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Top horsepower-per-dollar cars in 2017

Bang for the buck. That quasi-scientific statistic is bandied about by motor heads everywhere from classrooms to barrooms, though the truth of the matter is that it's exceedingly complex to measure. A fair performance-per-dollar index would include something like cross-referencing MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) with point-to-point times on a track or driving route, which is obviously hard to do comprehensively. But, for the sheer joy of talking about cars and playing with a big spreadsheet, there's always the horsepower-per-dollar index, which is more straightforward, albeit hilariously flawed. There are vagaries even with this simple formula, of course: MSRP for vehicles can change at a moment's notice, to say nothing of the bottom-line shifting that happens with local deals or showroom negotiation. For this list we're running with the straight MSRP wherever possible, and as recently reported as we can get it. All the vehicles on this list are 2017 models, and all trims are reported where the lowest price and differing power levels intersect. Some choices were made for personal preference and some for sanity, avoiding things like all 48 trim levels of the Ford Transit, all with the same horsepower). If this list were a simple top ten, or even a top fifty, you'd be bored to tears with all the red, white and blue that is represented. Following perfectly with conventional wisdom, American cars really do lead the world where hp/$ is concerned. So, for the sake of variety (and the sheer joy of seeing a minivan 'win' one round of this thing) I've sorted out some top five and bottom five lists for broad power categories. Let's dive in. Less Than 100 Horsepower Okay, okay, this is hardly a category we'll grant you. But we've often tried to click off all the sub-100-hp cars on sale in the US, and making this list gave us an excuse. It also illustrates that none of these smallish vehicles bring cheap horsepower to the table - for that you'll need a motorcycle. The segment-leading Chevy Spark (above) asks just over $139 for each hp, and that Smart Fortwo Electric Drive has hp on sale for about the same price as its very distant family cousin, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG (insert your favorite Smart joke here... we know you want to).

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet completes the luxury trinity

In its continuing bid to simply eat the lunch of the Bentley Continental GT, Mercedes-Benz has followed up on the S-Class sedan and coupe with a new S-Class Cabriolet. Aristocrats, take notice. Below the beltline, all is familiar. That means the same stylish sheetmetal, from the chiseled front fascia to the strong character lines to the pert rear end. Expect the cabin's accommodations to mirror the hardtop model. But the third member of the S-Class family differs above the beltline, where we see a sumptuous canvas roof. The three-layered top is, unsurprisingly, quite advanced. It uses a three-layer, acoustically optimized design that promises a quiet ride. The top can be dropped or raised in under 20 seconds and at speeds of 37 miles per hour. Finally, the addition of a canvas cover doesn't do much to the S-Class' aerodynamics, as the cabriolet still returns an impressive 0.29, which compares favorably with the 0.27 of the four-door model (the coupe's CoD isn't available). Opting for the S-Class Cabriolet will entitle you to some additional standard equipment, including Mercedes' AirScarf neck heater. The droptop will also pioneer the German brand's new Thermotronic climate feature, which takes complete control of the HVAC system and makes adjustments based on the findings of 12 sensors and 18 actuators. The sensors include those for interior and exterior temperature, solar radiation, air quality, and dew point, among others. Yes, your S-Class will have a sensor for the dewpoint. Also new to the S-Class Cabriolet – not to mention the S-Class line as a whole – is a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission, which is already featured on the SLK-Class and the new GLC-Class. The new 9AT will be limited to the S550, while the new S63 Cabriolet will use the coupe's seven-speed AMG Speedshift transmission. Both engines, meanwhile, mirror their coupe counterparts, with 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque for the S550 and 577 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque on the AMG model, allowing the latter to hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 186 mph. Both the S550 cabriolet and its Mercedes-AMG counterpart will make their global debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, later this month. Read on for the full press release from Mercedes-Benz. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet Open-top luxury Stuttgart. The new S-Class Cabriolet is the fourth variant of the current S-Class family in the U.S.

Race recap: 2016 Monaco Grand Prix gets very wet, a little wild

More than at any other race, the Monaco Grand Prix question is: which combination of demolition derby, Safety Cars, and bad pit strategy will decide the podium? Last year Lewis Hamilton's late, confounding pit stop cost him victory. The year before, Nico Rosberg's qualifying "mistake" put him on pole and Mercedes-AMG Petronas' pit strategy sealed his win – good for Nico, bad for Hamilton and the rest of the field. In 2013 Hamilton dropped from second to fourth when he lollygagged in the pits. In all three years, Rosberg won. The new X factor for 2016: a Red Bull resurgence that helped Daniel Ricciardo clinch his first career pole. Nevertheless, bad pit strategy had its say in the results. Ricciardo built up a 13-second lead by Lap 15 in spite of heavy rains that forced the Safety Car to lead the first eight laps of the race. Ricciardo stopped on Lap 23 to switch to intermediate tires for the drying track, ceding the lead to Hamilton. Hamilton pitted from the lead on Lap 31 for softs, then Red Bull pulled Ricciardo in again on Lap 32 and made a snap decision to put him on ultra softs, but the tires weren't ready when Ricciardo reached his pit box. What should have been a three-second pit stop turned into a 13.6-second pit stop. Ricciardo left the pits as Hamilton came down the straight and the Aussie lost the lead into the first corner. Despite two attempts to pass later in the race, Hamilton finished first, the Aussie second. It's the second race in a row where pit strategy cost Ricciardo a near-certain win. Conversely, Force India nailed both tire strategy and pit timing with Sergio Perez. The Mexican started in eighth but got into third before half the race was done, passing four cars in the pits, and finished on the podium's final step. Otherwise the order barely changed from about half distance, with Ferrari driver Sebatian Vettel in fourth, followed by Fernando Alonso in the McLaren, Nico Hulkenberg in the second Force India, Rosberg in the second Mercedes, Carlos Sainz for Toro Rosso, Jenson Button in the second McLaren, and Felipe Massa taking the final point for tenth for Williams. Storms didn't only hover over the area, though – dark clouds hung around several teams and drivers. Mercedes' reliability is no longer so reliable. The Silver Arrows suffered engine issues on both cars in qualifying, and Hamilton's problem almost kept him from setting a time in Q3.