10.
Caterham Seven Roadsport
It’s not the fastest car in our countdown,
but the Caterham Seven is more fun than all the Top 100 put together. With its
simple, lightweight build and back to basics rear-wheel-drive handling, the
tiny British two-seater has been serving up the purest driving thrills on the
planet for the past 40 years.
Better still, there’s a Caterham for almost
every taste and budget - hands-on buyers can bolt together a stripped-out
Classis from a box of bits, while adrenaline junkies can scare themselves silly
in the barmy 263bhp R500. Our pick of the line-up is the entry-level Roadsport
model. Despite using a humble 125bhp 1.6-liter Ford Focus engine, the 550kg
Caterham will sprint from 0-60mph in just 5.9 seconds.
Yet it’s the handling that really marks the
Seven out. The steering is so direct and full of feedback that you almost think
the car through corners, while the combination of low kerb weight and strong
grip means few cars are faster down a twisty road. Factor in the razor-sharp
throttle, progressive brakes, rasping exhaust and rifle-bolt gear-change, and
you have one of the most absorbing driving experiences around.
The Caterham isn’t perfect. It’s cramped,
the fabric roof is a hassle to erect and long journeys will leave you ears
ringing. Yet these flaws only add to the Seven’s timeless appeal.
Specs
·
Price: $34,493
·
Engine: 1.6-liter 4cyl turbo
·
Power: 125bhp
·
Torque: 163Nm
·
0-60mph: 5.9 secs
·
Top spd: 112mph
9.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The car that started the hot hatch
revolution has been around for nearly four decades, but shows no signs of
slowing down. Now in its seventh generation, the new VW Golf GTI still sets the
class standard. And this new car is the best yet.
Boasting more power than ever, a chassis
tuned by the man behind the legendary Porsche 911 GT3 and a cabin that’s roomy
enough for any growing family, the GTI really is a sports car for all seasons.
It looks the part, too.
Designers have given the Golf a muscular
makeover, adding deeper front and rear bumpers, 18-inch alloys, twin exhausts
and the GTI’s trademark strip of red trim, which bisects the grille and headlights.
Inside, you’ll find the famous tartan seat trim and a perfect low-slung driving
position.
Under the bonnet is a lusty 217bhp
turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, while lowered and stiffened suspension ensures
agile and engaging handling. And buyers wanting even more thrills can add the
optional $1470 Performance Pack, which includes a 10bhp boost, a limited-slip
differential and larger brakes.
Specs
·
Price: $38,768
·
Engine: 2.0-liter 4cyl turbo
·
Power: 217bhp
·
Torque: 350Nm
·
0-62mph: 6.5 secs
·
Top spd: 153mph
8.
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Ever since Ferrari introduced its first
road car, the 125S, back in 1947, there have been 12-cylinder model in the
range. While the original V12 was not much more than a Formula One car with
bodywork, the latest F12 Berlinetta is a grand tourer that showcases the
manufacturer’s cutting-edge F1 technology.
The elegant Pininfarina-penned lines have
been wind tunnel tested to create down force without the need to resort to
unsightly wings, while the 6.3-liter V12 packs 730bhp, which isn’t far shy of
what a current F1 car produces.
The engine dominates the driving
experience. There’s a savage bark from the exhausts when you press the red
starter twitch of you right foot will send it catapulting to the horizon.
Thankfully, a raft of hi-tech electronics keeps you on course.
Although the steering is very light and
short on feedback, it’s extremely direct, allowing you to just about hold the
F12 in a straight line, as the fat rear tires hunt for cambers in the road.
That’s just in Sport mode. Select Race, and
electronic intervention is kept to a minimum, making the F12 feel extremely
lively. As the name suggests, Race is a bit too much for the road, although the
carbon ceramic brakes scrub off speed just as quickly as the F12 piles it on.
Specs
·
Price: $358,976
·
Engine: 6.3-liter V12
·
Power: 730bhp
·
Torque: 690Nm
·
0-62mph: 3.1 secs
·
Top spd: 211mph-plus
7.
Jaguar F-Type V6S
In some quarters, Jaguar’s new sports car
has been branded the F-Hype, but there’s plenty of substance to back up the
F-Type’s undoubted style. The long bonnet and short rear end give it perfect
roadster proportions, while the detailing harks back to the classic E-Type can
certainly turn heads, and the driver-focused cabin gives you clues to its
involving driving experience. Press the starter button, and the engine fires
into life. Whether you go for the V6 or V8, you’re welcome by a meaty rumble
from the exhausts, while a flick of the gearlever into drive engages one of the
best automatic gearboxes on the market.
The V8S in our picture is a real hooligan.
You can break traction and get it sideways without much provocation, and the
exhaust pops, bangs and crackles on the over-run.
There’s plenty of feedback from the
steering, too, but we think the V6S is the best drive’s car in the range. If
feels nearly as fast in a straight line as the V8, while its lighter engine
gives sweeter handling. But best of all is the addictive exhaust note. Hit the
right spot in the rev range, and the F-Type sounds exactly like the legendary
E-Type.
Specs
·
Price: $101,28
·
Engine: 3.0-liter V6 supercharged
·
Power: 375bhp
·
Torque: 460Nm
·
0-62mph: 4.9 secs
·
Top spd: 171mph
6.
Porsche 911 Carrera S
No list of fast cars would be complete
without the legendary Porsche 911. Half a century after making its debut, it
still sets the benchmark.
At the heart of this charismatic two-door’s
appeal is its wailing, rear-mounted flat-six, which provides blistering
performance even in the entry-level Carrera model. The 395bhp Carrera S is
faster still, while the recently announced 552bhp 911 Turbo S and GT3 models
boast 200mph potential. No matter which version you buy, you’ll get the same
agile and entertaining handling, eye-poppingly powerful brakes and compact
dimensions – few class rivals inspire as much confidence on a twisting back
road. And for the ultimate peace of mind, there’s even the option of four-wheel
drive. Better still, with its well-shaped boot and tiny rear seats, the 911 is
flexible as well as fast.
Specs
·
Price: $125,172
·
Engine: 3.8-liter flat 6cyl
·
Power: 395bhp
·
Torque: 440Nm
·
0-62mph: 4.5 secs
·
Top spd: 188mph
