Ferrari 458 Challenge

Ferrari first unveiled its latest creation – the 458 Challenge – at the Annual Dealer Meeting in Maranello. Based on the 458 Italia, the 458 Challenge will take part in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season.

Like its road-going counterpart, the 458 Challenge is powered by a 4497cc direct-injection V8 producing 570 horsepower at 9,000rpm. However, a number of changes have been made to prepare the 458 Challenge for its track duties.

BMW X5 M

Like the X6 M, BMW's X5 M features a high-output V8 under its hood. But unlike the X6, this Autobahn cruiser has a decidedly traditional SUV shape.

BMW put the M through extreme durability testing in the southwestern part of the United States, taking advantage of the hot temperatures, miles of desert roadways, and mountains with steep grades in order to prove the worthiness of the M badge.

Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ is a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports car that provides nimble handling and spirited performance at an affordable price. Co-developed with Toyota (which sells its own variant as the Scion FR-S), the BRZ was designed to buck the trend of increasingly heavy, technologically complex vehicles and instead provide a pure, driver-focused experience.

Weighing in at just 2,762 pounds for the manual transmission model, the BRZ is one of the lightest sports cars on the market – it undercuts the mass of the Porsche Caymon by 160 pounds and is around 800 pounds lighter than a V6-equipped Ford Mustang. The low weight pays off in the realm of fuel efficiency and, more importantly, handling.