Some cars are like movies; as soon as you have seen one and you liked it, you just can't wait for the next one, right? And, sometimes, that next movie is just as good or even better than the first one, but some other times it is just terrible.
Similarly, car fans get super hyped and excited about the next model of their favorite car coming to life, especially if it's a cool sports car. Sometimes, the car is everything they expected, and some other times is just a huge disappointment. Well, today, we take a look at some of the updated sports cars that the crazy year of 2020 brought to life. Some were amazing, and some others we wish never came out.
10 Best Updated - Chevrolet Corvette C8
GM had been teasing with the idea of a mid-engine Corvette for quite some time, and in 2019, it finally became real. The eighth-generation Corvette switched from an FR to an MR layout. For the more inexpert eye, this new Corvette might even look like a Ferrari. The C8 has enjoyed a great reception from the public for various reasons. The exterior design is just beautiful, it looks modern and aggressive.
This new Corvette is powered by the LT2 engine, a 6.2 liter V8 pushing out 490 horsepower to the rear wheels, and paired to an 8-speed Tremec Dual-clutch automatic transmission. The best part about the Corvette is the price. It starts at $58,000, which is not little money, but for all the technology and performance you are getting, it's a bargain.
9 Disappointed - BMW M3
I am a BMW fan, so imagine my disappointment when I first saw the new M3, one of my all-time favorite cars, being ruined for one simple detail: that giant grill. Because apart from that, the rest of the car is absolutely everything I expected. It has a turbocharged inline-six engine making 470 horsepower, its RWD, and unlike most car manufacturers BMW decided to stick to the tradition and still offering a manual transmission.
Until now, the M3 seemed to be one of the few cars that got better and better with each new generation, but that grill put a stop to BMW's streak. You may think I am overreacting to this grill situation, but the truth is, no matter how fast it is or how awesome it looks from any other angle, the M3 resulted in disappointment.
8 Best Updated - Porsche 911 Turbo S (992)
After the introduction of the eighth generation (992) of the Porsche 911 in 2019, 2020 saw the arrival of the two most powerful versions, the Turbo and Turbo S. The Turbo S is the one that got more significant performance upgrades compared to the previous generation (991). While the 911 991 had 570 horsepower, the new 911 gets that number up to 650 horses from a twin-turbo 3.8 liter boxer engine that's paired to an 8-speed PDK automatic transmission.
Even after 50 years, Porsche is still at the top of the game in sports cars matters, providing always with the best quality and technology for its customers. The 911 just gets better every year.
7 Disappointed - BMW M4
The M3's big brother, the BMW M4, also turned up to be disappointing for the same reasons as the M3. It has the same engine and just a little bit more power than the M3. The main difference is that the M4 is a coupe, that soon will also be available as a convertible.
For the M4 the problem (in my opinion) goes even further than with the M3. First, it has that horrendous giant front wheel. Secondly, there is no denying that the rest of the car looks absolutely astonishing, but the rear end is just a little too similar to the BMW 8 Series, which is a car that already received mixed responses from the public.
6 Best Updated - Porsche 718 GTS 4.0
For 2020, Porsche unveiled a new sports car for the 718 families: the GTS 4.0. On the lineup, the GTS sits right over the Turbo and behind the more exclusive GT4. The GTS is powered by the same engine as the GT4: a 4-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, but detuned to produce 400 hp instead of 420 hp.
Of course, that being a Porsche, it has to be a purebred sports car, and so it has RWD and 6-speed manual transmission, but like all Porsches, it's also available with a PDK transmission. It's available as a coupe (Cayman) or as a convertible (Boxter), an option not available for the GT4 model, meaning that the Boxter GTS is the fastest convertible in the 718 families.
5 Disappointed - Subaru BRZ
In November 2020, the second generation of the BRZ was unveiled, with production to start in 2021. The upgrades from one generation to another are, well, disappointing. The first-gen has a N/A 2 liter producing only 200 horsepower to the rear wheels, and the 2021 model doesn't seem to be much of an upgrade: a 2.4-liter engine with 230 horsepower.
After being in production for almost 1o years, I would expect the second generation to offer a bit more power.
4 Best Updated - Alpine A110S
Between 1961 and 1977 the French maker Alpine built a small sportscar called the A110. It had a small engine with 100 hp on the back, a manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive. It was a very successful rally car, and Alpine was the first team to win a WRC in 1973 with an A110. Many years later, in 2017, Alpine (owned by Renault) unveiled a modern A110. The ex-Top Gear co-host, James May, test drove one for an episode of The Grand Tour back then and loved it so much that he got himself one.
A couple of years later, Alpine surprised us again with the Alpine A110S, an improved version of the latest car. It's powered by a 1.8-liter turbo engine producing 290 horsepower, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Other upgrades from the regular version include carbon-ceramic brakes, dampers, stiffer suspension, and it's fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.
3 Disappointed - Ferrari F8 Tributo
I think it's time for Ferrari to come up with something new. Since the release of the 458 Italia in 2010, all that Ferrari has been doing is updating that same platform. First, they did it with the 488, and because it was such an amazing car, we let slide. But the third time is the charm, and now it just seems like Ferrari is being lazy. The F8 Tributo uses the same 720 hp V8 as the 488 Pista. The styling has been updated as well, and if you ask me, yes it does look good, but not better than the 488.
Of course, this is still a Ferrari and it will perform as such, but Ferrari is being too conservative with their new cars, unlike its main rival, Lamborghini. We will have to wait and see if Ferrari has something special prepared with the "performance" version of the F8 Tributo.
2 Best Updated - Jaguar F Type
In early 2020, the Jaguar F Type received a facelift that not only makes it look more modern but also incredibly sexy. It's offered in three very interesting engine configurations: a turbocharged 2-liter inline-four producing 300 horsepower, a supercharged 3 liter V6 with 380 hp, and a supercharged 5 liter V8 that makes 575 horsepower.
This new update on the F Type included a new fascia, new taillights, a new infotainment system, 20-inch wheels, and a 12.3-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster. The choice for a 6-speed manual was ditched, but the 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters will get the job done.
1 Disappointed - Toyota Supra MK V
Alongside the Corvette C8, the new Supra was probably the most controversial car of 2020. After the 2JZ powered MK IV Supra, Toyota had to design a car that lived up to the expectations of the nameplate. Did they achieve it? Well, that's a matter of opinion. I think they didn't fail at it, but they didn't succeed either. The exterior design seems correct, although I can't stop thinking what would the new Supra look like if it hadn't been based on the BMW Z4.
The main complaint from the car community about the new Supra is the engine: it uses the BMW B58, a 3-liter inline-six producing 335 horsepòwer. I don't see any problem with Toyota borrowing an engine from BMW, especially the B58 which is the closest to a modern 2JZ as it can get. On the other hand, the 2JZ-GTE already produced 320 horsepower, so after almost 20 years, you would expect the new Supra to have at least 400 horsepower.