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Here's what else you could buy for the average new-car price of $40,573

Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The average price of a new car in America hit a new record in December 2020: $40,573. Not that we're surprised — the average has been over $35,000 for the past few years — but seeing that baseline figure crest 40 large is still a sticker-shock to the system. So, as we do every once in a while, we put our collective heads together and came up with a list of alternatives that you could choose to buy for that sum, new or old, classic or practical. Now, let's be crystal clear about one thing here. We're not actually recommending you make this type of decision. That said, we wouldn't blame you if you did. Managing Editor Greg Rasa: $40,000 will buy a fully loaded Camry or moderately equipped crossover. Or, for $39,997, to be exact, one could go motoring in a fine British automobile. This 2006 Aston Martin DB9 Volante in Alabama has 21,452 miles on it, and depreciation has worked its cruel magic: It is listed for less than one-quarter of its $168,000 starting MSRP when it was new. A check of other used DB9s nationwide indicates this is a fair price. This Aston's CarFax reveals two owners. (One, really, as the second was a dealership. Looks like it got traded in for a Porsche.) If you're understandably concerned about reliability, its service history indicates no surprises to date. Remember, it has a 450-horsepower 5.9-liter V12. And spring is coming. Of course a used Aston Martin is riskier than a new Camry. But as Louis Prima sang, "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think." What price beauty? Less than $40 grand. Associate Editor Byron Hurd: This price point opens up a ton of options in the "nearly new" luxury space, including a few good enthusiast picks, but my nod here goes to the Cadillac ATS-V. The discontinued, M3/M4-rivaling, 465-horsepower sport sedan and coupe can be had all day long in this price range with low miles. In fact, the real challenge is finding one in the spec you want, since it's one of those old-fashioned cars that actually presented the buyer with choices. Here's a clean, six-speed sedan in an actual color for less than our target price, for example. Coupes are more plentiful than sedans, especially in interesting colors, but there are plenty of them out there.

2016 BMW M4 GTS hidden in plain view in Tokyo

We almost missed the 2016 BMW M4 GTS at the Tokyo Motor Show. As you can see in the photos, the car is sort of tucked into a little corner behind a wall, and it's way in the back of BMW's show stand. You'd never see it unless someone told you it's there. And that's a shame. This is one of the coolest cars BMW has launched in quite some time. Only 700 examples of the M4 GTS will be sold globally, with 300 earmarked for the United States. Aside from the aerodynamic and appearance upgrades, the GTS stands out by being the first production road-car to use a water injection system. We detailed this technology when the M4 GTS officially bowed, but the end result is more power. The GTS makes 493 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque – gains of 68 hp and 36 lb-ft over a stock M4. The other big news for the M4 GTS is its weight reduction – some 200 pounds have been removed, thanks to the use of carbon fiber-reinforced materials. The car's rear seats are gone, and several interior pieces have been redone in lighter materials, as well. This thing should be a monster out on the track, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel. But first, we're hoping BMW at least lets it out into the spotlight a little. See the car for yourself, live from Tokyo, in the gallery above. The new 2016 BMW M4 GTS an exclusive high-performance special edition M4 available for the first time in the US. - First production road car with a Water Injection System - World-exclusive OLED light technology - Specially designed full three-way adjustable M coilover suspension - Intelligent lightweight body design - Most agile, radical and powerful M4 ever Woodcliff Lake, N.J.: BMW today announced the new 2016 BMW M4 GTS giving BMW M GmbH a new and exclusive technological masterpiece which elevates the potential of the BMW M4 Coupe to an impressive new level. With its powerful, motorsport-inspired looks and high-performance technology, the BMW M4 GTS has its sights set squarely on the race track. Thanks to an innovative water injection system helping boost power to 493 bHP and track ready chassis, this Special Edition M vehicle recorded a lap time of 7 minutes 28 seconds around the legendary Nurburgring-Nordschleife, the world's most challenging race circuit, making a clear statement about this model's exceptional dynamic abilities. At the same time, the sharpest BMW M4 of all can also hold its own on public roads.

BMW planning six-cylinder i9 hybrid to celebrate centenary?

On the prospect of a new BMW M1 based on the company's new i8 hybrid, the jury has been in and out so much that we can't even tell which way it's likely to go. However, the latest reports coming in from Germany suggest that BMW may have something else up its sleeves. Rather than make a conventional gas-powered version of the i8, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport says BMW will make a more powerful one.
Tentatively dubbed i9, the hybrid sports car is rumored to pack a six-cylinder internal-combustion engine instead of the i8's turbo three. Coupled to more potent electric motors, it would figure to produce even more than the 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque already on tap in the i8, with further weight reductions to offset the bulkier engine.
Auto Motor und Sport says the mooted model will be produced to celebrate the Bavarian automaker's 100th anniversary and eclipse the i8's performance, with a projected 0-60 run in under four seconds en-route to taking the gloves off to crunch the Autobahn in electric bliss. The new i flagship would be another member of the company's growing electrified family, joining the existing i3 hatchback, upcoming i5 minivan and possible i8 Spyder down the line.