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.

1939 Porsche Type 64 60K10

The Type 64 is Porsche's first ever production car. It contains styling elements from other upscale  vehicles of its era and inspired the 356 that came after it. Powered by a flat-four making around 40 horsepower, this vehicle was crafted to compete in the 1939 Berlin-Rome endurance race but was ultimately scrapped due to the beginning of World War II. Only three Type 64s were ever made. Two of those three were restored and survive to this day, including the example above. The Type 64 is not as well-known in the automotive world but is an important car since it is the ancestor of every other Porsche in history. I am fascinated by the earliest Porsche model due to its design, rarity, and significance.

2019 Mercedes-Benz G550

It may not look like it at first glance, but the legendary G-Wagen has been given a thorough redesign for 2019. The new model has improved on many of the previous generation's flaws but remains true to its roots. For example, the previous G-Wagen contained exposed screws in its turn signals and reflectors, but that is no longer the case with the new model. There is little to no panel gap in the new model compared to the old one. The backup camera in the new G-Wagen is hidden below its spare tire instead of being tacked on above the rear window like in the old model. The rear wiper is now at the base of the rear window covered by the spare tire instead of the top of the rear window exposed to the elements. The third brake light in the new model is integrated into the design of the car unlike the previous one, which had its third brake light mounted from inside the vehicle. Other new G-Wagen improvements consist of proper cup holders, a traditional glove box, and an electronic parking brake. Some of the flaws listed here aren't a big deal to me, but I like how Mercedes-Benz cleaned up the design of the new G-Wagen compared to the previous model.

Powering the new G550 is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 416 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and offers a 9-speed automatic gearbox, replacing the 7-speed automatic in the previous model. Its interior has been modernized with the rest of the car, containing more technology and less clutter. The 2019 G550 carries a starting price of $124,500, with options and packages quickly escalating the price from there. Despite often being used as a status symbol, the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen is one of the best SUVs currently available. Its eye-catching, go-anywhere abilities are practically unmatched. I would choose the G-Wagen over the Range Rover but have a tough time picking between the G-Wagen and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Featured here are photos I took of the previous G-Wagen this year to physically compare the two models.

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

When Dodge released the Challenger Hellcat and Charger Hellcat in 2015, most people thought that factory muscle cars couldn't get any crazier. That all changed with the introduction of the limited edition Challenger Demon last year. Its specs are mind-boggling: 808 horsepower (840 on 100-plus octane racing fuel) and 770 lb-ft of torque from its 6.2-liter supercharged V8, 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds, and a 1/4-mile time of 9.65 seconds @ 140 mph, just to name a handful. It doesn't stop there. As a result of its 1/4-mile time, the Challenger Demon has been banned by the NHRA because it doesn't contain an approved cage behind the seat(s). Unlike any production vehicle before it, the Challenger Demon is capable of performing wheelies at launch. It pulls 1.8g of force under acceleration, more than any other car. The Challenger Demon is the first street car to have a TransBrake, which is used to boost launch consistency and driver reaction time at launch on the drag strip, and torque reserve, which increases supercharger revs without straining the brakes and spinning the rear tires. As you would expect from a vehicle like the Challenger Demon, it forgoes the rear seats; however, the front passenger seat is also removed, but can be added for $1. The Dodge Challenger Demon contains the biggest functional hood scoop of any production vehicle. Other production car firsts for the Challenger Demon consist of a liquid-to-air intercooler chiller system, drag radials, and drag-oriented suspension.

The Challenger Demon weighs 200 pounds less than the Challenger Hellcat. Like other Chrysler products, it features vehicle-specific graphics on its windows. In this case, the window graphics are of a Challenger Demon doing a burnout. The top-of-the-line Challenger has an Eco mode and goes faster than pretty much any other car in Eco mode. In addition to the massive hood scoop, the Challenger Demon contains two air intakes in the headlights. Dodge advises Demon owners not to drive their vehicles in wet weather, freezing temperatures, or on the highway as these conditions will wear down its drag slicks faster. Dodge also advises that Demon owners who opt for no front passenger seat do not try to install one themselves as the front passenger will not be properly protected in an accident. Drive modes exclusive to the Demon are Drag Mode and Race Cool Down Mode. Pricing for the Challenger Demon starts in the low $80,000s, with dealer markups increasing that past $100,000.

To wrap things up, the Dodge Challenger Demon is absolutely bonkers. Although I tend to prefer the Camaro and Mustang over the Challenger, the Demon's performance capabilities are out of this world. I am completely enthused and blown away by this vehicle, and I can't imagine how any automaker would be able to produce a more extreme car.

The following photos are of other modern Dodge Challenger models slotted below the Demon (R/T, R/T Scat Pack, Hellcat, R/T T/A).

2008 Porsche RS Spyder

Most of you may recall the 919 Hybrid I posted almost six months ago. Its predecessor is the RS Spyder displayed here. Motivating this LMP2 racer is a 3.4L V8 with 503 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. Porsche teamed up with Penske Motorsport to race in the LMP2 class since it was closed off to Porsche directly. In a span of three seasons, RS Spyders recorded 24 class wins and 11 overall wins, with their biggest win coming at the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring. This makes the RS Spyder one of the most successful Porsche prototype racing vehicles of all time. Due to changing regulations, Porsche discontinued racing the RS Spyder in 2011. Nonetheless, it is a marvelous race car that deserves all the recognition and is worth every penny.

Lexus LS500

The LS500 is the latest version of Lexus' flagship sedan. It ditches the naturally-aspirated 4.6-liter V8 in the previous LS460 in favor of a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 generating 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Lexus' full-size luxury sedan launches from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 136 mph. The LS500 is available with either RWD or AWD and in standard or F Sport trim. A hybrid version is also included in the LS500 lineup with less power and slightly better mileage than the gas-only model. All LS500 models are equipped with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The vehicle rides on the same platform as the LC500/h coupe and contains a handcrafted, sophisticated interior. Its interior features a rear seat infotainment system that controls many functions, such as the rear seat controls, climate controls, radio, sunshades, and lamps. Unlike in most cars, the LS500's head-up display indicates upcoming traffic signals, signs, and oncoming vehicles. The panel to the right of the center screen and above the glove box  appears to be a screen, but isn't actually a screen. Other notable features consist of Lexus' Adaptive Variable Suspension and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Pricing for the Lexus LS500 starts at $75,300 for the base RWD model, $79,810 for the hybrid, $84,520 for the F Sport AWD model, and up to $120,000 for all the fix-ins (i.e. Executive Package). In summary, the LS500 is an excellent luxury sedan with an unmatched level of craftsmanship. I may not purchase one over a new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but the current Lexus LS is a great vehicle nonetheless.