Lexus SC 400

142 MPHNissan Maxima SEThe Maxima SE continues to surprise us. First, there was its blazing acceleration-6.6 seconds 0-60 mph-and near-sports-car handling in a luxurious, comfortable, affordably priced family sedan. This time, our '95 Import Car of the Year produced an astounding top speed of 142 mph. Not only did the Maxima come within spitting distance of the MR-2 Turbo, but check out the chest-thumping cars that failed to make the 140-mph cut to get into this test: Ford's Mustang Cobra, Mustang GT, and Taurus SHO, plus the Chevrolet Impala SS-and this despite the fact that Nissan's normally aspirated 3.0-liter DOHC V-6 makes far less power than any of them. Staying in character, the Maxima runs this awesome pace with no drama: At 142 mph, the Nissan is as solid feeling and confidence-inspiring as many cars at half the speed. With a functional price of just under $22,000, the Maxima SE is the cheapest way to transport five people over 140 mph.

147 MPHLexus SC 400Just as all of the SC 400's 250 V-8 ponies began pawing rocks out of the long-abandoned roadway at the start of its top-speed run, I spotted a big-rig traveling the same direction but about three-quarters of a mile ahead on the interstate that roughly parallels Mrs. Orcutt's secret driveway. Though barely more than a blip on the horizon at the start of the run, I passed him well before the finish of the three-mile dash. Then, after the Lexus had become a major source of global warming by braking to a halt from 147 mph, and I had spun around and headed back up the road, guess who was crossing abreast of the finish line, coming toward me? In the time it took the 18-wheeler to cover little more than two miles, the Lexus, running flat-out with a 180-degree change of direction, ran about four. The Lexus is the most expensive car in our test-just under $50,000, even without $2100 of luxury options counted into the functional price-and it felt like it: solid, stable, and comfortable at 147 mph.