A look at the strongest new car models since, well, ever
BEGINNER LUXURY CAR Mercedes-Benz C-class The old C-class used to look a little cheap, like a run-of-the-mill sedan dressed up for prom. Not so with the fully redesigned entry-level Benz. The new C-class comes in three versions, the best of which is the C350 Sport, with a 268-horsepower V-6 and a seven-speed transmission. From $37,275
RACE CAR Porsche 911 GT2 The most powerful 911 of all time. Need we say more? If you insist: How about 530 horses and a top speed of 205 miles per hour? With those kinds of numbers, does cost even matter? A minor warning: The GT2 is one angry machine. It’s the one 911 that could cause fits in inexperienced drivers. $191,700
REBORN STEALTH SPORTS CAR BMW M3 It has been an agonizingly long time since the last wholly new M3, but the wait was well worth it. The all-new M3 is bigger, faster, and—most surprising of all—less angry. It’s more refined than ever, feeling every bit as accessible as a regular old 3-series. It may have a carbon-fiber roof, but it’s also perfectly suitable for commuting to work. $60,000 (est.)
NEW STEALTH SPORTS CAR Lexus IS F This is the first Lexus to wear the F badge, the Japanese brand’s new in-house tuning arm that takes ordinary Lexuses and makes them sportier by amping up the power, tightening the suspension, and fattening the tires. Think of it as more or less the Japanese M3, powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 that churns out 416 horses. $63,000 (est.)
BARGAIN SPORTS CAR Subaru Impreza WRX STI Under this nondescript Japanese body lie the inner workings of a race car. This is the turbocharged version of the already quick WRX, with a bigger 2.5-liter engine, variable valve timing, and an SI-drive with three preset modes that tweak the throttle response. It’s nearly as fast on snow or dirt as it is on the street. $34,995
NEW AMERICAN CLASSIC Cadillac CTS Presenting the first American car with an interior to match those rarified walnut-and-leather cabins of Europe: Real wood replaces faux wood, the leather is soft and supple, and there are no unsightly gaps between dash parts. It looks, in fact, far more expensive than it is, and it’s the first in a whole series of overhauled Caddies. $33,000
INTERGALACTIC SPORTS CAR Audi R8 Like something from space, the R8 landed in America last fall as the best new sports car since…well, it’s hard to remember. It’s the only car to challenge the Porsche 911 in its combination of performance and ride quality. It has 420 horses, all-wheel drive, and a cabin so comfortable you could drive the R8 cross-country. $109,000
BEGINNER LUXURY CAR
RACE CAR
REBORN STEALTH SPORTS CAR
NEW STEALTH SPORTS CAR
BARGAIN SPORTS CAR
NEW AMERICAN CLASSIC
INTERGALACTIC SPORTS CAR
