Life in the fast lane comes at a price

Enthusiasm for fast sedans endures in the face of rising oil prices and the SUV boom, with plenty of options boasting powerful engines plus the practicality of a boot and three back seats.

Holden's V8 Commodores provide huge performance for their sub-$60,000 price but there is no shortage of choice at the upper end of the market too. The humble Commodore features here in its utmost iteration from Holden Special Vehicles (HSV). The specially modified Gen-F2 range of supercharged V8 muscle cars also includes the Clubsport, Senator and GTS, while European sports sedans such as the Mercedes-AMG E63 add prestige to the power and performance.

For something with environmentally friendly cred, the Tesla Model S has supercar-like acceleration in an all-electric package that seats five in absolute comfort. This revolutionary car has spawned a host of upcoming rivals, underpinning the future of the super sedan. DAVID BONNICI, WHICHCAR.COM.AU

$169,990

HSV GTS-R W1 This is the most extreme and quickest yet Aussie four-door production car. Its 6.2-litre LS9 V8 produces a massive 474kW, which takes the 1895kg beast from a standing start to 100km/h in 4.2sec. All that grunt comes with one of the most sublime engine notes and the limited production run means it is practically a guaranteed investment.

Pros: Incredible power and driving dynamics.

Cons: All but sold out, and the interior doesn't match the price. hsv.com.au

$250,000

Mercedes-AMG E63 S Due here in July, AMG's E63 S super sedan takes the technologically incredible E-Class as its base but adds a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, making it equally at home on a racetrack as the local high street. The E63 S has race and drift modes for extra crazy. AMG reckons it will reach 0-100km/h in a Ferrari-like 3.4sec.

Pros: State-of-the-art technology.

Cons: All-wheel drive kills some character. mercedes-benz. com.au

$254,159

Tesla Model S P100D The all-electric P100D has incredible acceleration that pips almost every production supercar. It flies off the mark instantaneously and reaches 100km/h in 2.7sec. It will travel more than 500km between charges and is brimming with cutting-edge autonomous driving technology. With no engine it is one of the quietest performance cars yet.

Pros: Future technology now.

Cons: Range anxiety and charging times. tesla.com