All I want for Christmas is...

Photos: Simon Clay

18th December 2007

Oliver Marriage, road test editor - Aston Martin DBS
Want to know why I love the Aston Martin DBS? Well, in some ways, my desire to see Britain’s latest supercar nestling under my Christmas tree goes against my better judgement. I usually admire models that are cleverly or intelligently designed, or ones that set new class standards.

And despite its all-aluminium construction, carbon ceramic brakes and adaptive dampers, the DBS isn’t a cutting-edge supercar. When push comes to shove, I’m forced to admit the DBS isn’t the finest sports car in the world. But I still can’t help myself – the model I lust after isn’t Italian or German, but British. And, shallow as this sounds, it’s all down to the looks.

Set to be one of the hottest cars of 2008, the DBS has been criticised for looking too much like a DB9, but that’s hardly a drawback, is it?

Although pictured here in a studio, we had the car for five days and in that time it attracted more comments, looks, gestures and conversations than any other model we have driven this year.

And that James Bond drove one in his last outing doesn’t do its credibility any harm, either.

More grand tourer than outright sports car, the overall impression is of a DB9 that’s 10 per cent better all round. Sophisticated and charismatic, it’s impossible not to be won over by the Aston’s thrilling driving experience or its stunning cabin. Yes, the DBS costs £160,000, but no other car this year has made me feel so good.

David Ross, road tester - Caparo T1
Like most young children I had a fixation with fast cars. But never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine anything as bonkers as the Caparo T1. When I first saw it earlier this year, it felt like I was eight years old again – all I could do was point and say “Wow!”. Any car which has that effect on a fully grown adult deserves its place on the Christmas list.

If anything, the effect was even stronger when it arrived in the studio for this shoot. Unless you have seen a Formula One car up close, nothing can prepare you for how low and skeletal the T1 is. It’s no surprise to learn that the men behind it used to work for McLaren.

With spindly suspension, wing mirrors built into the ends of the wheelarches, ground-effect aerodynamics and figure-hugging bodywork, there’s nothing else quite like the Caparo. In fact, it’s hard to believe anything so extreme could possibly be road-legal. But the whole point of the T1 is exactly that – even if in practice it’s unlikely that many of the 25 cars Caparo hopes to build each year will ever tackle a speed bump.

Size-wise it’s small enough for road use. At 4,066mm, it’s only 36mm longer than a Peugeot 207, although a width of 1,924mm is comparable with a BMW X5.

The driver's seat itself is extremely comfortable, although the reclined position takes some getting used to and the optional £18,500 canopy is nothing short of claustrophobic. If you have a particularly brave or foolhardy friend, they can come along for a ride, sitting to your left and slightly behind, but other than that this car doesn’t make any concessions to practicality.

Those in the know tell us that the technology used in the Caparo isn’t that up-to-date by racing standards. However, the price of the T1 – about £223,000 – is roughly the same as a single F1 engine, and the Caparo isn’t that much slower than a GP car, either.

Caparo claims a 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds and a maximum speed of 205mph, but what’s arguably even more amazing is the fact it can pull 3g through corners and under braking, when even a Porsche 911 struggles to better 1g.

Statistics such as that are enough to earn the car a place at the top of my wishlist and have helped Caparo build up an order book that already accounts for a year’s production.

Owen Mildenhall, road tester - Audi R8
In a previous life I used to be a racing driver, so why isn’t the Caparo my dream choice, too? Well, for me the F1-inspired machine is too much of a race car – and hardcore track machines do not make good road vehicles.

I think the ultimate motor is defined by its fitness for purpose and engineering standards. Which is why the R8 is the car I’d like Santa to drop down my chimney.

The R8 is the epitome of Vorsprung Durch Technik and acts as a showcase for the firm’s technological know-how. But just as importantly, it looks sensational, too. Audi clearly took inspiration from partner firm Lamborghini when developing the two-seat supercar.

It’s elegant and purposeful, yet not too aggressive. I’m convinced it’s set to be a future design icon.

Just look at the spec - the mid-engined, four-wheel-drive coupé uses Audi’s Aluminium Space Frame (ASF) construction, and is powered by the 4.2-litre V8 from the RS4. The 414bhp unit is mated to either my preferred slick six-speed manual gearbox or an R Tronic sequential paddleshift.

The motor is a gem and delivers truly great performance, but best of all the R8 is superb to drive. It may not have the DBS’s charisma or the Caparo’s dazzling pace, yet this is a car that matches your mood – it’s happy whether pootling around or being grabbed by the scruff of the neck.

The R8 is hugely capable and user-friendly, with unbelievable grip and chassis composure. You don’t have to compromise on comfort, either – the ride quality is excellent, thanks to the must-have £1,350 Magnetic Ride dampers.

Granted, the Audi may not reward the driver with the same involvement as some machines – the Porsche 911 springs to mind – but it’s the way all the elements work together so well that makes it unique.

It’s the only model out there that can match its rear-engined rival for mechanical precision. As a huge fan of Germany’s number one sports car maker, it takes something exceptional for me to admit that. So go on Santa, make my wish come true.