Hot Sports Cars for 2011

Sports cars are often designed to make a statement, and many of the newest models do that with neck-craning styling and neck-straining performance.

All cars are listed in alphabetical order and are from the 2011 model year.

Audi R8 Spyder

$127,700 - $161,000

The R8 coupe's styling is gorgeous in its own right, but the new R8 Spyder roadster is downright stunning. It's a design that measures up to the best of the exotic brands, and the roadster's available 525-horsepower, 5.2-liter V-10 engine ensures its performance befits its beautiful sheet metal.

• Aluminum construction

• V-8 or V-10 engine

• Standard all-wheel drive

• Soft-top can be operated while car is moving

• Adaptive suspension

Cadillac CTS Coupe/CTS-V Coupe

$38,165 - $62,165

Cadillac expanded the CTS lineup with the addition of a wagon last year, and it's at it again for 2011 with a new CTS coupe. Essentially a road-going wedge, the CTS coupe takes the luxury car's jagged-edge styling to new heights. For horsepower freaks there's a supercharged CTS-V coupe, too.

• 304-hp V-6

• 556-hp V-8 (CTS-V)

• Manual or automatic

• Rear- or all-wheel drive

• Luxurious cabin

Ford Mustang

$22,145 - $53,645

You might be saying to yourself, "Wait a second; the Mustang was redesigned last year. What's it doing here?" It's back thanks to extensive changes under the hood, including a new 305-horsepower V-6 that's rated at 31 mpg on the highway with an automatic transmission and an optional 412-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 in the GT. The Shelby GT500's supercharged V-8 is now made of aluminum and gets a slight power bump to 550 hp.

• Coupe or convertible

• Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic

• Limited-slip differential (GT)

• Available navigation system with Sirius Travel Link

• Available glass roof for coupe

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

$183,000

Mercedes' new supercar is a relative bargain compared to the outgoing SLR McLaren, which had a starting price of $495,000, but the SLS AMG brings two big servings of performance and style in the form of its 563-horsepower V-8 and gull-wing doors. All in all, the SLS AMG has what it takes to be a classic one day.

• Long hood

• Aluminum construction

• Zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds

• Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission

• Movable rear wing

Porsche Boxster Spyder

$61,200

Already a soft-top roadster, the Boxster's new Spyder variant features distinctive body panels behind the seats and a manual canvas roof in place of the regular model's powered soft-top. Like the Boxster S, the Spyder features a 3.4-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder, but it makes slightly more power: 320 horsepower.

• Rear-wheel drive

• Mid-engine layout

• Six-speed manual

• Available seven-speed dual-clutch transmission

• Side curtain airbags located in windowsills

Honda CR-Z

$19,200 - $20,760

It might be a surprise to see the CR-Z hybrid on this list, but in addition to delivering decent gas mileage — it's rated at 31/37 mpg city/highway with a manual transmission or 35/39 mpg with the automatic — this two-seat hatchback is also a blast to drive in its Sport mode, which enhances drivetrain responsiveness. Think of it as an environmentally responsible sports car.

• Gas/electric drivetrain

• Front-wheel drive

• Three drive modes: Sport, Normal or Econ

• Standard automatic air conditioning

• Available navigation system

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

$33,995 - $37,345

Inspired by rally cars but legal for use on public roads, the WRX STI receives suspension modifications for 2011 and a new sedan body style joins the hatchback. Like all Subarus, the WRX STI has standard all-wheel drive.

• 305-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder

• Six-speed manual

• Driver-controllable center differential

• Wide-body styling

• Huge rear wing (sedan)