The Acura NSX leads the entire pack of rev-happy four-valve fur'ners with the highest output per liter-90.6-horsepower. It sounds and feels almost more Italian than the Ferrari (until you actually drive the Ferrari, that is). Acura's trick VTEC valve gear makes the normally aspirated V-6 unusually flexible in spite of its modest 3.2-liter size and allows the power peak to be jacked up to a dizzy 7100 rpm. The 550 Maranello needs to be wound up nearly as tight-7000-for its aluminum V-12 to reach its glorious 485-horsepower summit. But there's enough torque to leave dark Pirelli marks even on the 3-4 gear change. Per liter, the Maranello's motor makes a shade less power than the Acura's, but the Ferrari has the benefit of 2.3 extra liters. With more peak power than even the Viper, coupled with good aero, the Ferrari is the fastest production car MT has ever tested. The sound it makes as it flashes past at 194.5 mph makes grown men weep, young women swoon, and kids of all ages ache for one.
Both Porsche and BMW rely on free-breathing four-valve-per-cylinder heads to move air in and out of their six cylinder engines, but beyond that, there's considerable divergence in design. The M has a classic 3.2-liter straight-six up front, while the Porsche has a 3.4-liter flat-six in back, derived from the Boxster roadster engine. Both share a torquey character that makes them strong and responsive even when they're nowhere near their power peaks. Short gearing further energizes the M Coupe, so even in top gear, it pulls hard from any highway speed; the 911, on the other hand, has a tall sixth gear that mandates a downshift for strong passing. With a maximum of 240 horsepower on tap at 6000 rpm, the M Coupe develops 75 horsepower per liter; the Porsche is in a higher state of tune and generates 87.1 horsepower for each liter-almost on top of the Ferrari 550.
Ultimately, you don't need a dynamometer nor even a spec sheet to appreciate what these each of these seven cars do best. A heavy right foot and any great piece of road will do.-Jeff Karr
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