2014 - Best Year to be a Car Enthusiast

[ProjectWHaT]

With only a few days until the end of this year, I thought it'll be a great time to take a look back at all the new cars that were released this year.

This year, we've had some major changes in cars, including a new generation in famous cars and many completely new sports cars, all in one year.

*Note: Some of these cars have the model year as 2015, but they are revealed/released this year, 2014.

Mazda MX-5 (ND)

The last time we had a brand new Miata was about 9 years ago! This is a major update for a very popular roadster. Miata is always the answer.

Ford Mustang

Like this Miata, the Mustang is a very popular car and this year, we got a brand new version. The last generation was first released in 2005, also 9 years ago.

Alfa Romeo 4C

Alfa Romeo's first car in a very long time to enter the American market. A very nice and nimble drivers car.

BMW M235i

The 2 series is brand new and as seen in their drifting ad for the M235i, its also a great drivers car.

BMW M3 / M4

For the first time ever, the 3 series now has a turbo! And its no longer the 3 series!

BMW i8 / i3

The all new i8 and i3 will the next generation of hybrid sports cars and family cars. With its futuristic design, its definitely a head turner.

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

A new higher trim Camaro that can beat a GTR and a 911 on the race track? Now this is the future.

Chevy Corvette Stingray

A brand new generation for the Corvette brings back the old Stingray name and displays a completely new design.

Jaguar F-Type

The brand new Jaguar could possibly be the sexiest modern car ever made and has an amazing exhaust note. Oh, and don't forget its fast too.

Lexus RC F

The replacement for the IS F and a rival for the M4 comes with an usual design. The new Lexus definitely gives BMW a run for their money.

Range Rover Sport SVR

A large luxury SUV that has a faster Nurburgring lap time than the original NSX? What is this?!

Mercedes-AMG C63

Brand new C-class looks very similar to the S-class but who cares? 503 horsepower in a rear wheel drive German sedan is amazing.

Mercedes-AMG GT

A completely brand new Mercedes that replaces the 4 year old SLS AMG. This'll give Porsche a run for their money.

McLaren 650S

A new McLaren that's based on the existing 12C gets some design cues from its big Daddy and fixes some flaws the 12C had to be a better fighter against the 458.

Audi TT

A new generation for the "hair dresser's" car. A small coupe that'll be amazing on the road.

Dodge Challenger Hellcat

A $60,000 car with 707 horsepower? That's unheard of! This should be impossible! But it isn't!

Dodge Charger Hellcat

A 4-door sedan with 707 horsepower?! Seriously, am I dreaming?

Porsche 911 Targa

A new 911 trim that's just completely drop dead gorgeous. I want it. Badly.

Nissan GTR NISMO

A new high performance GTR that has set alap time record on the Nurburgring.

Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4

A brand new Lamborghini that replaces the very popular Gallardo and is also faster than the Aventador.

Ferrari 458 Speciale

A new high performance variant of the aging 458.

Ferrari California T

The aging California gets a new design and a new turbocharged engine. It looks a lot better now.

Volkswagen Golf R

A new generation for the Golf, one of the best hot hatches on the market.

Subaru WRX STi

A brand new WRX generation. No other car probably has more rally pedigree than this.

Koenigsegg One:1

If you want to talk about specs, this is the car you want to talk about. A power to weight ratio of 1:1.

And let's not forget about the 3 new hybrid hyper cars that'll go down in history.

McLaren P1

Ferrari LaFerrari

Porsche 918

Let's not forget the motorsport's side of things. There are turbos in Formula 1 again. Three major auto makers are raced against each other at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in hybrids this year. The first season of Formula E, the only race series with all electric cars, begun this year. And many other major events.

Upon reflecting, could this be the year for car enthusiasts? Many major cars got new updates and many completely new cars are made. Hybrid technology and electric power in general is on the rise. More and more sports cars are being made and they're becoming more and more efficient and also more fun to drive even though they have so many computer packed in them. Will 2014 be a year to remember? The year where we look back to say and say to your grand kids that you lived through one of the best automotive years ever?

 

[AudiMan2011]

My car of the year has to be the Tesla Model S P85D.

An all-wheel-drive 700hp electric sedan that is actually desirable, has a decent range at 285 miles and can spit in the face of many sports cars with 687 torques available instantly. Tesla's taken the pure electric car rulebook and basically ripped it to shreds with this. I love it.

 

[synchromesh]

Car of the year for me is the 2015 Lister Knobbly.

Built a few months ago, the company was revived in 2013, and so far this one has been built, and 8 others ordered. This is the first new Lister since 2003. This is a continuation of the original Knobbly design of the 50's, which back then was very successful, very beautiful, and very fast. In 1957, out of 14 races it entered, it won 12.
Also, this car is important because it was the last car ever to be made under the guidance of Brian Lister, the original company founder. (See signature)

 

[JMoney]

WHAT?! No Aluminum F-150?

Just kidding, I know it's not an enthusiast's car.

 

[Slash]

Honestly I can say this is the craziest the industry has been since the 60s muscle car boom. As much as I prefer older technology, I still have to step back and go wow. It's really been building up in the same way the 60s did and I'm not sure if sure if we hit the peak yet. The peak back in the day was 1970. Is 2014 the new 1970? In 40 years will we be telling our kids about this era?

Just wow.

What. A. Year.

 

[GT Pro]

Conversely, the worst year to be poor. So many cars to drive and own, so little time.

 

[Liquid]

Conversely, the worst year to be poor. So many cars to drive and own, so little time.

Indeed. To me part of being a car enthusiast is at least being able to buy and/or drive cars. I won't be anywhere near these 2014 models until at least 2040.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Also locally speaking, the final iteration of the Ford Falcon (or at least the full-size rear wheel drive sedan we know it as), the FG X, has recently rolled out to showrooms.

I'll be honest though the only real talking point of that vehicle besides the new corporate facelift, and buttlift that makes it look like a Jag XF, is the XR8 with the 335kW Coyote/Miami V8 that costs less than a Commodore SS-V.

 

[Cano]

I do agree that 2014 was a great year, full of great new, exciting cars and technology and stuff.

On the more "car culture" side of things, these happened that will also be relevant troughout time:

First of all, the 60-car barn find in France, which might be the most important barn find ever, not so much because of the size of the collection which is massive, but rather the level of cars that were there, I'd never seen so many significant, unique, historic cars in one place. And they look beuatiful there dammit:

http://www.classicdriver.com/en/art...s-includes-lost-ferrari-250-gt-swb-california

And also this, first 5-second 1/4 mile pass for a street legal vehicle:


Those two did my car year.

 

[Kent]

My car of the year has to be the Tesla Model S P85D.

An all-wheel-drive 700hp electric sedan that is actually desirable, has a decent range at 285 miles and can spit in the face of many sports cars with 687 torques available instantly. Tesla's taken the pure electric car rulebook and basically ripped it to shreds with this. I love it.

All that and it still looks bland compared to something as common as a Fusion.

 

[JMoney]

My car of the year?

It's gotta be the Huracan.

With this car Lamborghini has made a new name for itself- it has shown it isn't just a showoff supercar marque made for Hollywood, but a serious supercar competitor that can dust Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren, and whatever else the world throws at Sant'Agata.

 

[Tornado]

Not all cars can stand out by being overstyled in the same ways as all of their competitors.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Out of the OP, I'd give my COTY vote to the i8. It moves the game on in a way that others don't, with a possible exception to the Tesla dual-engined insanity. As much as something like the 458 Speciale (which was a 2013 car) is impressive for being the absolute zenith of traditional approaches to enthusiast models - and it sounds amazing - it's not something strictly "new": it's just a 458 at 115%. The Hurcan too, is a rebodied Gallardo with a smidge more power. The trio of hybrid hypercars does nothing for me either, on account of being so out-of-reach. Sure, the i8 is hardly cheaper, but it's not bordering (or exceeding) seven digits.

There's also a few cars in the OP that aren't even available yet, so I wouldn't even consider them.

 

[ScottPuss20]

I thought 2013 was a good year... But I've been proved wrong this year

 

[Neddo]

king that never was...

 

[Legro]

Wall of text incoming.

Legro's car of the year awards 2014

Cars listed in the OP:

MX-5: I'm sure it's good car, but it doesn't give me the same feeling as Subaru BRZ. Maybe it's the styling that pushes me away, so I'm still waiting what Fiat can do.

Mustang: The most advanced Mustang ever. Can it survive in European market, we'll have to wait and see.

Alfa Romeo 4C: 4C sales begun in 2013, so it's out of the competition already.

BMW M235i: It isn't 1M or M135i, probably still great balance between everyday comfort and joy of driving.

BMW M4: BMW M3 has arrived to the F-models, turbos and ditched the coupe and convertible for new 4-series.

BMW i8: Sports car of the future, today.

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: GM made a Camaro for track that actually works there. What year is this? Oh, right, 2014.

Chevrolet Corvette: Best American car since Ford GT. For the first time since the 60s it really can compete with European sports cars.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe: Is it better than Porsche? No. Do I want one more than a Porsche? Yes!

Lexus RC F: Lexus tried different styling for their new cars, unfortunately it doesn't work at all, but the car underneath that hideous looks is actually quite good.

Range Rover Sport SVR: Can it do off-roading like a proper Range Rover should? If it does, it can do almost everything you can possibly want for SUV to do.

Mercedes Benz C63 AMG: Normal C-Class is already very good car. Then AMG came and made it great. (And it comes as a wagon, which makes it even better.)

Mercedes AMG GT: It has only one problem. And that problem is called F-Type.

McLaren 650S: The 12C isn't very good looking car. 650S kept that feature and improved it. Good thing is that other features are also improved.

Audi TT: Next generation Audi TT looks like a facelift and has very weird commercial on TV.

Dodge Challenger Hellcat: If you pull next to one in traffic lights in Detroit, it's almost certain that you won't be happy after the lights turn green.

Dodge Charger Hellcat: The most powerful sedan ever and the fastest sedan ever. Germans need to get back in the competition.

Porsche 911 Targa: Targa is back and it's not just glass roof this time.

Nissan GT-R NISMO: Faster than pretty much everything else on the road.

Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4: Ferruccio's dream came true, finally Lamborghini really is is better car than Ferrari.

Ferrari 458 Speciale: Final sing of Ferrari getting old is special edition, this time it's called Special.

Ferrari California T: The first turbocharged Ferrari since the F40, it's beginning of a new era for Ferrari.

Volkswagen Golf R: Another car for 2013.

Subaru WRX STI: Originaly Group A based Subaru rally model has been sold for over 20 years. It's still here, even when it's biggest rival died this year.

Köenigsegg One:1: Unlike the other Swedish car maker, Köenigsegg is insane.

McLaren P1: Again 2013.

LaFerrari: The Ferrari was released as 2013 car.

Porsche 918: 2013

Other performance cars:

MINI Cooper S: MINI is closer to 4 meters than ever, and has its first 2.0 petrol engine. Very good car, but lacks the feel of a true Mini.

Porsche Macan Turbo: Never thought that some day, you could now buy a Golf with more Power than diesel Porsche crossover, well you can now, but at least the Turbo is still quite fast.

Seat Léon Cupra 280: Too much power for FWD car?

Renault Megane Renault Sport 275 Trophy-R: Too long name for a car?

Jaguar XKR-S GT: It isn't very Jag-ish anymore. The last XK model yet.

Tesla Model S P85D: The most powerful electric production car yet.

Mercedes Benz S65 AMG: Why do they even make V12 luxury cars anymore? It's rather pointless, but I can understand that rich people want pointless things.

More important everyday cars:

Ford Mondeo: Yes I know that it has been on sale in US for some time, but it's still very important car for European market.

Ford F-150: Very important vehicle.

Renault Twingo: Rear-engined small city car changing the rules.

Citroën C4 Cactus: Citroën had some very clever ideas.

Citroën C1: One of the three new city cars made with Peugeot and Toyota.

Peugeot 108: One of the three new city cars made with Citroën and Toyota.

Toyota Aygo: One of the three new city cars made with Peugeot and Citroën.

BMW X4: Smaller version of the X6. I guess people will buy them, even though I'm not sure why.

BMW 2-Series Active Tourer: I've heard it's good to drive for FWD car, but it isn't big surprise as BMW has been making MINIs for over 10 years.

BMW i3: Small electric city car that looks very futuristic.

MINI 5-Door: The newest edition of the Caps Lock has now 5-doors.

Mercedes Benz C-Class: Mercedes is going through change and the new model is one of the best smaller luxury sedans/estates you can buy right now.

Category results:

Cars listed in the OP: While I want to give this to the Jaguar simply because of the sound and looks, but it's actually just 2013 model and not advanced enough for win. The award goes to BMW i8 for being something new and advanced (even if it contains a Porsche inside it).

Other performance cars: There's really just one car that could win it. It isn't the MINI, as only new thing in it, is size. It isn't Macan either, because it's the least exiting new performance car of the year. Or Mercedes, for being simply old-fashioned. The award goes to the Tesla.

More important everyday cars: Renault Twingo or BMW i3? Twingo can go further, due to combustion engine, but do you really need to go that far when most of the driving happens in cities. If Renault offered electric Twingo, it would win, but they don't at least yet so the BMW wins.

Car of the year 2014: BMW or Tesla? i8 or i3? Luxury saloon, sports car or city car? This is very tough question. The Tesla is probably the most advanced road-car yet, but it can't do the thing it would be very good at, because slow battery charging excluding Tesla "Supercharger" stations . i3 is small and easy to drive in cities, which is very good thing, but the range is still bit low even for a city car. i8 is the only car with combustion engine this close winning the award, range and quick refill gives it slight edge over the others, until battery and charging technology is good enough to replace fuel completely, but it's just too expensive to be the car of the year. i3 has the smallest problem out of the three, so it wins. BMW i3.

Spoiler

I still want the F-Type.

 

[GranTurismo916]

Definitely the most exciting car this year for me (excluding the WRX):

 

[C-ZETA]

The i8 is the most important of these cars for sure. There's nothing else like it - for now. It really might just be the start of something.

However, while it (and the i3), the lovely looking ND, the 4C, the absolutely gorgeous Corvette, the F-Type, the One:1 and the LaFerrari (the Citroen C4 Cactus is also seriously funky, and a few others deserve note) have all really caught me, none of them are my favourite.

That accolade rests with the Renault Twingo. This is because I plan to start learning to do this driving thing at the turn of the New Year. (Well, maybe not straight away - once the coldest weather has passed, perhaps.) And if I end up buying new, it certainly feels the most characterful and charming now. The rear-engine doesn't actually mean powerslides (and I won't be able to afford the eventual Renaultsport that does) but it means easier parking. Which is the part of driving I'll probably be most **** at. So it's ideal for me as a car, not just a style statement.

If it does become my first car, I reckon it would serve me very well. For me, right now, that is crucial.

 

[ScottPuss20]

A new breed of supercars, cracking hot hatchbacks and monstrous 4 door saloons? You bet it was a good year!

 

[Neddo]

This year was very balanced, car designs are way cleaner than 2012 and 2013 yet much prettier. I actually like these cars and I respect innovation. I adore almost all of the cars you people posted. But ever since CX75, no car released isn't as nearly as desirable as Jaag. Yes, even F-Type. But I really adore 4C, F-Type, Corvette, Viper redesign, Lexus and Hellcat. I would use innovative i8 and Tesla, too. Whoever thought 10 years ago that hybrids could looks so good unlike Prius or Insight?

 

[mustafur]

The Macan is a great car, for those that have actually driven it, Its essentially a Sports a car that looks like an SUV.