Price: $185,575

Admittedly, one reason the Mercedes SLS AMG is on this list is that its upward-opening doors are a nostalgic throwback to the iconic 300SL Gullwing of the 1950s. In fact, the entire shape of this coupe, with its elongated snout and bobbed tail, is an echo of the Gullwing.

Get-up-and-go comes from a 563-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 with a top speed of 197 miles per hour. A seven-speed, automated manual transmission rushes power to rear wheels capable of hauling the SLS AMG from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Stitched leather covers most interior surfaces, with brushed metal covering the rest. Never has tradition and modern high-tech looked so good together.