Cars So Hot They Are Out of Stock

10. Mercedes-Benz M-Class
> Days to turn: 18 (tied for 9th fewest)
> 2012 sales: 33,860
> Price: $47,270
> Configuration: SUV

Mercedes has four lines of SUVs, including the M-Class, which is priced in the middle of its fleet. Like most vehicles from major manufacturers, the M-Class comes in a number of models. The least expensive is the ML-350, which carries a 3.5-liter engine used in a number of other vehicles in the Mercedes model line. Like most car companies, Mercedes offers the M-Class in several configurations and with several engines. The top-end M is the version made by the AMG high-performance division of Mercedes, which was established in 1967. The ML63 has a base price of $96,100 and comes with a 518-horsepower engine.

Also Read: The Worst Product Flops of 2012

9. Subaru BRZ
> Days to turn: 18 (tied for 9th fewest)
> 2012 sales: 3,647
> Price: $24,495
> Configuration: two-door coupe

The Subaru and its nearly identical twin — the Scion FR-S — were designed and built in a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM). The cars were launched to great acclaim. Recently, each was among the top picks by the car reviewers of The New York Times. One of the evaluations: “The BRZ’s chassis, steering, brakes and manual gearbox are all beyond reproach, and a compact boxer engine helps to keep the car low, balanced and planted on the pavement.” The car is also inexpensive, which means it can appeal to a relatively broad audience. But it is rare among Subarus in not having all-wheel drive.

7. BMW M6
> Days to turn: 17 (tied for 7th fewest)
> 2012 sales: 391
> Price: $106,100
> Configuration: two-door coupe

BMW’s M cars and SUVs are made by its high-performance division. The vehicles are rare and very expensive. A case in point is the M6, the muscle version of BMW’s high-end two-door mid-sized coupe, which has a 560-horsepower engine. BMW markets the car primarily against two other very high-end sports cars — the Mercedes-Benz CL63 and Audi R8 — each of which also has a base price well above $100,000. Potential buyers of the M6 can get additional packages with amenities, including options such as a heated steering wheel for up to $5,300.

7. Ford C-Max Hybrid
> Days to turn: 17 (tied for 7th fewest)
> 2012 sales: 7,596
> Price: $25,200
> Configuration: four-door sedan

The C-Max Hybrid was new for the 2012 model year. It comes with a two-liter electric hybrid engine, which Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) claims gets 47 mpg in both city and highway driving. The C-Max is the first plug-in hybrid from Ford in the United States, which puts it into competition with other large international car companies that have released electric cars in the past two or three years. The Chevy Volt probably has gotten the most press of these cars, largely because of flaws with its batteries. As the sales figures for the C-Max, Volt and Nissan Leaf show, it has remained difficult to gain a mainstream consumer base for electric cars.

6. Hyundai Genesis Coupe
> Days to turn: 16
> 2012 sales: 12,469
> Price: $24,250
> Configuration: two-door coupe

The Genesis comes in both coupe and sedan models. The sedan has a much higher base price — $34,200. However, it only takes a more powerful engine and additional features to get the price of the coupe above that. The base model has a two-liter turbo engine that generates 274 horsepower. The more powerful six-cylinder engine puts out 348 horsepower, and fully loaded with all available accessories it is priced above $35,000. Hyundai markets the Genesis Coupe against the Ford Mustang, the Infiniti G Coupe and the Chevy Camaro.