2021 Land Rover Defender 110

 

The iconic Land Rover Defender is all-new for the 2021 model year, and it makes its highly anticipated return to the U.S. market. For those of you who didn't know, Land Rover previously offered the Defender in the U.S. between 1994 and 1997 and continued to sell it overseas during the 2000s and 2010s. Like the previous Defender models, the new Defender comes in two-door 90 and four-door 110 models, with the four-door 110 expected to make up the majority of Defender sales. The 2021 Defender is available with either a P300 2.0-liter turbo-four with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque or a P400 3.0-liter turbo inline-six with 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The optional six-cylinder also has a hybrid assist feature. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic. The new Defender can launch from zero to 60 mph in as quick as 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed as high as 129 mph. The 4-door 110 model can seat anywhere from five to seven passengers. Each Defender model has all-wheel drive and a completely independent suspension on a unibody platform. This is a significant change from the previous Defenders as the old models were body-on-frame and had solid axles. Coil springs are standard, while adjustable air suspension is optional. The new Defender has greater ground clearance and wading ability than the Jeep Wrangler, with 11.5 and 35.4 inches respectively. 

The new Land Rover Defender's interior combines luxury and spartan elements while remaining true to the Land Rover brand. It has a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new interface known as Pivi Pro. The door panels contain exposed rivets, and a magnesium crossbar extending the length of the dashboard for structural support. Right below the infotainment screen is a center stack holding the gearbox as well as the climate control and drive mode buttons and switches. Motor Trend was so impressed by the new Defender that the publication named it its 2021 Sport Utility of the Year. Pricing for the new Land Rover Defender starts at $47,000 for the two-door 90 and $50,925 for the four-door 110. In all, the new Land Rover Defender is a spectacular off-road SUV and one of the coolest off-road SUVs available. I'm very thankful the Defender has been modernized and made its long-awaited return to the North American market.

Porsche 911 Turbo (993)

 

The 993-gen Porsche 911 Turbo was produced from 1995 to 1998 and was the last of the air-cooled Porsche 911s. It has a twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six producing 402 horsepower, completing the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and capable of a top speed of roughly 180 mph. The 993 Turbo is the first 911 Turbo to have twin-turbocharging and all-wheel drive. It was also one of the first ever vehicles to use the OBD-II diagnostics system. The Porsche 911 Turbo 993 is paired to a six-speed manual. The Turbo model is distinguished aesthetically from other 993-gen 911 models by its wider rear wheel arches, larger brakes, and fixed rear wing resembling a whale tail. Some examples have cutouts between the front doors and rear wheel arches to allow for more air to cool down the engine so it doesn't overheat. Towards the end of the 993 generation's life cycle, Porsche introduced a limited production run of the Turbo S model, which benefits from a power boost and better performance over the standard Turbo model. A typical 993 Turbo on the resale market goes for around $140,000, while the 993 Turbo S can be valued up to as much as $1 million. The example above has been modified by Porsche tuning specialist Gemballa, so its power figures may be much more inflated than usual, but the vehicle still appears mostly stock. The Porsche 911 993 was replaced by the 996 in 1999, in which the latter switched to water-cooled engines and took on a more modern design. Overall, the 993-gen Porsche 911 Turbo is an amazing sports car and one of the most sought-after Porsche models right now. It may not be the best 911 or Porsche model, but the 993 Turbo is certainly one of the coolest and most special of them all.

Chevy Camaro ZL1/1LE (2017-/2018-)

 

The ZL1 is the high-performance, more aggressive, and top-of-the-line version of the current Camaro; the 1LE package on the ZL1 takes things a step further. Powering the current Camaro ZL1 is a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 producing 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It launches from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and is capable of a 190 mph top speed. The ZL1 and ZL1 1LE are available with either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic. Its 10-speed automatic was made in a partnership between GM and Ford, and the same gearbox is also used in the Ford F-150 Raptor. Compared to other Camaro models, the ZL1 has a distinct front grille that allows for greater air intake and aerodynamics. The Chevy bowtie in the grille has been hollowed out to aid in that process. In addition, the ZL1 has a rear spoiler and bigger wheels. The 1LE package adds a large rear wing, a bigger front splitter, a satin black hood, and a stiffer suspension, and deletes the rear seats for better handling on the track. The ZL1's interior isn't much different from those of other current Camaro models, except for some carbon fiber and alcantara trim and specific badging on the front seats. Pricing for the Camaro ZL1 starts at $65,695, with the ZL1 1LE starting close to $75,000. It is one of the best and coolest Camaros and muscle cars out there. I see the ZL1 as on par with the Shelby GT500 Mustang and Challenger Hellcat, but I don't see it as better than the Corvette C8 Stingray or higher-end C7 Corvette models.

Audi R8 (2020-)

 

The second-generation Audi R8 received a mid-cycle refresh for this past model year. The main cosmetic changes on the mid-cycle refresh model are revised front and rear ends. It retains its naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10, with the new entry-level rear-wheel drive model producing 532 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, the 2020 base model producing 562 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, and the Performance model producing 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. The most up-to-date R8 can launch from 0 to 60 mph in as low as 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of up to 205 mph. Each new Audi R8 is paired to a 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. The R8 shares its platform and other components with the Lamborghini Huracan, except the former is more tame in comparison. It comes standard with an adaptive suspension, while the Performance model has a fixed-damper suspension that is more aggressive. The current R8's interior layout is fairly simple, and its digital gauge cluster also serves as the MMI infotainment screen. Pricing for the 2021 Audi R8 starts at $142,700, while the Performance model goes for around $200,000, excluding taxes and options. 

Overall, the Audi R8 is a great supercar and performance vehicle. In addition, the R8 is the coolest and greatest Audi model besides the RS6 Avant and RS7. However, it doesn't stand out to me as much as other supercars, such as those from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren, as the R8 is less expensive and more abundant. Despite my increased likelihood of spotting one on the streets over other supercars, it's still exciting to see Audi R8s up close since they look amazing and it isn't an everyday occurrence for me.