Mercedes Benz
SL500
Engine: V8
BHP: 435
Torque: 700 Nm
0-100kph: 4.6 secs
Origin: Germany
Cost: EUR 117,096 (US$151,000)
The new Mercedes SL range promises sporty performance, great looks and enhanced passenger comfort in one tidy bundle. Living up to its “SL” (super light) namesake, the new SL models are at least 125 kgs lighter than their predecessors, providing greater agility on the road, better fuel efficiency and better levels of safety and comfort. Ventilation grilles with chrome finishes and slanting headlamps give the SL500 a distinctly sporty appearance, while sculpted lines running down the bonnet and the sides of the car give it a stylish finish.
2013 Shelby GT500 Mustang
Engine: 5.8-litre supercharged V8
BHP: 650
Top speed: >321kph
Origin: US
Putting the muscle back into muscle cars, the new Shelby GT500 has elbowed its way straight into the record books this year as the most powerful production V8 in the world. Built for power, the 2013 Mustang has a new supercharger, a carbon fibre driveshaft and a launch control system that is integrated with the engine and traction control system, promising the fastest kick-start in town. The 19-inch front and 20-inch rear forged-aluminium wheels are dressed in Goodyear Eagle® F1 SuperCar G:2 tyres for superb road holding.
SSC Tuatara
Engine: 7-litre DOHC V8 twin turbo
BHP: 1350
0-100kph: 2.5 secs
Top speed: 442.6kph
Origin: US
Cost: US$1.3 million
Shelby Supercars’ Tuatara is a thing of beauty. Its sleek curves are part racing car/part fighter jet, a look enhanced by stabilising fins at the rear and a canopy-like windshield. One-piece carbon fibre wheels and an all-carbon fibre body make the Tuatara float like a butterfly and the 1350bhp engine makes it sting like a bee.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
BHP: 550
Torque: 540 Nm at 6500 rpm
0-100kph: 4.2 secs
Top speed: 319kph
Origin: Italy
Cost: EUR 158,798 (US$244,976)
What do you get if you cross a super sports car, a passion for open-air driving and a dose of Italian style? You get the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder. The new Spyder features a 5.2-litre V10 engine that launches the car to a top speed of 319 kph, and a rear-wheel drive system that puts it at the mercy of the driver. The exterior characteristics of the Gallardo have been retained, but the engine, transmission and stability control system have been re-tuned and optimised to make the most of the rear-wheel drive setup.