With the constant influx of new sports cars and supercars, not to mention SUVs and limited editions of modern-day muscle, there are a lot of fast cars that tend to get the cold shoulder. Some are overshadowed by competing models or models that sit above them while others have simply faded out of recent memory due to the constant reminder that there’s something new and faster on such a regular basis. Some of the cars I’m talking about, like the Cadillac CTS-V or the Lexus RC F, tend to get attention from few outside of established and long-standing brand purists. You’ve seen the most recent Audi S7 commercial, but when was the last time you saw Cadillac advertisement for its V-Series sports cars?
The way I see it, it’s time to spread a little of that love to cars that don’t get the attention they deserve. Some of the cars on this list are still in production and sitting in showrooms as you read these words. Others have come and gone, with their only remnants residing on the used car market. Either way, these are some of the fastest, mass-produced cars in their own right and this is their story.
20 2018 Cadillac CTS-V
We’re going to start this list off right, with one of the most obscure cars out there. I’m talking about the Cadillac CTS-V. Why it’s so obscure remains a mystery as it’s starting price ($86,495) sits in just the right place to compete strongly against German sports sedans. And, it’s a beast, too.
As Car & Driver points out, it delivers a cold-hearted 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque from a 6.2-liter V-8. It cruises up to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, 100 mph in 8.1 seconds, 130 mph in 13.9 seconds, and 150 mph in 20.1 seconds.
Straight off the production line, it zips through a quarter mile in 12 seconds flat at 121 mph. Top speed sits pretty at 200 mph. It’s fast, it can compete with the best Germany and Japan has to offer, and yet nobody ever talks about it. Yup; that’s the CTS-V – probably one of America’s most underrated sports cars.
19 2018 Subaru WRX STI
With the Mitsubishi Lancer being officially dead for some time now, the WRX STI really goes unopposed in its own niche. Of course, cars like the Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type R, and Volkswagen Golf R have stepped up to the plate despite being void of the rally-bred DNA that makes the WRX STI what it is.
Be that as it may, they tend to overshadow the WRX STI, and that’s why you rarely hear about it these days, despite it being alive and healthy. According to Car & Driver, It’s certainly not slow either, thanks to the 2.5-liter flat-four that’s good for 305 horsepower and a 5.3-second run to 60 mph in stock configuration. It even runs the quarter mile in less than 14 seconds. Either way, it’s still fast for what it is, and it’s the only car in recent memory that has true rally heritage.
18 2017 Volvo S60 Polestar
Back before Polstar became its own stand-alone brand, it was Volvo’s own in-house tuner. It technically still is despite its stand-alone status, but we’ll leave that convo for another time. The point is, with the new S60 having made its debut, everyone has forgotten about the performance version of the old S60.
It was powered by the most powerful four-banger on the market (aside from AMG’s 2.0-liter) and was capable of delivering 362 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque to the pavement.
According to Automobile Magazine, that’s enough power for hauling from naught to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Top speed was limited to 155 mph, but this car wasn’t just straight-line fast. See, it handled very well thanks to a low center of gravity and finely tuned chassis, so it’s fast in the bends too.
17 Porsche Panamera Turbo
The first-gen Panamera was downright ugly, and Porsche did well by shaping the second-gen model into something that wasn’t a hunchback. But, the car is still basically a four-door Porsche 911, and with it debuting not that long you would think it would be a hot topic. It’s not, though. Far from it, really. Despite the weird aura of a Porsche sedan, the Panamera is quite fast, offering up 550 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque from a twin-turbo V-8.
It’s crazy fast too, with Car & Driver tests putting out some serious numbers: 3.0-seconds to 60 mph, 7.5-seconds to 7.5 mph, and 13-seconds to 130 mph. It can even rip through a quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 122 mph and, if you keep going, it’ll top out at 190 mph. Even with it being that fast, it’s seldom talked about, and I'm guessing you probably forgot about it until you found it on this list, right?
16 Ferrari California T
Delivering 552 horsepower and 557 pound-feet of torque from a Ferrari-built V-8, the California T is far from being a slouch. For a car its size, it’s crazy fast, yet we rarely hear anything about it. Why? Well, the California T is probably the least desired Ferrari in the stable because it’s also the most affordable.
Remember, people don’t buy Ferraris just to buy them; they buy them because they are a status symbol. What kind of image are you portraying by driving the cheapest model? You might as well be driving a Chevy Cruze.
Either way, the California T calls the back of our minds home, but it’s really quite fast. Fastestlaps.com reports that it will run nose-to-nose with the Panamera Turbo, taking just 11.3 seconds to run down a quarter mile and will beat it out in that same sprint by 6 extra mph (128 mph.) Whats more, the California T tops out at 197 mph. Its only downfall is sitting at the bottom of the lineup. What a shame.
15 Dodge Neon SRT-4
Interested in what is, probably, the most overlooked performance car in automotive history? I introduce you to the Dodge Neon SRT-4. The SRT-4 still has its own loyal fanbase from more than a decade ago when it was in production, however, it is overlooked by almost every other enthusiast. Of course, the Neon itself wasn’t a great car, so the SRT-4 had some bad rapport going for it.
That didn’t stop it from being fast for what it was. It’s little 2.4-liter, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder pumped out 230 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. Enough, according to Fastlaps.com, to push the performance-spec Neon up to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and down the quarter-mile track in 13.9 seconds. It’s not as fast as some of the cars on this list, but it held its own against its own kind.
14 Mercedes-Benz S600
With the weight of a Ford F-150 at more than 5,300 pounds, it’s hard to believe that this land-yacht of a car could actually be fast. But, it is fast. Stupid fast, if we’re being honest – especially for its size. Lurking under the hood is a massive, 6.0-liter V-12 with some 523 horsepower on tap.
If you punch the pedal to the floor, it’ll slam you in the seat, while hitting 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, only to continue through the quarter mile in just 13.2 seconds at 110.9 mph.
Again, this thing is as heavy as a full-sized pickup, and it’s running performance car times. It’s absolutely insane. But, you know what’s crazier? Motor Trend reports that it can do a figure eight in 25.8 seconds with a maximum lateral acceleration of 0.90g. As with all Mercedes cars like this, top speed is capped at 155 mph, but if you get rid of that speed limiter and can find a straight enough path, it’ll probably top the 200-mph mark with ease.
13 Nissan 300ZX Turbo
The current Day Z-cars have nothing on the Nissan 300ZX Turbo. It is the definition of what a 90s sports car was supposed to be, including the part where it’s incredibly expensive to maintain. Seriously, that 3.0-liter V-6 under the hood was paired with a set of turbos that were about the size of a modern-day laptop and if one failed, it was the equivalent of automotive brain surgery to repair. Be that as it may, Autoweek reports that the 300-horsepower V-6 could push this 3,500-pound Nissan to 60 mph in just five seconds.
To put that into perspective, that’s equal to the time it took the 1990 Porsche 911 turbo to make the same sprint. Yikes. Unfortunately, nobody ever thinks of this car anymore, with the exception of the rare occasion they come across one. It deserves better, don’t you think?
12 Volkswagen Golf R
The Volkswagen Golf R is billed as a true hot hatch, but people often overlook it because of its higher price tag and subdued looks. It honestly doesn’t even look fast, but that doesn’t mean it that it isn’t. If you happen to have a Euro-spec model, you get as much as 306 horsepower (U.S.-sped models get just 292 ponies) which is good enough for a sprint to 60 mph in as little as 4.6 seconds – according to Motor Trend – as long as you have the dual-clutch transmission.
The six-speed manual adds on a few tenths of a second. Top speed here in the U.S. sits at 155 mph, but Euro models can get to as high as 166 mph according to Motor 1. So, while we might forget about the Golf R, it really is quite fast and can hold its own when it comes to speed.
11 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400
The Q50 isn’t exactly a big car, but with the Red Sport 400 badge, it rocks big car power. How much power? According to Motor Trend, it pumps out 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of twin-turbo goodness, all of which is routed through a seven-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels.
It’s just the right mix of power and torque for a lively run to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds with 13-second quarter miles coming effortlessly at 109.2 mph.
Of course, this sports sedan is rarely thought about, and I’m willing to bet you don’t even remember the last time you saw a Red Sport 400. It’s too bad, though, because it’s worthy of some love and is more than capable of climbing into the ring with some of the German hard-hitters from the other side of the pond.
10 Mercedes-AMG CLA45
Surviving in a lineup packed to the brim with luxury and performance cars, it’s not hard to imagine why the AMG CLA 45 is easily forgotten. After all, it’s so easily overshadowed by cars like the AMG GT or any AMG version C-Class sedan. It’s a shame, though, because this little coupe-like sedan has the most powerful four-cylinder in the world stashed under the hood. I’m talking about AMG’s prized 2.0-liter with 375 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.
There aren’t any real-world tests for the 2018 model published yet, but Mercedes claims that running from zilch to 60 mph will happen in a mind-blowing 4.1 seconds. It is naturally capped at 155 mph, but it’s capable of so much more. Unfortunately, it’s also so obscure and displaced by an overpacked lineup that most folks don’t think twice about it.
9 Audi TT RS
The Audi TT RS was forgotten because it was so reminiscent of the Volkswagen Beetle that it was practically shunned as the performance car it was meant to be. That’s one of the things that led to it being canceled in the U.S. after the 2013 model year. Audi has since brought the TT RS back to the U.S. for 2018, though, and it’s now a proper performance car with looks and power to match. It does, however, need to fight its way back into existence which will be easier said than done.
Fortunately, Audi has done things right by providing a peppy, 2.5-liter five-cylinder with 400 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque to have your way with.
According to Cars.com, it can now scoot to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155 mph or 174 mph with the “Dynamic Package.” So, while the TT RS may have been forgotten, be prepared to see it make a serious comeback – It’s not the cute little Audi that it once was.
8 Lexus RC F
With the LC heading up Lexus’ performance range as a halo model, it’s no surprise that its smaller brother, the RC F is easily forgotten. In fact, I completely forgot about the car until I actually started thinking about what belonged on this list. It’s a shame too, considering it’s a smaller coupe that serves as home to a true powerhouse. Its 5.0-liter V-8 is a thing of dreams (or nightmares for some of its competitors) that pumps out 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque.
According to Automobile Magazine, that’s the perfect recipe for an effortless, 4.3-second jump to 60 mph and a top speed of 168 mph. And, let’s not forget that its looks match its power. How do we forget about this thing so easily?
7 Jaguar F-Type R
Jaguar’s poor R line is in jeopardy, and the same problem with the F-Type R affects the rest of the R lineup too. The F-Type R is a true sports car through and through. Car & Driver reports that its 5.0-liter, supercharged, V-8 is good for 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. Autocar even reports that it’s good for 186 mph. But, with the more-powerful F-Type SVR sitting just above it, coming at a cost of $22,000 more, people usually just spring for the range-topping model.
After all, who can argue with 25 extra ponies, and a 200-mph top speed? Plus, once you go beyond the $100,000 mark, what’s an extra $22,000, right?
Either way, the SVR overshadows the F-Type R beyond reason, and that’s why, according to Motor Trend, Jaguar is even considering ending the R line of cars altogether. Once that happens, the F-Type R really will be phased out of existence.
6 2017 Chevy SS
The Chevy SS is a prime example of rebadging and overpricing killing what could have been an amazing car. But, despite a powerful V-8 engine under the hood, rear-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual transmission, this car – which was slightly smaller than the Chevy Impala – never really took off, fading off into oblivion after just four years on the market. It was nothing more than a rebadged version of the VF Commodore SS that offered up 415 horsepower. According to Car & Driver, it could zoom to 60 mph in seconds and topped out at 160 mph – those are Camaro and Corvette numbers in a sedan that was sized somewhere between the Impala and the Malibu. It seems as if it ended up in the hands of journalists more than it did the general public, and finding one is almost as hard as finding a unicorn. Had Chevy priced it correctly and did something to make it not look like a rental car with a body kit, we might actually remember the car. Discontinued in 2017 and already so obscure? Talk about missed opportunity and squandered potential.
5 Lincoln MKZ 3.0t
Nobody that’s talking about performance cars would ever bring up a Lincoln, right? Well, they probably should, considering the MKZ 3.0t is one of the fastest cars on this list. This often overlooked and easily forgotten luxury sedan has a 3.0-liter V-6 that’s good for an astounding 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All of that power is shunted through a six-speed auto to all four wheels.
It’s not, in every sense, a sports sedan, but as Motor Trend points out, it can do 5.2-second runs to 60 mph all day and make its way down the quarter-mile strip in 13.7 seconds at 102.7 mph.
On that note, Car & Driver reports that it’s limited to a top speed of 150 mph thanks to a built-in speed limiter so most of its competition will beat it in the long run. Be that as it may, it’s highly overlooked by just about everyone, and you’ll almost never find it on the fast-car list.
4 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Back before Hyundai spun off the Genesis name, it had a peppy little sports coupe known as the Genesis Coupe. Unfortunately for us, Hyundai decided to take the Genesis name another direction, and this coupe has since been all but forgotten. In its best form, it was powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 that was good for 348 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. In standard form, that power was sent through a six-speed manual transmission and, according to Car & Driver, was good for hitting 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.
It also managed a quarter mile in 13.8 seconds and, according to Cars.com, even handled well in true sports-coupe style, so bending corners came with ease. This sleek little coupe will continue to fade out of recent memory, but there was a time when it was a top contender.
3 BMW M240i
BMW has always had that one model that sat just below the true M-car. In this case, I’m talking about the M240i. It’s the perfect car for people that want decent performance but can’t afford a proper M2, but that’s rarely the case and, with the buzz surrounding the M2 over the last year or so, it’s no surprise that we’ve all pretty much forgotten about this little sports coupe with enough power to make most people happy. Its biggest fault is probably that it’s not quite as aggressive as the more powerful M2 and without the extra goodies it just doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
Despite the fact that it’s often overlooked, it has some decent credentials. It’s powered by the 3.0-liter inline-six and delivers 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
That’s pretty good for the compact segment it resides in and, according to BMW, is good enough for getting to 60 mph in as little as 4.4 seconds with the automatic transmission (4.6 seconds if you row your own.) As is the case with all BMWs, top speed is limited to 155 mph but remove the limiter, and 175 mph should easily be attainable. Unfortunately, the M240i will carry on as nothing more than another trim level with the M2 getting all the real attention.
2 Alfa Romeo 4C
When you think Alfa Romeo, you probably think about the Stelvio or the Giulia were in the limelight, the 4C was out here chewing up pavement and imposing its will on others. But, with these newer Alfas on the market, the 4C has been cast out and may never regain the respect it once had. It’s pretty sad when you take into account its ability when under pressure. With a 1.7-liter engine in tow, it pushes a total of 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque to the ground.
It doesn’t sound like much and, if you look at some of the entry-level sedans on the market – think Toyota Corolla, for example – it seems like it’s a bit underpowered. It’s light though, and that’s the beauty of it. As Top Gear reports, those itty bitty performance specs make for big runs, with 62 mph coming as fast as 4.5 seconds and top speed sitting at 160 mph. That’s scary fast for a car this size, by the way. Car & Driver reports that it will cover a quarter-mile strip in 12.9 seconds at 107 mph and can zip to 130 mph in 22.4 seconds. So, the credentials are surely there; it’s just overshadowed by its younger but bigger siblings in all the wrong ways.
1 Cadillac ATS-V
Like its bigger brother, the ATS-V is overlooked by just about everyone. GM doesn’t seem to advertise it much, and everyone seems to flock to the compact Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis of the world without even the slightest thought of Cadillac. And, those who do think about Cadillac, think about the CTS-V instead, leaving the poor ATS-V out in the cold.
The worst part is, it’s one of the fastest cars you can get your hands on from GM, save for high-end versions of the Camaro and Vette. Car and Driver testing found that it can nail a run to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, 100 mph in 9.6 seconds, and a top speed of 189 mph.
It can even cover a quarter mile in 12.5 seconds while hitting 117 mph. This is crazy fast for a car this size and for one wearing a Cadillac badge. But, only a select few give it love, and that’s why this is probably the first time you’ve heard about it in a long while, if at all.
Sources: Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Autocar, Automobile Magazine, Fastlaps