Other sports cars
Chevrolet Corvette
MSRP: $56,590
Forget the bow tie — the Corvette’s performance puts it on a level with some of the best sports cars around. Some of that cred is thanks to the growling 455-hp 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood, which comes with the standard seven-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Corvette isn’t just about brute force. It’s also an excellent handler, especially in its Grand Sport trim, which adds bodywork and chassis bits from the racy Z06 Corvette and is a repeat winner of our 10Best Cars award.
Mercedes-AMG SLC43
MSRP: $62,345
Historically, AMG models have been the hot rods from Mercedes but with the new SLC43, that is no longer the case. Under the hood is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 that makes a rather tepid 362 hp. Mercedes says it is just 0.1 second slower to 60 than the SLK55 it replaces, but it is also down by 53 hp and sure to run out of steam at higher speeds. The SLC43 has unique suspension tuning versus its SLC-class sibling, but from the exterior they look almost identical. How far the mighty have fallen.
Lotus Evora 400
MSRP: $91,785
With its lightweight chassis of bonded aluminum, supple suspension, and mid-engine layout, there’s nothing ordinary about the Evora 400. A supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 cranks out 400 hp; a six-speed manual is standard and a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic is optional. We estimate a 0-to-60 time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 172 mph. Handling is lively, steering is light yet responsive, and the brakes excellent; acceleration, however, doesn‘t feel as strong as we would expect 400 hp to be.
Porsche 718 Cayman
MSRP: $56,350
There are few driving experiences as rewarding as a jaunt in a 718 Cayman, a repeat winner of our 10Best Cars award. The Cayman’s pair of turbo fours (base gets a 300-hp 2.0-liter; the S has a 350-hp 2.5-liter) may sound unrefined, but they’re torquey and quick. An engaging six-speed manual is standard; a seven-speed automatic is optional. A GTS model is new for 2018. It uses a 365-hp version of the 2.5-liter engine and comes with a brake-based torque vectoring and adaptive dampers.