Are Playboy's Choices Really The Hottest Cars For 2008?

Which cars will be turning heads on the street this year? According to Playboy's "2008 Cars of the Year," a high-performance hybrid surges past competitors, a European import squeezes to the top, and a luxury carmaker provides one of the most fuel efficient and affordable vehicles on the road.

The selected cars were chosen by an expert team of automotive writers who traveled the world and test drove every new model hitting the showroom floor this year. The vehicles were taken on the sharpest turns, most challenging curves, and the steepest hills to properly separate the superlative from the mediocre. The vehicles featured in Playboy's January issue (on newsstands and at http://www.playboydigital.com Friday, December 7) include:

PLAYBOY'S 2008 CAR OF THE YEAR: Audi R8

This mid engine sexpot boasts a 420 bhp, 4.2-liter V8, and hits zero to 60 in a sexy 4.4 seconds

BEST LUXURY SPORTS COUPE: Maserati GranTurismo

Features a 405 bhp, 4.2-liter double overhead cam V8 packs 339 foot-pounds of torque

SMARTEST PURCHASE: Smart Fortwo

Sits eight feet by eight inches long and weighs a whopping 1,807 pounds

BEST SPORTS SEDAN: Cadillac CTS

With a base engine of a 3.6-liter V6 that develops 263bhp, it is just as quick as the CTS-V

BEST SUV: Land Rover LR2

Equipped with a Terrain Response feature that adjusts the AWD and suspension for driving conditions

BEST CROSSOVER: Buick Enclave CXL

Proudly sits on 19-inch wheels and is available with a luxury package including articulated headlights

BEST CONVERTIBLE: BMW 335i

Not only does it whip from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds, its light-weight steel top retracts in 22 seconds

BEST EARTH-DAY CAR: Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec

Outfitted with three catalysts and a filter in the exhaust that erases every trace of smoke and N2O

BEST PINT-SIZE PERFORMANCE: Volvo C30

Dances on the sporty side with its full-width glass hatch and clipped Manx bobtail.

JRobUSC - 12/7/2007 2:12:03 PM

+6 Boost

I don't understand
a) the selection of the CTS as "Best Sport Sedan", which it most assuredly is not, and
b) the line about the base 3.6L CTS being as quick as the CTS-V. Not sure how that could be possible unless you drive them off a cliff together, because gravity is the only way the two would accelerate equally.

M35MT - 12/7/2007 2:27:20 PM

+7 Boost

Cadillac CTS
"With a base engine of a 3.6-liter V6 that develops 263bhp, it is just as quick as the CTS-V"

um, what?!

pacotacolol - 12/7/2007 2:33:23 PM

+5 Boost

nah. don't agree. musta been drunk when made these choices

Obliv - 12/8/2007 12:25:22 PM

+2 Boost

Cadilliac > BMW

Pwned.

Need4Speed - 12/10/2007 5:05:56 PM

+1 Boost

The line about driving off a cliff an gravity was original! LMFAO!

M35MT - 12/7/2007 2:28:35 PM

0 Boost

BEST PINT-SIZE PERFORMANCE: Volvo C30

No. Mazdaspeed3 destroys it in every category, including price.

The Maserati is well-deserved on this list, it's the sexiest thing out there.

ThierryHenry14 - 12/7/2007 2:33:19 PM

+4 Boost

I wasn't a big fan of the GranTurismo, but then I saw that Maserati in real life and it made me drool... its that damn beautiful...

henbmw - 12/7/2007 6:07:26 PM

+3 Boost

No kidding. That thing is the prettiest car this side of an Aston Martin

4x4rules - 12/7/2007 6:31:12 PM

+4 Boost

Exactly

looked good in photos.............awesome in person definately the sexiest car ive seen in a long time.

muppet - 12/7/2007 2:36:33 PM

-9 Boost

The Best Pint-Pint size is the Toyota Corolla 2009

Agent009 - 12/7/2007 2:53:12 PM

+5 Boost

LOL.. not even close there. The Mazda3 has it by far.

M35MT - 12/7/2007 3:24:23 PM

+4 Boost

Not only that, its pint-size "performance". Nothing beats the speed3 in that category!

lexusis350 - 12/8/2007 1:26:55 AM

-3 Boost

Yeah, rolling up in my MAZDA3 pickin up those ladies. Nothings more attractive than that.

M35MT - 12/10/2007 11:03:27 AM

+1 Boost

Dude...your IS350 looks like it ripped off the Mazda3...and yes, it was out a full 2 years earlier...careful what you say.

1970toyotamarc - 12/7/2007 3:23:25 PM

-1 Boost

Where's the high performance hybrid? Are there more cars in the link, cuz I sure cant open a link to Playboy at work.

bmwdrvr - 12/7/2007 4:22:26 PM

-1 Boost

i would give the CTS 2nd in its segment to the 335i, it just is an all round good car with very few compromises....but this info is wrong the CTSV is alot faster than the new CTS

JRobUSC - 12/7/2007 5:54:52 PM

+2 Boost

I haven't seen the C&D article, what were the results?

Obliv - 12/8/2007 12:27:40 PM

+3 Boost

Lol Lexus.

autopro - 12/7/2007 4:10:41 PM

+2 Boost

Good job GM the CTS is a good all around package.

DaHarder - 12/7/2007 4:59:02 PM

+3 Boost

BEST SUV: Land Rover LR2

On What Planet?

There just too many better choices...

DaHarder - 12/7/2007 5:00:02 PM

0 Boost

typo - 'there are'

Jmiller44 - 12/7/2007 5:05:16 PM

0 Boost

the cl63 would eat maserati for breakfast

DaHarder - 12/7/2007 5:29:45 PM

0 Boost

Performance-wise but...

Aesthetically, the Maserati has it all over the Bland-Faced/Ford Focus Fendered S-Class (in all its many guises).

The Maserati's 'Style' Is Timeless.

The S-Class' 'Fashion' Is Fleeting.

4x4rules - 12/7/2007 6:32:52 PM

+1 Boost

they wont even let you park that thing next to a grantourismo

mini22 - 12/7/2007 5:10:17 PM

+4 Boost

I agree with the R8 and if you limit this for new cars for introduced for 2008 most I agree with. However I disagree with the CTS and the choice of the Volvo C30. Both the Bmw 3 series and Infiniti G35 are in my opinion above the Cadillac. In addition a Mazda Speed 3 and GTI are better drivers cars then the C30(even version 2)

GermanNut - 12/7/2007 7:01:50 PM

+1 Boost

yet again the R8 wins Car of the Year.

The R8 has won Car of the Year awards in Autoexpress, Autocar, Autozeitung, and a host of other pbulications and now Playboy.

This car is an instant icon and a superb driving experience.

AE86 - 12/7/2007 7:17:30 PM

+3 Boost

Its refreshing to see a Diesel on here instead of the Prius!

KillBot - 12/7/2007 7:18:42 PM

0 Boost

Calm down everyone, it's Playboy, not TG, FG, Autoweek or anything about auto for that matter.

Audi R8(great car, but not the best of the year); 911 T

GrandTurismo how about Aston Martin DBS

CTS, Really!? Who made this list?

LR2, What? one of the babies? How about a Super Charged Range Rover.

BMW 335i, another good car, but no RS4(and yes I know there's a price difference, so I get it)

C30, I really like this car, but let's be serious R32 all day.

I know some of you are gonna hate, but I don't care

S4cabriofoxone - 12/7/2007 11:56:45 PM

+1 Boost

"Audi R8(great car, but not the best of the year); 911 T"

I completely disagree. The Turbo is amazing, but there have been several generations of Turbos in the past. It is nothing new or unexpected. The R8 is completely unexpected, much more significant, and has a much more innovative design. I know that Porsche is on a leash with the 911's styling, but the R8 shows what could have been.

To put it like the Brits... the new Audi R8 is a brilliant machine, and deserves to be on anybody's "Best of" list.

ThierryHenry14 - 12/8/2007 10:09:34 AM

+1 Boost

Best convertible... Aston DB9, F430 Spyder, 911Cab,... The list goes on, but I guess they were trying to make it a little more affordable of a list.

EL34 - 12/7/2007 7:51:32 PM

+2 Boost

Good list and I would own any of them :)

Lexus - 12/7/2007 8:32:27 PM

+1 Boost

The only choice that I agree with list above is the Audi R8 winning the Playboy's 2008 Car of the Year. And the rest of the other cars, I'm not sure about it.

notafanboy - 12/7/2007 9:11:44 PM

+3 Boost

Who actually reads playboy for the articles?!

S4cabriofoxone - 12/8/2007 12:02:33 AM

+2 Boost

This isn't an "expert" automotive publication as the above paragraph says...

But anyway, the R8 is the obvious choice.

The 260hp base CTS certainly cannot touch the last-gen CTS-V.

The Smart is definitely not the "smartest" purchase. You could get a lot more for your money than that... and I'm not just talking about size.

Cadillac CTS is probably the most "significant" sedan, but it's not the best sports sedan. That is still the 3 Series, by a long shot.

The LR2, best SUV??? WTF? All three of the other SUVs in Land Rover's lineup deserve that title over it. But if they're talking about only 2008, the one that really stands out to me is the Mazda CX-9.

The CX-9 could also bear the "Best Crossover" title over the Enclave.

335i and E320 Bluetec, I agree with...

But Volvo C30? What are they on? That car is all style, no substance. The Mazdaspeed3 and BMW 1 Series (if their "experts" know it exists) would have been far better choices, were I restricted to 2008 models.

M35MT - 12/10/2007 11:08:41 AM

+1 Boost

+1

Bill - 12/8/2007 10:01:19 AM

+1 Boost

That's actually an interesting list from Playboy, not too bad if I may say so. I was going to comment on how Playboy magazine should stick to rating their bunnies, but the list struck me as well-thought-out actually. I wasn't expecting this.

I think the Cadillac CTS should be classified in the category "best luxury sedan", not "best sport sedan" though.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/8/2007 12:06:08 PM

0 Boost

Well, no, then you have cars like the S-Class and the 2008 S8.

ThierryHenry14 - 12/8/2007 12:08:19 PM

+1 Boost

yea, its hard to come up with a category for the CTS. its a good car, but its just not the best at any one thing. Perhaps best American Sedan?

S4cabriofoxone - 12/8/2007 2:21:09 PM

+1 Boost

LOL, yes, exactly. Best American Sedan, the 2008 Cadillac CTS.

But I would also call it very refined. It could be a 3 Series competitor... or it could even steal sales from the Lexus ES350.

2ndbimmer - 12/8/2007 12:15:16 PM

+2 Boost

LR2????? I have heard nothing but complaints!!! The new X5, Range rover sport, much better choices. Even a cayenne turbo would be a better choice.

MunichRob - 12/8/2007 8:10:26 PM

0 Boost

I'm pretty sure looks of the car play a major role in Playboy's list. The CTS is more striking & classy than a 3-series, & the Enclave has a more elegant feel & look to it than say the Mazda CX-9.

Basically it's which car would make you look more like a playboy, but there's no explaining how they gave the best S.U.V. category to the LR2.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/9/2007 12:58:34 AM

0 Boost

"...the Enclave has a more elegant feel & look to it than say the Mazda CX-9."

Nope, it's the opposite. The CX-9, in person, is a stunner. The Enclave is over-hyped; I think it looks too fat.

M35MT - 12/10/2007 11:10:32 AM

+1 Boost

I believe the LR2 appears because it had to be new for 08.

MunichRob - 12/10/2007 8:22:30 AM

+1 Boost

Yes it is over-hyped & fat, I know the Mazda's the better vehicle (IMO looks better too), but the Enclave still looks more elegant inside & out.