to Spain’s Basque Country to enjoy the local wines and pintxos, the latter being the Basque take on tapas. He also embarks to find out if the latest challenger to the BMW 3 Series can dethrone the king of the sport sedan segment. Jaguar’s swing at the 335i is called the XE S. It’s all new, made from mostly aluminum, and powered by the same 340 horsepower supercharged V-6 found in the F-Type. Jaguar tried and failed at taking on the 3 Series with the ill-fated X-Type a generation ago. Did they get it right this time? Or will the German sport sedan supremacy continue on full speed ahead? Watch and find out!Subscribe now to make sure you're in on all the action!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Carlos Lago gets behind the wheel of the all-new Mazda MX-5 Miata. This is the Club version, fitted with Bilstein shocks, Brembo brakes, and BBS wheels. It should be a recipe for a track-worthy, canyon-carving, truly sublime driver’s car. But then there’s the Subaru BRZ. Its sharp handling, revvy flat-4, and stupendous balance have proven time and again that it can dominate its segment. Is this new generation Miata good enough to outclass the more powerful BRZ? Watch and find out!
The BMW M3 has long reigned as the king of the sports sedan segment. However, two new challengers have arisen: the Cadillac ATS-V and the Mercedes-AMG C63 S. The Cadillac was honed on the Nürburgring, and with its twin-turbo V6, packs 40 more horsepower than the M3. The mighty AMG, on the other hand, is based on the brand new C-class platform and sports a 503 horsepower twin-turbo V8. Does either challenger have what it takes to steal the belt from the M3? Find out on this episode of Head 2 Head.Subscribe now to make sure you're in on all the action!
It’s tempting to view the BMW X6 M through the same lens that you would view the Cadillac Escalade EXT — you know, the pickup truck — a one-off anomaly that history will look back on and shrug. Hubris for the sake of hubris, etc. But that sure ain’t how Mercedes views the stylized attack wagon from BMW. No, Mercedes went on ahead and recorded a note-for-note cover version of BMW’s wacky song. Why? Follow the money, as BMW sure made a wheelbarrow full of it with the last generation X6M. This one is all new, as is the GLE63 Coupe S. But which hunchback of the Nürburgring is best? As host Jonny Lieberman is overly fond of saying, there’s only one way to find out!
There’s a muscle-car war brewing in Detroit these days. Right as the handling-champion Z/28 goes out of production, Ford delivers a Shelby-badged suckerpunch with a flat-plane-crank V8, MR dampers, and carbon fiber wheels. Head 2 Head host Jason Cammisa takes the two through a series of challenges: first, some canyon carving to see which car is better on the road. Then, a dyno shootout: can the GT350R’s 5.2-liter Voodoo make more power than the venerable 7.0-liter LS7? And then, it’s onto Chuckwalla Valley Raceway where Jason and racecar driver Randy Pobst find out not only which one is faster around the track, but which car handles best. No muscle-car comparison test would be complete without a drag race, of course, so Cammisa lines up the cars with the help of his cousin Bob from West Virginia. This episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, is the one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the latest Detroit muscle-car rivalry.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, take a ride along with Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman as our two hosts try to figure out which absolutely bonkers supercar is the best. Both the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the Dodge Viper ACR make more horsepower than almost any other cars on earth. The two also feature levels of grip only seen on racecars. Speaking of racing, Jason and Jonny bring along a friend – racing pro and SCCA Hall of Famer Randy Pobst – to see how these two handle on the famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Records will fall, tires will smoke, and ears will bleed, as these two monsters are completely unleashed. Which one is best? You’ll have to watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman heads out to the edge of Death Valley, California to determine if the updated Jaguar F-Type has a prayer against the AMG GT S. Back in 2015, the mighty AMG took home Motor Trend’s coveted Best Driver’s Car award. Why? Because it’s so fantastic to drive. But the sexy cat has a new trick up its sleeve: a new fangled AWD system that might help put all 550 of its horses on the ground. Randy Pobst shows up to take both sports cars around the daunting “Big” circuit at Willow Springs International Raceway. Does Great Britain stand a chance of punching Germany in the nose? You’ll have to watch and find out!
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..
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, join MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman to find out if Chevy’s 2017 Camaro LT 1LE can beat on the BMW M2 the way its V-8 big brother defeated the M4. For the first time ever, Chevy is offering the 1LE elite track package on its six-cylinder Camaro. The 1LE is no slouch, accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 5.0 seconds, thanks to the 335hp, 7,000-rpm V-6 under its matte black hood. The BMW M2 is more similar than you may think—a handling-focused rear-wheel-drive coupe with a six-cylinder. Its twin-turbo straight-six produces 30 more horsepower, enough for a blazing 4.4-second run to 60 mph, but is that enough to justify the M2’s approximately $15,000 price premium?
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, we travel to the frozen, snow-covered Bridgestone Winter Driving School to test two high-performance SUVs. MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman pit the Porsche Macan GTS against the Jaguar F-Pace S in a series of handling and acceleration challenges. Rumor has it that Jaguar delayed the F-Pace’s introduction until it was a worthy competitor of the spectacular Macan, so we find out how it stacks up. Each vehicle has a forced-induction 3.0L V-6 and a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. Which is better? There’s only one way to find out.
The world’s quickest sedans battle it out on this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack. The Audi RS7 and Tesla Model S have nearly identical silhouettes and are within 0.2 inch in length. They’re both all-wheel-drive, four-door, hatchback sedans with an eye toward luxury and supercar-taunting powertrains. The RS7 was the quickest four-door car MOTOR TREND had ever tested, but the Performance model adds 55 more horsepower for a total of 605 hp from its 4.0L twin-turbo V-8. The Tesla Model S P90D was even quicker, and now the P100D with Ludicrous Plus proves to be even more speedy. It is, in fact, the quickest-accelerating vehicle MOTOR TREND has ever tested—ever. MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman get the two über-sedans together to see which world’s quickest sedan is better. This episode includes a special appearance by the fastest gasoline-powered car you can buy today, the 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S, and a whole lot of horse manure.
Wondering if a Miata can beat a Hellcat? Then this Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack is for you. This is an epic battle between two of the best sports cars on sale today. Yep, you read that correct: the Miata and 86 are real sports cars in the traditional sense, focusing on the driving experience rather than delivering outright speed. MOTOR TREND Senior Features Editors Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman take to the backroads to decide whether the new Targa-topped, retractable hardtop Miata is more fun than the new, updated BRZ, err… FR-S… err… GT-86, err…86. Then, they head to the racetrack where they’re joined by SCCA Hall of Fame race car driver Randy Pobst. After he sets a lap time for each car, we see whether a 707hp Dodge Charger Hellcat can beat either of the two cars—despite having more than double the horsepower of a Miata and 86 combined. You may be surprised by the outcome, but to find out which is the best sports car, you’ll have to watch this episode of Head 2 Head.
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman take a hard, smoky look at the latest battle in a war that began 50 years ago. In 1967, Chevrolet introduced the Camaro to do battle against Ford’s hugely popular Mustang. The ponycar war has been raging ever since. While there have been fantastic Mustangs and Camaros for generations, there have never been two quite like these. In the white corner sits the most powerful Camaro ever. Kicking out a stonking 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, the supercharged Camaro is capable of both humbling supercars and the greatest burnouts we’ve ever seen. The Shelby is down on power but is up on magic. Also able to embarrass cars costing two or three (or four/five) times as much, the GT350R has something special going on. Which of these two performance giants is the current king of the ponycar? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman explore the burgeoning segment of mid-grade performance machines. Way back in Episode 67, the then-brand-new Jaguar XE beat the once-dominant BMW 335i to capture the crown. In terms of pure driving joy, Jag had Bimmer’s number. But there’s a new AMG in town, and the boys can’t even agree on whether or not it’s a “real” one. On the one hand, 12 months ago, the essentially unchanged C43 was sold as a non-AMG C450 4Matic. On the other, in terms of acceleration, the C43 barrels down a dragstrip like a real AMG. Acceleration notwithstanding, is the C43 good enough to stick it to the subtle, lithe, lively Jaguar? There’s only one way to find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and Randy Pobst examine two of the highest performing vehicles on sale today, and they’re both called GT-Rs. Or is that GT Rs? From Nissan comes the Nismo version of its long-running supercar. Power is unchanged for 2017—still a healthy 600 hp—but structurally, the body in white has been strengthened. This seemingly simple change pays huge dividends in terms of overall performance and is in line with Nissan’s mantra of gradual improvement. The AMG GT R, on the other hand, is pretty radical compared to the regular-strength GT S. Power is way up, the front and rear tracks are wider, the torque tube is carbon fiber, the gears in the twin clutch are different, the body is flared, and the exhaust, front splitter, side skirts, and carbon-fiber rear wing are brand-new. Let’s not forget the four-wheel steering. Each of these monsters was created to do damage to the Nürburgring, but how will they do in the twisted canyons of Southern California, as well as a slightly less formidable racetrack? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, hosts Jonny Lieberman and Randy Pobst take a look at two entry-level convertible supercars, the Audi R8 V10 Spyder and the Porsche Turbo Cabriolet. These are the base versions. The brakes are steel, the engines are in a relatively relaxed state of tune, and the suspensions have been dialed down a notch or two. Still, with each convertible pumping out 540 hp and sporting seven-speed, dual-clutch transmissions that send power to all four wheels, these two aren’t exactly no frills. Pobst and Lieberman put the two through their paces, on a winding open road and a racetrack. Which superconvertible is best? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and brand-new host Jethro Bovingdon head to Wales to have a look at new versions of two of the most legendary high-performance coupes around, the AMG C63 and Audi RS5. When these two first battled on Head 2 Head four years ago, the mighty Merc’s superior feel was enough to overcome the Audi’s performance advantage. This time out, both cars have gained twin turbochargers and shrunk in displacement, but the Audi has lost two cylinders. Can the V-6–powered RS5 hope to beat up on or even keep up with the V-8 AMG coupe? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and new cohost Jethro Bovingdon go on the ultimate gearhead road trip in Germany and Austria—from Autobahns with no speed limit to the wild Nürburgring race circuit, and finally a mountain pass that climbs to a stunning glacier. The contenders? Well, it had to be the two iconic German sports cars: the BMW M4 and Porsche 911. The brand-new M4 CS is lighter, more powerful, and more focused, but can it really compete with the brilliant 911 GTS? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman head to Spain to sample two of the finest grand touring cars in existence, the new Aston DB11 and the big LC from Lexus. Back during 2017’s Best Driver’s Car competition, the Lexus shocked the MOTOR TREND staff as a credible driver’s car. The Aston? Not so much, with the V12-powered DB11 garnering a last-place vote. However, this time out, the DB11 is packing an AMG-built twin-turbo V8, 253 fewer pounds, and a reworked suspension. Will the sharp-looking Japanese luxury cruiser deliver more GT thrills than the handsome Brit at half the price? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon head to the desert to test two of the toughest off-road trucks available. In a classic David and Goliath contest, Chevy’s midsize Colorado ZR2 chases the mighty Ram Power Wagon over rocks, dunes, and jumps to see if either offers true Raptor-style thrills and capability. The contest culminates in a Baja-style race. Do both trucks survive? Can either emerge from the shadow of the brilliant Raptor? Watch and find out!
On this special, 100th episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon take a look at two of the best sports cars to ever hail from Germany, the AMG GT R and the Porsche 911. Unexpectedly perhaps, the two cars could not be more different. The AMG sports a twin-turbo, snarling V-8 seated in front of the driver and powering the rear wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch transaxle. The Porsche, on the other hand, has a naturally flat-six screamer stuffed in its rear, powering the back wheels through a mid-mounted six-speed manual. Bovingdon and Lieberman take the two cars to the road, a test track, and a racetrack, and along with pro driver Randy Pobst, figure out a winner. Which is it? Watch and find out!
On this special, 100th episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon take a look at two of the best sports cars to ever hail from Germany, the AMG GT R and the Porsche 911. Unexpectedly perhaps, the two cars could not be more different. The AMG sports a twin-turbo, snarling V-8 seated in front of the driver and powering the rear wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch transaxle. The Porsche, on the other hand, has a naturally flat-six screamer stuffed in its rear, powering the back wheels through a mid-mounted six-speed manual. Bovingdon and Lieberman take the two cars to the road, a test track, and a racetrack, and along with pro driver Randy Pobst, figure out a winner. Which is it? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, hosts Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman take a look at two California-built custom Porsche 911s: the Gunther Werks 400R and the SharkWerks GT3 4.1. The Gunther is the dancer of the two, a prima ballerina that teaches a master’s course on the very notion of steering feel. Sharkie, on the other hand, is a sledgehammer, taking a naturally aspirated Porsche to a level of violence and fury never seen before. The two takes on the classic Porsche formula are night and day, and show the amazing bandwidth inherent to the 911 platform. To dive deeper into just what makes the 911 the ultimate hot rod starting point, the boys start the video in “The Daddy,” a brilliant, million-dollar Mexico Blue example built by Workshop 5001. Can either modern 911 hold a candle to the Workshop 5001 car? And which one is the better custom 911? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jethro Bovingdon is on home turf. He brings Jonny Lieberman to the UK and gives him a British sports car baptism by fire with two of the most extreme examples you can buy. Or maybe that should be a baptism by snow, hailstones, rain, and wind. So which is better: a car with no windshield and roof, or one with no bodywork at all? Will it ever stop raining in Wales? Will Lieberman ever forgive Bovingdon? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon check out the current crop of fast station wagons available to savvy American consumers. With 603 horsepower and all-wheel drive, the Mercedes E63 Wagon is diabolical. Loud, muscular, and to a certain extent crude, the mighty AMG has a swagger that few other cars, let alone wagons, can match. On the other end of the wagon spectrum, the 550hp Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo seems calm, cool, and collected by way of comparison. Before figuring out which German wagon is best, Lieberman and Bovingdon take a trip back in time to look at what might actually be the best wagon ever. Which is it? And which wagon wins? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman head to Scotland to check out two cars that straddle the line between sports car and supercar, the Aston Martin Vantage and the Audi R8 RWS. The Vantage employs the first turbocharged V-8 in Aston’s more than 100-year history. Built by AMG, but tuned by Aston Martin, the twin-turbo, 4.0L V-8 produces 503 horsepower. RWS stands for “Rear Wheel Series” and this R8 is the first rear-wheel-drive vehicle in Audi’s history. Lighter, more agile, yet a bit less powerful than the R8 V10 Plus, the RWS still makes a healthy 540 horsepower from its 5.2L V-10 engine. Both the Aston and the Audi are wonderful in their own right, as well as great alternatives to a Porsche Turbo. However, one car must win. Which is best? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon pit Chevy’s and Dodge’s modern-day muscle cars against each other on the burnout pad, a drift track, and the road. Many tires are sacrificed in the quest to discover whether we’re in a new golden era for the muscle car and which of these cars best represents the new breed. Hellcat or ZL1? Watch and find out.
On this episode of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman examine two performance cars that at first glance might not look like actual competitors, the Audi TT RS and the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS. The Cayman S finished up in second place at last year’s Best Driver’s Car competition, therefore you just know that the GTS version—more power, lower to the ground, all the pricey performance options that come standard—is going to be one of the best driving cars around. Caymans and Boxsters always have been. The Audi TT, on the other hand, started life out very different, more of a design statement than a performance one. But this new TT RS comes to this knife fight packing a 400hp turbocharged five-cylinder engine. Is this Head 2 Head another runaway for Porsche? Or does the little yellow Audi have what it takes to stand toe- to-toe with the world’s best and win? Watch and find out!
On this season finale of Head 2 Head presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon take a classic trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, but they are doing it in style. They have their hands on two fullsize luxury cars, the 2018 Jaguar XJR575 and the 2018 Maserati Quattroporte GTS. Along the way, they visit a ghost town where Bovingdon gets into some trouble in a giant military vehicle and then challenges Lieberman to a top-speed run. Eventually, they hit some canyons and end up in Vegas having a steak. It’s a classic episode with two luxury sedans.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon visit the nearly 800 horsepower club. The Ferrari 812 Superfast and Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye might seem worlds apart on paper—and believe us, they are—but they are only separated by 8 horsepower. Beyond that, each car is an Instagram star, the type of vehicle that we all would have had a poster of on our bedroom wall as teenagers. The boys must figure out which almost 800 horsepower car is best via the three Ds—driving, drag racing, and, of course, drifting. Burnouts also play a role because, hey, there’s almost 1,600 horsepower on tap. Which car is the better dream machine? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman go extreme—performance variants of performance variants. The boys already feel that the Porsche GT3 is one of the best sports cars ever made, and the GT3 RS takes things even further. Not to be outdone, the McLaren 600LT is nearly one-quarter modified compared to the 570S it sits on top of. The McLaren has more power and less weight than the Porsche—plus it shoots flames! Has the GT3 RS met its match, or can Porsche find a way? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman go on a European odyssey to find out which sports car is the best: BMW’s mighty mite M2 Competition or the mid-engine, ultralight Alpine A110. BMW’s approach is a classic—stuff a big, powerful engine into a tiny car. Only instead of creating an American-style muscle car, BMW’s M division has given the M2 Competition some athletic dance moves. The diminutive Alpine is the opposite. Weighing in at approximately 1,000 pounds less than the Bimmer, the A110 uses a sophisticated chassis, mid-engine balance, and an attention to detail to make its retro-modern sports car sing. From rally stages to racetracks to perhaps the most wonderful road on earth, Bovingdon and Lieberman put these two European wonders to the test. Which car is best? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman head off the beaten, paved path to look at two of the last hardcore production SUVs left on earth. The Jeep Wrangler was born during the crucible of world war, with General (and later President) Eisenhower calling it “one of three decisive weapons the U.S. had during WWII.” The Wrangler is the original SUV, and all others since are copycats. Massively updated for 2019, the newest Wrangler took home the coveted MotorTrend SUV of the Year award. The Mercedes G-Wagen also began life as a military vehicle, created at the behest of the Shah of Iran in the mid 1970s. Updated for the first time in its 40-year-plus history, the new G is an improvement in almost every way over the old one. So much so that it was given the accolade of a 2019 Automobile All-Star. The question then becomes which one of these old-school, throwback, military-flavored, award-winning SUVs is the best? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman set out to see if the mighty Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has finally met a car it can’t beat. Ever since its first comparison test, the Ferrari-engined sport sedan has laid waste to the competition. For a very good reason, too: the 505hp Italian is the real deal. Enter Jaguar’s bonkers Project 8. There’s a run of the mill XW sedan lurking somewhere underneath, but you’d be hard-pressed to say where, as 80 percent of the Project 8’s hardware is new. Most importantly, there’s a 592hp supercharged V-8 lurking below all that custom carbon-fiber bodywork and a trick AWD system and fancy racing suspension, too. There’s also the price tag: about $190,000, which is $110,000 more than the Alfa. However, the Project 8 bested the Giulia Q’s Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record, so it is a legit performer. The question is, can the brash British brute dethrone the pretty Italian somewhere besides a racetrack? Which sport sedan is best? Watch and find out!
It’s good to be rich, now more than ever. But with so many brand-new supercars out there, do you really need to replace your 991.1 GT3 RS with the 991.2 version? Actually yes, you do, but that’s beside the point. Maybe what you really need is something old made new—something you loved decades ago that has been re-created for today. Enter the MAT New Stratos, for all intents and purposes a Ferrari F430 Scuderia with nearly 8-inches chopped from the wheelbase. It should handle like a 540hp go-kart, right? Though what if you wanted your retromod whip to be a bit heavier on the retro? How about the Superformance GT40? Fully 75 percent of the parts will swap into a 1960s GT40 (yes—the same cars Matt Damon just made a movie about), only this one has a 640hp supercharged Coyote V-8! But what if both cars are just nostalgic cash grabs? What if a modern supercar is actually the smarter buy? Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman hedge their bets by bringing along a 2019 Nissan GT-R Track Edition. Which car is best? Watch this episode of Head 2 Head and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman live out their ultimate grand touring fantasies with the help of two big, beautiful, British beasts. Each car has more power than anyone needs, more leather than a cigar lounge, and looks that if they don’t kill, will most certainly wound. The plan? Grand tour the sexy coupes down to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while keeping their thirst for high-powered adventure quenched. The reality? A bit different than the boys planned. Not to give it all away, but can both cars go over 200 miles per hour? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman head south to pit icon against icon—the legendary Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 against one of the most hotly anticipated new cars ever, the fifth-generation Toyota Supra. Starting on the Tail of the Dragon—one of the world’s great roads—the boys set out to discover if the refreshed for 2019 Shelby is better than the one that came before, and also if the new, BMW-built Supra is any good at all. Next, after a quick road trip to Kentucky, Lieberman and Bovingdon take the sports cars drag racing at Beech Bend in Bowling Green. After that, pro shoe Randy Pobst meets them a few miles down the road at NCM Motorsports Park to see how these two cars fare on a racetrack. Which icon is better? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon check out the current state of the hot hatch art. The Honda Civic Type R knocked the front-wheel-drive performance car world on its ear when it debuted a couple years back. How could anything with undriven rear wheels handle and perform so well? In 2018, the Type R finished fourth at Best Driver’s Car, behind the Lamborghini Huracán Performante, Porsche GT2 RS, and McLaren 720S. Not bad for a hot hatch that starts at less than $40,000. Enter the Hyundai Veloster N, which starts at less than $30,000. Many German engineers were recruited for this car and, on paper at least, the baby blue N should give the renowned Honda a run for its money. Bovingdon and Lieberman put both the 2019 Honda and 2020 Hyundai through rigorous Randy Pobst racetrack lapping, as well as canyon road testing. Unable to pick a winner, the boys decide that the ultimate test involves unbridled hooliganism, police chases, and fire. Lots of fire. Which hot hatch is best? Watch and find out!
On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman examine two different ways to solve the same track day problem. On the one hand you have the 2019 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE, a middle linebacker of a sports car that’s also a dance major. Developed specifically for the track, this 650hp fist of a car has F1-style spool-valve dampers, crazy, illegal-in-Europe aero, and model-specific R compound tires. On the other hand sits the 2020 Evora GT, a recent iteration of Lotus’ “large” sports car. Weighing around 800 pounds less than the Camaro, the back-seat-delete Evora GT is a modern embodiment of Colin Chapman’s maxim, “simplify and add lightness.” That said, the Lotus is no featherweight, as power is up to a healthy 416 hp. Which of these two seemingly incomparable track day specials is best in this comparison test? Watch and find out!
On this holiday episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon wring out two honest to goodness super sedans, the BMW M5 Competition and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S. These two big Germans sport over 1,200 horsepower between them and are tuned with racetracks and lap times in mind. To find out which four-door is best, Jethro and Jonny travel to Upstate New York in hopes of catching the last bit of fall foliage while tearing up some fabulous country roads. From there the boys head to Connecticut and one of the best tracks in the country, if not the world, Lime Rock. Once there, they examine the nuances of AWD versus RWD. And by nuances we mean big power slides and tons of tire smoke. Which sedan proves to be the most super? Watch and find out!
