I have long been a Robb Report reader and I always look forward to and enjoy reading the annual COTY results. The chance to be a part of it is definitely a bucket list event!
I have long been a “Car-Guy.” I bought my second car (’68 Road Runner) without my parents’ knowledge (I didn’t really think that one through) and went on to own several notable brands and models.
I’ve attended the Indy 500, Le Mans, and a Formula1 race in Baku, Azerbaijan. I have raced at Sebring (Viper RT-10 and GTS under Vic Elford’s tutelage), at Blackhawk Farms Racecourse (Porsche 928, Corvette C8 Z51, Ferrari F430, and Lamborghini LP 560-4), Road America (in the Ultimate Street Car Challenge in a Corvette C8 Z51), Orlando Speedworld Oval Track (in a 650hp Chevy Stockcar), the Mountain Mille 1000 mile Road Rally (Corvette C8 Z51), driven the Tail of the Dragon (911 GT3), and with my wife, Karen, did a European delivery of a new Audi A7 and drove it on the Autobahn to Munich for Octoberfest, spent a glorious week last year covering SEMA for my YouTube Channel. I’m a Two-time Land Speed Racing Record Holder at the Arkansas Mile in 2024 which I say qualifies me as being the “World’s Fasted Psychologist.” And my highwater mark was running the Nürburgring in a Porsche 718 GT4 in March.
My 1962 BMW R69S motorcycle and modified 911 Cabrio were concours winners, and my custom built Ducati was featured in The Ultimate Builders’ Competition at the International Motorcycle Show, the Milwaukee Builders Invitational, and in four magazines. As for 2 wheels moving, I earned my amateur racing license at Road America on a Kawasaki Ninja, and I have gone to the Isle of Man and road (not raced) the TT Course on a Yamaha 1200.
Now, for my thoughts on this year’s lineup for the COTY:
Aston Martin Vanquish
The Aston Martin Vanquish is what happens when an English carmaker decides to trade tweed for titanium, morning tea for midnight sprints. Gone are the days of sub-par materials and too much plastic. Slide behind the wheel and everything you’ve been told about British reserve evaporates faster than a whiskey neat at a members-only club. From the first muscular growl of its twin-turbo V12, the Vanquish doesn’t so much introduce itself as announce its arrival a masterstroke of hand-finished opulence and brute-force engineering, all wrapped up in a silhouette that could make a grown man weep into his cravat.
On the track, the Vanquish was equal parts predator and poet, simultaneously capable of pinning you to its sumptuous leather seats and serenading you with the kind of baritone exhaust note that’s less engine, more aria. Cornering is a case study in composure; the steering is so dialed in it feels as if the car is hardwired to your cerebellum. Yet, despite this prowling athleticism, the Vanquish never loses sight of its heritage. There’s a certain British understatement in the way the interior cocoons you subtle carbon fiber accents, perfectly weighted controls, and just enough oldworld charm to remind you that this is, after all, James Bond’s brand of choice. And I got it up to 107 on the straightaway!
The Vanquish is not for the faint of heart or wallet, but for those who appreciate craftsmanship fused with thrill, its allure is irresistible. It’s the kind of car that doesn’t just get you from A to B, but rather makes the alphabet seem insufficient for your ambitions. In a world of goofy digital dashboards and synthetic experiences, the Vanquish stands gloriously analog one part grand tourer, one part rolling sculpture, and all parts unforgettable.
Bentley Bentayga Speed
The Bentley Bentayga Speed is what happens when a stately British marque decides to lob a hand grenade into the genteel world of luxury SUVs. The moment you climb inside, you’re struck by the intoxicating clash of old-world craftsmanship and unapologetic muscularity a kind of Savile Rowsuited brawler who’s just as at home at Le Mans as he is at the opera. The twin-turbo V8 roars to life with the basso profundo of an aristocrat who’s spent a lifetime perfecting his baritone, and the 641 horsepower on tap makes the Bentayga Speed feel less like a luxury conveyance and more like a high-speed land missile with quilted seats.
On the road, the Bentayga Speed is as subtle as a velvet sledgehammer. Plant your right foot, and it launches with a thrust that belies its prodigious weight, swallowing the track with a nonchalance that borders on insolence. The steering is precise, the air suspension soaks up imperfections with a disdainful shrug, yet there’s an underlying athleticism that surprises just when you expect it to waft, it pounces. And while its silhouette might whisper ‘country estate,’ its dynamic capabilities shout ‘continent crusher.’
Inside, the cabin is a sanctuary of tactile luxury: diamond-stitched leather and materials that conspire to make every surface a delight to touch. Yet, this is no mere rolling drawing room the digital displays and high-tech amenities remind you that Bentley is well aware of what the modern driver demands. The Bentayga Speed is not for the bashful or budget-conscious, but for those who desire their power in discreet, British-tailored packages, it’s a master class in both speed and sophistication. Move over, Bond this one’s for those who like their martinis shaken at 190 miles per hour.
Ferrari Purosangue
In a marketplace now bristling with super SUVs, the 2025 Ferrari Purosangue arrives not with a whisper, but with the operatic bravado befitting a Maranello thoroughbred. Slide into its cockpit and you’re greeted by a symphony of Italian leather, carbon fiber, and the kind of ergonomic precision that makes you wonder if Enzo himself had a hand in the seat stitching. The ignition button pulses like a beating heart press it, and the naturally aspirated 6.5 liter V12 erupts in a crescendo that would send lesser luxury SUVs scurrying for the paddock. The Purosangue doesn’t just promise Ferrari DNA; it delivers it in a four-door format that’s equal parts family hauler and tire-shredding stallion.
On the road (and the track), the Purosangue is an oxymoron an SUV that flatly refuses to behave like one. The steering is telepathic, the chassis a marvel of adaptive dampers and rear-wheel steering that shrink-wraps the curb weight into something approaching lithe. Point it at a mountain pass and the Purosangue pivots and sprints, all while serenading your eardrums with the
raw, operatic aria of a twelve-cylinder engine. It’s not just fast it’s impudent, as if thumbing its nose at the laws of physics and the conventions of its own segment. The ride, too, balances comfort and aggression, isolating imperfections without ever muting the mechanical symphony playing beneath your feet.
Inside, Ferrari has staged a coup, fusing performance car minimalism with SUV indulgence. The panoramic roof floods the cabin with sunlight, illuminating a space that feels at once intimate and expansive. The infotainment system is mercifully intuitive, a nod to the fact that even those with champagne tastes sometimes need to navigate Spotify on the school run. But make no mistake the Purosangue is no compromise. It’s a rolling manifesto that says utility need not come at the expense of soul. In a world awash with “sporty” crossovers, Ferrari’s first SUV is proof that you can have your red sauce and eat it too all at a velocity that’ll have the neighbors checking their property lines.
Lamborghini Urus SE
If the Lamborghini Urus SE were a cocktail, it would be equal parts nitroglycerin and Italian espresso, shaken with the kind of brio that makes lesser SUVs run for cover. The moment you lay eyes on its chiseled, origami bodywork, it’s clear this is no wallflower it’s the kind of vehicle that parks itself in your subconscious, all angular menace and athletic poise. Climb aboard and the cabin envelops you in a riot of Alcantara and carbon fiber, each surface meticulous yet deliriously over the top, as if Sant’Agata Bolognese has decided moderation, for once, can take the afternoon off.
Press the starter and the hybrid 4-liter twin-turbo V-8 snarls to life, an electrified beast that pairs instant torque with the kind of guttural soundtrack that would make a Pavarotti encore sound meek. On the move, the Urus SE defies the laws of physics with a ballet of adaptive dampers and all-wheel steering, masking its considerable heft beneath a veneer of supercar reflexes. Point it at a curving stretch of asphalt and it responds with the urgency of a caffeinated greyhound dynamic, lurking, and always ready to pounce. It’s as if Lamborghini has bottled the chaos of a Roman traffic circle and injected it tastefully, mind you into every aspect of the driving experience.
Yet, for all its bombast, the Urus SE is a study in duality. The ride, when taken off Corsa, glides over imperfections with surprising civility, while the infotainment suite is a masterclass in Italian design logic a rarity, and a relief. This is an SUV that’s as happy dashing to the opera as it is chasing lap times at Imola, refusing to sacrifice luxury on the altar of speed. In a world cluttered with “high-performance” crossovers, the Urus SE is a rolling manifesto: utility and audacity, fused by a badge that remains unrepentantly, gloriously Lamborghini.
Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series
The Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series is less a convertible and more a bespoke reverie, stitched together for those who consider “excess” not a warning but a personal credo. I have somewhat of its lesser sibling, a 2025 CLE Cabrio 4matic, which actually shares a surprising number of features, but NOT the engine or the Maybach’s level of enviable sophistication. Slide behind the wheel or should I say, into the embrace of cathedral-stitched Nappa leather so
sumptuous it could spark a diplomatic incident and you’re immediately cocooned in a parallel universe where the laws of gravity and good taste bend to Maybach’s will. The Monogram Series, with its intricate pattern-work and two-tone paint, is a rolling signature: think power suit with the soul of a Savile Row tailor, only the cufflinks are 21-inch forged alloys.
Thumb the starter and the hand built 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 rouses itself, a proper gentleperson’s snarl swelling to a baritone that leaves no doubt about Stuttgart’s commitment to the old gods of internal combustion. With 577 horsepower on tap, the SL 680 doesn’t so much accelerate as it dematerializes from a standstill, accompanied by the discreet whirr of active suspension ironing out every crease in the road. Handling is precise yet indulgent, a kind of athletic opulence that’s more about effortless grand touring than corner-carving theatrics unless, of course, you want to show the neighbors that your monogrammed slippers aren’t just for the drawing room.
Inside, the Monogram Series is an object lesson in how to weaponize luxury. The air is infused with bespoke fragrances, ambient lighting pulses in perfect harmony with your latest playlist, and the Burmester sound system lavishes every note with the attention of a philharmonic conductor. Widgets, toggles, and digital displays abound, but never at the expense of tactile delight everything you touch reassures you that modernity and tradition can, in fact, share the same penthouse suite.
Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre
The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre, a car that doesn’t so much arrive as it materializes, the way a Bond villain’s lair appears out of the fog. Slide past its suicide doors the proper term, of course, is “coach doors” and you’re enveloped in a world that’s more private jet lounge than luxury coupe after activating the console switch to shut those doors. The cabin is a hush of midnight leathers and starlight headliner, the kind of tactile decadence that makes you question the wisdom of standing upright ever again. Every toggle, every sweep of wood grain, feels curated for those who think “bespoke” is a mere baseline for satisfaction. Yet, amidst the chrome and constellations, there’s an electric pulse: the Spectre is a Rolls for the new world, gliding silently with a battery big enough to power a chateau.
On the road, the Spectre doesn’t accelerate; it insinuates itself into the horizon, propelled by torque that arrives so instantaneously, you’d be forgiven for thinking Newton had been outvoted. The steering is a study in nonchalance, as if the front wheels are guided by gentle suggestion rather than mechanical linkage. Handling? Let’s be honest this isn’t a car for apex predators, but one for those who prefer their velocity with a side of serenity. The air suspension swaddles imperfections out of existence, while the electric drivetrain whispers through city and countryside alike, leaving a trail of slack-jawed onlookers and existential crises in lesser luxury cars. The Spectre doesn’t just move; it glides, a silent rebuke to every combustion-powered braggart cluttering the valet stand.
But the real genius of the Black Badge Spectre is its refusal to be defined by its own excess. Yes, there’s cosmic power at your right toe, and yes, the “Black Badge” accoutrements dark chrome, technical fiber, moody trim telegraph that this Rolls is for the iconoclasts, not the aristocrats. The technology suite is as intuitive as a butler’s glance, the amenities so indulgent that your home starts to feel vaguely inadequate. And yet, beneath all that, the Spectre is an electric car with a soul a
rolling manifesto that progress need not come at the expense of pageantry. In a world where luxury often feels algorithmic, the Black Badge Spectre reminds us that true opulence is as much about presence as it is about provenance.
OVC G.T. 350 “Mustang”
It takes a certain audacity to reimagine a legend, but the OVC G.T. 350 “Mustang” doesn’t just tiptoe into the pantheon it kicks down the swinging doors like Clint Eastwood looking for a gunfight. From the first glimpse, the profile is pure Americana, an open letter to the golden era of muscle cars. But this is no nostalgia act. OVC’s take on Shelby’s classic is a meticulous remix, blending period-correct lines with race-bred purpose and function. Chrome glints, hood pins, and swagger, with a stance is so athletic, it looks ready to leap straight off the tarmac for a victory lap.
Shut the door and you’re greeted by an intoxicating blend of analog bravado and big cam roar. The classic buckets with racing belts hug with intent, and how fun to turn a key to start and shit a manual to go! The race-built 289 V-8 erupts in a basso profundo that reverberates through your sternum via straight pipes extending out in front of the rear tires, delivering the kind of pulsequickening drama Detroit once considered a birthright. The manual steering and brakes are a workout that is worth the effort. How nice to actually need to look at the tach again!
On the track, the G.T. 350 is a rolling contradiction an unruly time machine that refuses to be a museum piece. The ride, tuned for spirited motoring, communicates the road’s intentions without ever veering into brutality. OVC has managed what so many retro-modern builds miss: grace at speed, presence at rest, and a soundtrack that’s equal parts thunderstorm and symphony. In an age when the algorithm threatens to flatten every curve and chorus, the Mustang stands as a hand-built rebuke a four-wheeled manifesto that soul, style, and speed are traditions worth continuing, one exhaust note at a time. Thank you very much.
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out:
My Portfolio: https://linktr.ee/drchrisstout
My Website: https://www.DrChrisStout.org
My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrChrisStout including…
• 2022 BWM R nineT – Easy Upgrades, few Tools, No Skills Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG9kpcGSmUvVGQH0DU6gnGC6Oth06zsWP
• Ducati Show Bike Build Series
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG9kpcGSmUvXSh8zoYgF0ypSsSXHiNUKx&si=_XE NghZtTwxbIWiL
• Getting Started in Auto Racing Series (including the Ultimate Street Car Challenge @ Road America, Land Speed Racing, Mountain Mille Rally, Tail for the Dragon, SEMA, and GT4 on the Nürburgring)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG9kpcGSmUvWMPqM4oRzNFL3EMxe91hAK
• Owner’s Review Series - 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 Cabrio 4matic https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG9kpcGSmUvWcNLvbqvWRBGR6ZuDaza16
• Owner’s Review Series - 2023 Corvette C8 Z51 2 LT https://youtu.be/LrOsplnM5N0?si=RJhkP7R-ijkq9dvl
• Living a Life in Full Podcast: http://www.alifeinfull.org/podcast.html
• My Personal Highlight Reel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG9kpcGSmUvUm6tqJEiuRYTi0Ois69LrK
LinkedIn “Tools for Change” Monthly Newsletter, free subscription: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6694600737873309696/
My Global Health Nonprofit, The Center for Global Initiatives: http://www.centerforglobalinitiatives.org/
Please be in touch with if I may be of help: DrChrisStout@gmail.com