Chevrolet Camaro

 I had the chance to sample a Hot Wheels Special Edition Camaro recently; it was a bigger-than-life time capsule. With a large collection little metal cars and a bright orange track, Hot Wheelswere a huge part of my childhood. So, I was jazzed to see that this one actually came complete with red outline-striped wheels. The various flaming "Hot Wheels" badges were a bit much, but what stuck with me the most was the sound. The righteous exhaust note thrilled me every time I backed off the pipes in a lower gear. It's almost as if there are exhaust experts toiling away at GM whose only job is to make small-block V8s sing. They are maestros worthy of Grammy awards.

For more power-hungry bowtie fans, there's also the Camaro ZL1. It's even beefier than the SS version-steering, shifter, and especially the clutch are much stiffer and heavier. But what a sound! The exhaust baffle is enough for me to forget and/or forgive how big it is or the unreadable gauges. With a 580-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and active suspension, the ZL1 is the highest-performance factory Camaro ever.

Tamer 323-hp V6 models are also available, ranging from $24,245 to $56,550. And, of course, convertibles are offered across the range.

For 2014, the Camaro is treated to styling upgrades and the return of the legendary Z/28, complete with a 500-hp small-block V8 engine dressed with "427" logos. (Check out: "500-hp 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 declares horsepower war.")