Spring Flings

A collection of hot rides that will have you revving for the warm weather…
 
Spring brings life anew, but it’s also a time to court four-wheeled partners that will elicit love and adoration for years to come. Whether your ideal ride runs to sexy Italians, Germans, Japanese or Americans, one of these could put the fling in your spring.
 
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
What kind of steamy tryst is an Italian sedan packing a 505 horsepower turbocharged V6 engine and all-wheel-drive to get it all to the ground? Just order it in red! But you may also appreciate the exotic carbon fibre hood, roof, rear spoiler and front splitter. Crank up the Harman Kardon audio system, dial in 3D navigation, and stay safe with collision avoidance systems. Love me!
Base price: $87,995
 
Audi A5 Sportback
Get the A5 as a coupe, convertible or…five-door Sportback, the four-door coupe. A wide grille, LED headlights and beefy fenders hint at the power within: a 252 horsepower 2.0-litre turbo-four or 354 horsepower turbo-V6, the latter rocketing from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. It all gets to the ground through Quattro all-wheel-drive. Cuddle up with Bang & Olufsen 3D sound, inlay wood, panoramic sunroof, 4G WiFi and Audi’s atscreen virtual cockpit. Divine!
Base price: $47,950
 
Honda Civic R
It looks sexy and moves like Bruno Mars, setting a record for front-drive cars on Germany’s famed Nürburgring of under seven minutes and 43 seconds. Praise the 306 horsepower 2.0-litre turbo-four, six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching, and adaptive suspension dampers. Beneath wings n’ things is a roomy five-door cabin, dressed with deep buckets and flip-down rear seats, that hauls all of your gear really fast. Drive all night.
Base price: $40,990
 
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
If you’re clinging to a mountain, choose this capable cleat. Redesigned for 2018, Wrangler is sleeker, but also fortified with a refined suspension and array of powertrains: a 285 horsepower V6, light hybrid with a 270 horsepower turbo-four, or V6 diesel. Plug-ins arrive in 2020. Soft tops can be deployed in seconds, but a new powered canvas section on hardtops opens skies. Stylish interiors finally equal premium prices.
Base price: $46,345
 
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CASEY WILLIAMS is a contributing writer for Gaywheels.com. He contributes to the New York-based LGBT magazine Metrosource and the Chicago Tribune. He and his husband live in Indianapolis, where Williams contributes videos and reviews to wfyi.org, the area’s PBS/NPR station.