Summarize

Choosing Performance car of the year 2019 reveals a quantum leap across the board

As ever, Performance car of the year 2019 – our 20th annual super shootout, chooses the best of all performance cars launched in South Africa over the past 12 months.
Rules are simple – any new driver-oriented or performance car launched into the South African market in the past year qualifies. 
Then the fun begins – we gathered our finalists into three groups of three similarly-endowed cars each, drove them, tested them, evaluated them and deliberated on them in depth to determine which is the most thrilling to drive, most rewarding to experience.
Two glorious days of driving, shooting and evaluation later, we choose the best car from each of the groups to deliver a three-car podium, from which we chose the car that impressed us most of all as the winner.
This year was pretty special though – never before has there been such a quantum leap, we have never broken so many test records as not only did this lot collectively smash our four-cylinder, front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, entry hatch and SUV performance records down our faithful strip, but one of them destroyed several of our all-time records and crushed a significant Pcoty performance barrier too.
So, there you have it, not only is Performance car of the year 2019 done and dusted, but it is also probably the most significant in the competition’s 20-year history. Now it’s just up to you to digest it all and see if you concur.
Take the time to visit www.autobakkierace.co.za to access all the Performance car of the year content online as it rolls out 18-24 December and feel free to have your say at www.facebook.com/groups/pcoty/.  
May the best car win!  – Michele Lupini

“Not only did this lot collectively smash most of performance records down our faithful strip, but one of them destroyed several of our all-time records and crushed a most significant Pcoty performance barrier too”

Image – Michele Lupini

Performance car of the year Class of 2019
Abarth 595
BMW M2 Competition
BMW M5 Competition
Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S
Mini John Cooper Works
RenaultSport Megane
Subaru WRX STI Diamond Edition
Toyota Yaris GRMN
Volkswagen Polo GTI

Performance car of the year Roll of Honour
2000 Audi RS 6 Avant
2001 BMW M3 SMG
2002 Subaru Impreza STi
2003 Mitsubishi Lacer Evolution 9
2004 BMW M3 CSL
2005 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG
2006 BMW M5 
2007 Audi RS 4
2008 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2009 Chevrolet Lumina Ute
2010 Porsche 911 GT2
2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
2012 Jaguar XKR-S
2013 BMW M5
2014 Porsche Cayman S
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C
2016 Jaguar F Type R AWD
2017 Audi R8 V10 plus
2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

Performance car of the year 2019 Schedule
Introduction 
The Lightweights - Online 19 December 2018
The Middleweights - Online 20 December 2018
The Heavyweights - Online 21 December 2018
The Winner & Podium - Online 24 December 2018