Over the last few years, American carmakers have finally started shifting from cars that go fast in a straight line to vehicles that can also go fast around a track. The best example is the new Chevrolet Corvette which is now mid-engine, so it can balance its weight to ensure the handling matches its speed. First built in 1965, the Ford Mustang has always been about driving fast, and their special high-performance models have taken on the moniker Shelby in honor of race car driver Carroll Shelby.
The 2022 Shelby GT500 has been given the same objective as the Corvette and has begun to build a whole new breed of Mustang. It’s not yet joined the mid-engine club, but this version does the ¼ mile in 11.3 seconds at 132 mph and produces a lateral acceleration of .99gs. That speed and road holding combination has created a burgeoning track star capable of sneaking up on exotic cars four times its price. While the Mustang has taken a giant leap forward, there are still cars out there at less than exotic prices that can outrun it. Here are 8 examples of sedans that show Ford still has some work left to do before the Mustang can be called a proper race car.
8 2021 Mercedes E63 AMG 4Matic+ S
What Shelby is to Ford, AMG is to Mercedes, and since a contract in 1993, AMG has been filling Mercedes dealerships with versions of Mercedes's already special models. Over time, they have produced more and more high output models while maintaining their creed, One Man. One Engine. This mantra is a reminder that nearly all AMG engines are hand-built by one trained mechanic at their factory in Offenbach, Germany.
1n 2021, Mercedes and AMG introduced the E63 S 4Matic+. The S indicates an even higher output option, while the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system increased traction and steering. With these technologies, the 604-hp super sedan can reach 60 mph in 3.4 and the ¼ mile in 11.1 seconds at 126 mph. This immense power aided by 4Matic AWD gives the E63 the ability to hold a turn at 1.01gs, keeping the speed up to fly around the track even faster.
7 2019 Jaguar XE SV Project 8
Jaguar has a storied history in motorsports. They’ve won 24-Hours of Le Mans using a C-Type and then switched to the D-Type from 1955 to 1957. After a rule of limited engine size, Jaguar was never as successful and began focusing on their road cars. In 1995 with the help of the famed designer Ian Callum, Jaguar released a new model known as the XE. This model was redesigned in 2015 to make the XE an AWD car and able to compete against its German competition.
In 2017 Jaguar took another step to challenge their Rivals, developing a new version of the XE known as The SV Project 8. This 2019 model came with the release of a new Project 8. The production of these cars harkened back to the days of Jaguar’s racing heyday and performed not just on the road but also on the track. Its supercharged V8 produced 592 hp, rocketing it to 60 in 3.2 seconds and down the straightaway in 11.4 seconds, going 132 mph. Jaguar put this car to work for its ultimate accomplishment when it set the record for production sedans at the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife racecourse, completing it in just 7 minutes and 21 seconds.
6 2021 Audi RS7 Sportback
Anyone who knows hot hatches knows that Volkswagen consistently ranks at the top thanks to its industry-changing GTI. The RS7 from Audi, a member of the Volkswagen group, is the modern, high-tech, and highest pumped-up version of the hot hatch in the form of a fastback.
The RS7 will stay on the roads most of the time, but it has enough power and prowess to hold its own on the track. It has a smooth accelerating Audi's twin-turbo V8 that gets it to 60 mph in just 3 seconds. With an ¼ mile time of just over 11 seconds, it’s faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera S, which is no small feat. It’s the heaviest car on this list, but it has a sports rear differential that stays right where you want it to through the corners. With all its technology and creature comforts, you won’t even realize how many laps you’re doing.
5 2023 BMW M3 Competition xDrive
In 2022 BMW redesigned its famous kidney grills, and it can now best be described as controversial. Many people don’t care for the elongated pug-like nose end and wish BMW had stuck with the old look. People won’t be complaining about the performance of the new M3 Competition and will be glad that their cars have continued to evolve.
M cars were designed to be fast, but the addition of the M Competition package has taken that speed to a new level. Done by reducing weight and increasing engine output, it can go from 0-60 in 3 seconds and put down ¼ mile times of 11 seconds, going 125 miles per hour. BMW has also improved the driving dynamics of the M3’s remarkable handling. Upgrading the springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars and reconfiguring its driver modes provide the driver with extra confidence so they can hit the corners and hold the road with as much speed as possible. Don’t let that control fool you; the M3 Competition ensures you have the maximum fun.
4 2021 Porsche Panamera Turbo S
SUVs are the current fad, but The Porsche Panamera is an option for a buyer who doesn’t want to be a sheep. It was designed to fill a space between a sedan and a sports car, and with the power of a supercar and the sensibility of an SUV, It's no surprise that a Porsche can deliver at the track, but the way it does so is undoubtedly unique.
The Porsche Panamera Turbo S can outrun a GT500 around a track, but it is less expected that it even outdoes a Ferrari Roma. Packing a 620-hp V8 engine, the Turbo S reaches 60 mph in 2.6 seconds and goes down the runway in 10.8 seconds at 127 mph. It has a lateral acceleration of 1.07gs, allowing it to race around corners as fast as it does on the straights. An average mpg of 24 miles makes it more practical than the GT500 on and off the track.
3 2022 BMW M5 CS
The M3 Competition is a great car, but BMW’s M division has other tricks up its sleeve. Many have considered the M5 the perfect super sedan for years now. Its combination of style, luxury, and speed makes for an appealing option for those who want to set themselves apart from the other 5 Series you regularly see.
What happens when you take that perfect luxury car and tune it to dominate on the track? You get the M5 CS. BMW reduces the weight by 200 pounds and adds 27 hp. That may not seem like a big difference, but that’s not where things end. BMW also stiffens the engine mount, suspension springs, and anti-roll bar while lowering it .2 inches. These changes take the base M5’s 0-60 time from 3.2 down to 2.6 seconds, complete the quarter-mile .4 seconds quicker, 11 seconds to 10.6 seconds, and raise the top speed from 163 mph up to 190. With BMW's optional carbon-ceramic brakes, you have an extraordinary car that spoils its driver on the track as it does on the highway.
2 2023 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S Four-Door
Since debuting in 2014, the Mercedes AMG GT has been the alpha dog of their sports car lineup. It has been a powerful grand tourer able to dash at high speeds with everything you’d expect of a Mercedes AMG. Over the years, Mercedes has built many GT versions, including the S, C, R, Dark Night edition, Black Series, and Track Series. There’s something for everyone who can afford one, and it comes down to what you intend to do with it. If you’re looking for practicality with a touch of madness, the best option is the AMG GT63 S. You’re getting a 4-door sedan with a twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 630 hp. The Black Series does have more horsepower and weighs less, but it costs more than twice as much as an already expensive vehicle.
The 630-hp engine can do 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and a ¼ mile in 11.1 seconds at 125 mph with a top speed of 195 mph. If you take that power to the track, you can put it through the corners with a g-force of 1.03. You’ll be able to pass a Porsche 911 GT3 easily, which isn’t too shabby when the Porsche has two fewer doors and weighs 1,000 pounds less. With that kind of capability, the GT500 doesn’t stand a chance.
1 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid
Electric cars have come a long way from the Toyota Prius and the Nissan Leaf. When Tesla released their roadster in 2008, it ushered in a whole new paradigm for the future of what electric cars would be built to achieve. Today, there are no sedans, electric or gas-powered, that can outrun the Tesla S Plaid Edition.
The immediate power available from its motor allows the Plaid to harness its power with no lag hitting 60 mph in 2.1 seconds, half a mile per hour faster than the AMG GT63 S. By the time the Plaid hits the ¼ mile, it’s 1.3 seconds ahead. Taking off from the line pushes its occupants back into their seats with a G-Force of 1.4. Not as fast as its launch, it takes on the corners with 1.07gs, the same lateral speed as the other list leader, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S. The Plaid may not be specifically designed for track use, but the numbers it produces can make many cars that are jealous.