The Lexus LFA has been persistently making headlines in the automotive press for the past several years, appearing publicly in camouflaged guise and giving us mere morsels of what was to come.  Speculation and wishful thinking abound, hard facts were the only things missing when it came to reporting news about the LFA. That all changed yesterday, however, as the car was officially unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Everything from complete performance specs to pricing and production numbers were finally revealed, leaving enthusiasts with enough info to fuel their automotive fantasies for weeks.

A 4.8-liter V10 sits up front, sending an astounding 560 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Helping to produce all that power is an advanced valvetrain similar to the Yamaha-designed unit found in the Lexus IS-F and a cylinder block with heavy duty internals, including titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons.

Sixty-five percent of the car is slathered in lightweight carbon fiber, bringing the total vehicle weight down to just 3,263 lbs. The car achieves 0-62 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds—almost a whole second faster than the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG.

The LFA’s high performance credentials are enough to let it into the ultra-exclusive over-200-mph club, clocking a top speed of 201.94 mph. But straight line speed is nothing without control. A Torsen limited slip differential allows power to be sent to the wheel with the most grip in a turn, giving the car a sure-footed feel that only a limited-slip differential can offer.

A total of only 500 LFAs are to be produced between 2010 and 2013, making this Lexus a rare bird even among exotics. The limited production run means that the LFA carries hefty price tag. But just how hefty, nobody was ready for. Lexus dropped a dream-crushing bomb on unsuspecting automotive enthusiasts when they announced the LFA’s $375,000 starting price. While we can’t say we’d ever pay that much for a Lexus, we applaud the company for venturing so far upmarket. Lexus’s super car debut in Tokyo may have left some wishing for pricing closer to a Toyota rather than a Ferrari, but don’t expect the LFA to disappear from headlines any time soon.

Build your LFA today.

You probably grew up with a few posters plastered on your dorm room wall. If you’re a car enthusiast, chances are that those posters were of sports cars. And at least one of those sports cars happened to be a Porsche, namely the legendary 911.

Arguably, it’s been branded better than almost any other car out there, sports or otherwise. The Porsche 911 screams “sports car” like an Apple MacBook whispers “laptop” and for pure driving pleasure, it’s tough to beat, unless the suffix turbo follows it. Well, feast your eyes on the most technologically advanced 911 Porsche has ever built, the Porsche 911 Turbo.

As Winston Wolfe would say, let’s get down to brass tacks, gentlemen. This 911 Turbo will reach a top speed of 193mph. It can reach this velocity due mainly to a Variable Turbine Technology twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat six that generates 480 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and an asphalt-wrinkling 505 pound-feet in “overboost” mode.

The 911 Turbo will accelerate you to 60mph in 3.4 seconds and will gobble up a ¼ miles’ worth of tarmac in 11.7 seconds, bringing you closer to the realization that you really don’t need to take that flight up into space. All for the bargain basement price of $129,650, or the cost of roughly eleven 2009 smart fortwos.

Click here for options and pricing in your neighborhood.

For more on the Porsche 911 Turbo, or for that matter, all Porsche’s models, visit the authoritative Porsche message forum, www.6speedoline.com.

It comes as no surprise that Audi decided to integrate the coveted S into its model nomenclature shortly after the inception of its benchmark R8. The attempt is a declaration to join the ranks of BMW’s M Coupe, the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350, Honda’s S2000 and Porsche’s venerable Boxster. To kick things off, Audi has replaced the former TT’s 3.2-liter V6 powerplant with a more refined 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged TSFI engine. The turbocharger and direct fuel injection both combine to allow the TTS to produce a healthy 265 horsepower, fifteen more than the unit on which it is based. But that number does not tell the whole story. In terms of torque, the engine produces a solid 258 pound-feet of torque, and does so between 2500 to 5000 rpm. The systematic placement of both power and torque in this wide of a powerband results in grin-inducing power delivery, allowing the driver to keep the car in each gear longer, which for lack of a better term, is flat-out fun.

The top speed of the 3,120-pound TTS is increased to an electronically-governed 155 mph, compared to the 130 mph limit of the TT. Fuel economy is also increased from 25 to 30 mpg, allowing the TTS to compete with even the most fuel-thrifty econo-boxes. But none of those commuter cars can sprint to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds like the TTS.

The TTS is a refreshing take on a car that has lapped its former days of glory. Audi has reinvigorated the flare of the TT with its bolder incarnation. Although its nuances may only spark the interest of Audi enthusiasts, the TTS is just what Audi needs to perpetuate the indisputable performance of its R8.

Click on 2009 Audi TTS pricing to find one in your neighborhood.