Car Of The Day: August 2016

Dodge Viper

1:04 PM

The Viper is both all-American and a true exotic, with lots of curves and bulges in all the right places to let you know it means business. The long nose, bodacious body, and predatory stare give the Viper a menacing look, while its 645-hp, 8.4-liter V-10 can catapult it to 60 mph in about three seconds. For the ultimate track monster, check out the Viper ACR. With all kinds of aero aids, special tires by Kumho and carbon-ceramic brakes, Dodge says it is the fastest Viper on a racetrack.

BMW

BMW i8

1:13 PM

Three pistons combusting internally, a dollop of electrons and lots of aluminum and carbon fiber are the main ingredients for the i8. Its 357-hp hybrid powertrain drives all four wheels; in our testing, the i8 hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds but averaged just 26 MPGe. The poised chassis and sharp steering are good fun, but eco-friendly tires and regenerative braking hinder performance. Familiar controls are nestled in a plush cabin and the i8’s wild, eye-catching styling looks straight out of sci-fi.

huayra

Pagani Huayra

3:10 PM

Ludicrous in every way and utterly fascinating in every gorgeous detail, this is a 720-hp, mid-engined, million-dollar supercar for those who have grown bored with mere Ferraris and Lamborghinis and already have two Bugattis. Somewhat obscure, and very low production, it’s a hard-core machine for discriminating connoisseurs with sufficient liquidity. Brilliantly quick, tenacious on any surface, and almost freakishly aggressive, it’s a car that beautifully warps the minds of the world’s youth.

aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

3:05 PM

Brutally powerful and obscenely flamboyant, the Aventador is unburdened by reality. Crazy expensive and crazy fast, it’s capable of amazing performance without feeling like it’s going to snap-spin into a ditch, which is refreshing in a supercar. Available as a coupe (or roadster), it has a 6.5-liter 691-hp V-12, a 7-speed automated manual transmission and all-wheel drive. For the ultimate, the Superveloce has 740 hp and a claimed top speed of 217 mph. In our testing, it did 0-60 in 2.7 seconds.

Aventador SuperVeloce:

BMW

BMW M6

2:55 PM

Blending a tasteful yet aggressive design with extraordinary performance, the M6 is a sexy beast indeed. Power comes from a 560-hp 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 mated to a seven-speed automatic or six-speed manual. Offered as a coupe or convertible, one might not expect such brutish power in what is a comfortable and cosseting car, but that’s exactly why we like it. Despite being more agile than the 6-series, the steering and the brakes lack the feedback needed to make the M6 a proper sports car.

godzilla

Nissan GT-R | The Godzilla

2:46 PM

Doesn’t matter what you call it—GT-R or, more fittingly, Godzilla—Nissan’s range topper is a supercar-stomping, high-tech dynamo. Its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 makes a mighty 565 hp while a six-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive team up to put all that power to the pavement. The GT-R’s quick steering, rigid structure and adjustable suspension can make even amateurs feel positively heroic from behind the wheel. Want more? Check out the track-ready NISMO-tuned variant with 600 hp.

Nismo Edition:

F-Type

Jaguar F-Type

2:41 PM

The F-type’s sharp handling, bad-ass attitude, and gorgeous styling make for an extremely desirable coupe or convertible. The supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 makes 340 hp in base trim while the S gets 380 hp. A six-speed manual is standard with rear drive; an eight-speed automatic is optional. All-wheel drive is offered on the S; the automatic is the sole transmission choice here. The F-type’s firm, well-tuned suspension provides precision when you want it and gratuitous tail-wagging when you don’t.

650

McLaren 650S

11:00 AM

McLaren 650S

The 650S may look like a face-lifted 12C, but there’s a lot more to it: The revised styling pays tribute to the P1 hybrid, the body tub is lighter, and about 25 percent of the parts are new. The heart of the car (and the name) is the 650-PS (641-hp) 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8. Mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, the 650S can hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. There’s also a Spider version. For more power, there’s the 675LT, which makes 666 hp and hits 60 mph in a claimed 2.9 seconds.

McLaren 650S GT3

Aston Martin DB9 GT

6:00 PM

The voluptuous and alluring DB9 GT is sure to get any driver’s pulse racing, especially after hearing its trademark growl from under the hood. The 5.9-liter V-12 makes 540 hp and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic. The DB9 GT is a lively, involving sports car from behind the wheel; a new infotainment system promises to be more user-friendly. The hardest part will be choosing between the coupe and Volante convertible, which offers top-down touring at the touch of a button.

f12

Ferrari F12

12:59 AM

Sure, it costs more than a house, but the metal-melting aria from that incredibly operatic engine—priceless. The F12berlinetta is everything you could want from an Italian supercar. Power comes from a 730-hp 6.3-liter V-12, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with rear-wheel drive. Even with all that power, the F12berlinetta is one of Ferrari’s more comfortable cars, making it a true daily-driver. For the ultimate, there’s the F12tdf, with 769 hp and downforce-improving aero add-ons

huracan

Lamborghini Huracán | The first car

11:52 PM

Nothing on Earth can prepare you for the eyeball-melting performance of Lamborghini’s “entry-level” supercar, the Huracán. The angular design is severe yet elegant; the stealth fighter–like cockpit is as luxurious as it is intense. Nestled behind the cockpit is a 5.2-liter V-10 with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (sorry, no manual transmission is offered); with rear-wheel drive, it makes 571 hp and with all-wheel drive it produces 602. A convertible version (Spyder) is also available.