Car buyers are spoiled for choice as the pace of innovation accelerates every year. Regular readers of The Australian Weekend Magazine will know our columnists Jeremy Clarkson and Stephen Corby are full of strong opinions about which new vehicles are worth considering and which ones should be left in the dust.

In compiling this list for the inaugural Motoring Issue, Clarkson and Corby have veered towards cars that are practical, fast, stylish or good value. Rest assured, all have rated highly on our critics’ scorecards over the past 12 months – but those selected for our Hot 25 Cars of the Year also have an X factor that sets them apart from the competition.

smart #3 Brabus: 'Chunkable through corners'

Engine: Dual permanent magnet synchronous motors, 66kWh battery

Price: $70,900

The good news about this new, bigger, reborn smart (the brand is now a joint venture between Mercedes and Chinese giant Geely) is that it is genuinely and at times hugely enjoyable to drive. The steering – delivered via a wheel that feels properly premium, as do many of the other materials – is chunky, the car is chuckable through corners and the whole thing feels solidly built and nailed to the road in a way that most Chinese-built EVs (and I’m including Teslas on that list) simply do not. SC

Mercedes AMG GT 63 Premium Plus: ‘Silly fast. Scary fast’

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Price: GT 63 series from $366,500

This is the first fast Mercedes I’ve driven in a very long time that I’ve truly enjoyed. It’s mad and completely out of tune with the times, but I love the loudness and the unnecessariness of it all. I’m often told by planet enthusiasts that EVs can offer this level of performance, but that’s nonsense. This car is silly fast. Scary fast. It’s also loud. Loud like AMG Mercs used to be when I was one of their most passionate customers. This car growls, and it’s a wondrous noise. Richard Hammond tells me he seriously thought about buying a GT but settled in the end for some kind of Porsche 911. You made a mistake, mate. The Merc’s a belter. JC

Mercedes AMG E53 Hybrid 4Matic+: ‘Properly potent, lightly luxurious’

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo plus 120kW electric motor

Price: $199,900

Trust me, this Mercedes really is two cars for the price of one (even its name feels big enough to cover two vehicles). It’s both properly potent and lightly luxurious. It might look like an executive sedan, in terms of appearance and feel, but it really can be driven like a sports car. It’s a clever car with so much power and poshness packed into it that I was expecting a very high price point indeed, so I was quite surprised to learn it can be yours from just $199,900. That might sound like a lot, but again. I’d point you to the 450kW of power and remind you that not so long ago a Ferrari 458 offered 419kW. This Mercedes really is a lot of car, or cars. SC

To see the full list of Australia’s 25 hottest cars of the year, you can read the rest of the article on The Australian by following the link below:

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