The Ride of the Valkyries, 2004 Edition

by Porsche Carrera GT (top) courtesy Porsche; Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren courtesy Mercedes-Benz Porsche Carrera GT (top) courtesy Porsche; Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren courtesy Mercedes-Benz

Fall is going to be a little more interesting this year if you're into cars. By then, Mercedes-Benz will have taken the wraps off its race-bred, carbon-fiber-bodied supercar, the SLR McLaren (left, below). At the same time, those lucky few who plunked down enough simoleons on a deposit for Porsche's race-bred, carbon-fiber-bodied supercar, the Carrera GT (left, above), will start to take delivery of their thoroughbreds. Here's a cheat sheet for the on-the-fence supercar consumer.

Porsche Carrera GT

Engine: 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V10

Price: $410,000

Hp/Torque: 612 hp/437 pound-feet

Top Speed: 205 mph

0-to-62 mph: 3.9 seconds

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Engine: 5.4-liter supercharged V8

Price: $350,000

Hp/Torque: 600 hp/590 pound-feet

Top Speed: 205 mph

0-to-62 mph: 3.8 seconds