Peter Cheney's twelve cars of Christmas

The Model S isn’t just the world’s best electric car – it’s one of the best cars ever built. What’s not to love about the Tesla’s silent speed, brilliant software, and cutting-edge design? And since it uses no gas, the Model S is the gift that keeps on giving.

Since Santa is wrapping 12 cars at least one has to be an outrageously fast supercar. What better choice could there be than the 903-horsepower P1? It has a hybrid powertrain, a carbon chassis, and a wing that rises magically from the tail.

The Daytona Coupe was created by Pete Brock, one of the coolest guys in the car business (Pete’s resume includes designing the Cobra coupe for Carroll Shelby). The Daytona is both elegant and rawboned, with a big-block V-8, huge brakes, and zero driver aids.

Cross a race car with a hang glider, and this is what you get. The Atom’s skeletal frame means that you ride out in the wind, which makes it feel even faster. And with a lightweight, custom-built V-8 engine in the tail, the Atom is a genuine rocket.

It looks like an art project, or a cartoon. But it’s real, and it’s cool. In a world where almost everything is cookie cutter, the Morgan stands out for its originality, authenticity, and soul. I watched a team of elves (well, they were practically elves) at the Morgan factory build an Aero from scratch – it was like Santa’s workshop for gearheads.

Muscle car guys sneer at the Abarth, but who cares? The Abarth is fun, and its design captures the spirit of the original Fiat Cinquecento. It’s an original.

I never thought it would be possible to love a Corvette. But the C7 is fantastic – the 460-horsepower version is more than fast enough, but since it’s Christmas, let’s get the Z06 version with the supercharger – 625 horsepower! Ho, ho, ho, it’s off the track we go…

The original Beetle is a terrible car by modern standards. But the 1966 and earlier cars have old-fashioned headlights and bumpers that gave the Beetle such character. And they’re even slower than later Beetles. Speed isn’t everything.

No other car captures the cool, oddball spirit of French automotive engineering better. The 2CV has less power than some ride-on lawn mowers, but it’s amazing – the shifter juts out of the dash like an umbrella handle, and the engine thrums away under the corrugated hood like doves fluttering in a box. In the 2CV, you always feel like you’re in Paris – even if you happen to be in Mississauga.

Choosing a 911 is like Goldilocks and the 22 Porsches – there are a lot of variants. But the C4S is perfect. The Turbo is faster, but the 911 S has all the power you need for the street, and it makes far more beautiful music. Santa, please add the Sport exhaust. Next to the normally aspirated 911, the Porsche Turbo sounds like the world’s most expensive leaf blower.

The early 1960s were special: the Beatles were on the radio, the moon mission was ahead, and Detroit was making the coolest cars in the world. The Impala convertible is perfect for cruising with friends on a sunny afternoon.

This is the anti-SUV. The V60 R-Spec is a sports car that can haul a family and gear while getting excellent gas mileage. It can also tow a trailer – which is a nice feature for a glider pilot who occasionally ends up in a farmer’s field, like I did last summer.