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Drive Now, Sell High
You’re ready to put down some significant cash on your brand-new dream car — wouldn’t it be nice to know you’re also making a good investment? So how do you know which car is going to be as sought after in the future as it is today? The folks at Hagerty Insurance offer their annual “Hot List” of future collectibles to aid your planning, and based on their choices the high-performance models are expected to stand the test of time.
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Golden Tickets
“Despite all the negative talk about the future of the car, this is one of the most exciting times to be a car enthusiast,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “Manufacturers seem to have found the golden combination of performance, handling, safety and styling. The cars on this list check all of these boxes and will make them desirable for years to come.” Hagerty Insurance is one of the world’s leading insurance providers for classic vehicles, which gives them a unique perspective for predicting what a vehicle will be worth in the future. Here’s a look at the sports cars that Hagerty expects to be worth putting in your garage today and keeping for the next 25 years. To be included in the Hot List, a car must be produced in the 2016 model year and be priced below $100,000.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Mazda MX-5 Miata
MSRP: $24,915
If we had to call out one car that consistently puts a smile on the face of most drivers, it would have to be the MX-5 Miata. The fourth generation of Mazda’s 2-seat roadster debuted for the 2016 model year. Although the MX-5 had been getting larger and heavier with every generation, this new one harks back to its roots as a lighter, smaller offering — making this Miata even more fun to drive.
Video: Miata on Ice
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Mazda MX-5 Miata
When the Miata rolled out in 1989 it was an immediate hit. The car offered the fun of a lightweight roadster without the mechanical issues inherent in European roadsters such as MG, Triumph and Austin Healey. The idea of a reliable fun-to-drive roadster made the Miata one of the most sought-after cars when it came to market. The fact that the formula hasn’t changed and that those early models are still enjoyable make this car an easy choice as a good investment.
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Ford Focus RS
MSRP: $35,730
Generally known as a fuel-efficient economy car, this Ford Focus is all about performance. “The all-new Focus RS is a serious machine with high-performance technology and innovative engineering that sets new benchmarks for driving exhilaration on the road and track,” said Raj Nair, Ford Motor Company group vice president of global product development.
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Ford Focus RS
The Focus RS has the look of a high-performance car; complementing those looks is a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine that puts out an impressive 350 horsepower. Power gets handled through a new all-wheel drive system that manages torque split front to rear and side to side for excellent control. The RS even offers a “drift mode” for those more inclined to driving sideways — certainly a car that enthusiasts wouldn’t mind holding onto for 25 years.
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Chevrolet Camaro SS
MSRP: $36,300
There have been so many collectible versions of the Camaro that its inclusion on this list was a no-brainer. For almost 50 years the Camaro has been traveling America’s highways and backroads — no surprise that Hagerty think it will be doing this for at least another 25 years. And almost from day one, Camaro has been battling with its archrival, the Ford Mustang.
© General Motors
Chevrolet Camaro SS
The Camaro is all new for the 2016 model year with updated styling, tuned suspension and more power. “From every angle, you’ll never mistake this for anything but a Camaro,” said Tom Peters, design director for General Motors. “We’ve taken that iconic design and amplified its proportions to reflect a more dynamic driving experience.” This is also the first time Camaro has been available with a turbocharged engine, but the SS called out on the Hagerty list boasts a 455-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
BMW M2
MSRP: $51,700
The introduction of a new BMW M is always exciting — the M models always bring the highest performance, best handling and most fun to the lineup. Although the M2 resides at the entry level of the BMW lineup, the excitement is still there. The M2 boasts an impressive 365 horsepower from its new turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine — compared to 320 horsepower in the M235. Torque is rated at 343 lb-ft, but an overboost function bumps it to 369 lb-ft — good enough to push the new M2 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.
Video: BMW M2 on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
BMW M2
We’re happy to see BMW buck the trend and provide a 6-speed manual transmission with rev matching as standard equipment in the M2. However, the car can also be equipped with a 7-speed M Double Clutch transmission which provides extremely quick shifts without need of a third pedal. The M cars of the BMW lineup offer the performance and rarity common in sought-after collector cars, and the new M2 is no exception.
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Ford Mustang GT350R
MSRP: $61,295
There’s no surprise that Hagerty included a Mustang on this list of future classics. The pony car features a rich history of collector-worthy models, but the new GT350R may top them all. Easily one of the meanest-looking Mustangs available, the GT350R is practically a street-legal race car. The whole car is about performance — the rear seat has been removed to save weight, and even the 19-inch wheels are made of carbon fiber.
© Ford Motor Company
Ford Mustang GT350R
Power comes from a 5.2-liter V8 engine putting out 526 horsepower, making this the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 engine Ford has ever put in a production car. The only transmission available is a Tremec 6-speed manual. As the folks at Hagerty called out, “As they say in the financial world, past performance isn’t a guarantee of future returns, but given the collectability of the Shelby GT350R from the ’60s and even the Mustang Cobra R from 1993, we’d say this one’s a shoe-in.”
Video: Shelby Mustang GT350R on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
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Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
MSRP: $65,900
This is not your father’s Alfa spider. The very modern Alfa 4C Spider is a 2-seat mid-engine sports car that features a very advanced lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum chassis. The body is constructed entirely of SMC (sheet molded compound) — a low-density, high-strength composite material that is 20 percent lighter than steel but more rigid.
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Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
This small Alfa gets power from a turbocharged 1.75-liter engine with dual intercoolers that produces 237 horsepower. That may not seem like much, but with its lightweight construction the 4C Spider can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about 4 seconds and reach a top track speed of 160 mph. With its agile handling and responsive engine, Hagerty figures the Alfa will be very popular at vintage races in the future.
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Porsche Cayman GT4
MSRP: $84,600
The Porsche Cayman is an absolute joy to drive, but the GT4 turns things up a notch — several notches, actually. Porsche calls it the “fastest and most performance-oriented Cayman ever,” and we certainly wouldn’t disagree. Chassis and brakes are basically taken from the 911 GT3, and the downforce generated by the front spoiler and rear wing provides exceptional handling.
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Porsche Cayman GT4
Power for the Cayman GT4 comes from a naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six engine that puts out 385 horsepower, teamed exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission. Acceleration is impressive — 60 mph comes up in a mere 4.2 seconds and top speed is 183 mph. The 23 mpg rating is just icing on the cake. With a lap time of just 7 minutes and 40 seconds around the famed Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, the GT4 is clearly something special.
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Dodge Viper SRT Coupe
MSRP: $87,895
There’s nothing on the road quite like the Viper. In a time when many sports cars now come with smaller turbocharged or supercharged engines, the Viper’s high performance is a result of brute force in the form of a big V10. Viper has been powered by a V10 engine since it was introduced for the 1992 model year, and the current 10-cylinder powerplant puts out more venom than ever before. The handcrafted, all-aluminum 8.4-liter V10 creates 645 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque — the most from any naturally-aspirated sports car engine in the world.
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Dodge Viper SRT Coupe
Performance figures match the Viper’s aggressive appearance. Sixty mph comes up from a standstill in just over 3 seconds, and top speed is in excess of 200 mph. With this kind of performance and head-turning looks, the sub-$90K price tag starts to look like a bargain, making the Viper SRT Coupe an excellent vehicle to enjoy for the next several decades.
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Cadillac ATS-V
MSRP: $60,465
Cadillac’s entry-level model is the latest car from GM’s premium brand to get the V-Series treatment. The ATS-V is available as a coupe or sedan and features the first use of a twin-turbo engine in a V-Series Cadillac. The 3.6-liter V6 produces 464 horsepower and 444 lb-ft of torque, and is teamed with either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. “As the smallest and lightest V-Series ever, the ATS-V forges a great connection with the driver, with exceptional nimbleness and responsiveness,” said David Leone, Cadillac executive chief engineer.
© General Motors
Cadillac ATS-V
This small Cadillac serves up impressive performance — 60 mph arrives in just 3.8 seconds and top speed approaches 190 mph. High-performance Brembo brakes provide the necessary stopping power, and GM’s Magnetic Ride Control keeps the ATS-V connected to the road. The ATS-V also is 25 percent stiffer than the standard ATS. The ATS-V will easily stand out from non-V models with a vented carbon-fiber hood, unique front and rear fascias, a signature mesh-pattern grille and wide fender flares that house 18-inch lightweight aluminum wheels. In 25 years, those in the know will appreciate this standout Caddy.
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Lotus Evora 400
MSRP: $89,900
Lotus made its mark producing lightweight, perfectly balanced sports cars, and the new Evora 400 continues that tradition. The fastest Lotus road car available, the Evora 400 features a lightweight chassis that has been widened and lowered for impressive performance. The Evora 400 stands out from the standard Evora with aggressive new front cooling intakes, a 5-blade airflow diffuser and a three-element rear spoiler.
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Lotus Evora 400
The Evora 400 gets motivation from a 400-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine equipped with an Edelbrock supercharger. The driver can choose between Drive, Sport and Race engine-mapping modes, and an active exhaust valve control. Sixty mph arrives in just over 4 seconds on the way to a top speed of 186 mph. The Evora 400 easily takes its rightful place among the long line of classic Lotus sports cars preceding it.
