2010 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette lineup gains a new model, the Grand Sport. Chevy's performance car comes as a coupe and convertible. Both body styles are available in Base and Grand Sport trim levels. Grand Sport replaces the Z51 option package and includes specific styling cues, suspension tuning, brakes, and transmission gearing. These models have a 430-hp 6.2-liter V8 engine.

An optional "dual-mode" exhaust system increases horsepower to 436. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Chevy offers other high-performance Corvette models, the Z06 and ZR1, both available only as coupes. Z06 has a 505-hp 7.0-liter V8, 6-speed manual transmission, specific suspension tuning, tires, and brakes. ZR1 has a supercharged 638-hp 6.2-liter V8 engine and 6-speed manual transmission. ZR1 differs from other Corvettes by its unique suspension tuning and use of lightweight carbon fiber on the hood, roof panel, roof bow, front fascia splitter, and rocker moldings.

All manual-transmission Corvette models incorporate GM's new Launch Control, which modulates engine speed in order to maximize grip during full-throttle launches. The ZR1 adds a "Performance Traction Management" system, which automatically adjusts the traction control and suspension to suit high-performance driving. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and side airbags. Among the available features are a head-up display, navigation system, and wireless cell phone link.

2011 Lexus LFA (sport car)

The Lexus LFA is powered by a naturally aspirated V10 displacing 4.8 litre, matched to a rear-mounted six-speed sequential automatic transmission, giving 200mph-plus performance. From the outset it was determined the engine should have a 4,805cc capacity, develop 552bhp and rev to a wailing 9,000rpm red line. The V10 produces 480Nm of torque at 6,800rpm, 90 per cent of which is available from 3,700rpm all the way to the 9,000rpm red line, thanks to Dual VVT-i technology, equal length exhaust manifolds and high-volume, 12-hole fuel injectors. This gives searing in-hear acceleration at all engine speeds and in any gear: nought to 62mph takes just 3.7 seconds and maximum speed is 202mph.

The Lexus LFA constructed using advanced carbon fibre technology and comes with a 20-inch forged aluminium BBS wheels are shod with asymmetric Bridgestone tyres: 265/35ZR20 at the front and 305/20ZR20 at the rear.

The Lexus LFA will be hand-assembled at the Motomachi plant in Toyota City. Only 500 examples will be built, at a maximum rate of 20 per month. The UK launch price for the Lexus LFA is €368,000 (approximately £336,000). Owners can choose from an extensive range of options to personalise their car, including 30 different paint finishes.

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Slotting just under the new 911 Turbo, Porsche's new track-ready yet street-legal 911 GT3 RS gets an added 15 HP over the non-RS GT3, bringing power up to 450 HP thanks to the larger 3.8-liter flat-six. Full gallery, details below.

The new 2010 911 GT3 RS goes on sale in the U.S. in early spring of 2010 and will be priced at $132,800. Delivering even more engine power, lower weight and shorter transmission ratios, as well as upgraded body and suspension components than all previous GT3s.

The new 911 GT3 RS comes exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox optimized for short gearshift travel, low weight and high efficiency. To enhance the level of performance throughout the entire range of engine and road speed, the transmission comes with shorter ratios than found in the 911 GT3, deliberately conceding an even higher potential top track speed.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is easily the most-anticipated new car of the 2010 model year, with head-turning styling, gobs of power, and an amazingly reasonable price. Price range $22,995 - $38,905, EPA fuel economy estimates 16-18 MPG city, 25-29 MPG highway.

The Camaro's base engine is a 3.6 liter V6 that delivers a healthy 304 horsepower, 96 more than a Mustang V6 and only 15 less than a Mustang V8. Using direct fuel injection, it delivers respectable fuel economy on 87-octane gas. The SS gets a Corvette-sourced 6.2 liter V8 good for 426 hp -- one more than the Challenger SRT8 -- with the manual trans, but only 400 with the automatic. The manual's clutch is difficult to modulate and the shifter is sized for people with Hulk hands, but the automatic is top notch, with a Sport mode that always knows which gear to pick and does so with firm, solid shifts, just like an old-time muscle car.

Audi R8 2010

The most remarkable thing about the 2010 R8 isn’t its new 525-horsepower V10 engine — though it is quite remarkable — but that the R8 has lost none of its allure despite being two years old.

The tasteful appearance of the R8 (both inside and out), along with its mid-engine layout, outstanding road manners, prodigious comfort, and exceptional performance, rank it among the finest and most desirable production cars in the world.

The R8's new 5.2-liter V-10 descends from the collaborative design effort between Audi and Lamborghini, which yielded a 493-hp, 5.0-liter V-10 for the 2004 Gallardo. The 90-degree V-angle, selected to facilitate the sharing of block machining tools with Audi V-8 engines, results in uneven firing intervals. Boosting the displacement to 5.2 liters, installing direct fuel injection, and raising the compression ratio to 12.5:1 in the R8 yields 391 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm and 525 hp at 8000 rpm. A similar 5.2-liter V-10 in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 boasts slightly higher peak power and torque ratings.

Ferrari 599XX Prototype

While based on the 599 GTB Fiorano ,with the same transaxle layout and engine type, this prototype is an extreme track car. Ferrari's engineers have carried out extensive work on the engine's combustion chambers and inlet and exhaust tracts. These modifications, combined with the fact that internal attrition has been reduced and the maximum revs have been boosted to 9,000 rpm, helped achieve the target power output of 700 hp at 9,000 rpm. Particular attention was also paid to cutting the weight of the engine unit components. This was achieved both by optimising forms – as in the new crankshaft – and adopting exclusive materials, as in the carbon-fibre used for the intake plenums. A new gearbox shift strategy cuts overall gear-change times to 60 ms.

The 599XX is characterised by an innovative electronic concept called the 'High Performance Dynamic Concept', which has been designed to get maximum performance from the car by managing the combination of the car's mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls. The mechanical and electronic systems work together to get the maximum performance from the car under extreme high performance driving, for consistent lap times. The sporty handling has been improved thanks to the adoption of second generation SCM suspension system. Track usage is also made easier thanks to the new 'virtual car engineer', a screen in the car that provides a real-time indication of the vehicle's efficiency.