A collection of the best cars in the world

Ferrari has just revealed the follow-up to its first two Icona Series cars with this, the Daytona SP3. Like the Monza SP1 and SP2, this is a car that has a very limited production run, offers unique technical innovations, and is utterly breathtaking to behold. As the name suggests, this new masterpiece is inspired by Ferrari's successes in racing, and while the Italian automaker could easily have referenced one model from its illustrious past and slapped a reinterpreted design onto an existing car (as Lamborghini did with the new Countach), the people in charge of the Prancing Horse are much more introspective when it comes time to build something truly special. There are plenty of big design elements that immediately capture your attention, but Ferrari hasn't forgotten about the little things either. As you'd expect, everything has a purpose. We start at the front, where a splitter below an expansive grille is complemented by straked side intakes that help to smooth airflow from the wheels. Those wheels are also designed to clean the air running down the side of the car, but there's a lot more going on at the front. The headlights feature retractable eyelids as a callback to pop-up headlights, and even these apertures are designed to improve the aerodynamic properties of the design. Vents in the hood help improve visual width, while the front wings lead to a pair of intakes in the front of the doors. The mirrors have been placed further forward to ensure that these intakes get enough clean air to the radiators, while the shape of the profile further improves airflow and helps keep the rear of the car planted with an integrated spoiler. Even the targa top of the roof has been designed to smooth airflow towards the engine cover, whether the roof panel is in place or not. Ferrari promises minimal turbulence in the cabin with the roof off, so this should be enjoyable as a grand tourer as well as a supercar. At the rear of the car, those muscular rear arches, the integrated and extended rear spoiler, and a combination of vents and a diffuser that is almost like a double diffuser all work together to create an area of low pressure behind the car. Essentially, this car uses its own shape to effectively manage heat extraction, clean the airflow around the vehicle, and make driving at high speed supremely stable. The high-mounted double exhaust and the louvered fins are not necessarily to everyone's taste, but there's no doubt that Ferrari made the right call by choosing clever aero tricks over massive wings and overt aero appendages. As far as design goes, this may be Flavio Manzoni's finest work yet.

It takes a lot to out-luxe a Mercedes-Benz S-class, but the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S-class manages to do just that. This ultra-luxury sedan is a worthy rival to the Bentley Flying Spur and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, and it offers more high-end features than we can list. A pair of twin-turbo engines are on offer—a V-8 and a V-12—and all models come with all-wheel drive. The stretched body makes it ideal for being chauffeured, especially with the optional reclining and massaging rear seats, which beckon riders to relax and live their best lives. While its rivals have more curb appeal the Maybach S-class's styling is tame by contrast, allowing it to slip into traffic without drawing too much attention.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender might look reminiscent of the 1950s original, but in reality it is a completely modern, high-tech off-roader with unique curb appeal. A trio of engines is offered—a turbocharged four-cylinder, a turbo-and-supercharged six-cylinder, and a supercharged V-8—and all come standard with four-wheel drive. The Defender can be had in two-door 90 and four-door 110 body styles, and advanced-duty off-roading equipment is available on all models, including an adjustable air suspension and locking differentials. There aren't many SUVs that are as capable as the Defender, and they mostly come from Land Rover's lineup. Some may consider the Jeep Wrangler a cheaper alternative, but the Defender has it beat when it comes to on-road refinement and available luxury appointments. Land Rover is introducing a V-8 engine into the Defender lineup for 2022: the 518-hp Supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that's found in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. The V-8 will be available on both the two-door 90 and four-door 110 models; a high-end Carpathian Edition model will also sport the V-8 engine. The package enhances the Defender with Carpathian Gray exterior paint with a black-painted roof and tailgate, black-painted tow hooks, Xenon Blue brake calipers, and special Carpathian Edition badging. A new XS trim is available on 110 models and bundles a host of luxury and convenience features together including heated-and-cooled front seats, leather-and-cloth upholstery, three-zone automatic climate control, an adjustable air suspension, and adaptive cruise control. Land Rover is also introducing a new, optional 11.4-inch infotainment display this year and will offer even more accessory exterior packages for customization. An even larger, three-row Defender 130 model is on the horizon, but we aren't sure when that SUV may debut. The Trophy Edition model also joins the lineup this year, but only 220 examples will be available and they all come with a complimentary entry to a Land Rover off-road competition in North Carolina that will take place in fall 2021.

Bellissimo! Magnifico! Stupendo! All of these exclamatory Italian adjectives apply to the positively beautiful Ferrari Roma. The shapely coupe is the latest model to come out of the company's Maranello headquarters and named after the country's capital—Rome. While its sheet metal recalls Ferraris from the 50s and 60s, the grand tourer also hides serious performance hardware and cutting-edge technology. A 612-hp turbocharged V-8 is at its heart and specifically tuned to make beautiful music. Likewise, its lightweight components and myriad dynamic systems aim to make the Prancing Horse badge proud. The 2021 Roma is an all-new model set to bolster the Ferrari portfolio. This gorgeous GT takes inspiration from some of the company's most influential designs and marks a return to timeless styling. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Stuffed under the Roma's lengthy hood and mounted near the middle of the car is a turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8 that makes 612 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (a.k.a. DCT) that debuted on the even more exotic Ferrari SF90 Stradale. While we've had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Roma, we haven't had a chance to test its performance at the track. Still, our drive taught us that this Ferrari can be enjoyed during a nonchalant cruise or raced around winding corners. Its high-revving V-8 produces glorious sounds, and the DCT quickly adapts to requests for snappy gearchanges. While its steering was light on effort, we appreciated the helm's directness and precision.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender might look reminiscent of the 1950s original, but in reality it is a completely modern, high-tech off-roader with unique curb appeal. A trio of engines is offered—a turbocharged four-cylinder, a turbo-and-supercharged six-cylinder, and a supercharged V-8—and all come standard with four-wheel drive. The Defender can be had in two-door 90 and four-door 110 body styles, and advanced-duty off-roading equipment is available on all models, including an adjustable air suspension and locking differentials. There aren't many SUVs that are as capable as the Defender, and they mostly come from Land Rover's lineup. Some may consider the Jeep Wrangler a cheaper alternative, but the Defender has it beat when it comes to on-road refinement and available luxury appointments. Land Rover is introducing a V-8 engine into the Defender lineup for 2022: the 518-hp Supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that's found in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. The V-8 will be available on both the two-door 90 and four-door 110 models; a high-end Carpathian Edition model will also sport the V-8 engine. The package enhances the Defender with Carpathian Gray exterior paint with a black-painted roof and tailgate, black-painted tow hooks, Xenon Blue brake calipers, and special Carpathian Edition badging. A new XS trim is available on 110 models and bundles a host of luxury and convenience features together including heated-and-cooled front seats, leather-and-cloth upholstery, three-zone automatic climate control, an adjustable air suspension, and adaptive cruise control. Land Rover is also introducing a new, optional 11.4-inch infotainment display this year and will offer even more accessory exterior packages for customization. An even larger, three-row Defender 130 model is on the horizon, but we aren't sure when that SUV may debut. The Trophy Edition model also joins the lineup this year, but only 220 examples will be available and they all come with a complimentary entry to a Land Rover off-road competition in North Carolina that will take place in fall 2021.

Porsche's asphalt-storming second-generation Panamera benefits from a few powertrain updates and subtle styling changes this year, and Stuttgart sent us three versions for Car of the Year evaluation: a base model, now with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 (replacing the previous 3.0) making 325 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque; a GTS with its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 fortified by 20 ponies to make 473 hp along with its carryover 457 lb-ft of torque; and a Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo wagon. The 4S E-Hybrid is a new trim level powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 plus an electric motor, good for 552 horses and 553 lb-ft. Plug-in hybrid versions now benefit from an 18.0-kWh battery pack versus the 14.0-kWh pack of 2020 models, increasing their electric-only driving range from an EPA-rated 14 miles to 18.

BMW has made a few significant improvements to members of the 5-Series family to help improve performance for 2020. On one end of the spectrum, the M550i model receives a power bump from 456 horsepower to 523; on the other end of the spectrum, the 530e plug-in hybrid model receives a larger 12-kWh battery pack. Other changes to the lineup include a list of new standard features, including a digital gauge display, in-dash navigation, and keyless passive entry. M550i models receive heated front seats as standard and also now come with the M Sport Differential. The diesel 540d model has been discontinued.