Liverpool beat off competition from several other European cities to host the photoshoot, which regeneration officials hope will showcase the city to potential investors.
The magazine was showcased to leading figures in the car industry at the magazine's awards ceremony in London last night.
The What Car? production team visited Liverpool in October to scout locations and meet officials from TMP and the Liverpool Film Office. They were so impressed with the city that they returned in December to photograph cars at locations in the city and in Wirral.
Backdrops include the Pier Head, the new Museum of Liverpool, the Echo Wheel of Liverpool and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

TMP chief executive Lorraine Rogers said: "For the country's biggest consumer car magazine to choose Liverpool over other European destinations for its special publication is a huge coup and presented us with a fantastic opportunity.
"As the stunning images show, TMP worked closely with What Car? to emphasise the incredible renaissance of the city centre. We are delighted with the final results, which will show the magazine's tens of thousands of readers that Liverpool is a truly remarkable and vibrant location.
"The portrayal of the city in this feature enhances our reputation as both a visitor destination and investment location."
The Audi A1 supermini was named car of the year at last night's event.
The reader award for the most exciting car to be launched in 2011 went to the new Range Rover Evoque, six months ahead of the Halewood-built car's launch.
Ms Rogers said: "Advanced manufacturing processes like Jaguar Land Rover's new Range Rover Evoque production line at Halewood underline the city's importance to the automotive industry."
Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of What Car?, said: "Our experience and pictures really confirm that Liverpool is a beautiful, vibrant city that represents the UK brilliantly.
"The results are absolutely stunning - a brilliant set of pictures with stunning backdrops.
"We conduct many photo shoots in the UK and abroad, but the helpfulness and friendliness of everyone we dealt with in Liverpool was better than anywhere else."
Cllr Wendy Simon, Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for culture, said: "We pride ourselves on being a film and photography-friendly city, not just because it is great publicity, but also as it is worth millions of pounds to the local economy as the crews are spending money with local businesses while they are here."