Month: August 2019
Supercars, we all love them. Thinking about owning one? Well, these top 5 supercars to date are the ones that embody true supercar character…
Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Specs:
- 0-60 – 2.8
- Max Speed – 217
- Max Bhp – 770
- Max Torque – 531 lb-ft
- Price – £360,000
First in our top 5, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. The sexiest Lambo just got a whole lot sexier. Aventador is the raging bull that boasts Lamborghini in almost every form. The SVJ takes the already nutty car and amplifies its characteristics to the fullest. Hosting the most powerful V12 engine that Lamborghini has to offer, it’s a naturally aspirated 6.5 litre that slaps turbo supercars in the face with an almost unimaginable 770 horses!
You’d be out of your mind to argue with how this car looks. Awesome springs to mind. Lambo brings thinking outside the box when it comes to styling to a whole new level. The major league diffuser paired with the beautifully sculpted twin pipes look so good from the rear.
The Interior design is equally as creative. The iconic Lambo suicide doors are plastered with stunning carbon fibre and a race-inspired red pull lever. The Audi inspired dash and infotainment has been exquisitely livened up with Italian flair. The starter button, for example, is hidden beneath a small red hatch in true fighter jet style.
Super Veloce Jota sounds special, sensational and scintillating. As you would expect from an NA V12 it is incredibly loud – in a market full of turbos, it’s nice to have some old school big engines come into play. It’s the most extreme Aventador ever and this is proven by its ludicrously fast lap time on the Nurburgring of 6:44. That is the fastest of any production car EVER!
To our minds, no other supercar maker embodies the pure idea and romance of supercar exotica, in terms of looks and sound.
Ferrari 488 Pista
Specs:
- 0-60 – 2.8
- Max Speed – 211
- Max Bhp – 710
- Max Torque – 568 lb-ft
- Price – £251,590
Similar to what Lamborghini has done with Aventador, Ferrari has done the same with the 488. Specced it up to high heaven. The Pista differentiates from the standard 488 by saving weight and cranking an already great 597bhp all the way to 710bhp. This is done by 50% new components which have allowed the progression to advance so quickly. The bonnet is now carbon fibre as is the front bumper, the engine cover is plexiglass and the spoiler is carbon fibre too. Carbon fibre wheels are also an option; these have a reduced weight of the standard wheels by about 40%
Enough about weight saving! Let’s talk about how fantastically engineered this car is, what it can do and the true driving sensation Ferrari has to offer.
The Pista’s engine has been tuned to accompany the twin-turbos perfectly. You don’t get huge bursts of torque and then a massive power drop off like most turbo cars, with this car you get quite the opposite. The high rev ranges are not a bore because the engine has been engineered to save torque for this range, feeling like it doesn’t have ANY performance drop off and a constant feed of power when you kick your foot down. This makes it near irresistible to keep feeding the throttle all the way down.
This Ferrari is the most visually lavish one to date; attention to detail is so obvious and intricate. Precise lines, curves and vents make this car aerodynamically sculpted to tear up road or track.
McLaren 720S
Specs:
- 0-60 – 2.9
- Max Speed – 212
- Max Bhp – 710
- Max Torque – 568 lb-ft
- Price – £218,020
Speed, violence and momentum. The three words that capture the true characteristics of this British power demon.
Surrey. Hardly the beating heart of supercars is it? Well think again.
Let’s put this car’s straight line capability into perspective with a perfect example that will truly shock you…
You could line up the 720S, the SVJ and the Pista together, let the Lambo and the Ferrari have a three-second head start and the 720S would STILL beat the Italians to 170mph and would then hit 190mph all in a standing mile. Keep the throttle glued to the floor and you’ll be flying in no time at all; the 720S shifts 45% faster than the 675LT. It also generates 50% more downforce, double the amount of aerodynamic efficiency and is 15% more efficient in cooling. The most mind-blowing statistic of all is that McLaren state around 95% of the 720S parts are newly developed.
The exterior aesthetics and design accompanied by the amazing space grey colour make this car look like a futuristic stealth bomber. The interior is no different, an amazing deep black cockpit with splashes of sporty yellow, steel grey switches and dials and a rectangular Tron like infotainment system. The drive, neutral and reverse switches look simply insane and ripped straight out of Top Gun.
McLaren have come a long way from the MP4-12C released in 2011. They’ve really cut their way into this big beefy supercar battle.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Specs:
- 0-60 – 2.8
- Max Speed – 211
- Max Bhp – 700
- Max Torque – 553 lb-ft
- Price – £207,506
The 911 has been Porsche’s staple car since 1963. This one is the most powerful 911 ever built. With so much history behind this iconic sportscar/supercar, Porsche keep getting better and better at refining, reshaping and redesigning technology to somehow make the 911 more perfect each and every time. The GT2 RS is a steroid fuelled weapon that constantly wants to be pushed and driven hard. It looks like a road-going race car. The spoiler on the rear is ginormous and the two-tone colours give this car a race-themed appearance.
Choose the Weissach package for an extra £20k and you’ll get reduced weight by 30kg through the use of numerous lightweight parts. Inside you’re kept securely in and feel rigid and safe thanks to the rather daunting roll cage.
Statistically, the GT2 RS is bonkers. It’s a fun toy and definitely a thrill, hence why it was released amongst the hit racing game Forza Motorsport 7.
This car delivers merciless amounts of aggression and it sounds the part too. The exhaust note is a deep and bassy guttural sound that bellows a sensational sound to your ears.
Audi R8 V10 Plus
Specs:
- 0-60 – 2.9
- Max Speed – 207
- Max Bhp – 614
- Max Torque – 413 lb-ft
- Price – £147,765
This has to be on our list of the top 5 supercars to date. Everyone knows the Audi R8; it was one of the first supercars to revolutionise what we know of supercars nowadays. The R8 has been Audi’s flagship car since 2006, undergoing lots and lots of changes. This current-gen version is perfection…
Constant tweaks to this supercar for nearly 14 years have allowed Audi to tick all the boxes when it comes to design, innovation and a brutally pure driving experience. The R8 has an unholy engine with a shed load of power and compared to a lot of its current rivals, all this power comes from a naturally aspirated V10
Visually this car gets more stunning with every update, of all the generations the new one looks so incredibly sharp and mean. The carbon laced side vents contrast well on the beautiful metallic paintwork. The design is iconic, sleek evil-eyed headlights, the gloss black grille ready to eat any car alive and enough vents to suck in as much air as necessary for that gorgeous V10. The exhaust pipes would probably fit a football they’re so big! The lovely sloped glass rear exposes the V10 in all of its natural glory.
Coming back to that exhausts, they’re not just massive in terms of size, they’re massive in terms of decibels too. Rev to the absolute peak of a maddening 8,700 rpm and this creature spits, burbles and bangs as if you’ve fed it TNT.
Cabin quality is faultless in this car. Audi has taken the limited space and made the most of every area. Ergonomically, it’s very simple and minimalistic, which means you get a lot of space.
To drive, this facelifted Audi R8 is an absolute dream, which probably isn’t even doing it justice. It’s a spectacularly balanced driving machine that stays true to its form and is your bread and butter supercar. The 7-speed dual-clutch system pummels through any speed and doesn’t have any lag, the engine is a creation from above and the whole thing is drop-dead gorgeous, what more could you want?
There’s a reason these cars are the top 5 supercars to date. They all have unique characters, brilliant design and innovation – what driving a supercar is all about.
Liked this article? Check out our head to head of the Ferrari 488 Pista VS Lamborghini Huracan Performante.
Here at Oracle Finance, we love our cars and some of us have even been known to spruce them up a bit with some aftermarket modifications. However, this has been taken to a whole new level by Aston Martin Q. Now, you can add virtually anything to your chosen Aston with endless possibilities…
Q, by Aston Martin, is a step into the future of truly personalised car customisation, the pinnacle of bespoke options. Q aims to provide a highly unique and luxurious experience. You can create distinctive designs, exclusive artwork and flawless individuality for your car. Check out a few of their examples on the Aston Martin website.
The service offers a number of individual details that are expertly hand-fitted at Aston Martin’s headquarters. Customers have the ability to create a bespoke version for an existing model or even create a unique car from scratch.
You’ll be able to personalise accessories that come with the car, for example, the Vanquish S Red Arrows car came with a 1:18 scale model of the car and hawk aircraft model, two racing suits, two helmets and car cover, all in the theme of the red arrows!
Aston describes the process as one that ‘starts with a conversation and ends with a car’ – a truly bespoke model which can feature unique design elements chosen by owners.
The only limit is your imagination, well to an extent; you can’t exactly request Bonds machine gun bumpers, rocket ammunition or ejector seats. Individuality is key here; the car which you design will never be the same as another one.
What we would highly suggest is that you don’t overdo it though as some celebrities have! A minimalist design is beautiful, stunning and still keeps all the classy characteristics which Aston is well-known for.
Image credits: coastlinegraphics.co.uk
All new vehicles in the EU are to be fitted with mandatory speed limiters by 2022. Pushed by road safety campaigners and already approved by the EU commission, these devices can automatically stop drivers exceeding the speed limit.
It’s estimated the change could save 25,000 lives by 2037.
The speed limiter device (called the intelligent speed assistance or ISA) will use GPS data and cameras to detect things such as speed limits and vehicle position. Cars will be fitted with a black box-like system that can monitor your driving behaviour. So if you have an accident, your insurance company and the police would be able to check whether you routinely decide to speed and break the car’s warning systems.
The AA is cautious about the new ruling as they think it could actually have the opposite effect and make drivers more reckless. AA president Edmund King said: “When it comes to intelligent speed adaptation, the case is not so clear, the best speed limiter is the driver’s right foot. The right speed is often below the speed limit – for example, outside a school with children about – but with ISA, there may be a temptation to go at the top speed allowed.”
The European Transport Safety Council says: ‘If the driver continues to drive above the speed limit for several seconds, the system should sound a warning for a few seconds and display a visual warning until the vehicle is operating at or below the speed limit again.’ So you can’t just keep pinning the throttle and try to override it.
Volvo pre-empted the change and pushed the EU’s cause of speed limiters by announcing that by 2020, it would be limiting the top speed of all of its cars to 112 mph.
Hakan Samuelson, the Chief Executive and President of Volvo said: “Volvo is a leader in safety: we always have been and we always will be. Because of our research, we know where the problem areas are when it comes to ending serious injuries and fatalities in our cars. And while a speed limitation is not a cure-all, it’s worth doing if we can even save one life.”
What does this mean for those of us who love driving and unleashing a car’s full potential?
At the minute it’s hard to say. We may see some companies offering services to remove these devices or alter them, but it’s unknown at this stage whether this will be legal.
Since those of us who love a fast car could be affected by this change, we’ll definitely keep you posted.
Take a look at some of our car reviews below:
Image credits: theverge.com
- Bhp – 592
- Top Speed – 190
- 0-60 – 3.6
- Torque – 590 lb-ft
Butch, ballistic and beefy. Beefy doesn’t cut it actually, it’s 80mm wider than its predecessor. A proper, proper beast of a car. Audi has redesigned the sports styling package and the RS6 is the first new Audi model to wear its attire. It’s fair to say this car is the most bad boy wagon on the road. If Predator could build his dream car, this is probably what he’d drive. The black, grey and red styling on this hunk would also happily suit Darth Vader.
The front of this car is so evil and menacing! Those matrix LED lights that squint and stare combined with the absurd grille gives the Star Destroyer a run for its money. It’s not just an awesome looking creature; it is more powerful than its older generation too. You get an extra 40 stampeding horses and 73 more lb-ft of torque.
The odd-looking diffuser at the rear has such a unique shape, there isn’t really any other family car with such an outlandish rear. The only cars with rears like this are mad hypercars such as the Bugatti Chiron and the McLaren P1.
It comes with 21” wheels as standard but you have the option to include some mega 22” ones. The brakes are gigantic with enough stopping power to halt this monster. Audi has said this car will come with adaptive air suspension and two configurable RS buttons to play with, allowing you to have two modes to your liking. We’d suggest having one as a ruthless bloodthirsty setting and one for your more casual day to day driving.
Interior quality and space are what you’d expect from Audi. We bet Vader would be able to get himself in here and still have room for another four Stormtroopers. Want to thrill your passengers? Put this two-tonne titan into launch mode and you’ll be at 60 in 3.6 seconds dead.
This car has so much character, road presence and sheer capability that it comes into its own class as a family supercar.
Click here if you want to see the RS6 in a heads up against 4 other performance machines.
Image credits: Sunday Times Driving
In 2009, Japan decided to release a car that would crush the performance of its Italian counterparts and not make a fuss about it. The Nissan GT-R.
This car in the community has been often renamed ‘Godzilla’ with the performance this car churns out with ease, we know why. It spits flames, it weighs 1.8 tonnes and it is a behemoth. A monster that quite frankly puts the more exotic machinery to absolute shame.
In 2.6 seconds, you will be at 60mph.
Soon, you will be at 196 mph.
You get this godly power for just under £80,000…
The Nissan GT-R has been made to be the most aerodynamic sports car. This has been made to cut through air. It does feel odd calling it a sports car, the specifications of this car make it far better than a supercar, and the Nurburgring time it achieved was 7:08
Unlike other mad Italian cars, you won’t get the sense of fear in this car. It uses an all-wheel-drive system that locks onto the road and will never lose any grip.
Each GT-R is ever so slightly different. There are only 5 trained craftsmen in the world who are allowed to hand assemble these cars and then put a plaque of their name on the car. They are all tested extensively and one of these bench tests includes it performing at maximum revs for 10 whole minutes.
This car is so bonkers that you even get four seats! AND a boot!
Its ability to launch is astounding, one second it’s there and next it’s not, it does a standing quarter-mile in 10.1 seconds. Faster than a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, Audi R8, Ferrari 488 and a Porsche GT2 RS just to name a few.
R mode will send you into the Millennium Falcons light speed and crush you into your seat with an explosive kick of torque.
Styling wise, the GT-R is more beastly than exquisite. It looks big and beefy, capable of taking any car on around a track. It has not lost its true Japanese styling that the classic R34 Skyline had either, it remains a unique and bold car that doesn’t look anything like any other car in its league.
Value is one thing that this car boasts. There’s nothing you can get at this price for this performance.
Image credits: Autocar
Audi SQ8
Specs:
- Price – £85,000
- 0-60 – 4.8 s
- Max Speed – 155 mph
- Max Bhp – 435 bhp
- Max Torque – 663 lb-t
Stylish, sexy and sleek, the Audi SQ8 is the pure embodiment of all these. Audi hasn’t skimped at all when packing as many gadgets as they can in this chunky SUV. It’s quick, comfy and a far more luxurious creature than the Q7. Under the body this car is basically the same as the SQ7, they ripped the V8 from the SQ7 and slammed it in this. It also has Quattro four-wheel-drive as standard, and specially-tuned air suspension. The Vorsprung version gets active anti-roll control and four-wheel steering for a much sharper driving experience making this SQ8 feel like a capable sports car.
It’s actually so well constructed and engineered that you’d forget this titan is five metres long and just shy of two metres wide. It doesn’t feel like a great big bumbling slow SUV at all. Blip the throttle and it won’t shy from stepping forward quite abruptly, this tank doesn’t hesitate to show you its immense surge of torque and speed. The 2.6 tonne behemoth plays with you like a wild unleashed supercar and doesn’t want to be known as just another SUV.
The thing that differentiates this car from the standard Q8 are the four fat tailpipes that are big enough to fit your fist in and the massive 22” alloys that look like they belong on a monster truck. This colossus expresses power, looks and total innovation.
Mercedes G-Wagon AMG G63
Specs:
- Price – £143,300
- 0-60 – 4.4 s
- Max Speed – 137 mph
- Max Bhp – 585 bhp
- Max Torque – 627 lb-ft
The G-Wagon of old (1979 in fact) has had another revamp. It’s back in black, brutish and a buff bully, more now than it has ever been. Super tough and capable of tackling mountainous terrain, wading high water and muddy off-road tracks, the G-Wagon is the dominator of off-road. It doesn’t drive half bad on road either, with a very lavish and chill interior it’s a very nice place to be.
On the exterior, it looks like the same old G-Wagon we have seen for the last 40 years. To say a lot has changed under the hood though is a total understatement. AMG have managed to get this hefty lump of kit to pump out a shockingly fast 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds.
It’s two metres tall and 2.5 tonnes so you’d think it handles like a school bus but no, it will actually go left and right, pretty fast too. On the road it has presence that a range rover would never give you; you have four different modes, eco, comfort, sport and G mode so the G-Wagon will cater to all your needs.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
Specs:
- Price – £70,900
- 0-60 – 3.8 s
- Max Speed – 176 mph
- Max Bhp – 503 bhp
- Max Torque – 443 lb-ft
The Stelvio is based on the gorgeous, beautiful and scintillating Giulia Quadrifoglio. Alfa’s hot SUV benefits from the same chassis, the same fire-breathing 503bhp 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 and a four-wheel drive system borrowed from Maserati.
It is easy to tell that this has been based off the Giulia. It feels light, responsive and bursty with precision sharp handling. This makes you feel like you’re driving the Giulia, a saloon, not a chunky SUV.
With four-wheel drive it is monstrously grip worthy when you want to take it for a spin. Luckily it retains a slight amount of fear that the Giulia instils in you by letting the rears slide out if you cane it through the exit of a corner. It eats through the rev counter like it’s nothing and when you pull the paddle for an upshift; you get the most insane exhaust crack and rumble.
Interior designs in most Alfa’s have been gorgeous and the Stelvio is definitely at the peak of aesthetic beauty. Black leather sports bucket seat laced with red stitching and small dashes of carbon spread throughout make this car very Ferrari-esque, especially with the smooth easy to use metal flappy paddles.
Lamborghini Urus
Specs:
- Price – £157,800
- 0-60 – 2.9 s
- Max Speed – 190 mph
- Max Bhp – 641 bhp
- Max Torque – 627 lb-ft
Lamborghini’s first attempt at an SUV has worked for sure. It looks spectacular, and it’s basically a ‘superSUV’ and the very first in its class. We think it looks like a Lamborghini Aventador on steroids. You have supercar DNA deployed into a 2.2-tonne SUV and the results are phenomenal.
The twin turbo 4.0 litre V8 burbles, belches and spits when cruising but when you open it up it howls and screams just like a real Lambo should.
The Urus has got a similar body shape to the Audi Q8. Lambos SUV is considerably lower, also wider than many full-size SUVs such as the Range Rover, and its bodywork has enough vents and gaping air intakes to remind you that this is a Lamborghini which are as we all know, a maker of shamelessly brash supercars.
The interior is comfortable, accommodating, luxurious and versatile and it can carry five adults without a serious squeeze. Saying this sounds weird doesn’t it? In fact, it has all of the practical, convenient qualities you’d expect of a big SUV – and which, until this car, you’d have expected to find in a Lamborghini about as useful for passenger carrying than a chocolate teaspoon.
Well, the game has changed.
One thing we must touch upon is the Urus’s cockpit; it looks like it was hand-built by aliens for the console of a UFO. There’s a large red start switch that looks so oddly cool and changes the styling game for current cars. Some true Lamborghini style.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid
Specs:
- Price – £123,349
- 0-60 – 3.6 s
- Max Speed – 183 mph
- Max Bhp – 680 bhp
- Max Torque – 664 lb-ft
Porsche’s powerhouse SUV is here. This is the most green one of the bunch, however, make no mistake, green doesn’t compromise maximum fun. You have an emissions defying V8 accompanied by a 138 bhp electric motor. This makes you feel a little less bad about your gas-guzzling SUV at least. It weighs the same as a Lamborghini Urus but achieves a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds. That means this SUV is quicker than the Porsche 911 GT3.
Styling- wise the Porsche looks really classy and with its lime radioactive-green callipers, accents and stitching, it pops well. Handsome and refined is how the car looks.
Underneath your feet the 680bhp is rather compelling and actually usable in this urban tank. Sport mode in this car creates a unique duo of power from the electric motor and the V8, the partners in crime allow the engine and the eight speed transmission to work to the fullest with Sport response button pushed. This makes the two work in perfect harmony as it allows short sprees of maximum mind bending power for 20 seconds.
Cornering is really muscular and strong, you won’t budge when going fast around punishing bends. Once you step inside, it is so evident that you’re in a Porsche. There’s plenty of beautiful leather and switches that operate with sublime precision.
There has been much talk about these two new and pretty similar sports cars. The Supra finally came back after more than 20 years, this time not the Japanese mad street racer design, but a more composed and refined looking roadster… with many diehard fans of the car losing their minds. The Supra has been Toyota’s poster car for many years and now fans are divided over how they have partnered with the German superpower BMW to recreate such an iconic machine.
Specs:
BMW Z4 M40i:
Price: £49,050
Power: 382 bhp
Torque: 369 lb-ft
0-62: 3.9 s
Top Speed: 155 mph
Toyota Supra GR:
Price: £52,695
Power: 335 bhp
Torque: 365 lb-ft
0-62: 4.1 s
Top Speed: 155 mph
So, on paper and looking at raw statistics, the Z4 trumps the Supra.
Or does it? …
Carwow on YouTube did many performance tests on these two cars as everyone is going nuts about the head to head on these cars. In a drag race, the Supra actually beat the Z4. It did the standing quarter-mile in 12 seconds whereas the Z4 did it in 12.5 seconds.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atNosTtdUaE[/embedyt]
Are Toyota underplaying their performance figures?
Well, once again, apparently the kid that copied the friend got the higher mark. In a video on CarThrottles YouTube channel, the Toyota was put on a dyno run and actually produced 377 bhp. Yes, a crazy 42 horses more than Toyota have told us.
Styling:
In this regard, the cars do look similar in many areas. Although the Supra definitely has the more aggressive and mad edge to it. The Toyota has a far more sharpened and streamlined look to it that emphasises sportiness and road presence. From a side view, the Supra offers wide flares above the wheel arches, air intake vents and this provides an aggressive look, the Z4 is toned down and resorts more to elegance than craziness.
From the rear, the Supra once again looks better. It has a very low stance, ducktail spoiler, a menacingly big diffuser that stays separate from the curved bumper, unique futuristic taillights and two large tailpipes. The Z4 looks far too subtle and doesn’t have a lot of character to it at all. Plus it uses the horrible new craze of fake exhaust tips.
Interior:
The interior on each of these cars are similar but different. The actual dash and screen look pretty much identical, however, the supra is more poised in a sporty sense whereas the Z4 is leaning towards the comfort side of things. Red and black are used in the Toyota for that motorsport type feel and the Z4 uses creams and browns for the more upmarket taste. Toyota wanted this car to show a design that allows it to be an everyday sports car but the capability to be a track car. This meant they had to be very careful by not stepping over the line. They have combined comfort and race track inspired design perfectly. The centre console in the Supra also cuts you partially off from the passenger with a long leather beam, making it more of a driver’s car than the Z4.
Driving:
The fact that BMW offers the Z4 with a four-cylinder underlines its position as a cruiser compared to the nutty Supra. It’s 115kg lighter than the equivalent Z4, the 1610kg M40i. The Z4 is too much of a cruiser in the driving department. The Supra is far more crisp, far more responsive and far more fun to hoon around in.
Sound:
Once again BMW has been beaten at its own game! The Supra has a much better exhaust note than the Z4 and proves to be far more raspy and loud. The six-cylinder B58 engine pops and cracks constantly with sports mode on, the Z4 just kind of hums with a monotone noise.
Conclusion:
Toyota wanted to revive the Supra but it would have never got the green light if it wasn’t for a partner to make it a worthwhile financial investment. BMW gave Toyota their essay and Toyota handed it in with a higher mark. In every single sense, Toyota made the better car .The standing joke of ‘Zupra’ should be shot down and quickly. The Supra is nothing like the Z4, it has a sporty flair which the Z4 lacks and those cheeky hidden performance gains that Toyota kept quiet about make it a full incentive to buy this as it is also only marginally more expensive, so not an issue.
Today BMW have blessed us with their numerous M cars, the newest addition being the M8. We’ve got the M135i, M2, M3, M4, M5 and the M8. All of these cars come into their own in different areas, environments and certain tests.
We’ll help you choose your perfect M -Series. Starting with the smallest and finishing with the largest.
- 0-60 – 4.8 s
- Max Speed – 155 mph
- Max Bhp – 302 bhp
- Max Torque – 332 lb-ft
Now although this isn’t a proper M series car, it deserves a place as it’s the highest spec 1 series in the league and has enough performance capability to put the actual M cars in a bit of trouble. BMW truly made this hatch ‘hot’ with a stonking amount of horses (302) and this all runs through the front wheels. The 135i has a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, handling is certainly lively and lots of fun, and doesn’t hesitate to drift.
Why choose this M car?
It’s a cheaper alternative to a proper M car but has stats good enough to almost beat them. It’s also a spacious 5-seater too with enough practicality for your everyday needs and enough power for hard, fun driving.
- 0-60 – 4.2 s
- Max Speed – 155 mph
- Max Bhp – 405 bhp
- Max Torque – 406 lb-ft
This is the newest addition to the M car series, the little baby M car of the group; it sure does live up to the prestigious M badge though. It’s a stocky car and when you see it on the road it is noticeable and has lots of road presence despite it being small. A lot of this comes down to the great design features that make it look like some of the bigger cars such as the M3 or M4, with big bloated arches and raspy sounding quad exhaust pipes nested into the aggressive rear bumper.
Why choose this M car?
If you’re not as interested in brute speed and more interested in a smaller car with better handling because of a smaller more controlled well-balanced chassis with more accessible ranges through the 6-speed manual, then this is the one for you.
- 0-60 – 4.0 s
- Max Speed – 155 mph
- Max Bhp – 450 bhp
- Max Torque – 406 lb-ft
The M3 has been the go-to and most well-received sports saloon for BMW, for almost 35 years. The well-loved E30 M3 released in 1986 and the M3 has been the car with the most history to it, rightly so
It has a huge power and torque figure which in a fairly small saloon makes it go like stink. This model got rid of the old V8 naturally aspirated engine and replaced it with a straight-six turbocharged engine for better efficiency, and use of the turbos to create mid-range kicks of force.
Why choose this M car?
We would choose this as it’s the all-round balance of everything the M division has to offer. Sublime faultless styling, more than enough power and handling capabilities of destroying corners at impressive speeds. You’ve also got the heritage behind this car, in 20 years this will be the classic as is per with any M3 model.
- 0-60 – 4.0 s
- Max Speed – 155 mph
- Max Bhp – 450 bhp
- Max Torque – 406 lb-ft
Basically an M3 with a different body. There’s not much to pick at when looking at this car as it is essentially the M3 reskinned.
Why choose this M car?
If you aren’t a fan of the M3 sedan then buy this, on paper, as it is the exact same car. You choose this one is if you prefer the styling and design over the traditional M3.
- 0-60 – 3.1 s
- Max Speed – 155 mph
- Max Bhp – 617 bhp
- Max Torque – 553 lb-ft
The M5 is the beefiest of the M cars. Ginormous shell, biggest engine and ungodly noise. This car isn’t just your normal M car; it is, in essence, a supercar killer. In terms of power, this car is the best, it is unrivalled…
It is also the most luxurious of the M series with enough kit and gadgets to blow your mind. This luxury is combined with true ruthless driving terror though, 0-60 is only 3.1 seconds and from a car that is this big, that figure is insane.
Why choose this M car?
The main reason to consider this car would be for the sheer capability it has. You have got an enormous amount of roar from the 4.4 V8 and the stats to fight off any car that contends with you. If you want the practicality of a normal 5 series BMW but the tremendous and stupid power delivery from a £200k plus Italian supercar then buy this.
- 0-60 – 3.2 s
- Max Speed – 155 mph
- Max Bhp – 625 bhp
- Max Torque – 553 lb-ft
This car is the most exquisite and bespoke car BMW has to offer. Styling is above the realms of what we know and it takes luxury to a whole new level. Performance is not compromised though, 616 bhp is a number seen on your supercars, not a luxury coupe.
Why choose this M car?
One word. Luxury. You are buying this car if you want true and unbeaten luxury. The interior is something to die for and looks amazing, it has just the right amount of aggro combined with sleek smooth aesthetics.
BMW M5 Competition
Specs
- 0-60 – 3.1 s
- Max Speed – 190 mph
- Max Bhp – 617 bhp
- Max Torque – 553 lb-ft
BMW’s M division has been one of the most iconic car specs of any car in the world. The new M5 is no exception at all. The perfect example of a modern super saloon, If not a four door super car. The engine bay of this car is enormous and by god it needs to be. Under the hood you’ve got a 4.4 litre V8 with two large turbos. The styling of the new M5 hasn’t changed that much but we like that, it has kept its traditional and reserved 5 series look but got hints of added sportiness to really show this is the M5. The large black diffuser at the rear combined with a quad setup of large exhausts express the M performance. The huge black grilles at the mouth of the car look like that of a blue whales mouth. HUGE.
This thing screams power on every panel it has, the front bumper with those menacingly large grilles make the car look like it will eat you alive. And oh yes it will. Seeing this in your rear view would send a shiver down your spine and rightly so, it looks fantastic. We would recommend the deep Marina Bay Blue Metallic as this is so deep and contrasts well with the chrome and gloss black.
The M5 offers a lot of customisation and play with the different modes it has to offer, you can do this maddening thing if are a true madman. Switching off four-wheel drive completely to make the M5 rear drive only… You can already imagine this picture in your head can’t you? Yeah best stick to the track for that one.
With the competition pack, you get an extra 25bhp from the 4.4-litre V8, a 7mm drop in ride height, tweaked dampers, stiffer springs and a modified rear anti roll bar. This adjustment in the Competition Pack eliminates any body roll and made steering somehow even sharper than it already was before.
The M5 Competition’s exhaust coughs, pops and bangs and although obnoxious, at the end of the day you’re driving a £100k car and hearing the power not just feeling it is all part of the experience.
Audi RS6 Avant
Specs
- 0-60 – 3.6 s
- Max Speed – 193 mph
- Max Bhp – 605 bhp
- Max Torque – 590 lb-ft
The Audi RS6 is a large four wheel drive road shredding monster; the best part is this is a proper family estate car and the fastest estate car you can buy. It will obliterate all the Italian supercar opposition with ease (just maybe don’t let it loose when you’ve got the family in the car).
This family supercar has a whopping 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 engine. The steering is very heavy as this car weighs a lot, dynamic steering is most definitely an option to choose. If you want to plant the power down you can though, the weight is insignificant. It shifts as smooth as butter thanks to its brilliant auto gearbox.
When you do choose to kick it in the backside, it will respond with a very angry devilish roar from the ginormous V8.
It is a bit of a devil in disguise, it gets unnoticed more frequently than a sports or supercar but that is one of the great selling points, you’ve got nuclear power under the hood in what is a car that you can comfortably pick the kids up from school in, put your bikes on the roof and pack your luggage for the family holiday.
Audi’s RS6 is the titanic of the brand, yet it doesn’t handle like a boat. It handles like a nimble racing car. Audi’s astoundingly good all-wheel drive system, Quattro, means this tank of a car can take enormous levels of pressure and grip through the tyres. It is more than capable of being thrashed through fast sweeping bends.
Being an £80k family car you’d expect true quality interior as is in an Audi and the RS6 keeps on giving and makes what we thought was good, a hell of a lot better. Cabin quality is the absolute diamond standard, it comes with a carbon fibre trim, a brilliant infotainment system, luxurious leather and an amazing sound system.
Mercedes AMG E63 S
Specs
- 0-60 – 3.4 s
- Max Speed – 186 mph
- Max Bhp – 612 bhp
- Max Torque – 627 lb-ft
Mercedes AMG have made this car a true M5 killer. Finally, the M5 has something that it can finally get into a bit of a fight with; it was beginning to look unrivalled until this came along.
The top end E63 S model offers violent and wild power. Race mode unleashes the cars full capability. If you combine race mode with drift mode, then you’re now at Defcon 1.
It’s an executive saloon with the same amount of pulling power as a supercar.
With all that mighty power to deal with, the four wheel drive system is well needed. The beasts power is channelled through a nine-speed automatic gearbox, and while most of the time it is only the rear wheels that are utilised, under brutal acceleration when traction is what you require to stop you from letting this grey Godzilla get the better of you, anything up to half of the power is diverted to the front wheels for much greater stability.
Being an AMG spec, there ae a few dashes of AMG items to let everyone know your car is the pinnacle of Mercedes performance. AMG step lights, small badges of the sleek and simple AMG logos.
Styling is similar to the M5, the exterior shape is fa more sleek and stylish though, the M5 is rather more brutish. In the carbon matte grey colour this car looks profoundly stunning and differentiates this from your standard E class. The E63 S is not as distinguishable as an M5 is to a 5 series but the styling works. There’s no stupidly big spoiler, ridiculous grilles and insane arches that flair out to an unnecessarily wide stature. Where the Mercedes does show its absurdity though is through its vicious and raucous exhaust note. The AMG spec Mercedes are a force to be reckoned with. Not many companies can produce a more ferocious ungodly sound than these Germans.
The E63 S grants you the meatiest extras 20inch alloy wheels, dynamic engine mounts, AMG bucket seats and an electronic rear axle LSD for all of your drifting needs.
Range Rover Sport SVR
Specs
- 0-60 – 4.3 s
- Max Speed – 176 mph
- Max Bhp – 567 bhp
- Max Torque – 502 lb-ft
Of all the cars on this list, the range rover SVR is the most luxurious. This luxury is displayed throughout the car consistently and to the best standards of quality the British has to offer. Lavished with bespoke quality is probably an understatement. You’ve got tonnes of room, soft leathers and alcantara and electronics that surpass your sci-fi films.
Overall this Range Rover is capable of giving you a mega amount of fun and comfort. But of course sticking to true Land Rover spirit, of course it can still off-road for you. Whether you’re on a long motorway journey or a bumpy rural forest track, this car will ease through whatever it is you’re doing.
Just because this car sounds all cushioned and very tame, you need to rip that thought right out of your head. Yes of course it will massage you, relax you, hell even make you a coffee! But this thunderous giant will echo down whatever road you’re driving. The sports exhaust developed by Land Rover Range Rovers in house tuning company (Special Vehicle Operations) makes it sounds like the heavens have opened up.
With 567 horses pulling this there’s no doubt it has power capable to unleash at any point. Rip snorting its way through any terrain like a bull on steroids, it provides unreachable quality that you can’t get with many car brands and that mind bending performance makes it a thing of its time.
Opt with the Ethereal Blue for that true sporty look, from the outside it looks like a titan, but when you’re in it, you’ll be hugged by the lovely embossed seats, cooled down and made to feel at home.
Upon driving it, you’ll constantly ask yourself ‘how can something that weighs over 2,500kg can go this fast?’
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Specs
- 0-60 – 3.9 s
- Max Speed – 191 mph
- Max Bhp – 510 bhp
- Max Torque – 443 lb-ft
Finally we have the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Many fellow car enthusiasts and petrol heads say, “You haven’t owned a car until you have owned an Alfa Romeo”…
We would have to agree with that.
Very few car manufacturers have the heart and soul any driver craves but Alfa Romeo has totally hit the nail on the head here.
Firstly, look at how stunningly beautiful it is. I don’t think there’s anyone out there that could fault this cars appearance. The deep blood wine red paint boasts true Italian style. Quad tailpipes and a big diffuser give this car a savage look.
Alfa are renowned for their stellar engines. Busso’s legendary V6 could even be trumped by this 2.9 Bi-Turbo V6. It has a perfect balance of driving pleasure and lunacy that some of the cars on this list don’t have. This car is fully rear wheel drive and doesn’t have the immense gripping power the other rivals have executed perfectly.
But do you know what? Who cares?
That’s the thing about the Italians, sure they may not be as reputable as the Germans for a get in and get out driving experience but a lot of these cars despite humongous power numbers on a piece of paper lack character, this Alfa is the most playful machine.
In the wet you’re basically on a suicide mission. Channelling 510 raging Italian stallions through only the rear wheels is just all out Italian design madness. It isn’t as well rounded as the competitors but it does make you smile on a more consistent basis.
Of course in order to use this power Alfa incorporated a bespoke suspension set up and large brakes which give you lightning fast stopping power for when you potentially misjudge a corner. Whoops!
Race mode makes this car sound like a mini volcano is erupting from the engine. Gear changes provide you with pops and bangs that never get boring. The interior is the only flaw to this car because it doesn’t look as premium as the others. Then again it costs around £30,000 less than the others.
Image credit: alfaromeo.at, landrover.com, mercedes-amg.com, motor1.com and bmw.co.uk
Lots of people around the UK take great pride and passion in looking after their car and joining a community of others who love their cars just as much as they do. Clubs and meets take place all the time but here are some of the biggest and best ones yet.
CarFest:
CarFest is the place to have a great time doing great things. Founded by Chris Evans, it’s a super-charged weekend, packed full of cars, music, and food – what more could you want? It’s about making more marvellous memories for families. All profits from CarFest, including a guaranteed 25% of the price of each ticket, will be donated to UK children’s charities.
With great music, a live track and two paddocks showcasing the best cars, delicious food from top celebrity chefs, topped up with endless worlds of magical entertainment … CarFest brings the true spirit of family to life!
Sports Cars in The Park:
Sports cars in the Park started at Bolton Abbey in 2004 with just 60 cars and since then the event has grown into a gathering of over 1,000 display cars. In 2019 they decided to make the events happen three times a year (spring, summer and autumn). The events are only getting bigger. The cars are a mix of mainly modern sports and super cars. The cars range from hot hatches to hypercars
Japfest:
As the name suggests, Japfest is a host of Japanese cars and has so much to see. Old Japanese sports cars such as Toyota Supra, Mazda RX7 and Nissan Skylines just to name a few. Fun events are also held like spectacular drifting displays, sprint test and club displays with over 4,000 cars on display. Japfest has a retail village too so if you need a part for your car chances are you can find it here. Japfest takes place at Silverstone Circuit, which is conveniently situated right in the heart of the UK, approximately 90 minutes north of London and 60 minutes south of Birmingham. In terms of size and scale, they don’t get much bigger than Japfest.
Ultimate Street Car:
Ultimate Street Car at Santa Pod Raceway is the Largest, Loudest, Hottest and Fastest, modified car festival in Europe. It has a lot to do: Drag racing, music, club camping, traders, drifting and stunt displays. There are lots of crazy cars that attend this festival and by far the best thing to see are the cars doing standing quarter miles.
Festival Italia:
Festival Italia features classic and modern Italian cars with more than 800 display models. It is located at the Brands Hatch circuit and display cars get the chance to take their cars around the track. You’ll see beautiful classics such as Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari alongside modern new Italian supercars. There’s a really nice range of Italian foods to try at the Italian food market. The market offers a large variety of foods from throughout different regions of Italy. The F1 Ferrari display is amazing too; you can get up and close to this revolutionary F1 car. What day at a car show would be complete without a nice cold Italian Birra Moretti, go and enjoy it in the sun at the Birra Moretti Bandstand with classic live Italian music (Just don’t have too many, you’re driving!)
The London Motor Show:
At the London Motor Show you’ll see all the latest cars and the upcoming ones to soon hit our roads. From Aston Martin to Ford and from BMW to Land Rover, they have the latest models from manufacturers large and small on display for you to see inside and out. Check out the latest models on sale and talk to the experts who will be on hand. Whether you’re just along to see what the latest offerings are and take pictures, or you are in the market for your next car, The London Motor & Tech Show is the perfect place to see and compare all the latest cars.
Image credit: CarFest.org, festivalitalia.com and thelondonmotorshow.com