sports car

If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line exotic sportscar, it used to be that the European automakers (like Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin) were the only place to go. The Acura NSX held down the fort for the Japanese automakers for a long while, but since its departure it's been back to business as usual.

Japan's carmakers, however, are in the midst of a renaissance in the supercar arena. The Nissan GT-R, once kept exclusively in the Japanese Domestic Market, has been taking on all challengers, and now Lexus has stepped up with the highly-anticipated new LFA. With a 550-horsepower V10 engine, a 3.7-second sprint to 60, a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour and a $375,000 price tag, the Lexus LFA is capable of dicing it with the best Europe has to offer and holding its own.

Despite the extraordinary price tag, sources suggest that parent company Toyota will actually take a loss on each one sold. Which could help explain why they'll only be making 500 examples, making this one very attractive and – for everyone involved – very expensive piece of window dressing.

Our sister site Autoblog is at the Paris Motor Show checking out the newest models. One of the most anticipated is the Ferrari California. The California is a new design that takes inspiration from classic Ferrari designs from the 1950s but with a modern Pininfarina spin. Under the hood there is a direct-inject, 460-hp version of the company's 4.3L V8. It is a performance machine but with a little more room and a more street-friendly style than some other Ferraris. So far the public seems to approve, the retractable-hardtop GT is already sold out until 2011.

Gas is getting more expensive, both politically and economically, yet we cringe to see the likes of Cameron Diaz and George Clooney in such un-glamorous vehicles as the Toyota Prius hybrid or Tango electric car.What's a politically and environmentally-conscious luxury car lover to do?

Hybrid Technologies has the answer. Check this out:

Ferrari F430: 660 hp, 0-60 in 3.3 seconds, mileage of 8 city/12 highway.

Hummer H1: 300 hp, maximum towing capacity of 9,303 lbs., mileage data not available because its curb weight exempts it from EPA testing, but estimates put the H1 at about 10 mpg... on diesel.

Hybrid Technologies' 2007 L1X-75: 600 hp, 0-60 in 3.1 seconds, runs on lithium batteries charged by a simple household 110-volt outlet.

In addition to sweet Italian-inspired roadster styling, lithium battery action means no gas guzzling. Plus, the only emissions coming from this vehicle are in the form of smoke rising from squealing tires.

With Hybrid Tech wooing potential distributors at the New York International Auto Show press preview this past week, you may be able to pick one of these babies up at a dealership near you in the not-too-distant future.

Sam Nazarian is big business. CEO of SBE Entertainment, Sam is quickly making a name for himself with a number of the highest-end restaurants, most exclusive clubs (L.A.'s famous Hyde is one), and most sought-after real estate to name just a few of his many projects. So what does a man like Sam do in his spare time? Drive around in his new Bugatti Veyron, impressing women, of course.

And Sue Callaway, of Fortune magazine, definitely seemed impressed when she got to ride in, and test drive, the $1.4 million sports car. Smooth, exclusive, and "jet-like" (Sue's words) in speed and power, I might never be interested in spending that much on a car, but I sure would have loved having her job that day.

The Tesla Roadster was unveiled this week in Santa Monica, California, and our friends at AutoblogGreen got a backstage look at the car and sat in on a test drive. The roadster is the first 100% electric performance car on the market and not only has no emissions (and no tailpipe), but actually generates energy when driven. The owners of the car will be doing a lot of driving, too, because the super-sleek car does 0-60 in 4 seconds and has a top speed of over 130 mph; it handles like a gas powered sports car, but like most EVs, makes no noise while doing so. The car comes with a home-based charging kit, so there is no need to install a generator in your garage, and charging it takes only 3.5 hours. Estimates state that the car will get around 250 miles per charge.

The roadster will be available for purchase starting in the spring of 2007, but people present at the unveiling were able to place advance orders for the car. The price will range from $80,000-$120,000.

More pics after the jump.

Inside Line shows us another tease car, a one-off that has already found a home. This is a souped-up version of the Maserati MC 12. Edo Competition, a tuning company which specializes in exotics, created it for a "wealthy Russian enthusiast." The car has 700 horsepower and can hit speeds over 230 mph. It also has bigger ceramic brakes, an adjustable suspension, Bridgestone tires instead of Pirellis and a spiffy new paint scheme.

Autoblog has pictures of  the Antas project, another swoop-shouldered car destined to make me swoon. The Antas project is as much art as auto, it was designed on paper not in a computer. The Antas gets its name from the Etruscan word for eagle and gets its power from a Maserati engine. It may look a bit overwrought but I love it right down to that weird fin on the back. Autoblog has lots of pictures of this amazing vehicle.

This beautiful 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Spyder was the pride and joy of Frank Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top. ZZ Top's love of cars is well-documented in all those 1980s videos and this car was part of Beard's extensive collection. It was modified for Frank Beard by Greg Jones Restoration and Genaddi Design Group and has a signed plaque on the firewall. The custom, aluminum body was built in 1992 on a Ferrari 250 GTE Chassis that has been shortened and modified to accommodate the Spyder configuration. The 3L, 12 cylinder engine was converted to accommodate 6 twin-choke Webber carburetors. It also has a dry sump system, 5 speed manual transmission, fuel cell inside of an aluminum riveted gas tank, and original Dunlop disc brakes. The engine has just been rebuilt and it has Borrani wire wheels with stainless steel spokes. It is listed for $325,000.