Car Guy Magazine Car Guy Magazine Issue 914 | Page 48

OUR TOP PICKS FOR 2015 Eco Supercar 2015 BMW i8 Revolutionary in its design, the 2015 BMW i8 looks like nothing else on the road. Otherworldly aesthetic details include doors that open up and out like wings, striking LED headlamps and a fully digital instrument display. The $135,700 2+2 plug-in hybrid is powered by both an advanced threecylinder gas engine and a 96 kW electric motor, which, combined, create 362 horsepower—good for a 0-to-60 mph dash of 4.4 seconds—and an impressive 94 mpg. Arriving in showrooms now, the 3,285-pound i8 is allwheel drive, which makes for superb traction all year long. 46 CarGuyMagazine.com Four-Passenger Sports Coupe 2015 Lexus RC 350 Lexus has always listened carefully to its customer base, and the most recent result of that attention is its return to the four-passenger sports coupe segment with the daringly designed 2015 RC 350. The 314 horsepower rear-wheel drive coupe features an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel to help drivers keep control at all times. Expect the RC 350, estimated to cost $48,000 when it debuts this fall, to hit 60 mph from a standstill in less than 5.0 seconds. Inside, the RC 350 shows off Lexus’ new Remote Touch Interface, which functions much like a computer mouse to control various vehicle settings. Seven-Passenger SUV 2015 Cadillac Escalade Bigger and bolder than ever, the Cadillac Escalade is new inside and out for 2015. From afar, the Escalade most notably sports striking new LED headlamps, while, inside, the SUV showcases Cadillac’s slick CUE infotainment system, which implements an 8-inch capacitive touch display to control everything from the naviga- tion to audio systems. Alongside all of this new technology, the interior boasts premium materials, including real wood and leather accents. And, thanks to its now-standard Magnetic Ride Control, the Escalade’s handling is more precise than ever. Two-Seat Sports Coupe 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe Sculpted by renowned designer Ian Callum, Jaguar’s latest addition to its pedigreed lineup pushes the performance envelope with a nod to the manufacturer’s famed 1961 E-Type. This 3,500-pound all-aluminum beauty boasts such edgy touches as retractable door handles that extend to greet drivers when they approach the vehicle. Inside, the tight interior is decidedly drivercentric, while its muscular steering wheel and sculpted seatbacks underscore this Jag’s sporting intentions. There is a wide selection of variants at the customers’ disposal, ranging from the $65,000 340-horsepower V6 to the $99,000 550-horsepower F-Type R, which screams from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, with a top speed of 186 mph.