I have never been a big Cadillac fan but this time I think they have hit the nail on the head. The CTS range is a treat for the eye and has the performance to match. BMW and Mercedes must be worrying about this one.

The overall feel of the design is of strength and compactness. Note how the high waistline gives the feeling of solidity and the sharp angles and straight lines reinforce the initial impression of a car that means business. There are details in the design at the front that I could quibble with but these are minor in comparison to the excellent proportions of the whole car.

And the rear is as near perfect as it gets, preserving echoes of the high tail lights we expect from Cadillac but ultra-modern in its approach. Everything about the car confirms that it is exactly what it sets out to be: big (but not too big), beefy and businesslike.

They even race the CTS and it does very well. And, of course, in race trim it looks absolutely wonderful!

By Clive Allen

If you thought Porsche Caymans were for folk who couldn’t afford 911s, think again.

The Porsche Cayman S

The Cayman S looks superb, with its flared wheel arches, steeply tapered rear end and flowing profile designed around the mid-mounted engine.

It also has a real sense of balance when you drive it fast. It handles bends amazingly, and is fun to drive.

With 0–60 coming up in 5.4 seconds, topping out just above 170mph the Cayman S has real power. Like all great Porsches since 1963, it has the flat-six engine, which makes a unique sound on the road — a sort of angry drone.

James Martin writes, “This is the sports car equivalent of a radio-friendly hit, with drinks holders, comfortable seats and (unlike the 911) loads of storage, thanks to the two boots, one front and one rear. It’s for everyman. I was happy my car had the manual gearbox and not the Tiptronic thing; I don’t need to pretend I’m a Formula 1 driver. … Can I recommend it without any ifs, buts or alternatives? I thought so.”

The famous Jaguar Mark 2 beloved of Inspector Morse

A very happy 2008 to all our readers and contributors.

We have a busy auto year planned, so stay tuned for our new team of writers and exotica specialists.

Our last post, which showed a Ferrari Enzo after it had been hit by a bus and careered into a VW Golf, didn’t perhaps illustrate the car at its best.

Here’s the rundown of this tip-top model :

Named after company founder Enzo Ferrari, the Ferrari Enzo was built in a limited run of 399, with an extra car that was offered to the Pope. It is an outstanding expression of the concept of extreme sportiness, developed for road use, yet epitomizing the most advanced concepts of Formula 1 racing technology.

Ferrari set out to develop the Ferrari Enzo as an integrated system designed for extreme performance, in which even the limits of the performance achievable by the driver were enhanced, thanks to a man-machine interface typical of Formula 1.

Make and Model: Ferrari Enzo
Engine Type: 6-liter V-12
Torque: 485lb-ft@5500rpm
Acceleration 0-60: 3.6 s
Suspension: 4-wheel independant
Wheel Base: 104.33 inches
List Price: $652,000
Horsepower: 660bhp@7800rpm
Top Speed: 217 mph
Brakes: Brembo 4-wheel vent. disc
Transmission: 6-speed Electrohydraulic
Weight: 3009 lbs.

Useful little runabout, maybe?