Top 10 Sports Cars

Top 10 Sports Cars
on MSN Autos


The list of the ten most popular sports cars on MSN Autos is based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages during months July through September of 2007.

1. Ford Mustang



When the latest Mustang debuted in 2005, its flashback styling tapped into a deep well of American automotive lust. Its retro design—plainly displayed via round headlights, triangular windows, three-element taillights, and galloping-pony grille—only added appeal to one of the last affordable American sports cars. Three years later, enthusiasts are still loving the Mustang's power, styling and affordability.


2. Chevrolet Corvette



Long an American icon, the current Corvette is also a world class, high-performance sports car. For the 2008 model year, a new LS3 6.2-liter V8 gives the Corvette an extra 30 horsepower and 24 lb-ft of torque. With the new mill cranking out 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft of torque, you might assume a car with so much power would provide dismal fuel economy. You can't expect the gas mileage of a Toyota Corolla, but the Corvette's every-day supercar status grows when you learn the EPA estimates for an '08 manual-tranny version are an impressive 16 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Related link: Horsepower vs. Fuel Efficiency


3. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640



Whenever a machine as exotic as the Murcielago hits the road, it can't help but turn heads. The latest iteration of this exotic sports car—the 2007 LP640—only adds to the neck-snapping appeal. The restyled body features new bumpers front and back, larger air intakes, and rear lights designed with a single piece lens. Derived from the Italian for the engine's mounting position—longitudinale posteriore—the LP640 is powered by a 640-horsepower 6.5-liter V12. The V12's torque peak of 486 lb-ft (at 6000 rpm) is channeled through a new 6-speed transmission, stronger rear differential and permanent all-wheel drive.


4. Mitsubishi Eclipse



Perhaps hoping to get back in with the tuner crowd, Mitsubishi went back to the drawing board for the Eclipse, which was all-new in 2006. With styling reminiscent of the machinery in the film "The Fast and the Furious," the latest Eclipse provides voluptuous lines in a sleek and well-contented front-wheel-drive coupe. There is no turbo for the base 2.4-liter 162-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, but plenty of power is on tap for the boulevard in the Eclipse GT, which sports a 263-horsepower 3.8-liter V6.


5. Ford Shely GT500




The most muscular of Mustangs, the GT500 is motivated by a supercharged 500-horsepower V8, which shares components with the discontinued Ford GT. It is easily the lowest cost 500-horsepower car on the road today, with an MSRP just shy of $42,000. That kind of power will get you from 0 to 60 mph in 4.91 seconds, 0 to 100 mph in 10.3 seconds and delivers a quarter-mile time of 12.99 seconds at 117.70 mph. A member of the 500-horsepower club, the GT500 can be had as a coupe or a convertible.


6. Nissan 350Z



Since its introduction in 2003, the 350Z has been a hit with consumers. Available in coupe or a convertible, the Z is powered by a 3.5-liter 306-horsepower V6 that delivers 268 lb-ft of torque. For 2007 Nissan gave the 350Z the next-generation VQ35HR engine with a twin air intake system to reduce airflow resistance. Added for 2007 is the NISMO 350Z, which features a more aerodynamic look, a specially tuned suspension, Brembo brakes and lightweight forged-alloy wheels. NISMO is Nissan's performance products division.


7. Saturn Sky



Saturn may have been waiting a long time to hear this word, but the Sky is a sexy car. Often compared to its sibling, the Pontiac Solstice, the Sky's suspension is tuned differently to provide a more compliant ride. The base engine is a 2.4-liter 177-horsepower 4-cylinder, while the Sky Red Line's mill is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder producing 260-horsepower. Starting price for a 2008 Sky is just under $25,000.


8. Porsche 911



The iconic rear-engine sports car, the 911 has managed to retain its trademark silhouette since its inception over 40 years ago. Curb weights have climbed with content over the years (currently 3,495 - 3,572 pounds), but so has engine output. The range-topping 911 Turbo cranks out 480 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-Six. With a nearly prescient all-wheel-drive system, the Turbo can lunge to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and hit 100 mph in 8.4 seconds using the standard 6-speed manual transmission. Opt for the 5-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and acceleration times improve to 3.4 and 7.8 seconds.


9. Mazda MX-5 Miata



Introduced in the summer of 1989 as a 1990 model, the MX-5's quick steering, go-kart-like handling and sporty styling have helped the Miata land a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling two-seater sports car in the world. Following the trend of retractable hardtop convertibles such as the Volkswagen Eos and Pontiac G6, Mazda has added one to the MX-5 lineup. The retractable top adds only 75 pounds without reducing cargo room. Prices start under $21,000 for a 2008 Miata.


10. Lamborghini Gallardo



Another thrill machine from Lamborghini, the Gallardo is a two-seat mid-engine sports car equipped with a 520-horsepower 5.0-liter V10. For 2007, a lighter and more powerful Superleggera version has been added to the lineup. The Superleggera boasts extensive use of carbon fiber, bringing the sports car's weight to just under 3,000 pounds—making it more responsive and better suited for the track. With 522 horsepower on tap, the Superleggera boasts a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds, and a 195 mph top speed.