Lamborghini Aventador Buyer's Guide MSRP: $387,000

The stage is the Nardo Ring, and the star is the Lamborghini Aventador, an impossibly bright neon sign marking new territory in the land of supercar extravagance. Its performance? Extraordinary. At 2.8 seconds to 60 mph and 10.6 seconds to the quarter mile, it's the second-quickest production car we've ever tested, mere tenths off the once unmatchable pace of the Bugatti Veyron. But more impressive is how easily reached the Aventador's capabilities are; this may be the friendliest mid-engine V-12 supercar in the world. Not that Lamborghini has forsaken its roots. In traditional form, the all-wheel-drive Aventador is named after a bull and styled like a fighter jet. Its centerpiece (mid-piece?) short-stroke 6.5-liter V-12 makes 691 hp at 8250 rpm and 509 lb-ft of torque at 5500 rpm. It features a host of eccentricities that focus equally on wowing crowds and returning performance superlatives. Its chassis is built primarily of carbon fiber; horizontally mounted and pushrod-actuated Ohlins shocks sit at all four corners; its start button is covered by a red plastic flap you flip with your thumb to access as one might do to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile; and its wing and air inlets deploy like flaps on a plane. (A dash indicator relays the wing's position should you be too busy to check the rear view, or, in Italian fashion, simply not care.) Even its launch control system boasts the wonderfully grandiose title of "Thrust Mode," and using it is trivially simple. On the center console, select Corsa from the three-mode Drive Select system and flip off stability control. When "Thrust Mode available" appears on the tach, plant the brake pedal with your left foot and slap the throttle down with your right. The V-12 over your right shoulder settles at 5000 rpm. Sidestep the brake, and the four Pirelli PZero Corsas, with a combined width of 3.5 feet, chomp mercilessly at the ground, leaving bite marks through first gear. Shifts occur automatically, and each one thwacks your head against the headrest. For as striking as the Veyron-rivaling acceleration results are, straight-line insanity wasn't Lamborghini's primary focus. No, the engineers say their first goal was to make the Aventador a more accessible supercar, and nowhere is their effort more evident than during our handling tests.

The ease with which the Aventador generates an average 1.05 g around Nardo's skidpad is remarkable. It clearly communicates the onset of its limits and responds agreeably to sharp steering inputs and throttle control, transitioning from slight understeer to oversteer with eerie simplicity. Its likewise malleable on Nardo's massive 3.9-mile road course (see sidebar). It shrinks the harder it's pushed, an impressive feat for a 3816-pound supercar that's as wide as a Silverado 2500HD. The short-stroke V-12 revs so smoothly and so quickly, it finds the 8250-rpm limiter seemingly too soon. And while we were unable to confirm Lamborghini's 217-mph claim, the rate at which the Aventador reached 172 mph on the front straight left little doubt.

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

That's the most logical explanation for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 P30 Performance Package, which takes the big 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8's output from an already hearty 518 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque to a pavement-pounding 550 hp and 590 lb-ft. This power lets the 4347-pound sedan sprint to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. The best part? It emits a beautiful yet brutal growl during its sprint. Unfortunately, unless you're on a track or a stretch of unrestricted autobahn im Vaterland, you'll only get to hear that growl for a few short seconds before risking retribution from your local authorities. This is an E-Class, after all, and it comes with the requisite luxury touches -- high-quality materials, soft-touch plastics, and most importantly, extensive sound deadening -- that completely skew the perception of speed by eliminating pesky things like wind and road noise. "Go Directly to Jail" velocities come surprisingly easily and with no warning, especially with your foot planted firmly on the accelerator. Imagine, if you will, a gas pedal attached to a string, and on the other end of that string are a bull's nether regions. Be gentle and there will be no trouble; be aggressive and there goes the china shop -- and your license. Usually, staring at the speedometer is a bad idea. In the E63, it's almost a necessity. In base form, the E63 rings in at $91,475 -- but who buys a base model Mercedes, let alone a base model E63? Our tester had a Porsche-like options list in both quantity and cost that brought the price up to an eye-watering $131,045, landing it firmly in "more than you can afford, pal" territory for us 99 percenters. At the top was the $12,625 (!) carbon-ceramic brake package, an option perpetually the subject of "is it worth it?" discussions. This Benz stopped from 60 mph in just 103 feet. Impressive? Yes. But the E63 Wagon we recently tested without the package needed just 105 feet. Carbons aren't necessarily going to stop you faster, but they're better for track use.

Nissan Juke-R

Now the team has a new bragging right, with the Juke-R being confirmed as the world’s fastest crossover. That’s probably not a huge surprise considering they shoehorned the GT-R’s 3.8L twin-turbocharged V6 powerplant into the body, packing 480-hp. In addition, the Juke-R has the GT-R’s all-wheel-drive system, gearbox and suspension.

The numbers posted say that the Juke-R does a 0-62 mph sprint in just 3.7-seconds with a top speed of 160-mph. Compare that to the standard Juke that does 0-62 mph in 8.6-seconds and has a top speed of 124-mph.

Currently only two Juke-Rs exist in this world, one left-hand-drive and one right-hand-drive. Too bad there’s probably little to no chance it will ever make it to production – especially considering the costs, but it should inspire Nissan to pump just a tad bit more performance into the Juke. You know, to go along with those good looks.

The XK range features sweeping, athletic lines that create the impression of speed even when the car is standing still. The XK range is powered by Jaguar's 5.0 Litre V8 direct-injection engines. Available in three versions – the Supercharged 510PS and 550PS, and naturally aspirated 385PS – this superb engine exemplifies Jaguar's reputation for innovation and engineering excellence. It delivers breathtaking power and torque with impressive fuel efficiency. XK is designed and engineered in two bodystyles, Coupé and Convertible. Both are built in aluminium, which combines lightness with strength and rigidity. Every surface is sculpted to create a visual energy, with the outer aluminium skin stretched taut over the aluminium body structure. Complex mesh surfacing on the front grille, horizontal side power vents, and elegantly profiled headlamps with LED daytime running lights, create a new and distinctive visual signature. XK's all-aluminium body construction is fundamental to the way the car performs. Using technology derived from the aerospace industry, it delivers a combination of lightness, strength and rigidity – the key to great sports car handling, superb performance and impressive efficiency.  High torsional rigidity delivers exceptional agility, reduced body roll and pin-sharp cornering; less weight results in faster acceleration, shorter braking distances, improved fuel economy and lower emissions when compared to an equivalent steel-bodied car. XK's technology is designed to make the driving experience as potent and enjoyable as possible; to allow performance handling and maintain stability without taking control. Jaguar's Adaptive Dynamics system monitors body and wheel movements 500 hundred times a second, making constant adjustments to the dampers to achieve the ideal balance of comfort and razor-sharp handling. On the XKR and XKR-S, the Active Differential adds an extra level of traction on loose surfaces. For drivers seeking greater involvement, all XK models offer Dynamic and Sport modes for an even more exhilarating experience. 

2012 CTS Sport Sedan FROM $35,915 — $57,555

FROM $35,915 — $57,555

The award-winning 2012 CTS Sport Sedan blends stunning design, driving dynamics and technology in a way that satisfies enthusiasts and luxury-seekers alike. Inside the carefully crafted cabin, it’s all about details, with hand-cut and-sewn accents and available ambient lighting, Sapele wood trim like that used in the finest guitars, and heated and ventilated seats. There’s even an available heated steering wheel. What’s more, you can tailor the CTS Sport Sedan to your personal taste by selecting either the available Luxury, Performance or Premium Collection. And when it comes to performance, CTS delivers. The performance-oriented rear- or available All-Wheel Drive is complemented by a suspension tuned on Germany’s famed Nürburgring racetrack to help ensure precise handling. Power comes from a 270 HP 3.0L direct injection V6 engine, or available 318 HP 3.6L direct injection V6. Both offer more power with reduced emissions compared to engines without direct injection technology. A 6-speed manual or available 6-speed automatic transmission emphasizes performance driving. The 2012 CTS Sport Sedan. Luxury, technology and performance come together.