Auto Express's Performance Car of the Year 2008.

Start your engines and get those tyres smoking! Auto Express has done the testing and is ready to name its Performance Car of the Year 2008.

We’ve lined up the latest thrill seekers from a variety of manufacturers, with prices ranging from supermini to supercar budgets. This year’s test is bigger and better than ever, putting you in the driving seat of 2008’s most exciting new metal.

Last year’s winner, the Porsche Cayman S, is defending its title,
but every other car here has been launched in the last 12 months – so
there’s no shortage of red hot models to choose from.

Watch video clips of each car, get the ringtones and get prints sent directly to your door

Most of our PCotY mileage was at the great Anglesey Circuit, north Wales. A hot lap was recorded in each car by our resident racing driver Owen Mildenhall. As you check out the top 20, his time is shown along with a rating for track driving, road driving and desirability.

But that’s not the end of the fun. You can get closer to the action at autoexpress.co.uk where there are on-board hot lap videos with Owen at the wheel, as well as trackside footage of every car driven to the limit.

Performance Car of the Year 2008

1. Nissan GT-R
2. Porsche Cayman S
3. Mini JCW
4. BMW M3 Coupe
5. Lamborghini LP540-4
6. Renaultsport Clio Cup
7. Mercedes C63 AMG
8. Mazda RX-8
9. Audi TT S
10. Porsche 911 GT2
11. Lotus Elise SC
12. Caterham Superlight R500
13. KTM X-Bow
14. Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
15. Volkswagen Scirocco GT
16. Lancer EVO X GSR FQ-360
17. Corvette Z06
18. Jaguar XF SV8
19. Impreza WRX STI
20. Abarth Grande Punto
Read Article

GTR35 - 10/22/2008 5:19:28 PM

+4 Boost

Untouchable.

bigmotov - 10/22/2008 5:52:56 PM

+3 Boost

Was there ever a doubt??? It's in a league of it's own.

s4mula - 10/22/2008 6:07:14 PM

-7 Boost

Even though the GT2 and Caterham posted a faster lap time.

dlin - 10/23/2008 4:05:40 AM

+2 Boost

Because GT-R is electronically limited to 125 mph max in this case.

s4mula - 10/24/2008 4:54:16 PM

+1 Boost

So even on a track your still limited to 125mph??? What kind of "supercar" is that?

dlin - 10/25/2008 12:35:28 PM

+1 Boost

Only on F A M O U S track it then recognizes and disabled this restriction.

Not in your backyard even if's 5 miles long.

s4mula - 10/25/2008 7:25:37 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, to enjoy my 70k supercar I have to visit "F A M O U S" tracks. Sounds like a winner!! Too many retrictions might as well buy a base vette. 0-60 will be the same since u can't do launch control and it will go faster than 125mphs for less money!

ThierryHenry14 - 10/22/2008 5:28:09 PM

-4 Boost

I was wondering if anyone ever heard of this car that should have also been on the list. Its a little known car from Audi called the R8 that's rumored to perform pretty well. Perhaps it just slipped through the cracks? or perhaps the editors were smoking crack!

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2008 7:42:49 PM

-5 Boost

I agree, I'm really surprised that the TT-S is here instead, although I'm also pleasantly surprised at where the TT-S placed compared to the others.

Heyhuub - 10/23/2008 7:57:19 AM

+3 Boost

Maybe because the R8 is a 2007 car and was already named performance car of 2007 in many magazines.

Lexus - 10/22/2008 5:37:18 PM

+2 Boost

Although the Audi R8 is an incredible car, it is Nothing compare to the performance of the Nissan GT-R.

They did a comparison this pass year where Nissan, spank the Audi R8, and leave it to dust.

Back to the Subject the Nissan GT-R win Performance Car of the Year for 2008 from Auto Express's

Period, no if, or but, just get use to it, I know it hurt to face reality.

ThierryHenry14 - 10/22/2008 5:39:50 PM

-3 Boost

yes, but considering some of the cars on that list, i would think that the R8 would have been somewhere on the list. That much, you must agree...

ThierryHenry14 - 10/22/2008 5:40:49 PM

-2 Boost

I'm not saying its the winner, i'm just saying that they forgot to add the R8 into the mix...

aarononymous - 10/22/2008 7:42:23 PM

-4 Boost

can't wait for the R8 V10...

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2008 7:48:19 PM

-5 Boost

"They did a comparison this pass year where Nissan, spank the Audi R8, and leave it to dust."

Except, it's not all about straight line speed. In countless publications the R8 has received "Performance Car of the Year" awards this year. Top Gear magazine, Automobile (just Car of the Year), Inside Line (Instant Classic), Motor Trend (Best Handling Car of the Year), World Performance Car of the Year, Robb Report, etc...

On top of that it won the World Car Design of the Year award, something the GT-R could never boast.

The GT-R is, on a performance-per-dollar ratio, vastly superior. However, from what I've read, there's something about it that's just a bit soulless, and that the R8 is on a whole more enjoyable to drive.

Lexus - 10/22/2008 5:37:55 PM

+4 Boost

Congratulation to Nissan and it Engineering Team = )

QuantumMatrix - 10/22/2008 5:54:11 PM

+4 Boost

And almost every comment you make on this site comes out of a shit machine.

jpighetti - 10/22/2008 6:24:02 PM

+3 Boost

Unfortunately he'll never get banned since it's pretty obvious that people are on her just because this scumbag gets them fired up. He's a draw to the site. It's like a car accident, you don't want to look but you do anyway, even though you know you're not going to like what you see.

Like a 5 year old feeling left out, he causes a scene just so people will pay attention to him. It's pathetic, but he'll go away if everyone just stops responding and deboosting. How sad of a life someone must lead to feel it necessary to demand to be the center of attention on a car blog on the internet.

It's just like when your dog begs for food at the table. f you fed him once, you set a precedent that will be hard to break. He'll keep coming back for more as long as people keep feeding him. Is there a better parallel for amazin than that? Similar mental capacities so the same technique should work, right? Ignore it and it will go away.

Too bad that doesn't work for ass herpes, huh amazin?

He lives on pissing off other people, so cut off that food supply and he'll shrivel up and die...

steve27t - 10/22/2008 8:32:45 PM

+1 Boost

Shit for brains amazin.

GTR35 - 10/22/2008 6:07:59 PM

-1 Boost

And you definitely would have lost.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2008 7:50:06 PM

-3 Boost

How the hell did the TT-S beat the GT2 around the track? That's what surprised me the most. The GT2 is, at the moment, the ULTIMATE Porsche.

cs4444 - 10/22/2008 9:04:31 PM

+6 Boost

S4- the order dosent reflect the lap times. the gt2 was 7 seconds a lap faster then the TT-s

S4cabriofoxone - 10/23/2008 1:30:29 AM

+1 Boost

Thanks for letting me know. The GT2 was actually the fastest in the test, which makes a lot more sense.

I've got to wonder why the TT-S was ranked higher though.

SixxFive - 10/22/2008 6:09:28 PM

-1 Boost

Nissan GT-R - I guess this particular one used by Auto Express is one of the few without transmission failure....

222max - 10/22/2008 6:13:15 PM

+4 Boost

From th article:

All hail the Auto Express Performance Car of the Year 2008! The Nissan GT-R is one of the most capable supercoupés of all-time.

The scale of its achievements shouldn’t be underestimated. Not only has it seen off competition from 18 other top-class thrillers launched this year, but it also proved an even more accomplished champion than the reigning Porsche Cayman S. At first, nearly everyone was sceptical about the GT-R’s abilities. Jibes about video-game controls and cheap plastics filled the paddock… until our test team took to the wheel. When the GT-R came rumbling back down the pitlane, all you could hear from the driver was stunned silence. This Nissan is devastatingly effective on the road. On the track, it’s simply mind-blowing.

At the heart of its appeal is raw speed. In our hands, with the help of Japan’s finest electronic wizardry, the GT-R covered the 0-60mph sprint in 3.9 seconds. The sequential manual gearbox snaps into gear incredibly quickly as you pull on the steering wheel paddleshifter and watch the speedo spin. In a flash, it’s time to stand on the brakes for the next corner. Chances are you will slow down too early, as the Nissan’s stopping ability is in another league to all but the most expensive supercars. Turn into a corner and the four-wheel-drive chassis grips and goes in a way that’s hard to comprehend.

What’s more, the GT-R is cheaper than any supercar rival. Nissan’s flagship isn’t only a great drive – it’s the best performance car of 2008.

jpighetti - 10/22/2008 6:23:23 PM

-2 Boost

Unfortunately he'll never get banned since it's pretty obvious that people are on her just because this scumbag gets them fired up. He's a draw to the site. It's like a car accident, you don't want to look but you do anyway, even though you know you're not going to like what you see.

Like a 5 year old feeling left out, he causes a scene just so people will pay attention to him. It's pathetic, but he'll go away if everyone just stops responding and deboosting. How sad of a life someone must lead to feel it necessary to demand to be the center of attention on a car blog on the internet.

It's just like when your dog begs for food at the table. f you fed him once, you set a precedent that will be hard to break. He'll keep coming back for more as long as people keep feeding him. Is there a better parallel for amazin than that? Similar mental capacities so the same technique should work, right? Ignore it and it will go away.

Too bad that doesn't work for ass herpes, huh amazin?

He lives on pissing off other people, so cut off that food supply and he'll shrivel up and die...

jpighetti - 10/22/2008 6:24:52 PM

+1 Boost

sorry, posted twice...

s4mula - 10/22/2008 8:20:49 PM

+2 Boost

For The Lazy
Performance Car of the Year 2008
1 Nissan GT-R 61.3 secs
2 Porsche Cayman S 64.3 secs
3 MINI JCW 67.7 secs
4 BMW M3 Coupe 63.8 secs
5 Lamborghini LP560-4 60.5 secs
6 Renaultsport Clio Cup 68.7 secs
7 Mercedes SL63 AMG 64.6 secs
8 Mazda RX-8 R3 68.1 secs
9 Audi TT S 65.5 secs
10 Porsche 911 GT2 59.8 secs
11 Lotus Elise SC 65.3 secs
12 Caterham R500 60.1 secs
13 KTM X-Bow 61.5 secs
14 AM V8 Vantage Rstr 64.0 secs
15 VW Scirocco GT 68.6 secs
16 Evo X GSR FQ-360 64.0 secs
17 Corvette Z06 61.5 secs
18 Jaguar XF SV8 67.0 secs
19 Subaru Impreza STi 66.3 secs
20 Abarth Puntov 71.5 secs

steve27t - 10/22/2008 8:34:28 PM

-1 Boost

I just picked up November issue of CAR, their performance car of the year went to the Lamborghini.

jpighetti - 10/23/2008 9:53:13 AM

+2 Boost

ignore, ignore, ignore.

He'll go away...

steve27t - 10/23/2008 12:44:31 PM

+1 Boost

The only this Amazin is superior at is writing the best CRAP you will read on this site.

Agent004 - 10/22/2008 9:11:50 PM

+2 Boost

BMW 135? No? Not even on the list?

Fail.

Heyhuub - 10/23/2008 7:59:41 AM

-1 Boost

The 1-series platform has the dynamic capabilites of a cow.

bmwm6 - 10/23/2008 2:13:46 PM

+4 Boost

its faster then the tt-s and the S5 which must be whales.

Heyhuub - 10/24/2008 3:54:06 AM

-2 Boost

The TT-S destroyes the 135i in everything but a straight line.

A recent issue of Sport Auto gave these laptimes.
Hockenheim Short: TT-S - 1:16.1 / 135i- 1:17.4

Even the roadster is too much for the 135i.
Autozeitung TT-S Roadster -1:45.1 / 135i -1:46.9

Check fastestlaps.com, you'll also n otice that the 135i even has trouble with the TT 3.2.

Dustbuster - 10/22/2008 9:49:16 PM

+3 Boost

Wow, amazin is absolutely, irrevocably correct - as always. Why don't we all agree with him. Or better yet, have him run the entire website!

QuantumMatrix - 10/22/2008 10:00:14 PM

+4 Boost

Amazin probably works as a janitor for McDonald's part time and drives a Yugo.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/23/2008 1:29:18 AM

-1 Boost

It's very impressive that the 420hp RWD M3 beat the 270hp AWD TT-S around the track, it really is.

Dustbuster - 10/23/2008 2:48:11 AM

+1 Boost

Quantum: stop offending the legions of hard-working McDonald's janitors and Yugo drivers!

bmwcs - 10/23/2008 7:37:31 AM

+4 Boost

almost as impressive as the 420ph M3 beating the 580hp RS6 around the track in the Car mag, Car of the year video.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2008 1:05:33 AM

-2 Boost

The RS6 is about a thousand pounds heavier than the M3, and it's a wagon. That means absolutely nothing. The M3 would also beat the M5 wagon around the track.

bmwcs - 10/24/2008 2:47:55 AM

+4 Boost

"The RS6 is about a thousand pounds heavier than the M3, and it's a wagon. That means absolutely nothing. The M3 would also beat the M5 wagon around the track."

I know. but in your original post you suggested the M3 beat the tt b/c it had more power. I was just pointing out how thats not the only reason.

PerformanceGuy - 10/22/2008 9:59:35 PM

+5 Boost

Awesome. The GT-R continues to reign supreme over its competition!! Keep up the good work Nissan, can't wait for the V-Spec version!!

veyron1001 - 10/22/2008 11:40:07 PM

0 Boost

Because none of those cars have over 600hp

Heyhuub - 10/24/2008 3:55:36 AM

+1 Boost

Because the ZR-1 isn't even sold in Europe.

andraz - 10/23/2008 5:11:21 AM

0 Boost

Renaut Clio. biggest bang for the €

Type707 - 10/23/2008 3:24:20 PM

+1 Boost

Godzilla strikes again...porsche lost its marbles

E36er - 10/25/2008 2:42:32 AM

+1 Boost

What?! The Porsche 911 gt2 was beaten by a Renault sport Clio Cup!!!!