Ford Falcon XR8: From $55,690 plus on-road costs ... leather-trimmed sports seats and a body kit. Ford offers a three-year, 100,000 kilometre warranty and capped price servicing.

XR8s in dark colours look terrific with 17-inch wheels and racy body kit ... of the Falcon, including the XR8, just aren't lighting the fires of passion as fervently as Ford might have hoped.