The top 3 cars of the year chosen by the editor-in-chief of Genroku Web, who is liberal but conservative when it comes to choosing cars [Personally impressed cars of 2024]

GTS helps hone your interpersonal skills

Since I became the editor of Genroku Web, I’ve had far fewer opportunities to test drive cars, but I still managed to drive over 70 cars this year. Among them, I’d like to introduce three cars that didn’t get much attention from the public, but that I think are worth taking a fresh look at.

The first car was the McLaren GTS. I love the solid ride quality of both the McLaren Super Series 765LT and the Sports Series 600LT, and although I haven’t tried the latest PHEV, the Artura, on the circuit, I was sure it would satisfy me! On the other hand, the derivative (sorry) GT was somewhat half-baked in its positioning as a super sports car with the capacity to carry luggage, and I didn’t really like it in the McLaren lineup.

However, I recently had the opportunity to drive the GTS, which had undergone a minor change, and I was amazed at how well it performed. The GTS is equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine that produces a maximum output of 635 PS, and its performance is more than enough. I haven’t tried it on the circuit yet, but I felt that it might actually be pretty good. It tends to get overshadowed by other powerful models in the lineup, but it goes without saying that its original performance is quite high.

Another attractive feature is its practicality, with 150L of luggage space on the front hood and 420L in the rear luggage compartment. However, what attracted me even more was its primitive state. It is not a hybrid, and the steering feel is partially hydraulic power steering, and it does not have a huge touch panel, so it has a refreshing simplicity not found in modern cars. Driving such a car also raises expectations that it will hone your instincts and human skills.

Authentic and cutting edge

Next up is the classic station wagon, the S214 Mercedes-Benz E300 Station Wagon. When a new model is released, the automotive media tends to focus on the most extreme models, and the E-Class’s AMG and budget grades have been a hot topic. However, I’m drawn to the appeal of the mid-range models, which I consider when actually buying one.

Twenty-odd years ago, when I first became a member of the automotive media, I saw the E-Class as a “retirement car” for my older colleagues, and I resolved to buy one myself when I turned 50. However, the test drive car this time had a base price of 11.39 million yen (12.53 million yen including options!). The “lost 30 years” made my dream of buying one seem distant, but the three-pointed star bonnet mascot is still appealing. Its authentic appearance is exactly like the E-Class I admired back then.

The ride quality is also as expected, a nice modernization of the memories of those days. The slow steering and solid, soft ride create a “good car” feel. Meanwhile, the interior features the cutting-edge MBUX, with a 12.3-inch meter display and center display. The extensive ADAS is also appealing, and in contrast to the primitively equipped McLaren GTS, it feels well-balanced.

Cars for special occasions

The last car is a typical example of GENROQ: the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica, which is nearing the end of its model life. Just before the announcement of its successor, the Temerario, we were able to test drive it at Fuji Speedway.

Of particular note is the 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine. A large-displacement, multi-cylinder engine, rare in this day and age, is truly impressive. I actually prefer the EVO AWD, equipped with Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI), which controls the AWD and rear-wheel steering (RWS) in tandem; its unique driving feel feels more substantial than agile. It’s not that it’s sluggish compared to the Huracan RWD without RWS, but rather that it’s reminiscent of a bulky wristwatch packed with intricate mechanisms. In that respect, the RWD-based Tecnica offers a more casual experience of the car’s 640 PS power output.

Even on the somewhat congested Tomei Expressway, the car recorded a fuel efficiency of 8.0km/L. Considering this is a “car for special occasions” rather than a car for everyday use, it can be said to have rather good fuel economy. This car is worthy of Genroku Web’s theme of “cars for the weekend,” and we hope to mark its value in 2024.

Thank you for reading to the end. Happy New Year!

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