Yahoo Autos Cars we're thankful we drove in 2020
In what's probably one of the biggest understatements of all time, things weren't normal this year in the car world or anywhere. Car shows went out the window, as did press drives across the country and the world. But all the weirdness makes us all the more thankful for what we did get. The car news kept coming, some of it extremely exciting, like a new Bronco, an electric Hummer and much more. And we still got to drive cars and bring you along for the rides. And in keeping with the spirit of the week, we wanted to share the cars we were most thankful to take for a spin this year.
Associate Editor Byron Hurd: This one's a no-brainer for me. My nod goes to the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. I drove some cars that were objectively superior and some that were far more significant to the marketplace, but none that felt quite this special. 2020 was the final model year for the GT350, which gives way in 2021 to the revived Mach 1. Getting a chance to sample this gem of a pony car in its sunset year was a rare privilege, and I would encourage you to do the same should the opportunity arise.
West Coast Editor James Riswick: This choice isn't so much the car, but where I drove it. When looking for a suitable drive route and story for the Porsche 718 GT4, I decided on driving from Portland to Detroit ... Oregon. It would make for a fun headline and I had read that the scenic route to the little lake-side town of Detroit through the Mt. Hood National Forest was one of the best driving roads in the state. It was indeed and although I didn't stay long, the town was cute and I looked forward to coming back. Four months later, the town of Detroit was reduced to ashes. So too was much of the forest you see in the photos above. This is what Detroit looks like now. I'm grateful I got to make that drive in an appropriately brilliant car when I did.
Road Test Editor Zac Palmer: I never had the privilege of driving a Lotus before 2020. Boy was I missing out. The tiny British company out of Hethel knows what it’s doing. Lotus cars are rare. Not many are sold, and there are so few models that we don’t often get to drive new ones. So, thank you to Lotus for coming out with the Evora GT this year. I can’t compare this iteration to the Evoras that came before it, but I know for a fact that the Evora GT is utterly brilliant.
In a sports car world full of high-tech gizmos and electronic doodads, the Evora GT is a deep breath of fresh air. Many of us get into the car hobby because we love the act of driving. Electronics and tech can sometimes detract from the simplistic connection between the driver and the car. However, new car tech can also make the drive more enjoyable, assuming it’s applied with purpose and in pursuit of a better driving experience. The Evora is the best example of a sprinkling of new car technology being applied to enhance an old-school driving experience.
