Comparisons

BMW unveiled thei4 Concept at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show, well, virtually. It previewed what we can expect from the production-spec i4 that will release some time in 2021.

The concept proved that there is a lot more to the i4 than its polarizing looks. We put it up against the Tesla Model S recently, but how does it fare against Tesla’s best-seller and most likely cheaper Model 3? So, let’s compare them both and see what are the differences between the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, and why do those differences matter.

Until recently, BMW didn’t offer a righteous rival for the S-Class Coupe. Subsequently, the Mercedes-AMG S63 was ruling the realm without a competitor in sight, but that changed when the M8 was born.

Although the S-Class Coupe/AMG S63 is a shorter, two-door version of the larger S-Class sedan and the M8 was designed as fully-blown coupe right off the bat, it fits nicely into the same ballpark as the juiced-up Mercedes-AMG S63. So in our quest to see which is better, we’re taking a good close look at what they have to offer on paper.

They might share the same engine configuration, but the 2020 Ferrari 812 GTS and the 2020 Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet are two very different dishes. One’s naturally aspirated while the other uses the magic of forced induction. One is a purpose-built supercar while the other is the open-top version of one of the most luxurious full-size sedan you can buy today.

But here at Top Speed we have a knack for dissecting things, so we thought an in-depth comparison between the 812 GTS and the Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabrio would be equally useful and interesting, even as they come from two different worlds.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has arrived, and now it’s time to see how the Mustang Mach-E compares to the competition. Name issues notwithstanding, the Mustang Mach-E enters a market that’s teeming with competition from models that are just as new and exciting as the new Ford crossover. How does the Mustang Mach-E compare against its new rivals? Let’s go find out.

The war of electric pickup trucks is hot right now and, while there are multiple players in the segment like Fisker, Atlis, and Bollinger, all eyes are on Rivian and Tesla. The former has already announced most of the features and specs for its R1T pickup, but there’s not much we know about the Tesla pickup. We’ve yet to even see the actual truck, and despite this, there are a lot of reasons to believe that the Tesla pickup truck, called the Cybertruck for now, will be better than the R1T.

The 2020 BMW M2 CS is finally here, and it comes with BMW’s legendary S55, 3.0-liter inline-six, which now boasts 444 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It’s also gleaming with carbon fiber outside and packed full of Alcantara with contrast stitching inside. It’s certainly lighter and faster than the M2 Competition, but by how much?

After seven successful years on the market, the Golf Mk7 was retired to make way for the eighth-generation hatchback. Unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, the Golf Mk8 brings a new design to the table. However, much like all recently introduced new-generation Volkswagens, the new Golf is an evolution of the outgoing model. Is the new design different enough to be considered a new generation? Let’s find out in the comparison below.

The highly-anticipated 2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 is finally out and the really big news is that it comes with five hybrid drivetrains. The regular TSI engines are now paired to 48-volt systems, but Volkswagen also offers two proper hybrids with electric motors. One of them is basically similar to the old Mk7-generation GTE, but the new Mk8 GTE is a wild one and packs more punch than the outgoing GTI. I bet you didn’t expect that.

After years of promises, teasers, and concept cars, Porsche finally unveiled the Taycan. A major turning point in the company’s history, the Taycan is the first Porsche with an all-electric drivetrain. What’s more, the Taycan is an EV of the high performance variety, so it goes against one of the most popular electric vehicles on the market, the Tesla Model S. A strong seller in the United States and a market leader in some European countries, the Model S is tough to beat. The big question is whether the Taycan has what it takes to give the Model S a run for its money and that’s exactly what we will find out in the comparison below.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is now a real thing. Seen previously in numerous spy shots sporting enough camouflage to make the military envious, the 2020 2 Series Gran Coupe brings a premium element to the nameplate. Two versions of the 2 Series Gran Coupe — the 228i xDrive and the M235i xDrive — will be available in the U.S. market beginning next year.

Land Rover announced that it was working on an all-new Defender way back in 2011, when it revealed the DC100 concept. At the time, the design study made many traditional fans of the Defender exclaim that it didn’t preview a vehicle they’d be interested in buying, so Land Rover actually made a second concept in 2016, called LR1, but it didn’t show it to the public - it was an evolution of the DC100 and it actually was the basis for the recently unveiled production Defender.

The highly anticipated Porsche Taycan made its global debut ahead of the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Essentially a competitor for the popular Tesla Model S, the Taycan signals the beginning of a fierce battle in the high-performance electric car segment. And needless to say, the Taycan looks like it has what it takes to give the Model S a run for its money. On the other hand, Porsche’s EV isn’t as quick as the American sedan, which is a letdown for performance enthusiasts.

It seems fair to say that many people were underwhelmed by the Toyota Supra. People knocked Toyota for the Supra’s looks. Some were upset about its high pricing. And a lot of other people didn’t think too kindly to the engine choices that Toyota prepared for its returning sports car. A base version that produces less than 200 horsepower? Really? The range-topping version of the Supra does have 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque at its disposal, but even that came from a BMW-sourced engine. Truth be told, the Supra’s 355-horsepower output isn’t that bad. But it also could’ve been higher, especially when you consider that so many other models from different segments can carry that much power without having to be a sports car, specifically one that has to carry the legacy of one of Toyota’s most iconic nameplates. If you’re wondering how many vehicles have more power than the 2020 Supra, we compiled a list made up of 10 of them. And, if for nothing else, this list may surprise you.

The Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 returned after five years with more power than ever, a menacing body kit and, for the very first time, a race-spec rear wing. With more than 700 horsepower coming from a supercharged V-8, the Shelby GT500 is notably more powerful than its traditional rival, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. So which modern muscle car is good enough to compete with the 2020 Shelby GT500? I think it’s the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye, a car that FCA created to bridge the gap between the regular Hellcat and the drag-prepped Demon. Here’s how they compare.

Bigger is better! Or is it? Car enthusiasts all across the U.S. will ponder this for years to come thanks to the fact that the new 2020 Corvette C8 is larger compared to its peers. It is longer, with a bigger boot, longer wheelbase, and more meat to carry around. I cannot call this a surprise considering that the new Corvette has to be a daily usable, affordable, and ready to accommodate daily shopping needs regularly - this only requires substantial luggage capacity - a number that hovers around 357 liters in the C8. Try to find that much trunk space in other mid-engine cars.

As far as the weight goes, GM did an excellent job of keeping it at reasonable levels, but you can do only so much without building your car from some crazy expensive unobtanium. At about 3,600 pounds (ready for a drive), the Corvette C8 isn’t the lightest, but no one should care about that at a $60k starting price.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette is the first Corvette offered without a manual transmission. This is bad news for old-school enthusiasts, but Chevy has solid arguments for the drop. The C8 Corvette would need a bespoke transmission that’s not worth the hassle given that sales of manual Corvettes dropped dramatically in recent years. But if you can’t stand the idea of an automatic Corvette, the Saleen S1 is an alternative you should consider.

Only days after the introduction of the revolutionary mid-engine Corvette, officials from the Australian GM hand – Holden – reported that they plan big with the new Corvette on the Australian market. It will be called the Holden Corvette, but GM will produce it at the Kentucky, Bowling Green factory in the right-hand drive configuration right next to standard ’Vette. It is the first Corvette in history to be offered in a RHD configuration. However, unlike the American Corvette that starts at amazing sub $60,000, the Australian Corvette will be the most expensive Holden ever. Early reports from Australia tell us that Holden will sell the Corvette C8 Stingray in a $160,000-$200,000 price bracket. Converted in U.S. dollars, that roughly comes to $112,000-$140,000.

So, yes, the U.S. seems to be the only country where you will be able to get the new C8 Corvette for cheap (somewhat). While Holden boss, Dave Buttner, wants to take on European and Japanese performance vehicles like the Ferrari and Acura with it, Chevrolet, on the other hand, have an easier job. Undercutting $60k with a mid-engine sports monster puts Chevy in a position to take the buyers from basically any sports car showroom in the U.S.

If GM does the reliability thing right, then I ask you would you rather go for the Supra, Cayman, basically any two-door Beemer, or the new ’Vette? Heck, I’ve deduced something else, even more disturbing. With the new mid-engine C8 Corvette Stingray, the sales of used mid-engine Italian exotics could fall dramatically. The new ’Vette is a disturbance in the force if ever there was one.

The astonishingly courageous move by Chevrolet and GM put the Corvette in a position to attract buyers of basically any performance vehicle. In the U.S., this very car will fight for buyers with completely different sports cars than in the rest of the world. I am not talking Ferrari, Acura, Lamborghini, or even Audi here. I think that this is the list of cars that the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette looks to steal buyers from.

Standard internet Corvette C8 discussion:

"I never liked Corvettes but now I am willing to donate my left nut to get the C8!"

"Where do you get the other $59,999.99 from?"

"Your momma!"

Chevrolet wants to do one thing with the new Corvette! It wants to attract younger buyers to the brand. The mid-engine layout, crazy bang-for-buck, and frankly, fine styling is the way to go. Right now, if you go to any Corvette forum, you can read similar comments, and "discussions" like the one I’ve politely copied from another friendly automotive site. Young people are writing this. A lot of them want to donate a nut to get the C8!

That’s cool, but I have one more hole to pick to be completely mesmerized by the new mid-engine Corvette! What about its interior? How does it compare with the Corvette C7’s interior, and does it finally give some premium-like aura? It needs to if it wants to jumpstart the possible future of Corvette-brand!

The launch of the 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Stingray is on everybody’s lips these days. It has to be one of the most significant car launches of the year, especially since it’s going to be sold in right-hand drive, and it is ,therefore, most likely also been designed to comply with European legislation (among other places). So, it’s going to be a global sports car with exotic supercar looks at only a fraction of the price - in fact, it’s probably not even going to be that much more expensive than the C7 Stingray it replaces.

You may think that in moving the engine behind the passenger compartment, Chevrolet has essentially rewritten the formula for the Corvette, and you’d be right. However, that’s about the most drastic and revolutionary thing the automaker did, because from a visual standpoint, everything else looks evolutionary. You can certainly immediately tell the C8 looks more modern and more like an imported, mid-engined exotic, yet you can also see the fact that it’s a development of the C7’s styling.

Jaws dropped at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed when the De Tomaso P72 was revealed to the public. Its intoxicating mix of retro design cues, modern interpretation, and opulent presentation made it an instant hit. The car previews a planned series of 72 examples set to grace the garages of wealthy collectors, but while most who have laid eyes on it have instantly fallen in love, there is one person who has less than flattering things to say about it.

James Glickenhaust is known for his role in the film industry, but also as an automotive entrepreneur and owner of American boutique car maker Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus (SCG). In 2005, he commissioned the creation of a Ferrari Enzo-based car called the P4/5 that was initially supposed to bear the SCG badge, but upon seeing it, Ferrari chairman at the time, Luca di Montezemolo decided that the Pininfarina-designed one-off should bear the Prancing Horse badge instead.

Glickenhaus recently accused De Tomaso of blatantly ripping off the P4/5’s design, combining it with that of the iconic 1967 Ferrari 330 P3/4 (which in turn also previously inspired the Glickenhaus car), and rehashing it for the P72. We can definitely see where he’s coming from, but at the same time, there are plenty of differences in the design, and, overall, the two cars feel different and they feel like they have different philosophies behind them. In fact, they do, because the P4/5 was conceived as a single example never to be replicated, while the P72 is intended for limited series production, and it’s also considerably more opulent looking - by contrast, the P4/5 looks spartan and racecar-like.