MotorMouths

The 2011 Audi R8 V10 Spyder’s competition is pretty fierce. It includes The Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder, the Bentley Continental GTC, Ferrari California, the latest Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. But the Audi takes the measure of them all.

Most reporting has dwelt on the Rapide vs. Panamera Turbo cage match. Frankly the Rapide is several seconds prettier to look at than any version of the Panamera.

Those out there who are so caught out by the non-traditional nature of the FF are only going to cheat themselves. It takes all of the racing lore Ferrari puts into each car it builds and adds every single bit of correct versatility that we’d add were we in charge.

The 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce has us a-twitter before we even drove it. Thankfully all recent Lamborghinis deliver on their looks.

Can the Audi RS5 honestly stand up to the M3 and C63 AMG? After eight hot laps at the Ascari circuit in southern Spain and an outbound and inbound rip along the legendary Ronda Road, we say yes, it can. This is easily the best Audi RennSport-level experience we’ve yet had.

Lotus seems as if it’s ready to break out of its niche as a maker of hobby cars to become a mainstream manufacturer. You can actually live with an Evora every day.

Mercedes has carved out the right niche for the S550. After a long drive it seems the segment’s luxury leader remains relatively unthreatened by its rivals.

The new 2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG leaves the old version fittingly in the mirrors. Dynamics are hugely improved, fuel mileage is way up, and the passenger cabin remains a comfortable place for four adults.

The new 911 Carrera S, when driven as we like it driven, is all 911 all the time. It’s just the new upgraded interior, mention of electro- anything in the steering, and visibly longer wheelbase that can create fear in us or in you prior to doing the drive.

The Cayman is brilliant — arguably a better performance car than the 911. Yet in 2010, Porsche sold only 675 Caymans and 647 Cayman S models. Is the Cayman doomed to be the hairdresser’s car with a roof? We hope not, because the Cayman R is stunning to drive.

While the C Coupe’s typical premium/sport/cush Mercedes cabin treatment might not be your personal cup o’ tea, the execution here is supreme, nay, divine. And it drives more finely than any other V6-equipped model offered by Stuttgart.

The new 5 Series feels damned near ideal and not boatlike in the least. The combination of BMW’s new four-wheel-steer tech with electric-assist steering felt superb.