Editorial

And the winner of the 2006 ClassicInside Car of the Year award is… no, hold on, in the best traditions of prize giving ceremonies the world over you’ll have to wait a little longer for the result.

2006 has produced another bumper crop of fantastic cars, many of which have either been tested by your Editor or his colleagues. The latest Porsche 911 Turbo falls in the latter camp, and still remains a firm favourite with its combination of express train power and torque transmitted by that all-important (for countries that have proper winter weather) 4wd. Ditto Lamborghinis small and large, and you can read the second instalment of our Audi S8 piece this week, hopefully viewing the video that includes in-car footage of the large saloon with legendary Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni at the helm.

As UK Editor it has been my responsibility to get behind the wheel of assorted products from Aston Martin, Ferrari and Maserati, and I also took the opportunity of trying some super-saloons too in the form of the mighty Audi RS4 Avant and Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG, two four-seaters that will do most of the supercar-y type things at half the price.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage never fails to impress, and a (long) day’s driving in its ‘30,000 kms’ car proves that many things do improve with age (that’s my story anyway), while a time in the company’s DB9 Volante, hood down by the coast, reveals the best looking convertible on the planet. You’ll have to wait though, until the new year, to find out what we consider to be the best model in the DB9 range.

No, top honours must go to the Ferrari 599GTB, the one I returned to the factory after it performed sterling service at the Goodwood Festival. The fastest proper car this side of an Enzo or Carrera GT, it’s stylish, beautifully built with a gorgeous interior, comfortable and capacious on a long trip for two – it’s got it all. As a genuinely new car, the driving highlight of 2006.

And of course I’ve been strapped into the passenger seat of racing and rallying Astons, sailed with the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, driven an ex-Le Mans Jaguar D-Type and had a fabulous first time at the Ferrari World Finals at Monza.

All wonderful stuff, thank you for all your support this year – here’s to more of the same in 2007.

Our very best wishes for the festive season and New Year to all of you, the next ClassicInside will be on Friday 5th January.

Merry Christmas!

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com