2015 San Francisco Auto Show

I just happened to be at the 2015 San Francisco Auto Show and I’m excited to report on some of the cool cars that this even had to showcase. Below are my top 3 cars that mere mortals like you and me can afford and the top 3 sports car they showcased which you and me can only drool over!!

At number 3 is the Jaguar F Pace. This is the first SUV from Jaguar and I must say that it’s quite a looker. Its strong, muscular front has the aggressive Jaguar grill which makes the car look menacing. The rear end receives brake lamps straight from the Jaguar F Type, which I think is one of the best looking cars of the decade. The interior fit and finish is decent, though you do encounter hard plastics which reminds us that this is after all an entry level Jaguar SUV. The seats are very comfortable with ample support and adjustment. The rear leg room is also decent for a mid-size SUV. The cargo space is 33.5 cubic feet which is ample. I don’t have any driving impressions on this car which is expected to launch late next year. Power trains would include a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel to a 3.0L supercharged V6 churning out 180 to 380 hp. Expected 0-60 mph times for the most powerful variant is 5.1 seconds which is really impressive for a car this size. Base prices are will vary from $40,990 to $69,700. I think if one can keep a check on the options, then this will be a great car for under 50 grand. Competition would include the much more expensive Porsche Macan & the Range Rover Evogue. I would definitely wait to drive the Jaguar first before jumping to any conclusions.

At number 2 is another Jaguar, the XE. I wasn’t too impressed with the looks, but that might just be personal perception. I again, haven’t had a chance to drive this car yet as its brand spanking new. Of what I’ve heard, it drives really well. Motor Trend compared it with the BMW 340i (replacement for the 335i) and found the Jaguar to be more engaging and fun to drive, thanks to a sportier suspension set up and an excellent 8 speed automatic transmission which is perfectly calibrated to keep the car in the right gears across all power bands. Engine choices include a 2.0L turbocharger making 240hp and 251 lb-ft of torque at a mere 1750 RPM all the way to 4000 RPM. Expect 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. They will also offer a diesel version making 180 hp. But we are interested in the beefier 3.0L supercharged V6 making 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm. Expected 0-60 mph is 5.1 seconds. All models will be offered in Rear Wheel and All Wheel Drive. Expect to pay $34,900 for a base 2.0L engine and $41,700 for a base 3.0L. Competition will include the BMW 3 series, Audi A4/S4 & Mercedes C300/C450 AMG.

At number 1 is the all new Audi Q7. Audi has more or less completely redesigned this flagship SUV. It somehow looks shorter and longer than the outgoing model. The headlamps and break lamps look fabulous. It’s considerably lighter than the outgoing model thanks to generous use of aluminum. That means that the car drives better and delivers much better MPG ratings. The entire cabin has been redone and the Q7 has the latest version of Audi’s MMI technology. It has a 12.3 inch display in the instrument panel which looks stunning!! It recognizes traffic signs such as speed limits, school & construction zones etc and displays this information in the center display. It has an array of driver assistance tools. The material used is top notch & fit and finish is worthy of a premium German SUV.

The engine option is a 3.0L supercharged V6 making 333 hp and 325 lbft of torque at 2900 rmp. Its surprisingly quick for a vehicle this size achieving 0-60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. The Quattro all-wheel drive system helps the Q7 negotiate tough terrains and frigid weather conditions. Base price is $57,000 and if you are looking at one of these, you have done fairly well in life so far. Competition includes the BMW X5, Mercedes Benz GL & Lexus LX among others.

Now let’s talk about the stuff that most of us can just dream of. They had showcased the highly provocative Pagani Huarya. This is one of the most interesting cars you’ll even see, if you are lucky enough to spot one on public roads. The twin turbo V12 engine manufactured by Mercedes Benz AMG division makes 720 HP, capable of catapulting this beast from 0 to 60 MPH in under 3 seconds. Majority of this car is made out of carbon fiber making it exceedingly light & exotic. Well if you want one of these, you’l have to come up with a check for $1.3M & possible your own private race track to utilize all the performance & speed this has to offer.

We also had one of the 3 top hyper cars of this decade, the Porsche 918 Spyder. This actually is a hybrid, but please don’t be naïve enough pit it against a Prius or a Leaf. The 4.6L V8 engine & the 6.8KWh Lithium-ion battery delivers almost 900 HP!!!! This makes the Porsche 918 one of the most powerful cars on the planet. 0-60 MPH comes at a ridiculous 2.2 seconds!! The only other boys who are capable of hanging out with this Porsche are the Ferrari La Ferrari & the McLaren P1. The price…well new ones were going for $850,000 when Porsche started selling this back in 2013. Since only 918 units were manufactured world-wide, the price has almost doubled over the years.

We also had the king of the hyper cars. This car is responsible for setting the trend for 1000 HP cars & is an automotive miracle in itself. I’m talking about the Bugatti Veyron. Declared as the “Car of the Decade” by BBC’s Top Gear, this beast is capable of achieving speeds exceeding of 250 MPH!  It has a ginormous 8.0 L W16 engine which is essentially 2 V8 engines bolted together. This thing could drive a spaceship if required. If you have $1.5 M lying around, then I would highly encourage you to visit your local Bugatti dealer.