We had this occur as soon as earlier than. Throughout monitor testing for Motor Authority Finest Automotive to Purchase 2024, one automobile was so head-and-shoulders above the others that the winner of the award grew to become apparent. The final time was 2019 when the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S buried the competitors. This time it was the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. What a machine!

Scheduling conflicts meant that solely three of our 5 finalists for the MA BCTB 2024 award might make it to the monitor. The monitor vehicles had been the Z06, the Ford Mustang Darkish Horse, and the Acura Integra Sort S. Left on the sidelines had been the BMW M2 and Lucid Air Sapphire.

However monitor testing isn’t the one consideration for the Finest Automotive To Purchase award. Worth, value (these two issues can certainly be separate), on-road livability, and total enjoyable issue additionally play into the combo. And when these standards had been thought of, the Acura Integra Sort S made a powerful displaying, however got here up simply brief.

The next is a breakdown of what we realized about our finalists by driving them on the monitor at Atlanta Motorsports Park, evaluating them head-to-head, and in particular person loans and different monitor time for the vehicles that couldn’t make it to our testing program.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Winner: Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The Z06 reveals how particular the C8 Corvette may be. It not solely has an unique mid-engine design, nevertheless it additionally boasts a particular flat-plane crank, 8,600-rpm screamer of an engine. It launches the automobile from 0-60 mph in a scant 2.6 seconds and its high-pitched howl tickled our eardrums whereas doing it. “The most important situation with the C8 is you’ll be able to inform the chassis is designed for extra energy. This engine fixes that situation,” stated Senior Producer Joel Feder.

Senior Editor Bengt Halvorson famous that the engine doesn’t have quite a lot of rapid torque and that you must preserve the revs as much as get probably the most out of it. That’s straightforward as a result of the V-8 is teamed with a telepathic 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that shoots the automobile ahead with every stab of the throttle and crisp gear change. 

The ’Vette’s low-slung stance, right-now steering response, flat cornering angle, and accessible efficiency gave our workers confidence and had us shaking our heads in amazement after every stint. “With every lap I pushed more durable. Go quicker, you are able to do extra. And I didn’t come near the max of what it might do,” stated Senior Editor Robert Duffer.

Whereas we didn’t file lap occasions, it is no shock the Corvette put up the quickest figures at a few key factors on the monitor: 123 mph on the finish of the entrance straight, and 81 mph on the apex of the carousel made up by turns 13, 14, and 15.

There was extra room to develop for each figures, too, particularly for the highest pace on the finish of the straight. Pinning the throttle by way of 16 would have doubtless added 10 mph by the top of the straight, however that will create a tough weight shift within the flip 16 transition onto the straight that may generally create a disconcerting slide. We averted going that arduous in that spot and that value some high pace.

We favored the Z06 on the street, too. “Tour mode dials up a very nice journey. I used to be shocked at how good the journey was,” famous Halvorson. That’s nice for the Z06’s on a regular basis driver credentials, given it’s the Corvette with the firmest tuning.

Our lone grievance concerned the brakes, and the gripe was principally mine. Each Corvette has a brake-by-wire system that simulates really feel. Whereas our Z06 had the non-obligatory carbon-ceramic brakes with greater than sufficient stopping energy for a number of days of monitor time, it lacked preliminary really feel and required getting used to the chunk level of the pedal journey. On not less than two events, I braked too late for flip 2, the primary of two ess corners as a result of the pedal felt picket on preliminary utility. The issue was most likely exacerbated by popping out of the Mustang Darkish Horse, which has the next pedal and extra preliminary chunk. Nonetheless, every time, I shortly obtained used to the Corvette’s brakes and had no extra points for the remainder of every session.

Acura Integra Sort S

2nd: Acura Integra Sort S

We suspected that the Integra Sort S would have the monitor functionality of the Honda Civic Sort R that received final 12 months’s award, however Acura was selling it as a extra mature avenue automobile than the Honda. There was no monitor element to the media drive, both, however the Sort S has all the efficiency tools of the Sort R, minus the Recaro bucket seats. We frightened that it won’t have the cooling for monitor responsibility, however other than brake smoke after its first monitor session, the Sort S held up properly. Not solely that, nevertheless it did higher than anticipated.

The Sort S had a giant drawback in opposition to the Mustang in efficiency tools, nevertheless it carried out virtually as properly. Its 2.0-liter turbo-4 makes 320 hp. It’s a torque-rich engine that should keep over 2,200 rpm for greatest energy, however that’s no situation on a racetrack, the place energy is prepared upon nook exit and pulls properly on the straights. Better of all, the ability is accessed by way of a beautiful 6-speed guide transmission with brief, constructive throws and an easy-to-modulate clutch. Regardless of a 180-hp deficit, the Sort S was solely 4 mph slower on the finish of the entrance straight than the Mustang.

Poise was the Sort S power that allowed it to problem the Mustang. “Everybody who obtained into the Integra, inside one lap you had been assured and comfy with it,” stated Editorial Director Marty Padgett. It tackled corners with confidence, taking a pleasant set and staying balanced even if the entrance wheels needed to each flip and energy the automobile on nook exit—a traction balancing act that feels pure within the Sort S.

An instance of that poise got here within the apex of flip 15, the place I used to be in a position to carry the identical 77 mph because the Mustang, regardless of the Mustang’s stickier tires. Good suspension tuning and carrying about 700 fewer kilos will do this. Sport+ mode was wanted to loosen the soundness management for the flip 16 transition to the entrance straight. Sport mode clamped down on the ability at that time doubtless on account of a brief lack of traction, however Sport+ mode let it free and enabled extra pace on the finish of the straight.

The Sort S is a simple commuter automobile on the street, with an agreeable journey and tame energy—but additionally one which thrills you unexpectedly on a monitor. “For the whole lot that automobile can do off of a monitor, for it to carry out like that on a monitor was exceptional,” stated Duffer.

As for these brakes, we frightened we’d must go straightforward on the Sort S after Feder obtained them smoking in his first session. Properly, we didn’t they usually didn’t fade by way of three hours of monitor driving. With 13.8-inch entrance rotors and 4-piston Brembo calipers up entrance and 12.0-inch rear rotors with single-slot calipers, they’re not all that massive, however they’re efficient. Nonetheless, I’d need monitor pads and high-temp brake fluid for longer monitor days.

In the long run, the Sort S made a powerful case for itself, particularly given its pretty cheap pricing of about $52,000. Nonetheless, the efficiency hole between it and the Z06 was simply an excessive amount of to beat.

2024 BMW M2

third: BMW M2

Timing prevented the M2 from making it to our monitor day, as BMW was having a big media testing program the identical week and wanted all of the accessible M2s for that occasion. Too dangerous, as it might have doubtless represented itself properly at Atlanta Motorsports Park. Nonetheless, three of our editors obtained to drive it earlier within the 12 months at Street America, each on the large monitor and a gokart monitor that doubles as an autocross course. A fourth whipped it across the Tail of the Dragon for good measure.

The M2 follows the current method for brand spanking new M vehicles: It’s greater, heavier, firmer, and quicker round a monitor. By the numbers it’s higher, nevertheless it’s misplaced a bit one thing from the last-generation automobile that received the Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2017 award. That automobile felt like an old-school BMW whereas the opposite M fashions had been already using the bigger-and-more-powerful technique. It was lighter and tuned a bit softer, with some properly managed physique lean that supplied really feel in corners.

BMW packs 3.0 liters of fantastic turbocharged inline-6 underneath the hood of the M2. It spins out 453 hp, up 88 horses from the 2017 mannequin. The ability can stream to the rear wheels by way of a slick-shifting 6-speed guide transmission that’s not fairly as tight because the Honda guide, or a really responsive 8-speed automated.

Man, that energy is prepared, keen, and in a position. The 0-60 mph occasions are 4.1 seconds with the guide, and three.9 seconds with the automated. The M2 launches exhausting, builds pace shortly, and accelerates with gusto out of turns. “The M2 was quick as snot round Street America,” exclaimed Feder.

However at greater than 3,800 kilos, it’s virtually 400 kilos heavier than the 2017 mannequin. BMW counteracts that with firmer suspension tuning that does its greatest to tame the load. In comparison with a number of a lot lighter autos on the autocross, the M2 required a stronger stab of the brakes to arrest the pace for corners, and it wanted to be wrangled by way of them relatively than taking a fast set and carving a exact line. 

The truth that the M2 was in a position to not solely compete in an autocross however beat a lot of the different lighter vehicles was a testomony to adept suspension tuning. It manages to stay approachable. “Just like the Integra, you get into the M2 and also you instantly perceive what that automobile is able to and you need to use 90% of it virtually instantly,” stated Padgett. 

It has extra energy and faster monitor occasions, however we favor the lighter, extra pleasant on a regular basis nature of the M2’s successor, and with out back-to-back monitor time the Z06 merely made a larger impression.

Lucid Air Sapphire

4th: Lucid Air Sapphire

Logistics additionally prevented the Lucid Air Sapphire from making it to our monitor day. Lucid stated there have been solely two take a look at vehicles within the nation, and the automobile they’d for us was in for service. We figured it was out of the competitors, however when Feder and I obtained into one a number of weeks later in Los Angeles it earned its manner again in.

We took the automobile out on the famed Angeles Crest Freeway and got here away not solely taken with the ungodly energy but additionally the dealing with.

First, the ability. The Air Sapphire has a 3-motor powertrain that makes a max of 1,234 hp. That determine is completely different by mode. Run it within the Sapphire mode and also you get 1,121 hp. The complete 1,234 hp is on the market in a sub mode of Monitor mode known as Drag Strip, which signifies that full energy is barely accessible a quarter-mile at a time or so. Monitor additionally has a Scorching Lap mode that unleashes 1,003 hp and an Endurance at mode that scales it again to 767 hp.

We ran the automobile in Sapphire mode, and Jesus H. Christ in a hen basket, is that this factor {powerful}! Describing the acceleration as pinning occupants again of their seats appears quaint with this a lot energy. The Air Sapphire’s energy hits like the varsity bully pinning you up in opposition to your locker, supplying you with a shot to the photo voltaic plexus, and stealing your lunch cash, however then getting a kiss from Stacy’s mother to make all of it higher. It’s scary, exhilarating, and satisfying abruptly. The numbers again me up: 0-60 mph in 1.89 seconds, 8.95 seconds within the quarter-mile, and a high pace of 205 mph. Electrical energy is right here to remain.

With its 118-kwh battery pack, this beast weighs in at 5,336 kilos, nevertheless it has sport sedan strikes to deal with with one of the best of them. The low-set weight of the battery helps, however the true accomplishment is the tuning of a reasonably easy suspension. It has double wishbones up entrance and a multi-link setup within the rear with adaptive dampers. No air suspension, no energetic anti-roll bars, no rear-wheel steering, simply adept suspension tuning.

The Air Sapphire danced by way of the twists and turns of Angeles Crest. It turned in sharply due to 13:1 steering that communicated what was taking place on the wheels. The automobile took a fast set and maintained a impartial angle by way of corners, and the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires supplied glorious grip. Whereas stabs of the throttle scared the bejeezus out of us with corners quick approaching, large carbon-ceramic brakes scrubbed the pace shortly and by no means complained.

Energy was additionally controllable mid-corner, because it didn’t hit exhausting like it might when the automobile is driving in a straight line. That made upkeep throttle straightforward to modulate and by no means upset the automobile’s steadiness.

We’d like to get this factor out on a monitor, however a Lucid engineer informed us it might deal with three or 4 laps on a 3-mile monitor earlier than it might want a cost and a 60-80-minute calm down. With that in thoughts, we would have gotten 4 or probably 5 runs out of it, whereas the gasoline vehicles might go time and time once more.

All issues thought of, nonetheless, the Air Sapphire places its title up there with the BMW M5, Mercedes AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, and Porsche Panamera as probably the greatest massive sport sedans available on the market.

So what’s the issue? 1 / 4 of one million {dollars} is the issue. That’s how a lot the Air Sapphire prices, and on condition that it might beat any supercar in a straight line makes that nearly appear definitely worth the value. Nonetheless, it simply doesn’t have that sort of cachet. Plus, you will get a lot of the Air Sapphire’s efficiency from a Tesla Mannequin S Plaid for round $100,000. Our winner, the Corvette Z06, is expensive too, nevertheless it begins at lower than half the worth of the Air Sapphire and it seems the a part of an unique.

Ford Mustang Darkish Horse

fifth: Ford Mustang Darkish Horse

Your writer drove the Mustang Darkish Horse at Charlotte Motor Speedway and liked it. One other editor had a week-long mortgage and got here away with the identical impressions. Then we obtained it out to Atlanta Motorsports Park, and it fell on its face.

All 5 of our editors felt the Darkish Horse’s dealing with was sloppy. Whereas the steering was sharp, it appeared prefer it sat an inch or extra too excessive and due to this fact leaned an excessive amount of in corners. Worse than that, the magnetic dampers, which we normally love, did a poor job of damping physique motions, letting the automobile flop over as a substitute of serving to the suspension take a set to let the automobile carve corners, particularly within the rear. “This automobile felt like an Obama-era Mustang, earlier than they began so as to add the physique construction they wanted to make the suspension do what they at all times needed it to do,” stated Padgett.

Even the non-obligatory and notoriously sticky 305/30 entrance and 315/30 rear Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires didn’t ship, providing no extra road-holding than the Integra Sort S’s Michelin Pilot Sport 4Ss. In accordance with Ford, the automobile even had the monitor alignment with extra adverse camber. The Darkish Horse ought to have caught to the pavement, however I famous the identical 77 mph on the apex of flip 15 as I did within the Integra, and I needed to work as much as that.

Had been we up to now off with our preliminary opinions or did we get a dud? To be truthful, the Darkish Horse had greater than 10,000 miles on the odometer, and there’s no telling how exhausting these miles may need been.

We did get used to the Darkish Horse’s bounding motions in later monitor periods and had been in a position to get extra efficiency out of it because the day went on. “The Mustang needed to be tamed for positive,” famous Duffer. Two of our editors described it as manhandling the automobile by way of corners. Once I did that, I elevated my pace in 15 from 74 to 77 mph, and topped out at 114 mph on the finish of the entrance straight. The latter wasn’t a lot quicker than the Integra Sort S. Halvorson wrangled it as properly, however didn’t really feel higher about its responses. “I elevated my threshold with every lap with the Mustang and felt a distinct stage of disconcerting conduct,” he stated.

The 114-mph high pace wasn’t spectacular given the automobile’s 500-hp 5.0-liter V-8, although we had been much less impressed with our tester’s 10-speed automated transmission. Even driving in Monitor mode, the transmission wasn’t at all times within the lowest gear to supply optimum acceleration out of corners. Its shifts had been delayed, then fairly tough, and that teamed with the unsettled suspension to make the automobile dip from side to side after shifts. On the road, passing maneuvers required multigear downshifts that took time to get up the engine. 

The engine threw a code a few occasions as we drained the gasoline tank, and I additionally skilled this drawback on the 24-degree banking at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The problem was gasoline hunger because the gasoline sloshed exhausting to the appropriate within the tank by way of 13, 14, and 15. It seems that Ford wants to higher baffle the tank to make the Darkish Horse extra trackable.

The brakes, nonetheless, had been phenomenal. Outfitted with 15.4-inch vented entrance rotors with Brembo 6-piston calipers and 14.0-inch vented rear rotors with 4-piston calipers, the Darkish Horse supplied a excessive pedal and nice seize and not using a trace of fade all through three-plus hours of monitor time. Padgett famous a useless spot within the pedal upon preliminary utility, however none of our different editors seen it. Nonetheless, no carbon-ceramics had been wanted to get nice efficiency and absolute confidence out of those binders.

We reported our points to Ford. They examined the automobile and located a roughly foot-long piece of wooden within the suspension, although it was skinny sufficient that it might have damaged had it been in an space subjected to suspension compression. Additionally they put it within the wind tunnel and stated the aerodynamics had been off. Nothing, nonetheless, defined the floppy suspension. Let’s hope this was only one dangerous apple that doesn’t spoil the bunch.