Nothing feels quite as special as a luxury car that both looks fast and is fast. While all types of luxury cars get a lot of attention, it’s not always for the right reasons. Sure, a big old Mercedes SUV may be flashy, but it’s certainly not athletic (or that fun to drive). This is why we have assembled a list of ten performance luxury cars that look as fast as they drive.
If head-turning looks and undeniable performance capability are your thing, you’ve come to the right place. Because if you are going to spend a pretty penny on a fancy luxury car, it may as well be a fast one. Since turbocharging is so common nowadays, even in economy cars, power alone is not enough. These quick and elegant rides are about the full experience, where you look forward to every new journey behind the wheel. Stick around as we break down each highlight entry one by one.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources.
2026 Genesis G70
Starting MSRP: $43,450
- Base Trim Engine
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2.5L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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300 HP @5800 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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311 lb.-ft. @ 1650 RPM
Korean performance luxury sedans have never looked better than in 2025, and the Genesis G70 is a bright example of their distinct flair. If you want the full value out of your hard-earned dollars, this quick and classy Genesis sedan is a legitimate alternative to the German standard.
Sure, you could always buy a BMW 3-Series and call it a day, but the Genesis G70 gives you more features for less money without compromising its athletic ability, which makes sports sedans special. While the BMW may be a little more fun, Genesis’s warranty provides a certain edge that may be the sweetener you need to pull the plug.
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2025 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance
Starting MSRP: $60,815
- Base Trim Engine
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5L V-8 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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472 HP @7100 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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395 lb.-ft. @ 4800 RPM
The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance is as close to the modern equivalent of a BMW E90 M3 Sedan as we have today. Although you won’t find a manual gearbox and the naturally-aspirated V-8 won’t sing past 8,000 RPM, the hottest Lexus IS available is a lot of fun (and has a warranty).
While we could fault the Lexus IS for being the most archaic chassis on our list, we appreciate the fact that the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance still exists in our current climate. Considering we will likely never get a compact Lexus sedan with nearly 500 horsepower ever again, this bold Lexus is just crazy enough to be the final chapter in the epic history of Lexus’ RWD luxury cruiser.
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2026 BMW M2 Coupe
Starting MSRP: $68,200
- Base Trim Engine
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3L I6 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-speed manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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473 HP @6250 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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406 lb.-ft. @ 2650 RPM
While the 2025 BMW M240i Coupe may be a ton of fun, the 2026 BMW M2 Coupe is even better (and sometimes, downright scary). Whether you opt for the manual or the DCT, the BMW M2’s high-strung S58 inline-six engine feels more like a teleportation device than an engine.
While the styling is not for everyone, it is undeniable that the BMW M2 Coupe looks both muscular and fast even when sitting dormant in a parking lot. Although the 2026 BMW M2 Coupe may cost a pretty penny, you will struggle to find alternative competition to match its outstanding capability at its price point.
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2025 Audi RS5 Sportback
Starting MSRP: $79,900
- Base Trim Engine
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2.9L V6 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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444 HP @6700 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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442 lb.-ft. @ 4700 RPM
The 2025 Audi RS5 Sportback is a five-door coupe that looks as sharp as a knife’s edge thanks to its clean and functional German aesthetic. Although the RS5 Sportback’s looks can kill, it is the monstrous twin-turbo V-6 engine at the helm that makes you giddy every time you approach the driver’s door.
Along with its all-year-round functionality and overall spaciousness, the 2025 Audi RS5 Sportback is the dream recipe for a performance luxury car enthusiast looking for a baller daily. Although the interior quality and comfort levels are high, don’t expect the same level of tech refinement found in rival German brands.
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2025 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance
Starting MSRP: $86,050
- Base Trim Engine
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AMG 2L Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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9-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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469 HP @6750 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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402 lb.-ft. @ 5000 RPM
Long gone are the days of the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V-8, but somehow the meanest Mercedes C-Class in the business is faster than ever. Thanks to the most powerful production four-cylinder engine ever, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is the latest footprint in this new chapter in modern Mercedes technology.
Despite how fast and instant the power reacts to your responses, the sound of the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine is not one you’d hope to hear off the back of your nearly $100,000 Mercedes. While all the performance and capability are there, the unavoidable truth is that the 2025 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is not a sports sedan for no reason other than its near 5,000-pound curb weight.
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2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Starting MSRP: $97,600
- Base Trim Engine
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6.2L V-8 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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10-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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668 HP @6500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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659 lb.-ft. @ 3600 RPM
At just about the $100,000 mark, we get to the 2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and its terrifyingly powerful, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. This American sedan defies its more coddling German competitors by still offering the option of a manual transmission and putting the feeling of driving enjoyment first.
The 2026 CT5-V Blackwing is also more aggressively styled than before, and we think the new exterior suits its incredible capabilities better. Compared to the crazy plug-in hybrids of its segment, the CT5-V Blackwing excels at providing an analog feel in the best way possible.
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2025 Lotus Emira V6 SE
Starting MSRP: $112,900
- Base Trim Engine
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3.5L Supercharged V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-Speed Manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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400 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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310 lb-ft
The first time you see a 2025 Lotus Emira, you know it’s built for one thing: speed. With the proportions of a Mazda MX-5 Miata, the styling of a compact McLaren, and more power than you know what to do with, the Lotus Emira is everything you could want out of a performance luxury car.
With a steering feel crafted from the heavens and Lotus’s lightweight ideology on full display in all aspects of design, the Lotus Emira creates a sensation built for only the truest lovers of driving. While the equally powerful turbo-four is faster, the obvious choice is the supercharged V-6, which is dead reliable and sounds amazing at the limit.
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2026 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Starting MSRP: $120,300
- Base Trim Engine
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5.5L V-8 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed auto-shift manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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670 HP @8400 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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460 lb.-ft. @ 6300 RPM
What is too much car for the road? The $120,000 2026 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is a perfect example. Essentially a stripped-back GT3 race car, the C8 Chevy Z06 looks ready to spin a record lap at any given moment (while showing clear distaste for red lights).
Yet, it is the angelic cry of the record-holding 670-horsepower flat-plane crank V-8 that makes this track-focused Corvette so unique and so special despite crazier and more expensive variants available. You have to be a little crazy to choose this high-octane Corvette over the plentiful competition that exists at this price point, but its brash outlandishness is part of its appeal.
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2026 Porsche 911 Carrera
Starting MSRP: $132,300
- Base Trim Engine
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3L H6 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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PDK 8-speed auto-shift manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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388 HP @6500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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332 lb.-ft. @ 1950 RPM
You’ve finally arrived at the perfect point where form means function: the 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera. You might think, “How can less than 400 horsepower be enough to get your heart jumping?” The first touch of the throttle in this twin-turbo flat-six will change that opinion.
It’s comfortable, it’s stylish, the interior is downright gorgeous, and it drives like a dream. Sure, the aforementioned Corvette is infinitely faster, but this base model Porsche 911 is a more functional and refined street car from top to bottom.
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2025 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe
Starting MSRP: $140,000
- Base Trim Engine
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4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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617 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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553 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm
The most expensive option on our list is the 2025 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe, which is powered by a monstrous twin-turbo V-8 engine. Since every BMW M8 is a Competition model now, you also get fun performance goodies like the upgraded exhaust, adaptive suspension, and track driving modes.
Do these added features make this top-dollar four-door BMW as agile or as engaging as a Porsche 911? Certainly not, but it is a hell of a lot more functional if you have a family and don’t want to sacrifice a drop of performance (and you prefer the way this looks over a Porsche Panamera).
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