Investing in stocks is a smart way to grow your money, and for some people, the amount of money they earn is enough to spend on whatever they want.
Some will go out and buy nice designer clothes, indulge in fine dining and wines, or finally buy that house on the cape, in the hills, or a second one in a destination like the Hamptons, Hawaii, or Malibu.
However, some people want to fulfill a childhood dream and splurge on a fancy car or two.
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The 2024 iteration of Monterey Car Week, a week-long celebration of classic and high-performance cars, has just passed, where three notable automakers revealed three different sports cars to some of the automotive industry's most discerning customers.
So, if you have cashed out on your trades and set some money aside for the IRS in capital gains tax, these three vehicles might be worth considering to fill that empty space in your garage.
2025 Lamborghini Temerario
Lamborghini
Lamborghini's plug-in masterpiece
Italian automaker Lamborghini is probably the first name when it comes to hardcore sports cars, as they produce the kind of cars that many of its buyers have adorned on childhood bedroom posters.
The latest creation from the brand of the raging bulls is the Temerario, a two-seater sports car designated as the replacement for the Huracan.
While automotive journalists will be quick to call the Temerario the "baby Lambo," the super sports car's performance is anything but childish. Under the hood is a brand-new plug-in hybrid powertrain highlighted by a powerful 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. Combined with three electric motors, it makes 907 total horsepower at a screaming 10,000 rpm redline.
The new Lambo's styling takes certain cues from the outgoing Huracan and its larger stablemate, the Revuelto plug-in hybrid. Underneath the body is an all-new, all-aluminum chassis that is not only less complicated for Lamborgini craftspeople to build but much stiffer for better handling.
Inside, the interior is finished in supple leather and features more headroom and legroom than the outgoing Huracan, so much so that Lamborghini claims that a six-foot-six NBA player can wear a helmet inside this car.
Like most automakers, Lamborghini is guilty of fitting screens instead of knobs and switches, with an 8.4-inch vertical touchscreen in the center of the dash, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 9.1-inch touch screen for the passenger.
Pricing has not been announced, but with the outgoing Huracan starting close to $250,000, it would not be surprising if the price tag for the new Temerario touched $300,000 or more.
Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series
Mercedes-Benz
A different tune for Maybach music
Upon first impression, Mercedes' ultra-luxury Maybach is known for its big, plush sedans and SUVs, which are popular sights in hip-hop music videos. The brand, which competes with the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, has introduced a new type of car to its discerning lineup.
Dubbed the Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series, the new Maybach is an ultra-luxurious redux of Mercedes' already luxurious SL roadster. But unlike the SL 43, which belongs to your dentist, or the SL 63, which belongs to your orthopedist, the Monogram Series SL 680 separates itself from the pack with extremely luxurious details.
The Maybach, which comes in either red or white, features an illuminated Maybach-specific grille, rose-gold-accented headlights, a chrome-finished windshield frame, and a choice of either five-spoke monoblock or multi-spoke 21-inch wheels.
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Unlike the 'plain' soft-top on the SLs in Mercedes showrooms, the soft-top fabric on the Maybach is finished in a Louis Vuitton-style Maybach monogram pattern, while additional chrome accents add an additional touch to the rest of the car.
Inside, the Maybach SL features Crystal White Nappa leather on virtually every surface reachable from the fingertips, including the seats, door panels, and the center console. Owners also get a Maybach-specific steering wheel, stainless steel pedals, and door sills.
Under the hood, the Maybach uses the same powertrain as the SL 63; a 4-liter twin-turbo V8 making 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. But being a Maybach, the engine is slightly muffled for comfort, which is credited to a quieter exhaust system, softer suspension, and engine mounts.
Pricing has not been announced for the SL 680 Monogram Series, but given the $187,000 base price of the SL 63 it is based on, expect it to be a pretty penny.
The 2025 BMW M5 Touring
BMW
A different kind of family car
We get it. You are a family person with kids to drive around, and Costco runs to go on.
In this situation, having a sports car is non-negotiable with your partner. Thankfully, BMW has you covered with a car that not only has sports car performance, but also crossover SUV levels of passenger and cargo space.
Car enthusiasts who embrace “weird” cars have been waiting for ages for BMW to bring the station wagon version of the beloved M5 sports sedan to the United States, and thankfully, their wishes have finally come true.
The latest M5 Sport Touring is now a plug-in hybrid, featuring electric motors and a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, making a combined 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque.
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BMW's M5 Sport Touring has some of the same fierce angular lines as the M5 sedan, but the main attraction is actually inside the car.
As a station wagon, the M5 Sport Touring features a lot more room for the kids and all of the stuff they need to have all the time. Unlike most sports cars, grocery shopping and trips to Costco or IKEA are much easier in the M5 Sport Touring, thanks to its 57.6 cubic feet of total cargo space with the seats folded down.
For comparison, the M5 holds slightly more stuff than the Subaru Crosstrek, which features just 55.3 cubic feet of total cargo space. Not only that, the BMW will run laps around the Subaru, as it can reach a top speed of 190 miles per hour with an available M Sport optional package.
Pricing for the BMW M5 Sport Touring starts at $121,500, plus $1,175 for destination and handling. It will be available at dealers worldwide in Q4 2024.
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