Head 2 Head

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman looks at a type of car that Germany does better than anyone else: the Super Sedan. The Porsche Panamera Turbo has long been one of Motor Trend's favorites. Massive, ferocious, surprisingly nimble, and if your checkbook's got the overhead, totally luxurious. But don't discount Audi. Ever since the S8 showed up, Audi has shocked the car world by making such a big car so dang fast. The only thing that could even compete was the Panamera Turbo. The RS7 comes with an even more powerful version of the familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 -- 560 horsepower to be exact. For 2014, Porsche's seemingly underrated 4.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 is up 20 hp to a more-than-modest 520 hp. Faced with tough choices after the two hit the test track and a canyon road, Jonny enlists the help of resident Motor Trend Hot Shoe Randy Pobst to figure out which super sedan is best.

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman gets his hands on the all-new, 2015 Subaru WRX, as well as one of Motor Trend's favorite pocket rockets, the Ford Focus ST. Each car costs about $30,000, sports a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with similar power outputs, and features a 6-speed manual transmission. The Subaru of course features a sporty version of the brand's "symmetrical AWD" while the Focus makes due with just the front wheels driven. However, since it first appeared, the Focus ST has wowed the Motor Trend staff with ability to dance around corners and, generally, not drive and feel like a front-wheel driver. We like the Focus ST so much that we invited it to last year's Best Driver's Car. But does the Ford have what it takes to beat the latest street-tamed rally baby from Subaru? You're going to have to watch and find out.

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman sets out to discover which German hot-rod-personal-luxury-coupe is the best you can get. The 507 Coupe is the last iteration of the W204 C63. With the exception of the very limited-run Black Series, it's the best C63 that AMG has ever done. Under its hood sits a hand-built, 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8 good for 507 horsepower. What more do you want? Perhaps something more high-tech, and that's where the Audi RS5 comes in. The sexy coupe from Quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm features a 4.2-liter V-8 that spits out 450 hp. That¹s less power than the 507 Coupe makes, true, but the Audi also features AWD, a dual-clutch transmission, bigger wheels and tires, plus a trick torque-vectoring rear differential. Which one is quicker? Which one is more fun to drive? Which one is best? Watch and find out!

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman travels to Barber Motorsports Park for a head to head matchup with the brand new Chevy Camaro Z/28 and a well known heavyweight, the Nissan GT-R. But not just any GT-R, the 2014 Track Edition which packs a 545 hp twin-turbo V-6, a 6-speed dual clutch transmission, sticky Dunlop tires and AWD traction into a car without rear seats. The Z/28, by way of contrast, features a massive 7.0-liter naturally-aspirated V-8, a 6-speed manual transmission, and tail-out RWD. While it does still have rear seats, nearly every other non-essential component has been removed. Moreover, the Z28's tires might be even stickier! The front ones, enormous 305-sections, are certainly the widest tires ever bolted to a production car. Both cars are phenomenal, and both cars make rational men scream, "Gimme!" But only one can come out on top. Watch and find out!

Fast, small German cars are back with a vengeance on this episode of Head 2 Head! Join host Jonny Lieberman as he compares and contrasts the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG with the brand new BMW M235i. Mercedes and BMW have had small car rivalries like this in the past, most notably the Benz's 190E 2.3-16 versus Bimmer's E30 M3. Fast forward three decades, and times have changed. Forget natural aspiration, as turbocharging rules the day. The CLA45's engine is even mounted sideways in a complete departure from Mercedes' tradition. Regardless of the details, both cars are fast and fun. So much so that Jonny feels the need to get racecar driver Randy Pobst involved in the decision-making process. In the end, this one proves to be the closest H2H comparison yet. Watch and enjoy!

On this episode of Head 2 Head, the newest luxury heavyweight takes on the reigning champ. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has ruled the luxury roost since it created the segment decades ago. However, Elon Musk's revolutionary Tesla Model S has single handedly disrupted the established luxury paradigm and has recently outsold the mighty S-Class. What's most amazing is that the Model S doesn't use a drop of gas. The S-Class does, but it rewrites the luxury car playbook in other ways. So which $125K big lux whip is best? Watch and find out!

On this episode of Head 2 Head, two of the best driver's cars on the market face off. The 550-horsepower Jaguar F-Type Coupe R and 430-horsepower Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Edition both have carbon ceramic brakes, active dampers, and active differentials, and both are rear-drive. Both are intent on making driving enjoyable and rewarding. But which one does it best? Watch and find out!

On this week's episode of Head 2 Head, the Motor Trend long-term 2014 Jaguar F-Type V6 S faces-off against the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG in an all-out fight to figure out which small luxury roadster is the best to live with. The F-Type sports a righteous 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 making 375 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, and the SLK55 AMG packs a big 5.5-liter V-8 sending out 413 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Despite the big disparity in cylinders and displacement, the two drop-tops match up incredibly evenly. Which will come out on top? Watch this week's Head 2 Head to find out.

On this episode of Head 2 Head we jump in the way-back machine. The 1960’s were the defining decade of the modern era. From the Cuban Missile Crisis, to the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK, to the hippie counter culture, to a man standing on the moon, few ten-year spans in history have seen as much tumult. Fewer still have seen as many awesome cars. On this episode we look at two of the most important cars from the 1960’s: a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Tri-Power and a 1968 Porsche 911L. The Corvette is all sound and fury, with a monster motor that still feels quick today and a soundtrack to die for. The 911, by way of contrast, is the more nimble driver-focused sports car solution, with steering feel that modern cars can only dream of. But one of these two is better than the other. Watch to find out which!.

On this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, Carlos Lago pits the Chevrolet Camaro SS against the new Ford Mustang GT. Not only are both packing around 430 horsepower, but they both have the most aggressive handling packages available with their respective performance packs. These cars have been going at it for longer than some of you watching have been alive, and they've never been better. To find out which is best, we'll run them through the full gamut of MT testing, a drive on the road, and hot laps with Randy Pobst. Find out which one wins this classic American rivalry!

This week on Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, Carlos Lago pits two rear-drive luxury coupes - the 2015 BMW M4 and the 2015 Lexus RC-F - against each other in a battle for tire-smoking glory. Also, we find out which one is faster and more fun to drive by visiting the instrumented test track, the winding road course at Hyundai’s Proving Ground, and Streets of Willow racetrack with pro driver Randy Pobst. Has Lexus built a sports coupe with performance on par with BMW's M Division? We can't wait to find out.

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Carlos Lago hosts a face-off between the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Porsche 911 GT3. Both cars are bred for track performance and driver’s satisfaction, each packing high-revving, dry-sump engines, carbon ceramic brakes, and big wings. The huge price disparity makes this an odd pairing, but after considering each car’s hardcore focus on performance, we couldn’t resist the idea of getting them together. The Camaro makes more power, but the Porsche’s lighter. Which one’s faster? Find out of this episode of Head2Head.