ARIEL ATOM

ARIEL ATOM

If you want to get as close as possible to the experience of driving an F1 car on public roads, the Ariel Atom is the best choice. This  little vehicle certainly captures the look of a Formula 1 racer. Its open cockpit, exposed frame and exceedingly low-slung proportions will draw constant attention wherever you go. Thanks to a phenomenally low curb weight of just under 1,500 pounds and a selection of powerful engines – including a thundering 500-horsepower V-8 – it has the performance capabilities to back up its race-car looks.

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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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