50.
Radical SR3
The name sums it up completely: this
Radical is as close as you can get to driving an open-top Le Mans prototype on
the road. It has the bare minimum needed to be road-legal and speed bumps are a
major issue for the low ride height. The SR3 is designed for track day fans,
with its lightweight construction plus a 300bhp 2.0-litre Ford engine making
for explosive performance on a circuit.
Specs
·
Price: $104,775
·
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
·
Power: 300bhp
·
Torque: 359Nm
·
0-60mph: 3.4secs
·
Top spd: 161mph
49.
Jaguar XKR-S
The XKR-S is the most powerful car Jaguar
has ever produced, and it gets an aggressive look to mark it out as the
flagship of the range. The 5.0-liter V8 has been tweaked to produce 543bhp,
which means it’s good for 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds. Plus, the speed limiter has
been ditched, so the XKR-S can reach 186mph. Adaptive dampers allow it to
switch from relaxing GT to focused sports car with ease, although you need to
be delicate with the throttle if you don’t want all that power to go up in a
cloud of tire smoke.
Specs
·
Price: $146,198
·
Engine: 5.0-liter s’ charged V8
·
Power: 503bhp
·
Torque: 625Nm
·
0-60mph: 4.2secs
·
Top spd: 186mph
48.
SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI 184
We’ll have to wait until the end of this
year for SEAT to reveal its Renaultsport Mégane-rivaling Leon Cupra, so in the
meantime the most powerful model is the diesel flagship. Don’t let the TDI
engine put you off, though, because all FRs get multi-link rear suspension for
great handling. With excellent overtaking punch and sharp looks, it’s one of
the best sporty diesels on sale.
Specs
·
Price: $31,545
·
Engine: 2.0-liter 4cyl turbo
·
Power: 181bhp
·
Torque: 380Nm
·
0-62mph: 7.5secs
·
Top spd: 142mph
47.
Audi RS5
Audi’s RS models are designed to take on
BMW’s M cars and Merc’s AMGs in the powerhouse stakes. Muscular bodywork sets
the RS5 coupé and Cabriolet apart from the standard A5, while there’s also a
444bhp 4.2-liter V8 and Quattro four-wheel drive. That makes for huge grip in
corners, but a firm ride and detached driving experience mean the RS5 isn’t
really as entertaining as it could be.
Specs
·
Price: $89,025
·
Engine: 4.2-liter V8
·
Power: 445bhp
·
Torque: 430Nm
·
0-62mph: 4.5secs
·
Top spd: 174mph
46.
Aston Martin DB9
British-built grand tourers don’t come much
better than the DB9. The stylish coupé is at its best cruising at high speed,
as the 510bhp 6.0-liter V12 purrs along while occupants are cosseted in total
comfort. However, switch the adaptive dampers to Sport mode, and the big GT
transforms into a surprisingly agile back-road blaster. Standard carbon brakes
mean fade-free stopping, too.
Specs
·
Price: $197,993
·
Engine: 6.0-liter V12
·
Power: 510bhp
·
Torque: 620Nm
·
0-62mph: 4.6secs
·
Top spd: 183mph
45.
Renaultsport Clio 200
The Renaultsport Clio always had a
reputation as a raucous and thrilling drive, but the latest consigns this to
history. Gone are the three-door body and high-revving naturally aspirated
2.0-liter engine, in favor of a five-door hatch and 1.6-liter turbo. Sadly, the
hot Clio has lost some of its mojo in the process.
Specs
·
Price: $30,885
·
Engine: 1.6-liter 4cy turbo
·
Power: 200bhp
·
Torque: 240Nm
·
0-62mph: 6.7secs
·
Top spd: 143mph
44.
BMW M5
BMW invented the concept of the super saloon
when it put the M1 supercar’s straight-six under the bonnet of the 5 Series
back in 1985. Fast-forward over 25 years, though, and the current M5 is a far
cry from its ancestors. The 552bhp twin-turbo V8 is reined in by an array of
hi-tech electronics, including torque vectoring and a multi-stage traction
control system. The new Competition Pack makes the M5 even sharper to drive
than before, with lowered suspension, faster steering and a power boost to
567bhp.
Specs
·
Price: $110,025
·
Engine: 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8
·
Power: 552bhp
·
Torque: 680Nm
·
0-62mph: 4.3secs
·
Top spd: 155mph (ltd)
43.
Mercedes E63 AMG
If one car defines the AMG performance
ethos, it’s the E63 AMG. The latest model uses a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 that
delivers 549bhp and 720Nm of torque in standard from, but the S version bumps
the figures up to 579bhp and 800Nm. It’s more powerful than its BMW M5
archrival, and it’s fun to drive in corners, too, thanks to direct steering and
a sweet-shifting seven-speed auto box.
Specs
·
Price: $113,303
·
Engine: 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8
·
Power: 557bhp
·
Torque: 720Nm
·
0-62mph: 4.3secs
·
Top spd: 155mph (ltd)
42.
Lotus Exige S
There was a time when the Exige was simply
a hard-top Elise, but the latest Lotus is more than that. Pumped-up bodywork
and a big rear wing mean the Exige S looks more like a racing car than ever.
Power comes from the Evora S’ 345bhp supercharged Toyota V6, which delivers
broad mid-range torque for confident overtaking. The S also boasts direct
steering and a firm, grippy chassis.
Specs
·
Price: $79,350
·
Engine: 3.5-liter s’ charged V6
·
Power: 345bhp
·
Torque: 400Nm
·
0-62mph: 3.8secs
·
Top spd: 170mph (ltd)
41.
Audi RS6 Avant
Fast estates are an Audi specialty, and the
RS6 Avant is the latest one to hit the road. The previous car’s 517bhp
5.0-liter twin-turbo V10 makes way for a 552bhp twin-turbo V8, but thanks to
lower weight and a slick eight-speed auto, the new RS6 is significantly faster.
It’ll do 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds, while adding the Dynamic Plus pack
increased top speed from 155mph to 189mph.
Specs
·
Price: $115,478
·
Engine: 4.0 V8 twin-turbo
·
Power: 552bhp
·
Torque: 700Nm
·
0-62mph: 3.9secs
·
Top spd: 189mph
