This year's list is a couple of weeks late but this actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise with some major automotive performance debuts and achievements taking place just in time to sneak onto the list. Feel free to check out last year's best and worst of automotive performance list.


Winner: Shelby GT500

Sure, it is not officially on the streets yet but Ford blew us away by giving the GT500 a DCT transmission. This is the first time an American V8 is paired to a dual clutch from the factory by a domestic producer and it will change the game.

Not to mention the car comes with five traction control modes, four exhaust modes, a carbon fiber driveshaft, built in line lock, and Ford won't void your warranty for tracking it.

This is what a car looks like when a company wants enthusiast business. Bolt on examples will get into the 8's. Watch.

Runner-up: Audi TT-RS

The TT-RS is the runner up again but that is only because it is not a new debut. This car is the German GT-R and better in some ways offering greater value, less weight, and a dual-injection fuel system.

As long as it is in production it will be likely be on this list. Audi deserves tremendous credit for what they did and managing to pull it off without getting Porsche angry at them.

Worst: MKV Toyota Supra

The new Supra? Or do we just call it the new Z4 Coupe? How about we just say it is an embarrassment to the Supra name.

Winner: Audi 2.5 TFSI

The winner for the second straight year. Why shouldn't it win? The motor is trapping in the 160's already and tuners are posting 9-second stock turbo results. It's frankly absurd how good this thing is. There is a reason it has won 9-straight International Engine of the Year Awards in its displacement class making it the all-time champ.

As we stated before: Is there a better modern turbo engine? When you factor in the price, technology, lineage, tunability, and performance the 2.5 TFSI is unrivaled.

Runner-up: McLaren M840T

How is an engine in a $300k+ car coming in second place to an Audi inline-5? Well, truth be told in the aftermarket the 2.5 TFSI actually has the faster results. That is insane when you consider a tune only McLaren 720S will run 9.2 @ 152 in the 1/4 mile.

No doubt we will see some incredible 720S times in 2019 but considering it takes over $300k to get where the 2.5 TFSI is for a fraction of the cost value simply has to be factored in.

Worst: Toyota 2UR-GSE V8

Someone please tell Toyota it isn't 2005.


Winner: Ford

You have to give it to Ford this year. From the Ford GT, to the Focus, to the GT350R, to the new GT500, to the Raptor, Ford is providing enthusiast products at all areas of the spectrum.

How about the fact Ford will not void your warranty for tracking your GT500? How cool is that?

Runner-Up: Dodge/FCA

Last year's winner but this year's runner up. They have nothing to be ashamed of other than no longer producing the Viper. Dodge improved the Hellcat with the Red Eye edition and FCA even paired the monster Hellcat V8 to an all wheel drive drivetrain in the Jeep Trackhawk.

They are producing engine swap kits, monster crate motors, you name it. These guys know how to have fun.

Worst: Toyota

There was a time when it seemed this spot would become the BMW lifetime achievement award. Toyota, you actually managed to make BMW look good. What you did with the Supra is a disgrace.


Winner: 3D Printed Engine Internals

3D Printers are going to take on an increasing roll in aftermarket performance part development. We are already seeing 3D printed pistons and rods come to market. Wheels, brakes, valves, etc., the sky's the limit as to what is in store. The best is yet to come.

Runner-up: Carbon fiber and composite connecting rods

Just as 3D Printed engine parts will continue to gain traction so will composite engine parts such as connecting rods. Imagine lightweight rods that will not warp or lose shape. Pretty intriguing, isn't it?

Worst: C7 ZR1 ECU locking tuners out

This is odd to see from tuner friendly Chevrolet but the C7 ZR1 Corvette ECU is posing problems for tuners. Chevy really stepped up encryption and is making it difficult to extract more power. Why? Are they testing to see if they will be able to keep hackers out of autonomous products?



Winner: Mopar Hellephant V8

You can literally get a 1000 horsepower off the shelf motor from Mopar with a warranty and they will help you swap it into your classic muscle car project. They even have a swap kit with an ECU.

It's a beautiful time to be a car enthusiast.

Runner-up: Syvecs S7 standalone ECU's

Thank goodness Syvecs keep expanding their plug and play ECU line as manufacturers are stepping up encryption to an incredible level. Pretty soon we may have no choice but to run a standalone if wanting to tune.


Winner: ETS first to break the 3000 wheel horsepower barrier - World's most powerful GTR dynos 3046 awhp

What do you even say about these numbers? The GTR is in insane territory.

Runner-up: Vengeance Racing twin turbo Gen V Viper sets manual 1/4 mile record with 8.66@174 1/4 mile pass

With everything going to a dual clutch or automatic there is still something to be said for setting records while rowing your own gears.


Winner: Singer

These guys may be out of reach for most ($500k restomod 911's are for the richest of the rich) but what they are doing is incredible. While everyone else is going for more and more power they are going for less and less weight using modern materials to drop a 911 into the 2200 pound range.

Combine that weight with a 500 horsepower naturally aspirated air-cooled flat-6 and you have arguably the world's greatest driver's 911.

Runner-up: UnderGround Racing

They may be arrogant and they may cheat at times but their cars are fast as hell. UGR reset their own 1/2 mile record this past year hitting 259.67 miles per hour. They seem to be playing in a league of their own.

Worst: Hennessey Performance

Read this. Never forget.


Winner: Fabspeed proves you can survive and thrive in the automotive aftermarket without selling your Soul

Runner-up: What is the best BMW F80 M3 / F82 M4 S55 crank hub solution? Comparing Maximum PSI's multi-piece keyed crank hub to Gintani's single piece


Winner: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Nobody thought the GT2 RS record laptime was falling any time soon yet Lamborghini regained their Nurburgring lap crown quickly with the Aventador SVJ (Superveloce Jota). Topping the GT2 RS 6:47.3 lap is no joke and the time to beat is now 6:44.97. When you hold this record, it is hard to argue with your track prowess.

Runner-up: McLaren 600LT

McLaren deserves tremendous credit for not resting on their laurels. They are so far ahead of the game they could easily get complacent yet they just continue to roll out improvement after improvement. The 600LT is their newest effort and it improves on everything the 570S is. It is the best track car for the money in the McLaren lineup and even a value when you compare it to the McLaren 720S, Porsche GT2 RS, or Ferrari 488 Pista.

Winner: Porsche 991.2 GT2 RS vs. McLaren 720S drag race

The 720S seems to be in every good race video but this one is great as it shows two heavyweights slugging it out. You also get multiple camera angles that really do a good job highlighting the acceleration difference. Just a well made video with two of the world's top cars.

Runner-up: Naturally Aspirated beasts - Heads/Cam Gen V Viper vs. Lamborghini Aventador SV vs. Porsche 991.1 GT3 RS vs. Huracan

You can have fun naturally aspirated too!

Here is to hoping for a great 2019 in automotive performance!