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Road & Track names its 2013 Performance Car of the Year

Road & Track recently staged its first annual Performance Car of the Year test, pitting 13 new and updated performance cars against each other on track, then graduating the top six to a road test before picking a winner. Additionally, the magazine staff picked the best automobiles of the year in eight categories.
But first, let's cover the PCotY segment. Here's the list of cars brought to the comparison test: Audi R8 V10 Plus; BMW 435i; BMW M6 Competition Package; Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51; Ferrari F12 Berlinetta; Ford Fiesta ST; Jaguar F-Type V8 S; Jaguar XFR-S; Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Wagon; Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series; Mini John Cooper Works GP; Nissan GT-R Track Edition; and Porsche Cayman S.
To find out the results of the comparison, head over to Road & Track's website or check the press release below, where you'll also find the magazine's top-rated vehicles in eight categories. Want more? Head over to the 2013 PCotY hub. But before you do that, take a stab at guessing the winner of PCotY (we'll give you one hint: it isn't a Porsche).

Ferrari confirms Vettel in, Alonso out

For the past several months, a big shift on the Formula One grid has been rumored for next season, but with a big piece of the puzzle now confirmed, much of the speculation can end. Ferrari has announced that it is parting company with Fernando Alonso and bringing in Sebastian Vettel to take his place. The move is a big one for both drivers – each multiple World Champions in their own right – who have lead their respective teams for half a decade now, Alonso coming second in the championship three times with Ferrari, and Vettel having scored four consecutive titles with Red Bull. Vettel has long been a personal protege of former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, having won his first grand prix in a Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso at Monza in 2008. Now confirmed by the Scuderia for a three-year deal, Vettel will be driving next season alongside Kimi Raikkonen, who won the title for Ferrari in 2007. That was the same year in which Alonso last drove for McLaren, the team for which he's all but confirmed to be driving next season. The announcement from Woking reportedly hinges on the team's decision over who will drive alongside him, between Jenson Button, Kevin Magnussen or another driver altogether. The confirmation from Ferrari does, however, put to rest wild rumors that the series would move to three-car teams and that Maranello would field Alonso as well as Vettel and Raikkonen. Welcome Sebastian – Vettel and Raikkonen 2015 driver pairing Maranello, 20 November 2014 – Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement of three years duration with Sebastian Vettel, who will drive for the team as from the 2015 season. The driver line-up next season will consist of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. "Scuderia Ferrari has decided to put its faith in the youngest multiple champion in the history of Formula 1" – commented Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal, Marco Mattiacci. "In Formula 1 terms, Sebastian Vettel is a unique combination of youthfulness and experience and he brings with him that sense of team spirit which will prove invaluable when, together with Kimi, they tackle the challenges awaiting us, as we aim to be front runners again as soon as possible.

Drive goes sideways, shreds tires in a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Ferrari has built a monster with its F12 Berlinetta, a V12-powered grand tourer that has the looks of a supermodel and the firepower of a small country. And while it's been on the scene for a minute, Drive's Chris Harris wasn't going to turn down the opportunity to hoon a 740-horsepower prancing horse around the scenic Anglesey Circuit in Wales.
In fact, not only was Ferrari nice enough to loan Harris the F12, but it threw in an extra four sets of tires, just for him to destroy while taking moving pictures. The resulting video is indeed one to watch, not just because of the ample amounts of slow-motion drifting, but because Harris, as always, does a great job of making the viewer feel like they're actually along for the ride. Take a look below for the latest video from Drive.