Purity of form—billowing fenders, teardrop windows, and almond headlamps, among other things—and the perfect positioning of details are what makes the 8C so sexy. Its wheels, for example, are already regarded by our staff as among the 10 hottest, and its lower air intakes could quite possibly bring the mustache back in vogue. Given the shapely sheetmetal, it hardly even matters, but what’s underhood is nearly as splendid as the wrapper: a sonorous 4.7-liter V-8 that is closely related to the engine found in another car on this list, the Maserati GranTurismo, as well as several Ferraris. Most Americans currently don’t know—or care one way or another—about Alfa Romeo’s plans to return to the U.S. But anyone lucky enough to lay eyes on the brilliant 8C Competizione that is leading the charge will be darn glad Alfa’s back. Why? Because this is beauty.