It’s that time of the year again, but aside from our usual year-end extravaganza, this year’s #ABC2024 (for AutoBuzz Best Cars 2024) is also a little more special: we’re celebrating our 10-year anniversary!
As a little present to ourselves (and you!), we’ve gathered some of the best cars we’ve driven this year, at a very special location for a little birthday party. Well, at least for a while, because the skies had different plans that day. It was still a mega day out for us, though, and you should definitely check out the full video below!
If you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that there are actually no EVs in sight – because this year, we are also celebrating engines. It’s probably the last year we can fill an ABC line-up with just ICE cars, so here are all of the cars in #ABC2024 this year, and why we chose them.
Lamborghini Revuelto
6.5 litre V12 and 1,015 hp. Yup, that’s pretty much it. Well, okay, that and the fact that the Revuelto is perhaps one of Lamborghini’s most important models as it embarks on its Direzione Cor Tauri electrification plans. It is a plug-in hybrid, yes, but the Revuelto is proof that electrification doesn’t have to be boring.
McLaren 750S
It’s rare these days that I’m so smitten by a car from the first time I drive it, but the McLaren 750S does it. From the first time I depress its accelerator during the media drive in Estoril, I knew that this would be my pick for ABC this year. It might be an iterative update over the 720S, but everything has been designed to turn the driving engagement knob up to 11 – and that’s just how I like my cars.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
In a world where everything is becoming increasingly complex, Porsche has decided to stick to what it knows best: a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre boxer-six engine that revs all the way up to 9,000 rpm. Well, for its engine at least, because the new 911 GT3 RS is now so jam packed with tech and air-bending magic that even a race car would blush looking at it.
Ferrari Purosangue
A Ferrari SUV (sorry, we mean FUV…) might have been inevitable, but at least they’re doing it on their own terms. Befitting its name, the Ferrari Purosangue – which means thoroughbred in Italian – gets a true-blue 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine under its long bonnet with 725 hp, enough to propel the massive Prancing Horse from 0-100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds – and you can do it while carrying three of your favourite people.
Aston Martin DB12
The iconic Aston Martin grand tourer is back, but this time, they’re calling it a “super tourer”. It still does the whole James Bond thing well, including looking drop-dead gorgeous. But the DB12 has also become significantly more sporting than its predecessor, with a much more agile chassis, plus a 30% power bump to boot. What’s not to like?
Lotus Emira
You can lament its weight, its size, its plush interior, or even its price tag. But one thing that’s undeniable is the Lotus essence still within the Emira. It’s still as raw and engaging as ever, just now a little friendlier for every-day drives. And the good news is that you can still get one with a manual gearbox if you want.
GALLERY
