In Nigel's opinion, the Audi RS6 Avant is Santa's perfect sleigh
Unlike the rest of the team, I kept the ostentatious two-door cars off my Christmas wish list. Instead, I selected something a little more subtle - a car that, to the untrained eye, risked the chance of being brushed off as another wimpy wagon.
Before you write me off as another power-hungry petrolhead - there are many other reasons why I picked this sleeper supercar and practicality is one of them. Unlike the BMW i8, the Lexus RC F and the Mazda MX-5, the RS6 Avant has four doors and can carry out more chores.
In this season of giving, most of us will be running around town buying food, presents and also christmas trees - so what better way to run these errands in than a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 wagon that is more than willing to thrill you with its 560bhp and 700Nm of forceful savagery?
Set the car in Dynamic mode and the exhaust note instantly rumbles to life. With every mash of the throttle, the RS6 Avant's power is sent to all four wheels, surging you forward so brutally quick that your mind goes blank for a second or two. Downshift manually and the car angrily cackles and pops - everywhere it went, people stopped and stared, wondering what it was that just drove past them.
Despite my belief that the RS6 Avant should be driven at all times in its full monstrous form, it too, can be as calm and compassionate as a quiet Christmas night the moment you get it out of Dynamic and into Comfort mode via the Drive Select system. Not only does the tarmac trashing warrior become a sweet-tempered luxury cruiser in terms of throttle response but thanks to Audi's RS Adaptive Air Suspension system - your turkey and presents will get to their intended recipients safely and soundly.
In my opinion, there is nothing better for Christmas than this car. Your parents will love it, your wife can't complain and the kids won't argue about having an additional hour to play with their cousins - simply because they will be driven home in a super sleigh that is the Audi RS6 Avant.
Regan would like to wake up on Christmas to a BMW i8 at his favourite corner carpark lot
Ready or not, it's that time of the year again. Decorations are going up, people are setting up trees inside their houses, and talk about Santa is a pervasive conversation topic. Yes, it's Christmas time. For a car-loving folk like this writer, the season of giving is a great opportunity to let friends and family know the things I'd really like to have - more than a logcake or another leather belt.
The car is a slowly-melting sculpture of glass and metal, showing off an aerodynamic shape adorned with details that are simply not found on other BMW cars.
It's neither the most expensive nor the fastest vehicle on the market, but it certainly cuts a unique and eye-catching profile that has passer-bys thinking what is the exotic machine you happen to be piloting. Of course, it's not only all form and no function with the i8. Compared to other cars under a million dollars, the Bimmer features technology none of them have. It's made mostly from carbon fibre, it's all-wheel drive and it's mid-engined.
With 357bhp and 320Nm of torque on tap, acceleration off the line happens to be the car's specialty. From the word 'go', the century sprint is accomplished in just 4.4 seconds, which is not that far off from what you can expect from one of BMW's M cars.
While it may be kind of ironic considering fuel economy in a high-performance luxury sports car, it certainly is in this one. Faring a lot better than most, the i8 sips only 5.2L/100km and has a total range of 600km. More importantly, its petrol-electric combo will eliminate any range anxiety that comes into the picture.
Wake up on 25th December to this Bimmer? Yes please.
Julian has a penchant for big and tough when it comes to his Christmas presents
Personally, my favourite Christmas presents are like my favourite journeys - the toughest ones - because they etch your soul and are not things you forget over a cup of coffee.
In more ways than one, this car is about as big and tough as it can get and it will promise to be a Christmas gift that will keep you snug in its sports seats, while dishing out style credits to keep your Christmas holiday right on point. Best of all, it's comfortable and civilised enough for you to drive to an event without being too showy. You could also choose to transform the car to Mr. Hyde with one touch of your unswerving right foot if the mood calls for it.
And these aren't the only boasting rights of the car. Unlike any of the aforementioned cars, the RC F is developed on a platform that fuses those used in the Lexus IS sedan, the IS Convertible and the GS - all for the pursuit of pure perfection and driving dynamism.
Of course, the BMW i8 is a cool choice while the Audi RS6 Avant is an understated supercar in its segment. I would have taken the mechanical and back-to-basics Mazda MX-5 but none of them comes close to the special proposition the RC F brings to the table.
Waking up to the smell of Christmas morning, brewed coffee, Christmas carols and a car that's capable of a whopping 470bhp and a mountain moving 530Nm of torque will certainly be an ideal 25th of December for me. Like I said, my favourite Christmas presents are like my favourite journeys - the toughest ones - because they etch your soul.
Desmond wants a Christmas present that stirs his inner childish exuberance
25. It's an odd age to be when celebrating Christmas. On one hand, you're too old to be asking for toys. Gone are the days of hoping to find the latest Gameboy or Lego tucked under the Christmas tree. On the other hand, it's probably too young to be asking for practical, sensible gifts like a new wok or induction cooker. That inevitably means waking up to some combination of socks and Ferrero Rocher.
The new MX-5 is an unabashedly fun car that puts a massive grin on my face. Walking up to the car's compact yet aggressive looks is a chuckle-inducing experience every single time. I love that the car has a certain frivolous attitude. It's not a particularly practical car; it only seats two, there's not a lot of boot space, and it's not cheap.
But the car doesn't really care, and neither do I. The MX-5 is an honest-to-goodness car, with a pure driving experience that makes me flutter with glee. 158bhp may not be a lot, but weighing just a shade over one tonne, getting around is brisk work. Take it into some bends, and the car truly comes alive. Firm suspension, sharp steering and the SKYACTIV chassis bring the car's famed handling characteristics to the fore.
The MX-5 manages to straddle that awkward dichotomy between fun and sensibility. It is no doubt a bit of a toy, offering endless amounts of pure driving fun. But it is also a very good car - well-built, comfortable, and when driven sensibly, the ride is forgiving and fuel economy isn't heart-attack inducing.
Ultimately, I want the MX-5 because it is a gift that keeps on giving, stirring that unadulterated sense of excitement and joy I remember as a kid waking up on Christmas morning. It is waking up on Christmas morning every single day. If this is my Groundhog Day, I wouldn't have it any other way.
