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MODERN-DAY MUSCLE CARS

You'll pay dearly at the gas pump for the pleasure, but if speed is your passion, these hyper-powered sport coupes are among the quickest rides on the road.

Though small economy cars are hot sellers these days, auto enthusiasts continue to be enthralled with sheer horsepower. The original "muscle cars" of the '60s and early '70s perfected the concept of packing the largest and/or most powerful engine possible under the hood to deliver maximum thrust. The best modern examples manage to deliver herds of horsepower (with superior handling the original iterations lacked), without necessarily carrying exotic-car prices. Fuel economy may not be their strong suit, but these ultra-powerful coupes deliver more smiles per gallon than most anything else on the road.

Nissan GT-R
MSRP: $69,850

Not previously available in the US, this racetrack-ready coupe has a 480-hp twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 that propels it to 60 mph in under four seconds. It holds the pavement tenaciously, thanks to a sophisticated AWD system and an electronically controlled four-wheel independent suspension.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
MSRP: $103,300 (est.)

This new supercharged 6.2-liter, V-8 auto truly packs a wallop, with a scenery-blurring 638 hp and 604 lbs/ft of torque. Chevrolet engineers claim it will be the "most fuel-efficient 600-plus-horsepower car on the market" when it goes on sale this year.

Dodge Challenger SRT8
MSRP: $39,995

With a hot retro-cool 1970s look, this coupe rides on modern underpinnings and comes powered by a 425-hp, 6.1-liter "Hemi" V8. Mated to a five-speed automatic transmission (a manual gearbox is available later this year), it delivers ample thrust with a 0-60 mph time of less than five seconds.

Ford Shelby GT500KR
MSRP: $79,995

This limited-edition "King of the Road" rendition packs a specially tweaked 540-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V8. A Tremec six-speed manual transmission with short-throw Hurst shifter is the only gearbox available, and the stability control system allows aggressive drivers to slide a bit through the curves.

• Shifting gears

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