Smooth Operator Mercedes-Benz SL65
Packing 604 horses at 5,500 rpm, this rear-wheel drive, five-speed automatic boasts a twin-turbocharged V-12 engine and AMG SpeedShift, which provides 35% faster gear shifts as well as automatic downshifts during braking. With a variety of today’s typical interior cruising comforts, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 races from 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds, tops out at their standard 155 mph, and will drive off the lot for roughly $180,000.
Smartly Suited: Aston Martin DB9
Style, grace, and power equal sustainable presence not just on the road but in the sports car arena. Aston Martin enjoys a significant tradition, with the DB9 promising to outperform even their high standard. Its V-12 engine is encased by a technologically advanced aluminium-bonded body frame–they call it the most structurally efficient frame in the industry. Accelerating from 0 to 62 in 4.9 seconds, it hits top speed at 186 mph. You can power steer it for $155,000.
All the (Road) Rage: Porsche Carrera GT
Using pushrod suspension to enhance road response, the Porsche Carrera GT is fashioned after a racing vehicle and structured for speed. Its chassis, which weighs just over 220 pounds, is built from composite fiber materials found primarily in aerospace applications, making it the first car built around such a framework. It’s a six-speed manual with a maximum output of 605 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and a maximum speed of 205 mph. Revs for $440,000.
Style Stallion: Maserati Quattroporte
Its well-muscled, sporty, four-door design is undeniably Italian. The Maserati Quattroporte is an enhanced and re-engineered throwback to the style of the 1960s, when it was first created. The six-speed manual with an automatic option packs a light and compact V-8 engine, which powers to 170 mph. But with an option of three different woods–mahogany, rosewood, and briarwood–and interiors upholstered with Poltrona Frau leather, luxury is not lost to performance. You can cut the wheel for roughly $95,000.