The quest for vehicular supremacy has been going on since rubber hit pavement, and the horsepower wars are some of the most ferocious competition in motoring. Power communicates strength — and the ability to harness and control it means technological brilliance. Engine output has long been the most significant statistic for those who crave both speed and premier motoring status. But the race for horsepower dominance is no longer reserved for the expensive and rare. In the ’80s, the Porsche 959 supercar was one of the most potent and pricey on the automotive market. It cost $225K back then, possessed 570 horsepower and topped out at 195 mph. Today, an American-made muscle car, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, eclipses the 959 by 137 horses, reaches a top speed of 199 mph and costs a hair above $60K. You can park it in your driveway, and most of your neighbors won’t even know it’s not a base Challenger until you violate the noise ordinance.
And the Hellcat isn’t alone. Manufacturers have built hugely powerful cars, as well as motorcycles, for consumers for far less money than their more exotic, more rare counterparts. We’ve compiled the most potent cars and motorcycles that register a “reasonable” price tag (under $100K for cars and $50K for motorcycles), so you get most power for the lowest price. Which equates to happiness — right?
Automobiles
Three Mirrors and Plenty of Smoke
