Top Ten Cars

A lot of us drive cars these days, taking driving a car for granted. Perhaps our ancestors didn’t have cars but our grandfathers did, and our fathers bought a car, and we got one just a few days ago. It won’t be surprising if kids of the next generation expect to begin driving by age ten or so. But driving hasn’t always been around, you know. There was a time when automobiles didn’t exist, except in the imagination of a few whom we now might consider visionaries, but who, back in their days, were seen as madmen on flights of fancy. People have tried to build vehicles since a long way back. In 1335, a man named Guido da Vigevano came up with the design of a wind-driven ‘chariot’. It was kind of like a windmill with the drive attached to gears and the gears to wheels. Years later, the famous artist and sculptor Leonardo da Vinci came up with a brilliant design which was basically a mechanically driven tricycle that had to be mechanically driven and steered by tiller, with a differential mechanism placed in between the two rear wheels.

The very first functional ‘car’ was made in the 1678 by a Catholic priest, Father Ferdinand Verbiest. Legend goes, he built a steam powered vehicle for Chien Lung, the Emperor of China at that time. However, this has never been confirmed. In fact, it seems doubtful as to whether this vehicle was anything more than a working model, owing to the fact that the first steam engine (by Thomas Newcomen) was built only in the year 1712. Regarding Thomas Newcomen’s brilliant invention, it was an engine with a piston and a cylinder. Nothing like it had ever been seen before. The engine used steam in the form of a condensing agent in order to create a vacuum, following which,, with a walking beam overhead, one could lift water by pulling on an attached rod. Let along portable, the gigantic new steam engine was not even under any pressure, but it was merely a boiler that was open and had been attached to the cylinder through pipes. But everything changed in the year 1765. A man named James Watt came up with the first ever steam engine that was pressurized. It turned out to be extremely efficient and more importantly, it was way more compact than the erstwhile Newcomen steam engine.

It wasn’t much longer after Watt’s invention that two men, Nicholas Joseph Cugnot and M. Mrezin came up with the very first vehicle that was self-powered A replica of this vehicle can be seen today at the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers in Paris.

1. 2009 Lotus Elise

The Lotus Elise is a tiny little sports car which proves, once and for all, that appearances can be quite deceptive. The Elise is a mid-engine 2 seater and has a Toyota-built 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 189 HP in the base Elise and 218 HP in the Elise SC. The car has 6-speed manual transmission and ABS is standard, along with power-windows, remote power door locks and air conditioning.

2. Alfa Romeo 8C Competition

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competition is an excellent car overall. It has the Maserati’s Quattroporte engine which has been enlarged to 4.7-liters. Check out these jaw-dropping stats: 444 HP at 7,000 rpm plus 347 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm and a 7,500 rpm red-line. Awesome, to say the least.

3. Aston Martin DBS

The Aston Martin DBS gained much popularity thanks to its appearance in the Bond movie ‘Casino Royale’. The DBS has a 6.0-liter V12 motor which packs a powerful 510 HP at 6,500 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm. Also included is a limited-slip differential.

4. Dodge Viper SRT10

If there’s one thing to be said about the Viper, it is that this vehicle is one of the most visually stunning and most recognizable sports cars in the USA. The Viper SRT10 packs a wallop with a 600 HP V10 engine, displacing 8.4 liters, and 560 lb-ft of torque.

5. Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe

Possibly Porche’s best designed car yet, the 911 Carrera Coupe is a rear-engine, rear-drive sports car. What makes it go is a 3.6 liter flat six-cylinder motor that provides 325 HP at 6,800 rpm and 274 lb-ft of torque beginning at 4,250 rpm. This baby does 0-60 in a blazing 4.8 seconds.

6. Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG

Thanks to the AMG-designed 6.3 liter V8, the CLS 63 AMG is a 4-door coupe with not just style, but also power. With the engine comes 507 HP plus 465 lb-ft of torque. The new exhaust installed in 2009 makes the V8 roar louder than ever.

7. Pontiac Solstice GXP

The Pontiac Solstice GXP, a high-performance sports car has an Ecotec 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine that is turbocharged. The engine, providing 260 HP, can mate with a 5-speed automatic transmission or a close-ratio 5-speed manual one. Suspension is standard performance. The GXP also has 18l polished aluminum wheels.

8. 2009 Audi S5

The name ‘Audi’ commands enormous respect amongst automobiles, and the new S5 coupe lives up to that reputation. The stats – a direct injection 4.2 liter V8, producing 354 HP with 325 lb-ft of torque. Engine placement is behind the front wheels which allows for improved weight distribution between axles. A sporty car in the truest sense of the term.

9. Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage coupe is the company’s least expensive model and the smallest too. Its engine is a 4.3 liter V8 (naturally aspirated) and it gives 380 HP at 7,000 rpm and 302 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. This one’s been called the ‘baby Aston’ but is anything but babyish.

10. 2009 Maserati GranTurismo

The 2009 Maserati GranTurismo commands awe and respect the world over, and not without good reason. The 4.2 liter V8 owns the road with 405 HP at 7,100 rpm plus 339 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. Beat that!

10 – Volkswagen Golf R

The Volkswagen Golf R comes in at .10 on this list. With a turbocharged 2.0-liter motor, the Golf R has 256-horsepower, goes from 0-62 in 6.4 seconds and drinks 21% less fuel than its predecessor, the R32. Set to arrive in German VW showrooms towards the end of this year, 2010 should see the entry of the VW Golf R into the American car market.

9 – Ford Grand C-Max

You’ll have to wait till late 2011 for the C-Max, because that’s when it’ll get to America. It is a compact 7-passenger van which is  t only fun in terms of driving, but also has really well-done interiors and its style is, overall, unique. Don’t be surprised if you’re offered a turbocharged EcoBoost motor as an option when it finally comes to the U.S.

8 – MINI Coupe Concept

The MINI Coupe Concept, many say, is inspired by the John Cooper Works turbocharged 1.6 liter engine with 211 horsepower plus torque worth 192 lb-ft. The Coupe’s raked windscreen and aluminum roof contribute toward reducing weight and increasing downforce.   back seats – standard for a sports coupe. The MINI Coupe is technically speaking, still a concept car, but it’s mostly going into production before 2012.

7 – Volvo ReCharge Concept

Making its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the electric Volvo ReCharge can draw power from any standard household electrical outlet and it can drive almost 100 km on a single charge, thanks to its individual wheel-mounted electric motors. Don’t worry about when the ReCharge runs out of juice – there’s a 1.6-liter Flexifuel four-cylinder motor that’ll allow you to keep going.

6 – Bentley Mulsanne

Coming in at number 6 on this list is the Bentley Mulsanne. The reworked 6.75-liter engine can give 505-horsepower plus 752 lb-ft. of torque. It’s an ecofriendly car, reducing CO2 emissions and boosting fuel eco my by 15%, thanks to its variable displacement system. Elegant interiors, but that’s a given – it’s a Bentley after all. 126 color options and a premium sound system by Naim, and all this, in the range of $200,000.

5 – Porsche GT3 RS

A race-car through and through, the Porche GT3 RS has a 3.8-liter motor with 450-horsepower. Shortened gear ratios along with titanium exhaust and a lightweight Li-ion battery make the car a demon on the race-track. Also included is a Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, and re-sculpted aero bits plus a wider front track help in improving downforce. Going on sale in Germany in January 2010, its base price is 122,400 Euro, which works out to $180,185.

4 – Audi R8 Spyder

The Audi R8 Spyder is a ther car that doesn’t fail to impress – an Audi Quattro all-wheel drive system powered by a 5.2-liter FSI V10 that provides an awe-inspiring 525-horsepower & 390 lb-ft. of torque. What brings down the R8 Spyder’s weight is a fully automatic cloth top and also many featherweight carbon-fiber composite body panels. 4.1 seconds is how long it takes for this beauty to accelerate from 0-62 mph, and 313 km/h or 194.49 mph is its top speed.

3 – Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The true heir to the famed 300 SL Gullwing, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, this car has an AMG-built 6.2-liter V8 which grants 571 horsepower with 479 lb-ft. of torque. The motor is connected to a dual-clutch 7-speed transmission by a carbon-fiber shaft. The lightweight nature of the car coupled with the powerful engine means that the SLS AMG can get from 0-62 mph in 3.8 seconds, topping out at 196 mph. It’ll go on sale sometime in 2010 and is expected to be priced at over 155,000 Euros.

2 – Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

The Lamborghini Reventon is an angular hypercar built on the LP640 platform and has a limited-run of only 20 copies. The Reventon Roadster, get this, will have less than 20 copies made. A convertible built upon the LP670 SV, the 670-horsepower 6.6-liter V12 can go from 0-62 mph in only 3.2 seconds with a blurring top speed of 212 mph. The price, of course, is quite high – about 1.15 million Euros or $1.7 million, but you k w what they say – you get what you pay for.

1 – Ferrari 458 Italia

At last, the number one car in this top-10 list – the Ferrari 458 Italia. A beautiful vehicle by any standard, the 458 Italia has a 570-horsepower 4.5-liter V8. The motor has a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and with a chassis made of aluminum, the dry weight of the 458 Italia is slightly over 3000 pounds. 0-62 mph is achieved in 3.4 seconds with a mind-blowing top-speed of 202 mph.

This is a list of the ten most expensive production cars on the market.

1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000.

The Bugatti Veyron is the costliest and fastest legal street car available, going from 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds with a top speed of more than 253 mph.

2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000

The Lamborghini Reventon is an extremely powerful car and lives up to its price-tag, accelerating from 0-60 in just 3.3 seconds, and its top speed is 211 mph. It is also very rare, with only 20 units ever built.

3. McLaren F1 $970,000

The five years old McLaren F1 owns the road with a blazing top speed of 240 mph, going from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds. An astounding supercar by all standards.

4. Ferrari Enzo $670,000

Say ‘supercar’ and ‘Enzo’ comes the response. The Ferrari Enzo’s top speed is 217 mph, with 0-60 in 3.4 seconds. It’s not that rare but limited nonetheless, with only 400 units ever made.

5. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321

Ranked as the 5th fastest car in the world, the Pagani Zonda C12 reaches its top speed at 215mph+. This speedy Italian car revs from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

6. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400

This is the fastest street car in the world that’s still legal to drive, owing to its top speed of over 257 mph. This baby does 0-60 in only 2.7 seconds.

7. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000

Born in the U.S.A., the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo supercar blazes with a top speed of over 248 mph, going from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

8. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568

The Swedish-built Koenigsegg CCX is the 4th fastest in the world. It has a top speed of more than 245mph.

9. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster $495,000

The Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren is a GT supercar. What’s unique about it is that it holds the title of being the fastest car with automatic transmission, going from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and topping out at over 206 mph.

10. Porsche Carrera GT $440,000

Finally, number 10 on the list. The Porsche Carrera GT supercar has dynamic stability control and zooms from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and achieves top speed at 205 mph+.

Cars are the stuff dreams are made of. And when they are the best cars of the year, then they are something to drool about. The most talked about cars this season are here for you to appreciate, wish for and own. The Lotus Elise, a tiny little sports car that proves, once and for all, that appearances can be quite deceptive. This is a 2-seater that might just take your breath away. It has a mid-engine 2 seater and has a Toyota-built 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 189 HP in the base Elise and 218 HP in the Elise SC. The car has 6-speed manual transmission and ABS is standard, along with power-windows, remote power door locks and air conditioning.

The Aston Martin DBS, on the other hand is the car made famous by none other than Bond himself, in his flick Casino Royale. The DBS has a 6.0-liter V12 motor which packs a powerful 510 HP at 6,500 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm. Also included is a limited-slip differential. The Maserati GranTurismo is respected and revered the world over, and why not! The 4.2 liter V8 owns the road with 405 HP at 7,100 rpm plus 339 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. Dodge Viper SRT10 is well-known in the looks department, and no less in the power. It is one of the most visually stunning and most recognizable sports cars in the USA.

The Viper SRT10 packs a wallop with a 600 HP V10 engine, displacing 8.4 liters, and 560 lb-ft of torque. Whereas, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competition is an excellent car overall. It has the Maserati’s Quattroporte engine which has been enlarged to 4.7-liters. For statistic buffs, here is dope that could leave you spell bound- 444 HP at 7,000 rpm plus 347 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm and a 7,500 rpm red-line. The Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe is possibly Porche’s best designed car yet. The 911 Carrera Coupe is a rear-engine, rear-drive sports car.

What makes hearts beat faster is a 3.6 liter flat six-cylinder motor that provides 325 HP at 6,800 rpm and 274 lb-ft of torque beginning at 4,250 rpm. This one can do 0-60 in a just 4.8 seconds. For those, whose style is sports cars, the Pontiac Solstice GXP, a high-performance sports car has an Ecotec 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine that is turbocharged. The engine, providing 260 HP, can mate with a 5-speed automatic transmission or a close-ratio 5-speed manual one. Suspension is standard performance. The GXP also has 18l polished aluminum wheels.