It's been an amazing 2011. Because of some amazing opportunities I've had through CultureMap, the Texas Auto Writers Association and a few very generous friends, I've been able to drive a huge variety of different cars this year. Some for ten minutes, some for a week. Here is the list of (more or less, I may have missed a few) every car I've driven in 2011: 2011 Acura TL 2012 Audi A6 2011 Buick Regal Turbo 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon 2012 Cadillac SRX 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible 2012 Chevrolet Corvette 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2011 Chevolet Equinox 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2011 Chevrolet Volt 2011 Chrysler 200 2011 Chrysler 300 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 (electric conversion) 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 (supercharged) 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 392 2012 Dodge Durango Citadel 2012 Dodge Journey 2011 Fiat 500 2012 Fiat 500c 2012 Ford Edge EcoBoost 2012 Ford F-150 EcoBoost 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 2012 Ford F-250 King Ranch Super Duty 2011 Ford Fiesta 2011 Ford Focus 2011 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca 2011 Ford Mustang GT convertible 2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2011 Infiniti G37 IPL 2012 Honda Pilot 2004 Honda S2000 2011 Hyundai Elantra 2011 Hyundai Equus 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec 2012 Jaguar XFR 2012 Jaguar XJ 2012 Jaguar XJ Supercharged 2012 Jaguar XKR 2012 Jaguar XKR-S 2011 Jeep Liberty 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2011 Kia Optima Turbo 2012 Kia Sorento 2012 Kia Soul 2011 Kia Sportage 2007 Land Rover LR3 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged 2011 Lexus CT200h 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid 2011 Lotus Evora 2011 Mazda2 2012 Mazda CX-9 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2012 Mercedes ML350 2012 Mercedes R350 BlueTEC 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 2010 Mistubishi Evolution X 2008 Nissan 350Z 2011 Nissan 370Z Nismo 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X 2011 Nissan Leaf 2011 Nissan Quest 2012 Nissan Titan 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 2012 Ram Longhorn Edition 2012 Ram 1500 2012 Scion TC 2011 Smart ForTwo 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi sedan 2011 Suzuki Kazashi 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2012 Toyota FJ Crusier 2012 Toyota Highlander 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser 2012 Toyota Tundra 2011 Volkswagen Eos 2011 Volkswagen GTI 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan 2011 Volvo S60 T5 2011 Volvo S60 T6
Whew! I've been asked what the best car was, and it's impossible to say. I even thought about giving my own car of the year award just for fun but it would be silly. The Cadillac CTS-V is a brilliant but obvious choice, the 911 GT3 left me tingling for days and the Lotus Evora is the one that I wanted to win. If I were to just choose 'Surprise of the Year' it may come down to the VW GTI or the Ford Focus. Or maybe not.
Look for more content labeled Best of 2011 as the year winds down.