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Porsche 911 Turbo and Nissan GT-R Nismo star in World's Greatest Drag Race 4

We love Motor Trend's annual World's Greatest Drag Race video. Now back for its fourth appearance, the idea of lining some of the world's fastest cars up for a ten-wide, straight-line, full-throttle run is, well... it's pretty freaking badass.
The lineup this year boasts some impressively fast cars to be sure. The group of ten includes the following darlings: Alfa Romeo 4C, BMW i8, BMW M4, Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Ford Fiesta ST, Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, Nissan GT-R Nismo, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Subaru WRX STI and, last but not least, the Volkswagen GTI. Give us any one of those for the weekend, and we're happy to take the keys.
It must be said though, that for a publication that draws as much water as Motor Trend does, there are some big cars that we might expect to be here instead. The Lamborghini Huracán or Ferrari 458 Speciale would have added some exotic flare to the list, and the omissions of the Chevy Corvette Stingray (for the second year in a row) and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat are real head-scratchers.

2021 Jaguar F-Type R Exhaust Test | Music to a gearhead's ears

Against all odds, England has outmaneuvered America for the most savage and wicked-sounding V8 among the two countries. The 5.0-liter supercharged V8 in the Jaguar F-Type has sounded better than anything since it was popped into the R and SVR. Sorry Hellcats, Coyotes, and small blocks everywhere. Jaguar wins. Ford’s flat-plane crank Voodoo V8 in the GT350 and GT350R might be the only one that can compete on the same playing field. One drive in the 2021 Jaguar F-Type R will have you asking, how is this legal? The sheer level of noise coming out of those four very real chrome exhaust tips ensures every single head turns towards the Jaguar sports car if it hadnÂ’t already. In fact, itÂ’s so loud that we even struggled to record it authentically. You see, flooring it all but overwhelmed our microphone with the deafening roar. The key to hearing what the actual exhaust note sounds like is listening to it rev at a slower rate of speed. Then thereÂ’s the trouble of picking up its glorious overrun full of racecar-like yowls and crackling for days. No matter how you drive, youÂ’re guaranteed to be the most obnoxious individual around. Revving it up to around 3,500 rpm in first gear then releasing the throttle unloads a scary level of pops and crackles that echo throughout entire downtown blocks. ItÂ’s almost like Jaguar figured people would still want to make a stupid amount of noise even if theyÂ’re driving along slowly. This car has no chill. Pulling an upshift anywhere past 4,000 rpm prompts a chainsaw-like, ripping braaaaap that will scare small children and the easily-startled everywhere. It induces endless laughter and enjoyment for the driver behind the wheel. The cliche of "itÂ’ll bring out your inner child" perfectly applies to the F-Type R.  Americans can rest assured that theyÂ’re getting the most savage version of JaguarÂ’s exhaust, too. European F-Types have the required gasoline particulate filters that choke the noise, whereas U.S. cars donÂ’t. Sorry, Earth. If youÂ’ve done much reading on the 2021 F-Type already, youÂ’d know that this updated R actually gets the same engine as the previous generationÂ’s SVR. That means it has 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. However, the exhaust on the new R is different from the old SVR in that itÂ’s slightly tamer. ItÂ’s difficult to fathom a wilder exhaust than the one fitted to this R, but it makes perfect sense to reserve the ultimate noise maker for the ultimate version of the F-Type.

2018 Jaguar XF S Sportbrake Review | Who needs a crossover with a wagon this sexy?

PORTO, Portugal — SUV and truck mania is real — just ask the 63 percent of American buyers who opted for the high-riding vehicles last year. But there has been a recent groundswell of alternative options in the burgeoning wagon segment. Sure, there are lower-end wagons such as the tried-and-true Subaru Outback ($25,895) and the new-kid-on-the-block Volkswagen Golf SportWagen ($21,580). But the 2018 Jaguar XF S Sportbrake competes more closely with the stalwart Mercedes-Benz E400 ($64,045) and the stylish Volvo V90 Cross Country ($52,300). This begs the nagging question: Could wagons become a serious thing in the States? We spent a day bombing through Portuguese backroads to find out how the Sportbrake fares among its niche competitive set. The 2018 Sportbrake is a wagonized version of the second-gen XF sedan that arrived in 2016. While the first-gen model only offered a wagon variant for the European market, the new Sportbrake is a global vehicle that brings a more streamlined, aluminum-intensive architecture to the table and finally gives American wagon lovers the Jag they've been craving. First off, the essential reason we're here: the cargo area. Activate the power tailgate (which uses a one-piece composite tailgate, just like the F-Pace), and the opening reveals a flat surface on all sides with 31.7 cubic feet of storage. Fold the rear seats down, and volume expands to a considerable 69.7 — an increase of 12.6 and 38.4 cubic feet, respectively. For comparison, the Volvo V90 Cross Country offers 19.8/53.9 cubic feet, and the Mercedes-Benz E400 Wagon has 35.0/64.0 cubic feet. Folding the Sportbrake's rear seats down produces a nice, flat expanse for cargo, with no obtrusive humps or bumps on the side. Standard rear air suspension keeps things level when loaded up. Onward to the front seats, where the cabin brings the XF's familiar design with the dashboard rimmed in a curved ribbon of wood veneer — a pleasant touch that offsets the otherwise blase textured aluminum bits on the dash and shifter surround. Of course, there's the love-it-or-leave-it cylindrical shifter that rises from the center console, a confounding bit of design that leaves most PRNDL traditionalists cold. So, too, does the plastic starter button on the dash, one of the few unsatisfying puzzle pieces in the otherwise agreeably finished interior. But fire up the engine, and it's easy to forget these quibbles.