2004 Ultimate Street Car Challenge Cars

Over the next 42 pages, you'll become intimate with 10 of the world's most capable cars. They've come from all across North America, from the beaches of Southern California to the plains of Eastern Texas, from the Canadian province of British Columbia to the south side of Chicago. They've come to compete in The Ultimate Street Car Challenge, our annual no-holds-barred, winner-takes-all contest of acceleration, braking, handling, durability, driveability, power and engineering. They've come to fight for the coveted title of The Ultimate Street Car.

This year's combatants are the greatest group the USCC has ever seen. For the first time all 10 are turbocharged, and more than half the field puts the power to the road with all-wheel drive. The 10 cars were chosen by the editors of this publication from hundreds of entries mailed in by readers just like you.

The cars we chose are a twin-turbocharged Volkswagen R32, an STi-powered Subaru 2.5RS, a turbocharged first-gen. Mazda Miata, an R32 Skyline GT-R, an MR2 Turbo, a first-gen. Eclipse GSX, an MK IV Supra Turbo, a third-gen. Mazda RX-7 and two Mitsubishi EVO VIIIs. Sounds like a good fight to us. No, it's better than that. It sounds like the ultimate test to find the ultimate car.

In the following pages, you'll get a close-up look at these extraordinary machines. And next month, we'll cover the grueling two-day contest from beginning to end. Don't miss a bit of it.-Scott Oldham

If you think your ride is worthy of competing in the USCC, fill out the entry form on page 145. The Ultimate Street Car Challenge 2005 is just around the bend.