ACURA NSX

ACURA NSX

NSX was Japan’s answer to the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the world. In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Honda set out to create a world-class super car. The mid-engine NSX was the triumphant result. A rear-wheel-drive, mid-engine two-seater with a high-tech, Formula 1-inspired V-6 and a lightweight aluminum chassis, the NSX was truly ahead of its time. The car was developed with the assistance and expertise of famed Formula 1 champion Ayrton Senna, which imbued it with even greater motorsports legitimacy.

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FERRARI 355 F1

 FERRARI 355 F1

355 is one the most loved modern Ferraris. Introduced in 1994, it replaced the 348 model. An improvement in virtually every way,  355 combined a gorgeous and dramatic Pininfarina-designed exterior with increased performance and better real-world drivability. The V-8-powered, mid-engine sports car was offered in coupe (Berlinetta), convertible (Spyder) and removable-hard-top (Targa) versions. The 355’s “F1” model is notable for offering one of the first examples of a “flappy paddle” gearbox in a road car. This Formula 1-developed technology allowed for ultra-fast, clutch-free shifting via steering-wheel-mounted paddles.

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MCLAREN F1

MCLAREN F1

Arguably, no road car is more commonly linked to Formula 1 than the legendary –and appropriately named –McLaren F1. Unleashed back in 1992, the F1 was an immediate sensation. Faster, more expensive and more high-tech than anything that came from the company before, the car set the standard for uncompromising, wildly expensive performance machines. Contemporary “hyper cars” — such as the Ferrari LaFerrari, Koenigsegg Agera and Bugatti Veyron — all follow the mold established by McLaren F1. Nearly every significant aspect of the car – from its carbon-fiber monocoque chassis to its 6.1-liter V-12 engine to its unique center-mounted seating position – was directly developed from the British company’s F1 racing program.

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LEXUS LFA

LEXUS LFA

LFA – Lexus’ ultra-high-performance, limited-production super car – hit the streets in 2010. One of the most expensive Japanese vehicles ever produced, it had a starting price of $375,000. In total, only 500 examples of the uber-Lexus were produced. The car featured a 4.8-liter V-10 engine. The ten-cylinder power plant was produced by Toyota Motorsports – the same company that develops the company’s Formula 1 racing engines. Like an F1 engine, the LFA’s V-10 used port-type fuel injection, rather than direct injection like most contemporary high-performance road car engines. The LFA’s stratospheric 9,500 rpm redline strongly evoked Formula 1’s high-revving race machines.

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AUDI A3

Starting price: $29,900

The Audi A3 underwent a significant redesign for the 2015 model year, and it is one of the top German cars sold in America. Consumers can choose between a couple, four-door sedan, and a convertible when buying the A3, and its entry price of just below $30,000 USD is hard to match when looking for a quality German car to drive on the U.S. roadways. The stock engine for the car is a 1.8 liter turbo four cylinder engine rated at 170 horsepower with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Audi does not offer a manual transmission with the car; however, consumers can choose to upgrade the powertrain to a four cylinder rated at 220 horsepower with all-wheel drive or a diesel engine rated at 150 horsepower. The A3 can go from zero to 60 MPH in 5.4 seconds, and its top overall speed is 129 MPH. The fuel efficiency of the vehicle is above average with a 24 MPG (city) and 33 MPG (highway) rating.

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