2016 rivalries already brewing
LEXUS LC 500
This zany looking Lexus might look like a concept car destined for the autoshow floor, but its actually the production ready version. The LC500 is slated to be a flagship GT car, with a whole bunch of comfort and luxury options crammed into the 2+2 layout. It has rear wheel drive and is powered by an all-aluminum 32 valve V8 putting out 467 HP and 389 lb-ft of torque. It wont move as quickly as the shape suggests, but it will definitely bump heads with Merc's S class coupe and BMW's 6 series, not to mention the...
INFINITI Q60
Countering the Lexus LC threat is Infiniti's Q60, with a more dynamic range of powertrains ranging from 4 cylinder turbos to a 3.0 liter twin turbo, 400 horsepower V6 engine. It'll have All Wheel Drive and Infiniti's new Dynamic Digital Suspension, which can be used by the driver to adjust comfort and handling settings to a fine tee. Like the Lexus, it'll have loads of tech and luxury options, and looks the part too. If we had to pick a favourite between the Lexus and the Infiniti, we'd probably pick the Lexus, which seems to offer up more drama.
NISSAN TITAN WARRIOR
It's still a concept for now, but the Nissan Titan Warrior is a mouth watering prospect: raised off-roading abilities, humungous torque figures, and muscly, thuggish bodywork inspired by Nissan's long history in off-roading with pickups and SUVs. The 5.0 liter Cummins turbodiesel V8 puts out 390 HP and 401 lb-ft of torque and gives the Titan a significant power figure to take a jab at its competition, if the Warrior ever gets put into production. Is that likely? Probably, if Nissan is serious about going up against the…
FORD F-150 RAPTOR
The Raptor gets an update for 2017, offering more layout options in the form of the SuperCrew cab. With the SuperCrew you get a lengthened wheelbase, greater interior space and more comfort options. With all that more weight, Ford claims the power to weight ratio is much improved thanks to the Ecoboost technology under the hood. The 3.5 liter Ecoboost turbo V6 puts out 365 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to conquer any terrain you throw at the Raptor. It's a great call, replacing the humungous 6.2 liter V8 in the current Raptor with the smaller, infinitely more efficient Ecoboost V6.