Best Sounding Car of 2016: Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2

All arguments in favour of turbocharged supercar engines are settled after just five furious minutes in the Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2.

Boy, does this thing sound the goods – its 5.2-litre V10 makes a noise both exotic and menacing in true old-school supercar fashion. It's also so loud only those with permanent hearing damage would ever consider an aftermarket exhaust. You'll know every tunnel and rock-face in a 20km radius. (And it’s true it doesn’t sound that different to an LP580-4 but the rear-drive baby Lambo is the new one for this year.)

Honourable mention: Holden Commodore SS-V Redline

Compared to the 6.0-litre VF the LS3 SS has proper balls. As well as a proper induction noise, it burbles at idle, crackles on the overrun and just sounds tough.

Best Drivetrain of 2016: Ford Focus RS

For years all-wheel drive hot hatches have been handicapped by Haldex. While each successive generation has been better than the last, and the improvements in traction profound, the Haldex all-wheel drive system still drives the front wheels and shuffles torque rearwards when necessary. Enter the Ford Focus RS.

Its clever ‘Twinster’ system, adapted from the Range Rover Evoque of all places, can send the majority of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels, giving the car a rear-biased feel on corner exit that has so far eluded the hot hatch segment. Drift Mode is a gimmick (we explain why here), but the drivetrain is brilliant.