Edmunds: Five aspiration-worthy vehicles you aspiration you got for the holidays

Just about everyone dreams about cars they aspiration they could own, and there’s no better period than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d adore to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite aspiration-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they concentrated on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of worth and include goal fees.

Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their aspiration list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-worth shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades.

Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a extra charge sound structure, and a surround-view camera to assist make this large truck easier to park.

Starting worth: $112,825

Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and act innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light.

A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-energetic Body Control structure. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride feasible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E act model.

Starting worth: $118,900

Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s aspiration list wouldn’t be correct without the ZR1. The recent Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet.

The top speed record was feasible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to leave on sale in early 2025.

Estimated starting worth: $150,000

Does your aspiration list include a large and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The large Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that assist bring the three-ton SUV to a stop.

But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving structure, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard.

Starting worth: $161,990

What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-complete sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your aspiration list.

The Air Sapphire is a high-act electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle recent business. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the globe, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track act or simply provide a comfortable ride around town.

Starting worth: $250,500

Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will provide you the chance to own one in the upcoming.

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This narrative was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds.

Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.