2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
The only domestic-made vehicle here is the Corvette Grand Sport, and it fits in quite nicely. This is the Corvette that makes 460 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, which surpasses only the Lotus Evora 400 in ratings. But specs a performance car do not make. Its acceleration from 0 to 60 happens in just 3.7 seconds. As a lay person, there’s nearly no seat-of-the-pants noticeable difference with some of the other higher HP cars.
The Corvette is the bang-for-your-buck model here. It’s the one that can keep pace on the highway or take on the Nurburgring. Thankfully, novice drivers can still appreciate the Corvette due to an onslaught of driving assists, most of which operate undetected.
2017 BMW M4 GTS
BMW scavenges the most power possible from its 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6, achieving 493 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. The M Performance vehicles are all top performers, so the stigma BMW drivers receive is unwarranted for the M4 GTS. The trunk-mounted wing looks a little out of place, but it’s forgivable when it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
The 2017 BMW M4 GTS is as comfortable on a twisting road track as a city street with adept handling even with solely RWD. And once you’re inside, you get the same luxurious treatment as the standard 4 Series, albeit with M Performance accents. A top choice for certain.
2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 S
It’s a car that feels like it was built for this market just so Mercedes could say they could do it. But, it works. The Mercedes-AMG C63 S is a great performance car, although without its 6.3-liter naturally-aspirated V8. It’s now a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 503 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It makes for a decent sprint to 60mph in 3.8 seconds.
Here’s the main problem with the Mercedes-AMG C63 S: it’s a luxury car first and foremost. The bells and whistles on the inside are why people buy it, and the performance is an afterthought. Odds are that most C63 S drivers will never test the limits of their car’s capability, and that’s a shame.
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