The best (and worst) cars of 2012

Me and the 2013 Lexus GS350 F-Sport

2012, it's almost over and the year 2013 is fast approaching. It's going to be a brand new year loaded with brand new cars and some of another firsts I might be expecting soon. Right now, I was on a middle of a crunch right now, deciding to make a list of the best cars and the worst cars launched in 2012. First off, let's begin with the best cars launched in 2012, the cars that surprised me the most in the year 2012. Here's the list that I made of and promise me, I'm not making the ranks because it will be in an unordered list.

THE 12 BEST CARS OF 2012

1) Ferrari F12berlinetta - As a replacement to the aging 599, it is once said that the Ferrari's newest flagship, the F12berlinetta, lapped the Fiorano Test Track faster than the Enzo or the 599 GTO.

2) SRT Viper - The year 2012 sees the return of the venerable American sportscar, the Viper, with its new look, new engine, and everything that makes it new. The sad fact for this newcomer is that it's not quite as deadly as the Corvette C6 ZR1 but who cares? The 2013 SRT Viper will keep on yelling VIPERS RULE by its heart desires.

3) Toyota 86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ - Toyobaru joint venture pays off to create a lightweight FR sports coupe that stirs a lot of sensation. Too bad it never won the 2012-2013 Japan COTY because the CX-5 took home the award but still it has a special award from the committee.

4) Mazda CX-5 - This full-SKYACTIV Mazda revolutionized the world with its newly developed SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine that promises better fuel consumption without compromising performance. Such clean diesel technology had propelled the CX-5 to win this year's Japan Car of the Year.

5) Lexus GS - the 2013 Lexus GS marks a brand new chapter in the history of Toyota's luxury brand because this is the first ever model to come with a brand new signature front face known as the "Spindle Grille". It is one of the cars I had fell in love with not only because Lexus has changed but because it tries to behave like a different executive sports saloon targeted for the middle-aged execs.

6) Renault Clio - the fourth generation Clio is probably one of my favorite cars of 2012 not only because it looks much more sexier than its predecessor but feels good in terms of its driving feel. Next year sees the estate version and the Renaultsport version, which I heard it has the 1.6L DIG Turbo engine that came from the Nissan Juke.

7) BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe - A little late for the party though but this four-door saloon version of the current-generation 6-Series tries to be a civilized four-door coupe even though it was labeled as 6-Series.

8) Toyota Crown - If I can ignore the ghastly looking grille and if I can ignore the one-off pink color from its launch party since Christmas Day, then this 14th-generation Crown would be my pick for 2012.

9) BMW M6 F12/F13 - Reason why I've included this latest version of the BMW M6, in coupe and cabriolet trim, is because this new model is getting to win my heart more than the current M5 even though they both have the same 4.4L V8 twin turbo engine that produces more power than the outgoing V10 engine it replaces. It's becoming the most satisfying M6...yet but it needs to be more tamed.

10) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - Even though it's not quite powerful and quicker than the 2013 Shelby GT500, the ZL1 is one of the track-focused muscle cars ever made probably it has this Magnetic Ride Control that came from its big brother, the Corvette ZR1. As an everyday car, the ZL1's suspension really responds from the way you're driving. Needless to say, this serious performance version of the Camaro really got the respect it deserves.

11) Ford Focus ST - A 5-door high performance hot hatchback based on the third-generation Ford Focus is my pick because this car has a starring role in The Sweeney movie, probably. Nah, it's probably because this is the first time Ford made a world-class high performance hot hatch based on the best-selling model from Ford under the One Ford approach. This shouty yellow color really spells TROUBLE when you set foot on the new Focus ST.

12) Peugeot 208 - Not quite a modern day city car for today's economic climate but the new 208 impressed me a lot probably because the only feature I find it very amusing is its available touch screen that behaves like an iPad.

THE 12 WORST CARS OF 2012

1) Kia K9 - Kia may have made its first ever FR executive flagship and available only for selected left-hand drive markets but this new model doesn't say AFFIRMATIVE to me. NO. RIGHT HAND DRIVE MARKETS, SORRY, IT'S NOT FOR YOU. Rear-wheel drive Korean sedans are not made for right hand drive markets. That's the rule.

2) Toyota Porte/Spade - Personally, I don't even like the new model's round shape. I don't even like its Spade twin. I don't even like its behavior. I don't even like it's interior. And I don't even like the way to drive this new model. Only thing I like? The sliding door on one side.

3) Hyundai Santa Fe - Sure, the third-generation Santa Fe (codenamed DM) maybe the best looking Santa Fe ever but to me this car really annoyed me a lot not because of its performance but because of how many smugglers attracted by this. HARI now offered one of these but idiot smugglers want to smuggle one of these because it has a sat-nav system, something that the one HARI offered didn't have. Back off, morons from India and Malaysia. We still don't have any confirmation yet...Fluidic Inokom Santa Fe? Not a chance...You just have to wait very longer...

4) Ford Escape - I was gonna hope that this new third-generation Ford Escape was enough to be the better alternative to the Chevy Equinox probably because its 1.6 EcoBoost engine is enough to be more fuel efficient than the Equinox and because it's loaded with features that the Equinox doesn't have but because of numerous recalls regarding the 1.6L EcoBoost's fire risk, guess this new model's losing the rounds...

5) Cadillac ATS - This is the most confusing Cadillac..ever. I thought this was a replacement to the CTS but some say it's not because it's the baby of the Cadillac sedans. I thought that the CTS was made to compete against the C-Class, A4, and the 3-Series but because the current model is now graduated, what else? Never mind about that but still, the ATS is a loser against the new BMW 3-Series. LOSER!

6) Acura ILX - A Honda Civic with a fancy name and a bigger price tag, who cares about this baby Acura then? Too bad the Buick Verano can easily outsmart the newcomer in terms of price, performance, and features.

7) Fiat 500L - In the past, the L in the classic Fiat 500 model means "lusso" as in "luxury". For this 2013 Fiat 500L, L stands for large because it competes against the Mini Countryman but sadly though, this new 500L doesn't even won my heart even if this model comes with an espresso machine on it. This is one of the most confusing Fiat I have ever seen in my life and who can blame them? The L in the 500L naming...lusso or large? Classic Cinquecento loyalists are taking it cautiously.

8) Cadillac XTS - How could this new flagship model became a front-wheel drive one?

9) Volvo V40 - In the good old days, the V40 name was used as an estate version of the first-generation S40. When Volvo used that name again for its 5-door rival to the Renault Megane and VW Golf, what just happened? Oi! This is not what I meant of...

10) Peugeot 4008/Citroen C4 Aircross - They may look good but they're just a bunch of Mitsubishi RVR's in French outfits.

11) Mitsubishi Outlander - First and foremost, the design of the new Mitsubishi Outlander is probably the worst. What just happened? Oh wait, I said that before but anyway, imagine if your kids saw one of these, they would say "hey look mom! A giant whale!" and then she said "no kids, That's just a car". What could possibly go wrong? He he he....

12) Fiat Panda - James May's perennial favorite is the all new Fiat Panda. Enough said....

...and that does it. These are the best and worst cars launched in fiscal year 2012. Let's hope that 2013 sees a year of bigger opportunities (or doubts) for the motoring industry. Until then...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!