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BMW’s pint-sized M2 harkens back to the original small, swift and snappy M car, the E30-series M3. Its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six pumps out 365 hp and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. An optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic blasts the M2 to 60 in just 4.0 seconds. The poised chassis delivers heroic handling and although the steering is a bit vague at times, this is easily forgiven; sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and beefy brakes help inspire confidence. (CarandDriver)

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While gullwings are no longer part of the design, the Mercedes-AMG GT S is still set to swoop in and snag buyers away from its archnemesis, the Porsche 911. There are two models. First is the GT S, with a 503-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 and a seven-speed automatic; it has a 0-60-mph time of 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 193 mph. A second model, the milder GT with 456 hp, debuts later. With a hatchback design, you could almost argue this is a sports car that’s practical. Almost.!

The SLS AMG GT is an incredibly fast and rare supercar that harkens back to the Gullwings of yore. It’s powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 583 hp, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Got cash to burn? Opt for the Black Series with 622 hp and other go-fast goodies. No matter your choice, the SLS remains a Mercedes, replete with a luxurious, well-appointed interior. The insanity concludes soon with the 2015 SLS AMG GT Final Edition. Get yours now!

Anger-management therapy seeks to help control emotion. Anger will not control us, anger will not define us, just count backwards from 10—that sort of thing. Mercedes-AMG doesn’t appear to be interested in any of that. Fine by us. We like an angry AMG, and the angrier the better, in fact, and no car better personified vehicular anger than the previous-generation C63. (CarandDriver)

At about twice the cost of a base ML350, the ML63 AMG requires a big outlay to enjoy its prodigious power and exclusivity. The 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 makes 516 hp and 550 hp with the optional Performance package. It’s quick, yet isolates driver and passengers from the sensation of speed; the handling limits arrive with little notice. Luxurious finishes befit its price, coddling occupants in leather and wood. Aside from a deliciously mean exhaust note, the ML63 performs with hushed composure.

Quick, nimble, and subtly handsome, the S5 is a stunner, whether to look at or from behind the wheel. Precise steering, adept brakes, and sharp handling harmonize with a 333-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 for effortless performance. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a six-speed manual transmission; convertibles get a seven-speed automatic that's optional on the coupe. The cabin is upscale and roomy, even for those relegated to the back. The infotainment system remains among the easiest to use.

A moving contradiction—albeit a very fast-moving one—the X6 M delivers a modicum of functionality with immense performance. Power comes from a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 producing 567 hp, delivered to BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Practicality is a relative term here, but the performance-tuned suspension assures that the X6 M goes fast in more than just a straight line. The X6 M cloaks its heft in the corners well, making it one amusing ute.

Get behind the wheel of the M4 and prepare for explosive acceleration and razor-sharp handling. Power comes from a 425-hp twin-turbo inline-six, with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. The Competition package makes 444 hp, but for the ultimate M4, there’s the GTS with 493 hp. The GTS is only offered with the automatic and as a coupe; the regular M4 offers a convertible option. All versions have the legendary performance of the M cars that came before it.

Audi delivered 27,000 copies (worldwide) of the first-generation R8—a massive amount by supercar standards but still a pittance in the grand scheme of things—so seeing one is an instant mood-lifter. Soon we’ll have the—again probably rare—opportunity to see the new, second-gen version, which arrives stateside this spring. Too eager to wait until then, we strapped our test equipment to this Euro-spec 2016 R8 V10 Plus, and the results ought to whet appetites for what’s to come.

The RS3 is cram-packed full of Audi’s high-performance gear, but in a tidy package—expect it here in 2017. While we don’t know all of the details, the RS3 should arrive with a 2.5-liter turbo five-cylinder making close to 400 hp, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. That should be good for a 4.3-second blast to 60 mph, per Audi. The steering is precise and, despite its Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the car promises to be easily persuaded into rally-superstar levels of oversteer.

A wry smile sneaks across Tobias Moers’s face as he fires up the engine on a Mercedes A45 AMG prototype at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. “This car doesn’t exist,” the head of development at Mercedes-AMG explains, “and that’s why you cannot drive it!” As Moers jumps behind the wheel and I settle into the perfectly sculpted passenger seat, there’s no doubt that this is a real car, albeit not one that’s available yet in dealerships.

Mercedes-Benz has long enjoyed a healthy reputation for quality, comfort, and solidity, but it is once again making cars that are beautiful, too. The latest in the company’s string of handsome designs is the all-new C-class cabriolet, which may be among the most attractive vehicles on the star-studded floor at the 2016 Geneva show, where it makes its debut.