Awesome Sports Cars

This incredible custom car celebrates 100 years of partnership between coachbuilder Zagato and automaker Alfa Romeo. The one-off longnose coupe is powered by the 2.9L twin-turbo V6 from the Giulia GTAm, making 533hp and 442 lb-ft. of torque. Unlike most other modern sports cars, it has a six-speed manual transmission.

We’ve driven the Toyota GR Supra a few times, and it’s great fun. But we’d only driven the more powerful and expensive 3.0-liter model to date. Now, we’ve had the chance to spend some time with the 2.0-liter sports coupe, and we were impressed with just how great it is to drive while saving cash and sipping less fuel.

If you had told us ten years ago that a Hyundai Elantra would make a great sports car, we would called you crazy. But here we are in 2022, and the Elantra N is one our favorite cars of the year. The compact sedan has a great, energetic drivetrain, crisp handling, an awesome exhaust note, and an available manual transmission.

Last year, we had a chance to drive the new Toyota GR86 on a racetrack. Now, we’ve had a full week to live with the agile and accessibly-priced sports car as our daily driver for a full week. The good news: The GR86 is nearly as much fun on the street as it is on a race circuit. Here’s what we love about it.

The Prancing Horse breaks the crossover mold with its first four-door four-seater. The Purosangue looks like a proper Ferrari, driven by a mid-front-mounted V12 engine that makes 715 hp. It has an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, an innovative active suspension, and an impressive 49:51% front-to-rear weight balance.

Italian automaker Pagani’s latest vehicle is a work of art on wheels with a smooth, aerodynamic shape. It has a carbon fiber and titanium chassis with steel subframes and is driven by a Mercedes-AMG bi-turbo V12 that makes 864 hp. A purist’s dream, it can even be equipped with a 7-speed manual transmission with a gated shifter.

After Polestar revealed the O₂ roadster concept, the EV maker has decided to put the car into production for 2026. Its dual motors will crank out 884hp, a 0-to-60 time of 3.1 sec, a top speed of 155 mph, and a 300+ mile range. Polestar is accepting reservations now for the $200,000 Polestar 6 LA Concept, a 500-unit limited edition.

Based on the 11th-generation Civic Hatchback, the new Civic Type R features a decidedly less overworked design than its 2020 Honda Civic Type R while retaining its aerodynamic qualities. Honda says it’s the most powerful and fastest vehicle they’ve offered in the U.S., though they’ve yet to reveal its engine or performance specs.

Hyundai’s N performance division looks to the past for its future. Premiering alongside its RN22e concept, the N Vision 74 has a wedge-shape reminiscent of Giugiaro’s BMW M1 Procar and Hyundai Pony Coupe. It’s powered by a hydrogen-electric drivetrain that sends 670+hp to the rear wheels. We want one right now.

The Nissan Z is back and it’s simply fantastic. We spent a week living with the 2023 Z, and it’s everything we hoped for. The new Z deftly balances nostalgia and modernity with its thoughtful design, performance, and technology. A powerful drivetrain and spirited handling make this the best Z car in years.

This special matte grey edition of the Toyota GR Corolla has seen its torque increased to 295 lb-ft., a close gear-ratio manual gearbox, shorter differential gears, 18″ forged wheels, brake vents, mono-tube shock absorbers, a stiffened chassis, a forged carbon fiber roof, and weighs about 100 lb. less than the Circuit Edition.

More than 40 years after the original DMC-12 began production, DeLorean is back with its vision for the future. The sleek and aerodynamic Alpha 5 will have a pure-electric drivetrain, with a 300+ mile range, an estimated 0-to-60 time of 2.99 sec, and a 0-to-88 time of 4.35 sec, though there’s no guarantee of time travel at that speed.

The RS 3 returns with Audi’s wondrous five-cylinder turbo engine, making 401 hp and 369 lb-ft. of torque, launching this performance sedan from 0-to-60 in just 3.6 seconds. It now has a dynamic torque splitter for the rear axle and enormous new 14.8″ front disc brakes with upgraded cooling. Its top track speed is 180 mph.

The new Supra finally gets the manual transmission we’ve been hoping for. A 6-speed manual is now available on the GR Supra 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and limited A91-MT models, plus all 3.0 models get new steering and suspension tuning, a “Hairpin+” function for tight, uphill corners, and a new 12-speaker JBL Audio system.

The Corolla hot hatch has a 1.6L, 3-cylinder turbo engine that makes 300hp and 273 lb-ft. of torque. It comes ONLY with a 6-speed manual and has adjustable all-wheel drive, an upgraded body, suspension, brakes, and tires. The limited Circuit Edition has a carbon fiber roof, vented bulge hood, suede-trimmed seats, and more.

Porsche takes us inside of one of its factories to see how they create a bespoke 911 GT3 from their Exclusive Manufaktur division. It takes two days to build a car from start to finish, with 1500 workers touching each vehicle along the way. This particular specimen is finished in a gorgeous Gold Bronze Metallic paint.

British automaker Morgan’s latest 3-wheeler is powered by a 118bhp, 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder Ford engine instead of one copped from a motorcycle. It’s designed for touring and adventuring and features a stiff new monocoque chassis, a digital instrument panel, and side rails for attaching gear like suitcases and a fancy leather cupholder.

The 2023 Corvette Stingray and Z06 will offer a 70th Anniversary Edition package with distinctive wheels, logos, and badging in two unique colors: White Pearl Metallic Tri-coat and Carbon Flash Metallic. (Holy Batmobile!) VIN 001 of the special Z06 goes to auction at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 1.29.22 benefitting Operation Homefront.

If you can get past the massive grille, the Concept XM looks pretty damned awesome on paper. This plug-in hybrid crossover combines a V8 with electric motors, producing 750 hp and 737 lb-ft. of torque. Its angular, origami design language offers a glimpse into the future of BMW styling. A production version is due by late 2022.

Chevy took the mid-engine Corvette and cranked it up to 11. The Z06 gets a race car-inspired V8 with a flat-plane crank, with 670 hp and an 8600 RPM redline. It does 0-to-60 in 2.6 seconds, has wider wheels and fenders than Stingray, and the Z07 package adds aero upgrades, carbon-ceramic brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Corso Concepts’ single-passenger reverse trike is a track day beast. It has a steel roll cage and carbon composite shell, and a curb weight of just 1,000 pounds. Its rear wheel is driven by a Hayabusa motor that makes 175 hp and spins at 11,000 RPM. Not awesome enough for you? Let the in-car footage convince you.

Performance carmakers test their vehicles on the Nürburgring. But did you know that Germany’s challenging 13-mile track is a public toll road that anyone can drive on? The rules of the road apply, though there is no speed limit. Tom Scott took a ride along with a pro driver for a look at the famed circuit and how they handle track safety.

Sitting atop of the Lexus IS line-up, the IS 500 F SPORT Performance is a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan with a 5.0L V8 engine that makes 472 hp. We spent some time getting to know this powerful and refined luxury car, which looks especially awesome slathered in a rich Infrared paint.