Buckle Up, We're Picking our Favorite Sports Cars for 2016
Spring is just around the corner, beckoning us to sunnier days and saying farewell to treacherous snow-covered roads. It’s the perfect time of year to satisfy your need for speed. Here are our favorite road rockets to fit any budget.
Scion FR-S
It’s fun, fast and sexy. The low-slung, rear-wheel drive makes it agile and a blast whipping around corners. Start shifting the manual six-speed at high RPMs (via a 2.0L, 4-cylinder Boxer engine making 200 hp) and enjoy the sensation of a pricier, exotic ride. Bonus: a standard back-up camera and 7-inch touch screen display. We should mention that although the plug was pulled on the Scion brand, the FR-S is still alive and kicking, and will display a Toyota badge in 2017.
0-60mph: 6.5 seconds
Top Speed: 136 mph
Cost: $26,100
Lexus RC 350 F Sport
It’s like Jekyll and Hyde, thanks to an aggressive, rocket-ship exterior and gorgeous interior details (wood trim, perforated leather seats). The nearly silent interior, heated/cooled seats, and smooth suspension is indicative of Lexus’ luxury roots, while the healthy 306-hp V6, high-speed cornering, and responsive paddle shifters make it a savage.
0-60mph: 5.6 seconds
Top Speed: 143 mph
Cost: $46,885
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Porsche Cayman Black Edition
The sweet-looking, black on black Cayman Black isn’t all show. It boasts significant upgrades to the $53,595 Cayman base model, including bixenon dynamic headlamps, park assist, upgraded audio, navigation and climate control, plus a sport steering wheel. The 2.7L flat-six engine puts out 275hp and tops out at 165mph, just like the base model, but the Black Edition offers about $11,000 of upgrades for $6,000 more. The only downside? It’s only available in black. We can live with that.
0-60mph: 5.4 seconds
Top Speed: 165mph
Cost: $59,200
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R
The 526 hp, 5.2L V8 engine is Ford’s most powerful naturally-aspirated production engine, taking this 3,655-pound monster to outrageous speeds, while continuously-controlled MangeRide dampers adjust suspension independently to keep handling on point. While its guts are all business, the interior’s suede details and 8-inch touch screen make it as comfortable on your daily commute as it is on the track.
0-60mph: 4 seconds
Top Speed: 175 mph
Cost: starting at $61,295
Mercedes AMG GT S
The GT S’s 503 horsepower, 4L twin-turbo V8 is capable of pushing this beautiful beast up to 60 mph in 3 gut-wrenching seconds, while the 4-wheel wishbone suspension keeps you in control with electronically adaptive dampers and three modes of suspension to suit your driving style. The interior is just what you’d expect from Mercedes: Nappa leather, a Burmeister Surround Sound System, and a touchpad controller.
0-60mph: 3 seconds
Top Speed: 193 mph
Cost: starting at $129,900