2000 Bentley Continental T

With all that torque underfoot, it's nice to have a system to help you manage it in inclement weather. The optional Active Handling System (AHS) uses several sensors in conjunction with the anti-lock braking and traction control systems to keep the car headed in the right direction when severe oversteer or understeer are imminent.

The new-for-'99 Hardtop with its fixed roof makes for an even stiffer structure than its Coupe or Convertible siblings. As our test numbers bore this out, the Hardtop (which comes standard with the race-style Z51 suspension system) whipped through the 600-foot slalom at an average 68.1 mph, the quickest we've gotten out of a C5 Vette. On the other hand, the improved structural rigidity did nothing to enhance straight-line performance. The 0-60-mph time of 4.8 seconds was identical for both cars and the quarter-mile times were actually better for the Coupe (13.2 seconds at 109.6 mph versus 13.3 at 108.6).

In the end, the Corvette Hardtop (like all '99 Vettes) is a sheer joy to drive and a steal at the base price of under $40,000. The sophisticated feel of the car turns animalistic when you step the throttle to the floor and spin the giant Goodyears into 100 feet of smoldering rubber streaks. Now that's torque.
-Chuck Schifsky

BMW 750iL
361 Lb/Ft @ 3900 Rpm
Silken Fury
Don't be deceived by the 750iL. It's easy to be misled by the sedan's stately, understated styling, to be taken off guard by its cool, businesslike ambiance, or find yourself lulled into a sense of underexpectation by its luxurious pampering. Within its heart, though, lies a beast in waiting. A ravenous 5.4-liter SOHC V-12 ready to be unleashed. Yes, it may be dressed impeccably and speak with an eloquently Teutonic accent, yet it's a raw, primordial force that will widen your eyes, steam your blood, and pin you to your seatback with every bit of the forceful effectiveness of many more overt brutes.

In everyday use, this stately BMW V-12 is the ultimate gentleman. Its civilized and mannerly presence blends harmoniously with the 750iL's overall luxurious character. When called to action, however, it's eager to respond. Producing 326 horsepower and a smoldering 361 pound-feet of torque, this 12-cylinder doesn't explode with power; rather it voraciously consumes blurring pavement in great, long, hungry gulps. Stepping into the throttle is like uncorking a willing genie from its bottle. Its initial smooth lunge transforms into a surreal rush that sharpens your senses, stokes your adrenaline, and doesn't let up until the speedo taps against its limiter at 155 mph. Holding your foot into the throttle is like dipping into a neverending well of pure, sweet acceleration.

Adding to the appeal of this rush is a low, assertive rumble from its exhaust, one that commands respect without resorting to the crass decibel display of more ostentatious cars. With three separate catalytic converters to scrub the emissions, BMW's V-12 is also conscientious enough to earn a California Low-Emission Vehicle rating. Its technological edge is further displayed in such things as an industry-first liquid-cooled alternator that's smaller and quieter, yet generates more power than a conventional unit.

With an MSRP that starts at $92,000, the 750iL is clearly BMW's no-compromise sedan. And seemingly limitless power is only one dimension of its infatuating personality. Passion and attention to detail intermingle throughout. The V-12, for instance, is coupled with a remarkably adept five-speed automatic transmission, equipped with BMW's manually shifting Steptronic system. Complementing the drivetrain are finely tuned underpinnings aided by a self-leveling rear suspension and BMW's Dynamic Stability Control system that integrates all-speed traction control, ABS, and cornering brake control.