Supercars are a given at any motor show and most manufacturers were present in one form or another at this years New York Auto Show. Only Ferrari was absent, but they’re forgiven, for having been so diligently focused on the development and launch of their new 599 GTO. Below, in no particular order, follows a list of some of the cars that caught most peoples attention…

Alpina B7

Alpina may not be a household name, but in certain circles of BMW-trust, they are the absolute masters in making a great thing even better. The new B7 starts off as a regular 300 kW 750i and gets the full treatment. It begins with a pair of Honeywell-Garrett turbos giving an even 1.0 bar of boost and stainless-steel dual exhaust system. Altogether, output is rated at 373 kW and 700 N.m of torque. This is only part of the story as the cabin of the B7 is treated to the finest materials including Myrtle Burl wood. Here’s to more exclusivity and those signature Alpina alloys!

Bentley Continental GTC SuperSports

Bentley and speed have long since been associated with each other. In SuperSports guise, that statement could not be truer. With 463 kW coming from its twin-turbocharged 6,0-litre W12 engine, the mammoth 2.2 tonne car charges to 100 km/h in only 3.9 seconds and will reach 325 km/h. Actually, SuperSports stands for weight reduction (about 90 kgs) and enhanced performance. All this performance and exclusivity at a price tag of, well, P.O.A in South Africa.

BMW 335is

Reviving an old name is sometimes tricky as fans of the original can easily get offended if the carmaker doesn’t get it right. In the case of the BMW ‘is’ and its revival, the Bavarians nailed it. Featuring a 240 kW 3,0-litre turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine, the new 335is is very much a performance coupe or convertible with a little something extra over the regular 335i. Extra niceties for the car include specific aerodynamic body pieces for better airflow and improved cooling. The 335is also uses a free-flowing sport exhaust system, tuned for a more satisfying rumble.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

As if the SLS AMG wasn’t enough to get every car enthusiast a little excited, Mercedes goes and takes the wraps off the Baywatch/Pamela Anderson equivalent at the New York show and adds the letters ‘GT3′, which have the same impact as XXX! Using the same monster V8 and having less mass to lug around, the SLS AMG GT3 will accomplish pornographic-like performance figures that will surely have fans requiring cold showers.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

The Turbo and expected Turbo S models will no doubt look a little more desirable, but for now the new Cayenne is a huge improvement over the previous generation. The first generation VW Touareg was not particularly pretty either, but deciding which one looks better would have been a tough decision for most – not something a Porsche should have an issue with. But No more! Not only does Cayenne 2 borrow styling cues from the Panamera, latest Cayman and 911, but its new Hybrid and Diesel powertrains (as well as Turbo) will make it more popular than ever.

Hennessey Camaro

Hennessey in general is really making a name for itself. The 2011 Venom GT promises to be a killer in the performance supercar category when it becomes available next year. As for the Camaro or Camaro(s), only your budget can limit the amount of rubber you can scorch. With packages ranging from 447 to 746 kilowatt, few will challenge you in a straight line, or on a track. Depending on the selected options, your Camaro will be able to pull just over 1 G of lateral acceleration, that’s some serious grip – for an American car!

Porsche Carrera GT

This Porsche is not new, but it was on display in New York and after seeing one at the Franschhoek Motor Museum Time Trial & Concours event in February, we don’t need an excuse to mention it. The Carrera GT has undoubtedly carved its spot that league of supercars that will forever and always be coveted. Think of the Lamborghini Countach, the Ferrari F40 and the GT is a natural fit. With a 451 kW 5,7-litre V10 and performance numbers like 0 – 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, 0 – 160 km/h in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 328 km/h, how could it not be?

Mazda RX-8 Racer

Based on the latest and hottest RX-8 ever, the R3, the Speed Source #70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8 is obviously no ordinary over-the-counter RX-8. Competing in the Rolex Series GT Class and piloted by Sylvain Tremblay, Nick Ham, Jonathan Bomarito and David Haskell, this car won its class in the latest edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. It’s not everyday that we hear of Mazda’s GT Class racing efforts.

Subaru Impreza WRX and STI

The ‘new’ WRX is in fact not really new as it only grows ever closer to the STI in styling and performance. First came the bump in power to 197 kW and now it sports body proportions basically on par with the STI. Although the return of the sedan has made headlines (the jury is still out on it looks vs the hatch), it’s the fact that the WRX needs to continue to grow to maintain its competitive edge. One theory is that the upcoming ‘Toybaru‘ will adopt the STI badge, while WRX will be reserved exclusively for the sedan/hatch.

Spyker C8 Aileron

It’s an acquired taste, the new Spyker C8 Aileron, both in the looks department and driving experience. However, no one denies the attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship of the car. With 300 kW from a 4,2-litre mid-mounted V8, the Aileron should prove to be entertaining to drive, if not a little under powered for what its looks suggest.

The Netherlands based luxury sports car manufacturer, Spyker, has unveiled the C8 Aileron Spyder at this weekend’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the United States. For those who may not be up to speed on this rather mysterious car company, allow us to shed a little light on Spyker.

First off, this is no fly by night operation, but rather a company with a long history in coach building and aviation, which commenced way back in 1898 with two brothers, Jacobus and Hendrick-Jan Spijker. They were commercially minded even in the 19th century, when the brothers decided to change their surname to Spyker, for better recognition in foreign markets.

Innovation and quality was hallmark of the brand from their very first car, the technically advanced Spyker 60 HP in 1903. This was the first car with a six-cylinder engine, along with four-wheel drive and four-wheel brakes. Around the same time, Spyker introduced the ‘dust shield chassis’, which was a streamlined tray on the cars under body, and was patented. The image of Spyker cars was given a substantial boost in 1907, when a private entry stock standard Spyker 14/18HP Tourer finished in second place in the gruelling Peking to Paris race. They soon became known as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of the continent, such was their attention to detail and subsequent quality.

But with World War I imminent, there was a worldwide slump in the luxury car market, and Spyker merged with the Dutch Aircraft Factory N.V, and the new company developed and built fighter aircraft. This new line of business also influenced a new logo and company slogan, which is still in use today. ‘Nulla tenaci invia est via’: ‘For the tenacious no road is impassable’ and the logo sported a spoke wheel with a propeller across the centre.

The Spyker name became even more famous with record-breaking cars like the Spyker C4, built by the legendary German engineer Wilhelm Maybach. The C4 was an extraordinary car employing a double ignition system with Bosch high-tension magneto, and twin spark plugs per cylinder. Unfortunately, the Spyker Company ceased trading in 1925, but like Bugatti, the brand was reborn in 2000 when the Spyker C8 Spyder was unveiled to the public at the Birmingham Motor Show.

They don’t mind racing these hand built super cars either, at Le Mans this year the fast moving, and utterly reliable, Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R finished fifth outright, with some great driving by Jarek Janis (CZE) and Tom Coronel (NLD).

The C8 Aileron Spyder pictured above, is a prototype for the open top model, which is expected to go into production early in 2010.

Inside the C8 Aileron the quality of the switchgear and materials is first rate. Particularly eye-catching is the fully exposed gear change mechanism in polished chrome, and the Pagani Zonda-like quality of the overall interior fit out. An Audi 4,2-litre V8 engine, producing 298 kW mated to a six-speed Getrag manual shift gearbox, provides power and a six-speed ZF transmission with paddle shifters is also an option. Suspension is an all-independent double wishbone set up developed by Lotus engineering, and is said to provide excellent balance during cornering. Put that down in part, to the forged aluminium components, which reduce unsprung mass. Brakes are courtesy of AP Racing, which has been a partner with Spyker from day one. Carbon ceramic rotors will be available as an option on production cars. The sound system is also special, from high-end audio company Kharma, complete with iPod connection and digital radio.

Adapted from CarAdvice