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Performance doesn't matter anymore, it's all about the feel

We've just had a week of supercars and high-end EVs revealed. Many of them boast outrageous performance specs. There were multiple vehicles with horsepower in the four-figure range, and not just sports cars, but SUVs with 0-60 mph times under 3.5 seconds. And it's not just a rarified set of supercar builders, comparatively small tuners are also building this stuff. Going fast is easy nowadays and getting easier. So what will distinguish the greats from the wannabes? It's all about how a car feels. This may seem obvious. "Of course it matters that a car should have good steering feel and a playful chassis!" you say. "Why are you being paid for this stuff?" But a lot of automakers have missed the memo. This past week I spent some time in a BMW M4 Competition convertible, and it's a perfect example of prioritizing performance over experience. It boggles my mind how a company can create such dead and disconnected steering; the weight never changes, there's no feel whatsoever. The chassis is inflappable, but to a fault, because it doesn't feel like anything you're doing is difficult or exciting. The car is astoundingly fast and capable, but it feels less like driving a car and more like tapping in a heading on the Enterprise-D. I also happened to drive something of comparable performance that was much more enjoyable: a Mercedes-AMG GT. It was a basic model with the Stealth Edition blackout package, and even though it had a twin-turbo V8 instead of a six-cylinder, it only made 20 more horsepower. The power wasn't the big differentiator, it was (say it with me) the feel. While not the best example, the steering builds resistance as you dial in lock, giving you a better idea of what's happening up front. Pulses and vibrations come back to you as you move over bumpy pavement in corners. The chassis isn't quite as buttoned down, either, providing a little bit of body roll that tells you you're pushing it. It's also easier to feel when the car is wanting to understeer or oversteer, and how your throttle and steering inputs are affecting it. The whole thing is much more involving, exciting and fun. 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Stealth Edition View 8 Photos That's also to say nothing of the Merc's sounds. That V8 is maybe not the best sounding engine, but its urgent churn through the opened-up exhaust gets your heart racing. It also seems like it's vibrating the whole cabin, so you feel it as much as you hear it.

The Lamborghini Trumpventador is gonna be huge

Some voters may choose to declare their support for their favorite candidate with bumper stickers, while others keep their preferences more private (or at least off of the surface of their cars). And then there's this Lamborghini Aventador. No matter how you feel about the 2016 election, can we all agree that a candidate-themed car is a bad idea? This (hopefully) one-of-a-kind Lambo began as a 691-horsepower Aventador. It now features a special wrap prepared by the folks at Superior Auto Design and emblazoned with Donald Trump's likeness and slogans. Star-spangled in red, white, and blue, this Aventador features The Donald's face on the nose and phrases like "you're fired!", "Trump Train" and "Make American GR8 Again!" all over the bodywork. Now if it strikes you as a little odd declaring one's support for Trump on a Lamborghini and not, say, a Jeep Wrangler, you may not be alone. The GOP front-runner has, railed against manufacturing automobiles abroad and repeatedly lambasted Ford for its factories in Mexico. Lamborghinis are, of course, built in Italy. But then again, Trump has owned at least one Lambo himself over the years. The Trumpventador is slated to take part in the 2016 Gold Rush Rally that's scheduled to leave Boston on May 13 and end in LA on the 21st, with stops in Washington, Charlotte, Nashville, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas in between. So keep your eyes open if you're in one of those cities and want to catch a glimpse, or keep 'em shut if you don't. Related Video:

Pope's Lamborghini Huracan raises over $850,000 for charity at auction

Last November, Lamborghini gave Pope Francis a Huracan RWD customized in the white and gold colors of Vatican City. Unsurprisingly, Pope Francis announced it would be auctioned for charity, and that auction occurred this past week. The car rolled across the block of an RM Sotheby's auction and brought in 715,000 euros, which at current exchange rates is about $857,000. View 6 Photos That's a fairly impressive price considering that an entry-level Huracan starts at right around $200,000. Of course, regular versions don't come with such a prestigious previous owner. An owner who signed and blessed it. Plus all the money is going to charity. Actually, make that charities. The money will be split among a group rebuilding villages in Nineveh Plain in Iraq, an organization that helps abused and trafficked women, and two organizations that help women and children in central Africa. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.