Top 10 cars for 2010 - and the winner isn't a Porsche.

10. Kia Sportage

Not long ago, the only appealing thing about buying  South Korean cars was the fact that they were cheap to buy and run - and that was about it.  They were text book point A-B cars. Now though, the argument that South Korean vehicles aren’t desirable no longer holds water.  Kia and Hyundai have been on a roll in terms of design, and the Kia Sportage in particular stands out.  The Sportage isn’t

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just good looking for a Kia - it looks good, period. The interior isn’t bad either.  Combine this well executed modern design with an attractive price tag (they start at $18,295 in the U.S.) and some decent engines, and you have a car that appeals to a very wide audience.

9. Nissan Juke

The Nissan Juke makes the top 10 for being outrageous.  Whether you love or loathe the styling, there is no question that it’s a car that grabs your attention.  We happen to think that it looks fantastic.  A car that’s designed for mainstream buyers, but the fact that there’s nothing mainstream about its styling, guarantees it a place in the top 10.

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8. Honda CR-Z

It always seems with car manufacturers, that you can’t have a car that’s  environmentally friendly and stylish at the same time.  You could get a Tesla Roadster, but they cost the same as Ferraris.  However, Honda saw this painfully clear gap in the market and introduced the CR-Z.  Finally, a hybrid that looks good and is affordable. No longer are we forced to drive dreary cars like the Prius or Insight for green credentials.

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7. Peugeot RCZ

The RCZ is the car that confirms that Peugeot haven’t forgotten how to make a fun car.  They have, for the past few years, flooded the car market with unbelievably dreary models and made it seem like they had developed allergies at the very thought of fun cars.  With the RCZ though, not only have they made something that’s eye-catching, but they’ve made a car that’s as good to drive as it is to look at. 

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6. Nissan GT-R

It’s hard to believe that the Nissan GT-R has already been with us for three years. This year though, saw its first major update.  The most significant update was increasing the power output of its 3.8 litre twin-turbo V6 to 530 hp.  The increase in power means that the GT-R can now do 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat, faster than the more expensive Porsche 911 Turbo and Ferrari 458 Italia.   It’s not just straight line performance, the GT-R continues to impress by doing things it simply shouldn’t be able to do when the going gets twisty.  Being a lot heavier than its rivals it can still keep up with them and in some cases, even outperform them.  And to rub it in a bit, the Nissan is so much cheaper than either the Porsche or Ferrari.

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5. Rolls Royce Ghost

Jeremy Clarkson claims that the Ghost is for people who can’t afford a Phantom.  Well that’s true for those who think anything with a bigger price tag is without question better.  But for everyone else, the Ghost has just as much presence and desirability as the Phantom.  It is a genuinely classy and refined car that wont make you look like a chauffeur if you’re seen driving it.  With 563 hp it’s also more powerful than a Phantom, and its BMW underpinnings make sure that it’s better to drive.   If anything the Ghost is the Rolls Royce to have because it does everything the Phantom does and more, for over $100000 less.

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4. Ford Mustang

Ford has made major improvements to the Mustang this year.  Nearly all of the Mustang variants are truly engaging and just as desirable as any sports coupe coming out of Germany.  The entry level V6 is a genuine thriller, the GT is good enough to be considered a true alternative to the BMW M3.  The Shelby GT500 has gotten even better thanks to a weight decrease over last year’s model, a power upgrade, as well as some revisions to the chassis.  And we can expect more good things to come next year, the 440 hp track-day weapon that is the Boss will go on sale.

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3. Ferrari 458 Italia

It’s stunning to look at, it’s fast, painfully desirable, and sounds great.  A few did catch fire though, but that doesn’t take away the fact that it is faster than an Enzo around the Fiorano race track, and that it is pretty much top of its class.  McLaren is preparing the MP4-12C for launch next year, and eager to try for the title of ultimate supercar, but until then the 458 Italia is the ultimate supercar (when it’s not on fire).

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2. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

It must be said that it came as a surprise when Bugatti announced that they have broken the top speed record for production cars - again.  We thought they would be happy having achieved it once and be content with letting SSC hold on to the record for a bit. How wrong we were.  The 1200 hp Veyron Super Sport made sure that the top speed record would go back to Bugatti, and go back to them it did thanks to a simply eye-widening velocity of  267 mph (473 km/h). 

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1. Morgan Aero SuperSports

The Morgan beats the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport because you don’t have to be Bill Gates to own one.  Though with prices approaching $200000, it’s not exactly something the average Joe can buy either.  In comparison to the other super and hyper cars though, it does so much with very little.  It’s very lightweight, which allows it to use all of the 368 hp the 4.8 litre V8 has to offer, without the feeling of wasted power.  And the exhaust note the engine makes is ecstatic.  The fantastic mixture between retro and modern styling cues simply makes it one of the most desirable cars ever, and the fact that Morgan tends to build their models in small numbers, means that the lucky few owners will probably never run into another one.  A truly special car.

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