Speed Demons
It may not be the most pampered ride, but it’s one of the fastest. Noble beats pricier cars from marques with more cachet. Its closest spiritual cousin is the Lotus Elise, which has less than half its 425 horsepower. The nearest match in price and performance is the electric Tesla Roadster. And alternatives from Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini compete at various levels of speed, handling, luxury, and image.
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Noble M400
Power: 425-horsepower, 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Ford Duratec V-6
Weight: 2,300 pounds
Estimated Price: $98,000
Speed: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 3.6 seconds
Equally good on the road or the track, this lightweight British entry may just be the thinking person’s supercar.
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Audi R8
Power: 420-horsepower, 4.2-liter direct-injection V-8
Weight: 3,400 pounds
Estimated Price: $100,000
Speed: 0 to 62 m.p.h. in 4.6 seconds
Definitely the arriviste in the crowd, Audi’s first supercar packs a lot of features into a sexy package.
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Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Power: 987-horsepower, 8.0-liter quad-turbo W-16
Weight: 4,160 pounds
Estimated Price: $1.3 million
Speed: 0 to 62 m.p.h. in 2.5 seconds
The fastest, most powerful, most expensive production vehicle in the world.
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Ferrari Enzo
Power: 660-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-12
Weight: 3,000 pounds
Estimated Price: $650,000 (original retail); $1 million (at auction)
Speed: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 3.6 seconds
The legendary Enzo supercar is now out of production (only 400 were made), but it’s a worthy competitor even used. One driver walked away after wrecking his Enzo on the Pacific Coast Highway at more than 100 m.p.h.
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Ferrari F430
Power: 490-horsepower, 4.3-liter V-8
Weight: 3,200 pounds
Estimated Price: $179,000
Speed: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 4.0 seconds
It’s a Ferrari, and for some that’s all that really matters (especially if it’s red). It’s also nearly twice as expensive as the Noble, and don’t even ask about parts and service.
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Lotus Elise
Power: 190-horsepower, 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder Toyota engine
Weight: 1,980 pounds
Estimated Price: $46,300
Speed: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 4.9 seconds
Another ultralightweight British entry; it’s small, rides rough, and will outhandle anything else on the road. The ultimate automotive go-kart.
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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Power: 617-horsepower, 5.35-liter supercharged V-8
Weight: 3,734 pounds
Estimated Price: $450,000
Speed: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 3.8 seconds
A blend of McLaren Formula 1 racing technology and high-end Benz attitude with an AMG-built engine. Unfortunately, Paris Hilton used to drive one.
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Porsche 911 Turbo
Power: 480-horsepower, 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6
Weight: 3,570 pounds (with Tiptronic transmission)
Estimated Price: $122,900
Speed: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 3.7 seconds (with Tiptronic transmission)
It’s a Porsche, and that says it all; it also says the optional carbon-ceramic disk brakes are $8,840.
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Tesla Roadster
Power: 248-horsepower (at its peak), 185-kilowatt electric motor
Weight: 2,500 pounds
Estimated Price: $100,000
Speed: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in about 4 seconds
The first serious all-electric supercar, from a Silicon Valley startup. If you want one, stand in line behind George Clooney, who has already put down his deposit.
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