Photos: Performance testing at Laguna Seca

A number of manufacturers brought their cars to the track. Here they are waiting in the paddock for the track to open. The Maserati MC12 sits up front, a two-seater built on the Ferrari Enzo platform and powered by a 6-liter V-12. It is one of 30 built.

The MC 12 screams past the pit lane piloted by race driver Derek Hill, giving his 81-year-old father Phil a ride. Phil Hill is the only American-born driver to win the Formula One Championship.

The Mini Cooper S, though not as fast as the Subaru WRX STI following it, handles well on the track.

The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, even with the Cabriolet top, is a car made for the track. Its rear engine and all-wheel drive make it handle much differently than a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car.

These three cars, a Dodge Viper, Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, and BMW M3, get a chance to pour on the power going up the hill.

The corkscrew is famous for its sharp left turn followed by an elevation drop and a quick right turn. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X heads into the second turn as the Dodge Viper aims itself down the hill.

A Roush Mustang is just hitting the second turn, followed closely by a Nissan 350Z NISMO. Both cars feature track tuning and equipment.

The new Dodge Challenger SRT comes out of the second turn of the corkscrew, while an Audi S5 sets up for the approach.

Mercedes-Benz's latest AMG-tuned car, the C63, hits the apex at the second turn on the corkscrew. This car features a 6.3-liter V-8 naturally aspirated engine putting out 457 horsepower. Its suspension is tuned to handle these corners.

The Audi R8 tears down the track. Its 420-horsepower engine gives it plenty of thrust through the straightaways and coming out of the turns. Its Quattro all-wheel drive and magnetic damping keep it firmly grounded.

A Suzuki SX4 loaded with aftermarket equipment, such as a turbocharger and a carbon fiber hood, sprints up the hill, followed by the Mercedes-Benz C350, a very capable car on the track.

Demonstrating the variety of cars on the track, here's a Porsche Cayenne, a Cadillac CTS, and a Jaguar XKR.

The BMW 135i, which proved a favorite of journalists at the track, cuts towards the apex, while the Dodge Viper sets up for its approach.

The Mazda RX-8 heads across the apex on the turn, with the Audi S5 coming quickly after.

This BMW M3 features the new double-clutch transmission, along with the M3's superb array of handling and engine electronics. The transmission is amazing, offering quick shifts through seven gears.

Journalists put three minis, a Cooper, a Clubman, and a Clubman S, through their paces on an auto cross course in the parking lot. This course involved tight turns and a slalom, all generally run in second gear.

The front tires of the Mini Cooper spin as the driver puts on the power, letting out a high-pitched shriek and the smell of burnt rubber.