Now, of course, everything is relative, and my test car is a 2.0-liter, front-drive compact with an automatic transmission on all-season meats, so it's not remotely a sports car.

WSJ: 2012 Mazda3 i Grand Touring Review: It Really Moves the Needle (Not the Gas One) | Rumble Seat by Dan Neil

The car has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

FORBES: Ten Reasons To Buy The Hyundai Elantra GT

The winning design was submitted by Sangho Kim of Pasadena, California, and the result is a car with a 6.2-liter engine, eight cylinders, automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive and 430 horsepower.

CNN: How the Internet built a $100,000 race car

Its power is transmitted to the road via the 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

ENGADGET: Mercedes-Benz GLA concept puts laser projectors in headlights, redefines SUV

The two rivals are developing a high-volume, six-speed automatic transmission suitable for front-wheel-drive cars.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas