10 Fast RWD Cars for 2015

For performance purists it's tough to match the driving dynamics of a fast RWD car.  Rear-wheel drive cars use the rear tires to accelerate and the front tires to steer, a balance that offers the best steering feel by asking the rubber ahead of the driver to concentrate exclusively on changing direction.  RWD cars also offer the ability to steer - or alter the pitch of an automobile - with the throttle, which adds an extra dimension of control to the driving equation.  Although traction might not be at the same level as that of an all-wheel drive vehicle, a fast rear-wheel drive car can still astound you with excellent grip out of the hole-shot. 

Let's take a quick look at 10 fast RWD cars currently on the market.

1. 2015 Ford Mustang GT

The 2015 Ford Mustang GT is all-new for the current model year, and it brings with it a new independent rear suspension system to help enhance its already laudable handling.  Under the hood, the Ford Mustang GT boasts a 5.0-liter V-8 that has been tuned to provide 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, numbers that allow it to sprint to 60-mph in 4.7 seconds.  A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with the GT, (but you can also order a six-speed automatic if you would prefer to cruise instead of time-attack), and track fans will appreciate the GT Performance package, which adds a limited-slip rear differential along with bigger brakes and a stiffer suspension system

2. 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat offers the world's most powerful production V-8 engine: a 6.2-liter supercharged monster that cranks out 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.  Perhaps not surprisingly, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat comes with standard launch control whether you order it with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, and if the stars align you can scoot the fast RWD muscle car to 60-mph in just 3.7 seconds.  Top speed for the SRT Hellcat is a hairy 199-mph, but the car offers upgraded stoppers and additional aerodynamic body work to help keep things stable.

3. 2015 BMW M3/M4

The 2015 BMW M3 sedan and its M4 coupe sibling represent the apex of track-ready performance from the German brand.  In place of the previous-generation's eight-cylinder engine, both the BMW M3 and the BMW M4 now make use of a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo six-cylinder unit that's good for 425 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.  All of that grunt is fed to the rear wheels by either a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission or a traditional six-speed manual transmission, and given that the car is a little lighter than it was before it's possible to hit 60-mph from a standing start in a very respectable 4.1 seconds.

4. 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 strips away the niceties that have come to define modern automobiles and instead emphasizes lightness in order to attract track fiends seeking the ultimate Camaro.  Base Chevrolet Camaro Z/28s feature no stereo or air conditioning, and even much of the car's sound insulation has been left out of the mix to help you better hear its 7.0-liter V-8 engine (and save a few pounds).  With 505 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque as standard equipment, the Camaro Z/28's six-speed manual transmission has its work cut out for it to put all of that oomph down with a minimum of drama, reaching 60-mph in 4.4 seconds.

5. 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia

The 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia is a breath of supercar fresh air in a world where exotics are increasingly turning to all-wheel drive designs.  The Ferrari 458 Italia plunks its 4.5-liter V-8 in the middle of the car's ultra-light chassis, where it produces 562 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.  A seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission guides the eight-cylinder engine on its sojourns to the land of 9,000 rpm, and you'll see the other side of 60-mph in under 3.4 seconds with your foot to the floor of this fast RWD car.

6. 2015 Porsche 911 GT3

The 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 is the most powerful rear-wheel drive car available from the storied automaker, and its track-oriented design includes outrageous-looking aerodynamic add-ons and for the first time the requirement that buyers select its PDK dual-clutch automated manual transmission.  Despite no longer offering a traditional manual transmission the Porsche 911 GT3 is still a lot of fun on a road course, as evidenced by its 475 horsepower, 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine (which, like that in the Ferrari, is happy to soar to 9,000 rpm).  325 lb-ft of torque are also generated by this motor, and the GT3 annihilates the 60-mph dash in three seconds.

7. 2015 Dodge SRT Viper GTS

The 2015 Dodge SRT Viper GTS might have had a bit of its edge worn down by the introduction of electronic stability control and traction control (albeit adjustable in the GTS model), but it's still a raw car that must be respected, especially in a track environment.  The amount of thrust available from its massive 8.4-liter 10-cylinder engine is listed at 640 horses and 600 lb-ft of torque, and you have to be at least a semi-professional drive to be able to harness that through the car's six-speed manual transmission and squeeze out a 0-60 run of 3.7 seconds.

8. 2015 BMW M235i

BMW's second entry on our list of fast RWD cars is much more accessible in terms of price, but not necessarily any less rewarding to drive.  The 2015 BMW M235i is the fastest version of the company's entry-level coupe, and it sports a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that develops 320 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque.  You can opt for an excellent eight-speed automatic or a shift-it-yourself six-speed manual with the M235i, and you'll be able to speed past 60-mph in a very quick 4.5 seconds regardless of which transmission you select.

9. 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 illustrates just how much can be achieved when the full engineering resources of a behemoth like General Motors are concentrated on improving the performance of an already-fast cat like the Corvette Stingray.  The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 delivers a widebody design, an adaptive suspension system, enormous brakes, and a supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8 engine.  The latter provides an astounding 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and when equipped with its available eight-speed automatic transmission the Z06 reaches 60-mph in 2.95 seconds (a seven-speed manual gearbox can also be outfitted to the car).

10. 2015 Jaguar F-Type R

The 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE R coupe is the last of the breed, as 2016 models will switch to an all-wheel drive setup.  This means it's your last chance to sample this fast RWD car in its original form and savor the fury of its supercharged, 5.0-liter V-8 engine.  550 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque are on hand to make mincemeat of the F-Type R coupe's back tires if you're not careful, but skilled drivers will be able to hit the 60-mph mark in 3.8 seconds thanks in part to the car's eight-speed automatic transmission.