SAGA — Doing things properly

For most of us, the car we drive has to be practical. Doing the weekly shop, picking up the kids or grand children from school rules out having thousands of pounds worth of super car parked on the drive. But that doesn’t stop us wanting one.

Here’s a small selection of the most wanted cars to be rolling off the production lines and onto our streets in 2009. It would seem, that even in a world recession, some people have still got a few surplus pounds to spend.

Let’s start with a car that’s close to home – and if you saved really hard – you might just be able to afford one.

Lotus Elise

The 2009 Lotus Elise carries on the car manufacturers tradition of producing pint-sized sports cars with exotic-car performance. This mid-engine, targa-top 2-seater is fitted with a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine built by Toyota and tuned by Lotus. It makes 189 hp in the base Elise, and 218 in the supercharged Elise SC. A 6-speed manual is the only transmission offered. ABS is standard, but an anti-skid system is not available; nor are front side airbags or curtain side airbags- so be very careful how you drive it!

Alfa Romeo 8C

The engine is from another Italian thoroughbred, Maserati’s Quattroporte, although it’s been enlarged to 4.7 litres of displacement. It makes 444 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, and 347 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm, with a 7,500 rpm redline. That engine will be placed behind the front axle for a low centre of gravity and ideal weight distribution.

What’ under the bonnet is nearly as splendid as the wrapper: a sonorous 4.7-litre V-8 that is closely related to the engine found in another car on this list, the Maserati GranTurismo, as well as several Ferraris. Wow!

Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin revealed an all-new flagship model for the 2008 model year called the DBS. A concept version of the coupe was revealed in 2006, followed by an appearance in the James Bond film Casino Royale. The DB9’s 6.0 litre V12 finds a new home in the DBS, but with more power. Output is rated at 510 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 420 pound-feet of torque at 5,750 rpm. The power goes to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted trans-axle with six-speed swapped with the use of a clutch pedal. A limited-slip differential is included. Which is nice.

Porsche 911

Of course, no super car list would be complete without an entry from Porsche. This is the base model of Porsche’s legendary, many would say iconic. The rear-engine rear-drive sports car is powered by a 3.6-litre flat six-cylinder engine, generating 325 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 274 pound-feet of torque starting at 4,250 rpm. Zero-to-60-mph flies by in 4.8 seconds.

You’ll be impressed at how the engineers pack in such a highly tuned performance motor into a compact spot, especially with all the ancillary mechanicals and the exhaust system. This is a prime example of how Porsche has perfected the 911 design.

Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG

Mercedes-Benz reinvented the idea of a stylish, four-door, premium coupe when the German manufacturer released the CLS in 2004. Last year, the AMG-tuned CLS got a significant upgrade when the AMG-designed and developed 6.3-litre V8 engine was shoehorned under the hood.

The first AMG-designed engine, the 6.3-litre V8, is carried over to 2009, good for 507 horsepower along with 465 lb.-ft. of torque under the bonnet of this shapely modern classic. Its V8 burble is made louder than last year’s car thanks to a less restrictive exhaust installed for 2009.

Audi S5

Staying with the Germans once again, another much-lusted after car for 2009. It features Audi’s direct-injection 4.2-litre V8 engine, basically a detuned version of the one found in the RS4 and R8, which produces 354hp and 325lb-ft of torque instead of the 420 hp /317 lb-ft. Like the A5, the new S5 features an engine placement behind the front wheels, resulting in better weight distribution between the axles.

One of the most passionate designs ever to come out of Germany, the S5 wears a perfect balance of masculine and feminine elements, mixing a strong, assertive gaze with elegantly flowing bumpers and a thick fuselage offset with delicate bright work. Sporty accents to the S5 include a squared-off chin, subtle sill extensions, a slightly longer deck-lid, and four wonderfully vocal exhaust pipes – all without detracting from the coupe’s innate beauty.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Affectionately described as the “baby Aston,” the V8 Vantage coupe is Aston Martin’s cheapest, smallest and highest volume model currently on the market.

It is positioned in price against the Porsche 911 Carrera S, Audi R8, Mercedes SL550, and BMW M6, but in reality is different from all those vehicles. It’s lighter and more nimble than the M6 or SL, but more of a grand tourer than the hardcore R8 or 911.

The Vantage comes with a 4.3 litre naturally aspirated V8 producing 380 horsepower at 7,000 rpm along with 302 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm. The high-revving V8 is mated to one of two trans-axles, both of which are equipped with a limited-slip differential.

Maserati GranTurismo

The new Maserati GranTurismo, styled by Pininfarina, made its worldwide debut as a 2008 model. The new coupe is powered by a 4.2 litre V8 engine and delivers a nimble weight distribution of 49 percent at the front and 51 percent at the rear.

The engine delivers 405 horsepower at 7100 rpm and 339 pound-feet of torque at 4750 rpm. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters for the manual control mode.

So there you have the cars that are the most wanted and desired for 2009. None of them exactly cheap, but then they wouldn’t be super cars if they were. And if you have saved up enough to buy any of them, you’ll find they all come with super-priced car insurance too.