5 hottest performance cars at the Detroit Auto Show

At the Detroit auto show, we were struck by the diversity of high-performance machines being offered from across the globe. Every manufacturer, naturally, has their own spin on going fast, giving car shoppers and dreams a diverse array of choices.

In narrowing our picks, there were a handful of others worth mentioning that didn’t make the final cut. First off, the redesigned Ford Mustang with its four, six, and eight-cylinder engines provides many muscle car flavors, but Ford choose to introduce this car last month. Not technically a Detroit car.

The Porsche 911 Targa conjures an instant smile for its clear visual connection to early, silver-banded Targas and the mechanical ballet it performs when raising the removing the roof and stowing it in the back. This is just another variant of an established car, but still, it’s pretty cool.

The Mini Cooper John Cooper Works was also tempting, as past versions have been endlessly entertaining on the track. But performance details were too thin to assess.

So, we stuck with cars that truly peg the needle and are going on sale in the year ahead. We present, the hottest performance cars from Detroit:

BMW M3/M4

BMW welcomes the latest generation of M3s, now separated to M3 sedan and M4 coupe (shown). These new Ms are lighter than their porky predecessors, enabling blistering performance from an inline six-cylinder engine, rather than the former sledgehammer V8. In this case, it’s a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter that belts out 425 hp. Traditionalists will take heart knowing that a six-speed manual transmission will be available. But our guess is that most buyers will choose the seven-speed M Double Clutch automatic. BMW claims that drivers can sprint 0-60 mph in a rapid 3.9 seconds with that transmission, slightly quicker than using a manual gearbox. Where the rear-drive M3/M4 are expected to shine is in the twisties, especially on the track, where they aim to further build on the defining characteristics that make BMW’s “ultimate driving machine” tagline a legitimate claim.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

A new, heritage-inspired Chevrolet Corvette variation with more sting, the Z06 bridges the gap between a traditional Corvette and the full-bore C7R race car, sharing many elements of each to create a street-legal, track-ready sports car. The heart of this beast is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 generating 625 horsepower, available with a choice of seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Helping put this brute force to the tarmac, the Z06 has huge rubber measuring 1.5 inches wider up front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the meats on a Stingray. Aerodynamic enhancements aim to provide more downforce, aiding track stability at higher speeds. The Z07 package expands on the standard kit with an even more dramatic front splitter winglets and an adjustable see-through rear spoiler section. Other visible modifications aim to route cooling air where it is needed, and further visually distinguish this lust-worthy sports car.