Speed, beauty, comfort, tech and pure, undiluted driving pleasure were the key ingredients, as we took to the roads around the Côte d’Azur with the finest vehicles of the moment and our esteemed panel of experts. But what were our findings?
The past year has seen some of the most spectacular cars ever come to market: vehicles which up the ante when it comes to engineering excellence and sheer excitement. In 2025, we saw an increase in the use of hybrid technology to create some of the most potent powertrains to date, a step change in design and more manufacturers blending innovation with heritage. For enthusiasts and collectors alike, it has been a year defined by ambition and glorious excess—making the task of identifying the truly exceptional cars a challenge but also a privilege. That pleasure fell to our panel of judges at Robb Report’s third Car of the Year event in Monaco.
Setting off from The Maybourne Riviera—perched high on the hills overlooking Monaco—our preeminent panel got to grips with 10 cars, each crowned winners in their respective categories, including Best Hybrid Car, Best Luxury SUV and Best Sportscar. Making our way onto the roads that snake along the coastline and the hills above the Principality, we cast our judgement on each car. Leaving nothing on the table, the panel evaluated everything from aesthetic appeal and interior quality to the ride, comfort, ergonomics, materials, performance and pure pace, as well as the “intangibles”— enjoyment factor, desirability and collectability, to name but a few.
While only one car could be crowned overall winner, discover how the top 10 faired on an unforgettable day of driving on the Côte d’Azur.
Best Road-Legal Track Car: Dallara Stradale D50
Engine: 2.3-Litre Turbocharged Inline-Four
Power: 400 Hp Zero To 100 Km/H: 3.2 Seconds
Top Speed: 280 Km/H
Price: From Around €213,000
It’s difficult not to stare at the Dallara Stradale D50. Part Le Mans race car, part otherworldly spaceship, the undiluted, lightweight sportscar is built by a marque whose pedigree spans IndyCar, Formula 2, Formula 3, Le Mans and even Formula 1. With a turbo-charged 2.3-litre inline-four engine, the D50 channels 400 hp and 500 Nm of torque through a featherweight chassis that weighs just 855 kg. As anyone with racing experience knows, weight saving is everything and the D50 capitalises on this beautifully, completing the 0–100 km/h dash in a mere 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 280 km/h. Every element, from the EXP Aero Package that maximises downforce to the razorsharp steering, is about grip, precision and driver engagement.
In the cockpit, you’re impossibly low to the road, with the absence of a roof or windscreen amplifying the sense of excitement and occasion. The roar of the engine reverberates as we push a little more around each corner of Monaco’s twisting, hillside roads. The car demands focus but thanks to plenty of grip, it also inspires confidence, making it hugely rewarding to drive fast.
The Dallara Stradale D50 is not a car for the faint-hearted or for the comfort-seeker but it is the closest thing to a road-going racecar that’s both reactive and ferociously fast. For those chasing pure, track-bred excitement in the open air, the Dallara Stradale D50 remains unmatched.
Best Performance SUV: Audi RS Q8 ABT Legacy Edition
Engine: 4.0-Litre V8 Biturbo
Power: 760 Hp Zero To 100km/H: 3.3 Seconds
Top Speed: 320 Km/H
Price: Around €320,000
Fast SUVs are hardly in short supply these days, so cutting it in the sector is hard work: but the Audi RS Q8 is a compelling proposition—especially when it’s the version that’s been enhanced by German performance specialist ABT Sportsline, meaning an upgrade in power and handling as well as exclusivity (only 125 units are available worldwide).
Large enough to house a family, subtle enough to fly under the radar (spec dependent, of course), handsome and particularly potent, the RS Q8 is proof that you can have it all when it comes to a fast and large car. Sitting at the top of Audi’s SUV family tree, this example is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, delivering up to 760 hp, which is enough to propel the two-and-a-half-tonne behemoth to 100 km/h in around 3.3 seconds.
With the performance package, the top speed is a heady 320 km/h, while adaptive air suspension, active roll stabilisation and Quattro all-wheel drive work collectively to help deliver plenty of grip and keep the SUV composed through the corners. True to Audi’s form, the V8’s relentless surge feels effortlessly fast rather than aggressive, meaning this RS Q8 is particularly adept at making big distances disappear with ease.
Visually, the widened arches, honeycomb grille and oval exhausts hint at the performance potential, while the cabin delivers Audi’s trademark blend of craftsmanship and technology. Few cars manage to marry performance, luxury and real-world usability so well, making the Audi RS Q8 one of the most complete highperformance SUVs on the road today.
Best All-Round Performance GT: Porsche 911 Turbo S
Engine: 3.6-Litre Twinturbo Flat‑Six
Power: 701 Hp Zero To 100km/H: 2.5 Seconds
Top Speed: 322 Km/H
Price: Around €275,000
Porsche was particularly keen to push the Turbo S as the greatest all-round 911 at the launch in 2025, and it wasn’t wrong. This 701 hp grand tourer turned track day warrior is capable of whipping around a racetrack for a couple of hot laps before turning off for a cross-country dash in complete comfort. It’s the most powerful 911 to date, with 60 hp more at its disposal than the previous Turbo S, with much of that power coming from two electrically assisted eTurbos that eradicate any trace of turbo lag. It’s enough to take the Turbo S from 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds (0.2 seconds faster than its predecessor) and on to a top speed of 322km/h.
Despite the power, it isn’t daunting to drive. It doesn’t feel precious or highly strung, like so many other cars with this kind of power to offer. Instead, it works with you and inspires confidence, the four-wheel drive keeping the car stable through corners and on straights under full throttle.
When it comes to styling, it’s more industrial than elegant but it looks like it means business. The Turbo S gets vertical gills at the front, a gaping rear diffuser, new titanium exhausts and widening slats either side of the rear, which all have a functional role to play. On the inside, it’s much the same as any other highly-specced 911 in the range aside from the smattering of Turbo S badges and appearance of new ‘Turbonite’ coloured trim. Bearing one of the most legendary badges in Porsche history, this is a worthy ancestor of the mid-1970s legend.
Best Hybrid Supercar: Lamborghini Temerario
Engine: 4-Litre Twinturbo V8 Twinned To Three Electric Motors Powered By A 3.8kwh Battery
Power: 908 Hp Zero To 100km/H: 2.7 Seconds
Top Speed: 343 Km/H
Price: €258,403 Plus Vat
The Temerario is a bold reimagining of the mid-engine supercar for Lamborghini, fusing electrification with classic Italian heritage. Stemming from the same bloodline as cars like the Miura, which turns 60 this year, the Temerario takes over from the much-loved Huracán. As the marque’s first super sports car to be equipped with a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine paired with three electric motors—one feeding each front wheel and one between the engine and the transmission—the Temerario’s powerplant produces a combined output of 908 hp.
Out on the road, that translates to a 0-100 km/h sprint in 2.7 seconds and a top speed in excess of 340 km/h, figures that place it firmly among the fastest road-going Lamborghini models. The hybrid system provides instant torque, making the Temerario’s take off almost instant, while the V8 is there in all its combustion-engine glory as it revs towards 10,000 rpm.
Packed with the latest in active dynamic technology, the Temerario is a force, with styling to match. Channelling classic Lamborghini wedge proportions with its angular, cut-away rear end, Lamborghini’s latest creation is every bit as exhilarating as you’d expect a 900 hp-plus super sports car from Sant’Agata Bolognese to be.
Best Lightweight Sports GT: Lotus Emira
Engine: 3.5-Litre Supercharged V6
Power: 400 Hp Zero To 100km/H: 4.3 Seconds
Top Speed: 290 Km/H
Price: From Around €119,000
Lotus is a marque steeped in motorsport success, with the roots of its road car division stretching back to the early 1950s. Channelling that spirit, the Emira remains one of the purest expressions of lightweight sports-car engineering on sale today, balancing driver involvement with everyday usability.
Powering the top V6 models is a 3.0-litre supercharged V6, with a 6-speed manual (automatic is an option but stick to manual for full driving feel), which delivers 400 hp, giving a 4.3-second 0-100kp/h time and 290km/h max speed. While that’s not all that much on paper, it feels much faster in practice thanks to its low mass and neat handling.
When it comes to looks, it’s easy to see the Lotus lineage—there are strong nods to Lotus’s landmark cars like the Elise and Exige, alongside sculpted surfaces that hint at aerodynamic efficiency. Inside, the cabin feels snug yet refined, with quality materials and ergonomics, all focused towards the driving experience. In a world of increasingly heavy sports cars, the Emira’s blend of agility, involvement and performance buck the trend, making it still a standout performer in its class.
Best Four-Door GT: Ferrari Purosangue
Engine: 6.5-Litre Naturally Aspirated V12
Power: 715 Hp Zero To 100km/H: 3.3 Seconds
Top Speed: 310 Km/H
Price: Around €390,00
The Purosangue broke every mould when it first rolled out of Maranello. It was a high-riding, four-door Ferrari that was surprisingly practical, yet it still had thoroughbred V12 at its heart. Delivering 715 hp from its thunderous, 6.5-litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine, the Purosangue can touch 100km/h from standing in just 3.3-seconds and on to a top speed of 310 km/h. Out on the road, it settles down for longer drives comfortably, using only a fraction of its power, but flick the metal ‘manettino’ on the steering wheel into Sport or Race mode and the Purosangue really comes alive.
The adaptive suspension and rear-wheel steering tame the extra weight and size on twisty roads, making the Purosangue remarkably easy to drive on the narrow coastal roads of the Cote d’Azur. Steering is sharp and precise, with plenty of grip from the trick four-wheel drive system. While it’s less aggressive than other cars in the Ferrari stable, it doesn’t claim to be an all-out supercar. It took over from the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, so its ability to carry four adults in comfort is refreshing, particularly for a Ferrari.
On the inside, its unconventional dashboard is divided into two ‘pods’ with the driver focused on the dials, while the passenger plays with the in-car entertainment via a 10-inch display. For those in the market for a fun family car, look no further than the Ferrari Purosangue.
Best Hybrid Convertible: Mclaren Artura Spider
Engine: 3.0 Litre Twin-Turbocharged V6 + 70 Kw Electric Motor Powered By \ A 7.4 Kwh Battery
Power: 690 Hp Zero To 100 Km/H: 3.0 Seconds
Top Speed: 330 Km/H
Price: Around €272,00
When hybrid power first hit the supercar market, there was reason to worry. Hybrids add complexity and weight, while contrasting with the visceral, raw nature of most highly strung combustion engines. But the McLaren Artura quells those fears. At its core is an innovative 3.0-litre twinturbo V6 paired with an electric motor, that produces a combined 690 hp and 720 Nm of torque. This hybrid powertrain launches the lightweight two-seater from 0–100 km/h in a mere 3.0 s, before topping out at 330 km/h.
On the road, the Artura Spider is electric in every sense. Acceleration is instantaneous, the surge of power blending turbocharged combustion fury with electric torque. Steering is sharp and precise, while the adaptive suspension balances the car in the corners. Drop the retractable roof and the cabin fills with a surprisingly satisfying V6 engine note, bringing theatre without feeling too exposed.
Despite its pace, the Spider is every bit the driver’s car. It’s nimble and easy enough to place on the road. Far more than a topless supercar, it delivers a driving experience that is both emotionally compelling and technically advanced.
Third Place Winner: Bentley Continental GT Speed
Engine: 4.0-Litre V8 Engine + 140 Kw Electric Motor Powered By 25.9 Kwh Battery
Power: 771 Hp Zero To 100 Km/H: 3.2 Seconds
Top Speed: 335 Km/H
Price: Around €312,000
While there are many machines on the market that will happily devour vast distances with pace, poise and polish, few seem to savour it quite like the Bentley Continental GT Speed does. When the latest iteration burst onto the scene in 2024, it was the first Continental to sport the new, hybrid 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which was paired to a 25.9 kWh battery pack. Controversial, you might think, especially given the Continental Speed was always known for its era-defining six-litre W12—but this is a car that converts all who get behind the wheel, without exception.
With an electric-only range of up to 80km, the hybrid system adds quiet and calm at low speeds around town but, more importantly for Bentley traditionalists, the combined output of petrol and electric power when you get going is spectacular. Total power is a formidable 771 hp, ensuring performance remains every bit as compelling as the numbers suggest.
Still handsome to look at and composed through corners, the Continental GT Speed is devastatingly quick in a straight line. Leaving our judging panel in rare agreement, Bentley’s latest take on the grand tourer stands not just as an evolutionary step forward, but as the most complete expression of the model to date. Effortlessly fusing opulence, serenity and serious speed, it is a car that knows exactly what it is—and executes that vision with consummate confidence.
Second Place Winner: Mercedes-AMG GT E 63 S E Performance
Engine: 4.0-Litre Twin Turbo V8 + 6.1 Kwh Battery
Power: 816 Hp Zero To 100 Km/H: 2.8 Seconds
Top Speed: 320 Km/H
Price: Around €218,000
In keeping with the trend for hybridpowered sportscars, Mercedes waded into the Car of The Year battle with the AMG GT 63 S E Performance. Taking its tried and tested long-bonnet, two-door formula, which can trace its roots back to the legendary 300 SL, the carmaker has amplified it with the help of electrification. At its heart sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 paired with a 6.1 kWh battery and electric motor, producing a staggering 816 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque. The result is blistering: 0-100 km/h arrives in just 2.8 seconds, edging out even the AMG One in raw acceleration.
Behind the wheel, the GT feels and sounds reassuringly like its aggressive looks would suggest. Throttle input is met with a near instant surge, owing to the immediacy of the electrically assisted powertrain. The steering is precise, yet weighted with a confidence that belies its size, while the clever adaptive suspension system keeps the car poised through corners.
Unlike many of its direct competitors, Mercedes has managed to blend performance with practicality, adding two small rear seats to expand the cabin to a four-seater sportscar. When it comes to “super tourers”, the AMG GT delivers electrifying speed without compromising everyday usability. In terms of driving thrills, engineering prowess and versatility, it’s among the very best in its class.
First Place Winner: Aston Martin Vanquish
Engine: 5.2-Litre Twin-Turbo V12
Power: 824 Hp Zero To 100 Km/H: 3.3 Seconds
Top Speed: 345 Km/H
Price: From Around €390,000
There are supercar-rivalling grand tourers and then there is the Aston Martin Vanquish. The great British marque’s unapologetically analogue flagship arrived with a thunderous twin-turbo V12 producing 824 hp, which is enough to propel the marque’s flagship from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and on to 344 km/h—the fastest series-production Aston to date.
Boldly beating a different path to hybrid-powered competitors like the Mercedes-AMG GT E 63 s e Performance and Bentley Continental GT Speed, the Vanquish is a tribute to combustion engine brilliance. Representing a dying breed of V12- powered cars, it puts all that power to work with a clever Boost Reserve system that keeps the turbos primed, resulting in an instant hit of acceleration and adrenaline. It feels visceral, mechanical and unfiltered—and yet, demands respect, too.
Our panel agreed it was a car for the true drivers, with traction systems that are adjustable rather than intrusive. Carbon-ceramic brakes rein in speed with ease, while the steering is weighty and precise. It’s a big car, which means the Vanquish remains a true grand tourer, with more than enough space for luggage in the boot and behind the front seats. Inside, it’s comfortable and intuitive, while on the outside, its muscular styling strikes an elegant balance between flair and aggression. As unanimously decided by our panel, the Vanquish is the most emotionally engaging car in our 2026 line-up: hence its place at the top of this year’s podium.
