The best cars of 2015
01 Jan 2016|21,530 views
Another year has gone by and there is nothing more nolstalgic than remembering the cars that have managed to slap a smile on our faces on even the most challenging of days.
According to Roland Barthes, a French literary theorist, cars today are almost the exact equivalent of the great Gothic cathedrals. The supreme creation of an era, conceived with passion by unknown artists, and consumed in image if not in usage by a whole population which appropriates them as a purely magical object. As we gear up for what's coming in 2016, we would also like to invite you on this little journey to relive the magic that these 10 cars have sprinkled over the last 12 months.
Audi TT CoupeIn the world of iconic cars, silhouettes have always ruled but as time and technology have improved many aspects of the automobile, many have lost the very raw elements that made them attractive to begin with. Then there is the Audi TT - the very coupe that held on to the said element for all three generations, including the one you see here.
Not only does this atheletic corner carver have the aesthetic appeals of a Miss Universe titleholder - with 227bhp and 380Nm of torque - there is never a dull moment in the car. That, to us, thoroughly deserves of a spot on this list.
BMW 7 SeriesSince its birth in 1977, the BMW 7 Series has been the poster boy of luxurious living and an icon of motoring excellence. Now in its sixth generation - the 7 Series continues this tradition - displaying all of BMW's top qualities and innovations like a Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) chassis.
Besides boasts harmonious external proportions together with elegant chrome accents that compliment its stance and shape, the technology and creature comforts in the 7 Series gives it an edge over the rest in its segment - and just like all other BMWs - is an utter joy to drive.
Jaguar XEWith its attractive sheet metal, capable handling and competitive pricing, the Jaguar XE seems set to take on segment leaders. It's clear that this sassy new cat marks an exceptional beginning for the marque. It follows a look that extends through the Jaguar range and bears strongly-sculpted lines that are easy on the eyes.
Apart from handling superbly, the British kitten constantly remains calm and composed. And besides the BMW 3 Series, very few compact executive sedans are as fun and dynamically sound as this.
Lexus RC FSome say that the front end of the RC F is a face that only a mother could love but we find the signature F Sport spindle grille gives the car the sort of aggression it deserves and downright racy for a Lexus - in a good way.
This muscular Japanese high-performance coupe is powered by a muscular 5.0-litre V8 heart. It can be a car that's civilised enough for you to take to a ball or - should you choose to - transform to a feisty beast with one touch of your unswerving right foot and it is that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character that has left us in awe and in love.
Mazda2 HatchbackMazda's 'KODO: Soul of Motion' design language have left the the Mazda2 with a funky-looking sheet metal. This bold front fascia is also exaggerated by placing all four wheels at the extreme edges with little overhang.
Compared to the other little nuggets it goes up against, the Mazda2's cabin impresses with a more upmarket feel with the attention to details that really count towards the positive impression. At the same time, this supermini will seduce you with its punchy 1.5-litre SkyActiv engine and excellent driving dynamics - a trait any driver will appreciate.
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Mazda MX-5Spend a day in Mazda's new MX-5 and you'll begin to understand why it has been termed as the world's favourite roadster. The company's shift in design direction to inject masculinity into the MX-5 has created not only the sharpest looking one in its 26-year history but also the most powerful.
Take the MX-5 through a series of winding roads and it will always put a grin on your face - and what's more, it's impossible to escape the feeling that the car is grinning along with you. This playful and perfectly balanced roadster has definitely made 2015 a happier year for all of us.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C 63 S AMGIf cars that have the ability to scare the crap out of you aren't your thing then look away because the C 63 S AMG is the perfect example of one that will. But despite its monstrous performance capabilities, it's an undeniably svelte sedan that's bound to attract an even larger audience than the outgoing model.
Lurking under its bonnet is a hand-built 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 that blasts out a whopping 503bhp and 700Nm of twisting force that sends it from point to point and from corner to corner in an alluringly brutal fashion. Quite honestly, it's hard not to think of it as a supercar when you're able to properly unleash it.
Subaru LegacySubaru has obviously done a bit of growing up and has taken the designs of its cars down a more matured path. Although boy racers may find the company's aesthetic decisions of late a little sedated, we find that this sixth generation Legacy does a great job of combining sporty driving and luxury qualities - making it a family sedan must-have.
More importantly, overall refinement has been improved in this car. From behind the wheel of this capable and competent car, it seems like Subaru's Legacy will live on for years to come.
Toyota AlphardThe Toyota Alphard sets the benchmark for an exquisitely-styled cabin with an unmatched level of opulence in its class and while several people will like the more futuristic new look, some others will beg to differ. But for us, the real deal lies inside - aimed at catering to each customer's unique values and concerns.
The cabin is simply comfortable, luxurious and versatile. The feature that strikes the eye and is possibly the most popular with passengers are the seats in the middle that cuddle passengers with great comfort and opulence. Spending hours lounging inside an Alphard is indeed appealing.
Volkswagen PassatVolkswagen's sedan has become the definition of the family sedan segment, but the new Passat now plays in an area slotted in between the mainstream and the premium areas of the segment.
Step inside the Passat and you'll find that it is a genuinely premium affair thanks to minimalistic touches and business-like cabin touches. More importantly, the Passat serves up class-leading refinement and also breathes new life into the family sedan market - a class that has lost serious ground to crossover and SUV competition.
Another year has gone by and there is nothing more nolstalgic than remembering the cars that have managed to slap a smile on our faces on even the most challenging of days.
According to Roland Barthes, a French literary theorist, cars today are almost the exact equivalent of the great Gothic cathedrals. The supreme creation of an era, conceived with passion by unknown artists, and consumed in image if not in usage by a whole population which appropriates them as a purely magical object. As we gear up for what's coming in 2016, we would also like to invite you on this little journey to relive the magic that these 10 cars have sprinkled over the last 12 months.
Audi TT CoupeIn the world of iconic cars, silhouettes have always ruled but as time and technology have improved many aspects of the automobile, many have lost the very raw elements that made them attractive to begin with. Then there is the Audi TT - the very coupe that held on to the said element for all three generations, including the one you see here.
Not only does this atheletic corner carver have the aesthetic appeals of a Miss Universe titleholder - with 227bhp and 380Nm of torque - there is never a dull moment in the car. That, to us, thoroughly deserves of a spot on this list.
BMW 7 SeriesSince its birth in 1977, the BMW 7 Series has been the poster boy of luxurious living and an icon of motoring excellence. Now in its sixth generation - the 7 Series continues this tradition - displaying all of BMW's top qualities and innovations like a Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) chassis.
Besides boasts harmonious external proportions together with elegant chrome accents that compliment its stance and shape, the technology and creature comforts in the 7 Series gives it an edge over the rest in its segment - and just like all other BMWs - is an utter joy to drive.
Jaguar XEWith its attractive sheet metal, capable handling and competitive pricing, the Jaguar XE seems set to take on segment leaders. It's clear that this sassy new cat marks an exceptional beginning for the marque. It follows a look that extends through the Jaguar range and bears strongly-sculpted lines that are easy on the eyes.
Apart from handling superbly, the British kitten constantly remains calm and composed. And besides the BMW 3 Series, very few compact executive sedans are as fun and dynamically sound as this.
Lexus RC FSome say that the front end of the RC F is a face that only a mother could love but we find the signature F Sport spindle grille gives the car the sort of aggression it deserves and downright racy for a Lexus - in a good way.
This muscular Japanese high-performance coupe is powered by a muscular 5.0-litre V8 heart. It can be a car that's civilised enough for you to take to a ball or - should you choose to - transform to a feisty beast with one touch of your unswerving right foot and it is that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character that has left us in awe and in love.
Mazda2 HatchbackMazda's 'KODO: Soul of Motion' design language have left the the Mazda2 with a funky-looking sheet metal. This bold front fascia is also exaggerated by placing all four wheels at the extreme edges with little overhang.
Compared to the other little nuggets it goes up against, the Mazda2's cabin impresses with a more upmarket feel with the attention to details that really count towards the positive impression. At the same time, this supermini will seduce you with its punchy 1.5-litre SkyActiv engine and excellent driving dynamics - a trait any driver will appreciate.
Mazda MX-5
Spend a day in Mazda's new MX-5 and you'll begin to understand why it has been termed as the world's favourite roadster. The company's shift in design direction to inject masculinity into the MX-5 has created not only the sharpest looking one in its 26-year history but also the most powerful.
Take the MX-5 through a series of winding roads and it will always put a grin on your face - and what's more, it's impossible to escape the feeling that the car is grinning along with you. This playful and perfectly balanced roadster has definitely made 2015 a happier year for all of us.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C 63 S AMGIf cars that have the ability to scare the crap out of you aren't your thing then look away because the C 63 S AMG is the perfect example of one that will. But despite its monstrous performance capabilities, it's an undeniably svelte sedan that's bound to attract an even larger audience than the outgoing model.
Lurking under its bonnet is a hand-built 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 that blasts out a whopping 503bhp and 700Nm of twisting force that sends it from point to point and from corner to corner in an alluringly brutal fashion. Quite honestly, it's hard not to think of it as a supercar when you're able to properly unleash it.
Subaru LegacySubaru has obviously done a bit of growing up and has taken the designs of its cars down a more matured path. Although boy racers may find the company's aesthetic decisions of late a little sedated, we find that this sixth generation Legacy does a great job of combining sporty driving and luxury qualities - making it a family sedan must-have.
More importantly, overall refinement has been improved in this car. From behind the wheel of this capable and competent car, it seems like Subaru's Legacy will live on for years to come.
Toyota AlphardThe Toyota Alphard sets the benchmark for an exquisitely-styled cabin with an unmatched level of opulence in its class and while several people will like the more futuristic new look, some others will beg to differ. But for us, the real deal lies inside - aimed at catering to each customer's unique values and concerns.The cabin is simply comfortable, luxurious and versatile. The feature that strikes the eye and is possibly the most popular with passengers are the seats in the middle that cuddle passengers with great comfort and opulence. Spending hours lounging inside an Alphard is indeed appealing.
Volkswagen PassatVolkswagen's sedan has become the definition of the family sedan segment, but the new Passat now plays in an area slotted in between the mainstream and the premium areas of the segment.Step inside the Passat and you'll find that it is a genuinely premium affair thanks to minimalistic touches and business-like cabin touches. More importantly, the Passat serves up class-leading refinement and also breathes new life into the family sedan market - a class that has lost serious ground to crossover and SUV competition.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
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