Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Produced from 2007 to 2009, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia is the higher-performance, more track-focused version of the F430. The 4.3-liter V8 from the standard F430 has been upgraded to 503 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque in the 430 Scuderia. It makes the launch from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and can reach a top speed of 198 mph. Unlike the standard F430, the 430 Scuderia comes with only the F1 six-speed semi-automatic instead of a six-speed manual gearbox option. However, an aftermarket firm in Texas installed the six-speed manual in a 430 Scuderia, claiming it is the only 430 Scuderia in the world with a stick shift. Compared to the F430, the 430 Scuderia has taken several measures to conserve weight. Most notably, the interior leather and carpeting have been replaced with alcantara on the dashboard and other areas of the cabin. The seats are made of mesh and are adjusted manually, with the bolsters left exposed. Also, the inside of the roof is composed of mesh. Many other areas of the 430 Scuderia have been fitted with carbon fiber, including the door panels and mirrors. In addition, the 430 Scuderia does not have a radio or a traditional glove box. These features (or lack thereof) save a total of 220 pounds from the standard F430. A significant way to distinguish the 430 Scuderia from the F430 externally is the former's more aggressive front bumper. Only 1500 units of the 430 Scuderia were ever produced, which are currently valued in the low $200,000s. Generally speaking, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia is a magnificent supercar, especially for racetrack driving and weekend cruising. However, I find it too spartan to use on a daily basis; its successors, the 458 Speciale and 488 Pista, are more intriguing due to their greater performance and variety of options.

McLaren 570S Spider

The 570S Spider is the open-top variant of McLaren's entry-level Sport Series range. Powering the 570S Spider is a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 with 562 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, paired to a 7-speed automatic. It makes the launch from zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and can hit a top speed of 204 mph. Like some exotic sports cars, the 570S' engine can't be accessed directly. A feature of the 570S that stands out from the rest is that in the gauge cluster, it notifies the owner how many days the car can sit until its battery dies. This is useful especially if its owner has other vehicles in his or her collection. I like how both the 570S' headlights and taillights are shaped like the McLaren logo. Pricing for the McLaren 570S Spider slots in between the 570GT and the 600LT in the Sport Series range, starting at $211,300. In short, the 570S is an incredible car and an amazing value for a McLaren. However, if I had a bigger budget for a supercar, I would upgrade to the 720S because the latter is more refined, has better performance, and looks cooler to me.

Porsche 917K

The 917K is one of the coolest and most legendary vintage Porsche endurance racers. It debuted in 1968 and participated in various endurance races until 1971. This vehicle propelled Porsche to its first win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and won 31 of the 68 races it participated in. The K in this particular 917 stands for Kurzheck, or "short-tail" in German. Powering the 917K is a 4.5-liter flat-12, which was eventually bored out to 4.9 and 5 liters. Its flat-12 produces 600 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, launching the vehicle to 60 mph in less than three seconds and a top speed of 220 mph. Ten other iterations of the 917 exist, while select examples of the 1971 917K contain vertical tail fins. Like many race car interiors, the 917K's interior is very basic and constructed around saving as much weight as possible. However, unlike most vehicles, the gear lever is placed by the driver door instead of in the center console. The Porsche 917 was limited to 59 units, 36 of which were the Kurzheck "short-tail" models. Some units of the 917 didn't survive; those that did are either in museums like the one above or the hands of private collectors, each worth at least eight figures. In a nutshell, the Porsche 917K is an extremely impressive vehicle and in the top tier of all-time motorsport greats. Most importantly, the 917 helped Porsche transform into the sports car racing pioneer that it is today.

Cadillac CTS-V (2016-19)

The CTS-V may not last in the marketplace for much longer, but it remains the fastest and most powerful Cadillac of all time. Under the hood is a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 from the Corvette Z06 producing 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and is capable of hitting 200 mph. An 8-speed automatic is the Cadillac super sedan's lone transmission option. Pricing for the third-gen CTS-V starts at $86,995 and can eclipse $100,000 when equipped with all the extras. In relation to the first statement, the CTS-V's replacement, the CT5-V, was revealed almost two weeks ago. A more hardcore version of the CT5-V is in the pipeline, and both variants of the new model are expected to go on sale sometime next year. Back to the CTS-V, it is an absolutely incredible vehicle that looks and sounds amazing. I find it to be one of the most impressive GM vehicles in existence besides most Corvettes. However, the only vehicle in the midsize premium performance sedan segment I would consider over the CTS-V is the Mercedes-AMG E63 S.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the performance variant of Alfa Romeo's first ever crossover. As many of you may already know, the Italian SUV is named after the iconic Stelvio Pass in northern Italy near the Swiss border. "Quadrifoglio" refers to the four-leaf clover featured throughout the vehicle; Alfa Romeo went with this as it was used as a good-luck symbol to racing drivers. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is basically a taller, more practical version of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, packing a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 developed with Ferrari producing 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. The launch from 0 to 60 mph occurs in 3.6 seconds, with the vehicle capable of a top speed of 176 mph. This is 0.2 seconds faster to 60 mph and 15 mph slower than the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio comes standard with Q4 all-wheel-drive and an 8-speed automatic. Features that stand out the most include a torque vectoring system, large and distinct paddle shifters, carbon fiber trim, and the ability to control the position of the liftgate from the infotainment system. Pricing for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio starts close to $80,000. Overall, the first Alfa Romeo performance crossover is amazing and contains more sports car traits than the average Joe would imagine. Although the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is one of the quickest SUVs available, I prefer the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and the top-level Mercedes-AMG SUVs mainly because the latter two are more reliable and sophisticated.