Must-See Sports Cars of the 2015 New York International Auto show

2016 Aston Martin Vulcan at the 2015 New York International Auto Show ・ Photo by Megan Green

Looking to get your motor running? The New York International Auto Show is packed with the latest high performance sports cars, models that have designed from day one to offer thrills and excitement out on the road. Whether you're looking for an ultra-fast world-beating coupe or an affordable, high horsepower muscle machine, they're all here waiting for your viewing pleasure.

Check out our take on the must-see sports cars at this year's 2015 New York International Auto Show.

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

It's not on sale yet, but the special editions of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata are already here. The MX-5 Miata Club is aimed at hardcore sports car fans who will make excellent use of its limited-slip differential, upgraded Bilstein shock absorbers, and front shock tower brace in the pursuit of quicker lap times. Those goodies are only available when you order the Miata with its available six-speed manual transmission, but all versions of the Club come with a front air dam and a rear lip spoiler regardless of gearbox choice.

What’s changed? The MX-5 Miata Club adds additional handling prowess to what was already a fun package.

When is it available? Later this summer.

How much? Pricing has not yet been released for the Miata Club.

Photo by Megan Green

2016 Aston Martin Vulcan

Just when you thought Aston Martin had wrung every ounce of coolness out of its current design language, we get something like the Aston Martin Vulcan. Only 24 of these supercars will be built, and each one will be a rolling work of art. A 7.0-liter V-12 produces more than 800 horsepower under the hood of this track-only beast, which also features advanced aerodynamics and some of the most eye-catching taillights ever mounted on any vehicle. A six-speed sequential gearbox, a carbon fiber monocoque, and adjustable Brembo brakes are a few more of this engineering marvel's highlights.

What’s changed? The Aston Martin Vulcan is an all-new model.

When is it available? You'll have to know a guy who knows a guy who owns Aston Martin.

How much? The Vulcan will enter the collections of lucky millionaires for $2.3 million.

Photo by Megan Green

2016 McLaren 570S

“Our most accessible supercar” is how the 2016 McLaren 570S is described by its maker, a small-volume British company more famous for racing in Formula One. The 570S is aimed at buyers who might consider a Porsche 911 or Audi A8 and comes with advantages to sway those buyers too. Apart from that connection to the fastest, most technologically advanced motorsport, the 570S has a race-car construction. Once the driver opens a scissor door and settles into a bucket seat, he or she is in a carbon fiber tub with a mid-mounted 3.8-liter V8 driving the rear wheels. This twin-turbo engine makes 570PS, the metric measurement for 562 hp, and 443 lb-ft of torque. Standstill to 60 mph happens in just 3.2 seconds; top speed is 204 mph.

What changed? This is ostensibly an all-new model, but it’s not so different from the awesome McLaren 650S. Think of the 570S as a less-powerful, less-expensive 650S.

When is it available? Winter 2015.

How much? Around $180,000 (“less expensive” is a relative term in this rarefied world of supercars).

Photo by Megan Green

2016 BMW Alpina B6 Gran Coupe

The 2016 BMW ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe takes the four-door 'coupe' version of the brand's full-size two-door and injects serious performance by way of a 600 horsepower, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 mated to an all-wheel drive system. 590 lb-ft of torque are additionally on offer by the Alpina-tuned B6 Gran Coupe, and an eight-speed automatic transmission helps the car reach 60-mph in a heart-stopping 3.6 seconds. The BMW also features unique styling and aerodynamic enhancements to help set it further apart from the standard 6 Series Gran Coupe. 

What changed? The 2016 BMW Alpina B6 Gran Coupe adds 60 horsepower, 50 lb-ft of torque, and a host of smaller improvements over the 2015 model. 

When is it available? June of this year. 

How much? The Alpina will set you back $118,250.

Photo by Megan Green

Ford GT

The Ford GT is proof positive that not all exotics hail from overseas. Heir to the enormously-successful, yet short-run coupe of the same name that came before it, this carbon fiber-heavy supercar boasts flow-through bodywork like no other model on the market, and it's motivated by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that has been pegged at more than 600 horsepower. Ford has given the GT a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission in order to further enhance performance, and a top speed of over 200-mph seems likely. It's a fitting ode to the original GT40 race car from which the new GT draws its inspiration.

What changed? The Ford GT is an all-new concept car.

When is it available? Look for the GT in 2016.

How much? Pricing has yet to be released for the Ford GT.

Photo by Megan Green

2016 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

Jaguar's most potent sports car gets a personality makeover for 2016. The Jaguar F-Type retains the same sleek lines and brutally potent supercharged V-8 engine that it offered the year before, which means 550 horsepower from a 5.0-liter unit, managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. The difference, however, is the presence of a standard all-wheel drive system in place of 2015's rear-wheel drive-only configuration. This should tame some of the F-Type's smoky antics, and also enhance the car's appeal for those who intend to flog the car through all four seasons. 

What changed? All-wheel drive is now standard with the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe. 

When is it available? Sales should begin shortly.

How much? The F-Type R Coupe starts at $103,600, which is an increase of $4,600 over last year's rear-wheel drive model.

Photo by Megan Green

2016 Jaguar F-Type Convertible

The Jaguar F-Type Convertible has a few surprises of its own in store for 2016, including the availability of a six-speed manual transmission for both the 340 horsepower and 380 horsepower versions of its 3.0-liter, supercharged V-6 engine. There's some cross-pollination going on here, as the F-Type Coupe also benefits from the V-6 manual setup (with an eight-speed automatic still on offer). Finally, the F-Type R Convertible goes all-wheel drive-only just like the hardtop, normalizing Jaguar's sports car line-up.

What changed? Six-speed manual transmissions are now available at the first two steps of the F-Type convertible (and coupe) ladder, while all-wheel drive is standard with eight-cylinder models.

When is it available? You won't have to wait long to sample the 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE convertible.

How much? $68,100 is the price of admission for the manual-transmission convertible.

Photo by Megan Green

1975 BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car

Ok, so you can't actually go out and buy the 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL race car that's on display at the New York Auto Show, but that doesn't mean you can't admire it. Affectionately nicknamed the 'Batmobile' due to its swooping design, the race model was based on the rare BMW 3.0 CSL street car that was also helping the brand make a name for itself in the world of high performance. A CSL race car won the European Touring Car championships in both Driver and Manufacturer categories in 1973, and was a strong competitor throughout the 70s with its six-cylinder power plant and functional aero. 

What changed? Nothing's changed since 1975 on this classic, which won the 12 Hours of Sebring that year. 

When is it available? Unfortunately, only in your dreams - unless you've got the cash and the hook-ups to pick up a vintage racer at auction. 

How much? Street versions of the BMW 3.0 CSL trade above the $150,000 mark - and you can add a multiplier to that for race editions.

Photo by Megan Green

BMW Z4 GTLM

The BMW Z4 GTLM is run by the Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan team in the United SportsCar Championship series, and for 2015 the car is wearing the same livery as the 3.0 CSL race car in tribute to that model's many on-track successes. The Z4 GTLM is pushing out close to 500 horsepower from a 4.4-liter V-8 engine that has little to do with the Z4 street car's six-cylinder top-spec mill, but it's a beast to behold tearing down the straight at Sebring just like its predecessor did 40 years previous. 

What changed? The BMW Z4 GTLM offers a heritage-inspired paint scheme and a revised front-end aerodynamics for 2015. 

When is it available? You'll have to call BMW Motorsport to get yours delivered. 

How much? More than you can afford, pal.

Photo by Megan Green

1970 BMW 2002ti ALPINA

The 1970 BMW 2002tii ALPINA on display at the New York Auto Show has been restored by the automaker to the same spec it wore when it ran in SCCA events in 1971 and 1972. This same car ran at Laguna Seca in 2014 at the Monterey Historics event, where its 220 horsepower, four-cylinder engine and sub-2,000 lb curb weight kept it in good standing with the other period-correct racers. Alpina is still a longtime tuning house devoted to BMW, and not did its mad scientists up the 2002tii's performance, they also gave it the distinctive flared fenders that set it apart from other versions of the 2002.

What changed? The 2002tii ALPINA has been returned to its former glory.

When is it available? You'll have to pry it from the automaker's private collection.

How much? Leave your checkbook at home - this BMW 2002tii ALPINA isn't for sale.

Photo by Megan Green