From the 1950s onward, sedans became the most appreciated family-oriented vehicles. Whether it is domestically or abroad, sedans have been at the forefront of the automotive industry. However, as the competition between automakers became increasingly fierce, the need to produce better sedans became imperative.
Over the last three decades or so, sedans, just like sports cars, started to become increasingly powerful. As a result, some of the latest sports sedans are just as powerful as some supercars. Some of the most insane sports sedans on the market in 2020 are sometimes far better than some supercars released in the early 2000s.
10 Audi S4
Audi really broke out of its shell when it released the Quattro. The car was extremely sporty and did not fail to capture everyone's attention. Consequently, in the early 1990s, the German automaker decided to beef up its mass-produced vehicles in order to attract a clientele with a genuine need for speed.
There are several things people should know about the 2020 Audi S4. For example, the 4.2L V8 was retired with Audi's release of the S4 B8. Following this, S4 was equipped with V6 engines. For 2020, Audi decided to move forward with the same turbocharged 3.0L V6 found on the previous S4. The V6 produces 349hp and 369lb-ft of torque.
9 Subaru Impreza STI
Back in the early 1990s, Subaru released its very first Impreza. It was received with mixed emotions in the US, but was a huge hit back in Japan. As the Impreza became successful in the World Rally Championship, the car received a lot more exposure. Over the last 25 years, the Impreza has become a staple in the JDM scene.
Since the early 2000s, Subaru has constantly worked towards improving its most popular sports sedan. As Mitsubishi retired its Evo, Subaru can now focus on rivaling German and American mid-size sedans. With a turbocharged 2.5L 4-cylinder, the STI can zoom down the road thanks to its 310hp and 290lb-ft of torque.
8 Genesis G70
Hyundai was known thirty years ago for manufacturing some of the worst cheap and disposable cars. The cars were poorly designed and severely under-powered. As Hyundai learned by doing, it came up with increasingly decent cars. Over the last five years, the luxurious subsidiary of Hyundai has released some of the nicest and most affordable sports sedans.
It is almost unimaginable to think that a Korean car is seriously competing against German sports sedans. According to CNBC, the G70 offers German driving manners, Japanese quality, and Korean value. It fair to say that the G70 is one terrific sports sedan. Equipped at best with a turbocharged 3.3L V6, the G70 produces 365hp at 6,000 rpm and 376lb-ft of torque. Unlike the overly luxurious European and American sports sedans, the MSRP for the top-line G70 model is around $45,000.
7 Kia Stinger GTS
Kia is another automaker that successfully understood how the market was changing. Instead of keep on producing awful affordable vehicles, Kia started manufacturing more respectable vehicles that would not break the bank. The most obvious example is the Kia Sorento. The SUV was quite average when it was first released. Now, the Sorento is a very respectable SUV that can rival American-made SUVs.
The Stinger GTS is one of the unusual alternatives to German premium sedans and SUVs. Though Genesis is getting more traction, Kia hit really hard with another edition of the Stinger GTS. The stylish sedan boasts an impressive 365hp thanks to a twin-turbocharged 3.3L V6. Though the Stinger cannot directly rival BMW's M-Series and Mercedes-Benz- AMG-Series, it sure is a serious threat to more regular German sedans.
6 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA
It is quite rare to see Alfa Romeo cars on US freeways. Most of them are either a few decades old, or they are imports from Europe. Back on the old continent, the Alfa Romeo 156 was all the rage thanks to its awesome design and decent performance. This time, Alfa Romeo hit the domestic market with an overly aggressive mid-size sedan.
Though the market seems to be saturated with sports sedans, automakers are coming back with even better vehicles. Alfa Romeo hit the nail right on the head with this gorgeous Giulia GTA. The Italian M3 killer is fitted with the same twin-turbocharged 2.9L V6 found on the Quadrifoglio, however, it produces 540hp (30 more than the Quadrifoglio) and is 220lbs lighter than the Quadrifoglio. Unfortunately, the GTA will only be produced in limited numbers.
5 Toyota Camry TRD
Back in the 1960s, critics were looking at Honda and Toyota as automakers that were very unlikely to ever be successful domestically. Though it is true that the earlier Japanese cars, in this case, Toyota, were not what they are today, they were nonetheless well-adapted to the current economic situation. As Toyota became widely successful globally, the Japanese carmaker allocated more resources into improving its sedans.
Until recently, the Camry was perceived as a reliable and affordable family car. There was nothing sporty about it. Even its V6 powered models were somewhat lukewarm. Toyota reversed the trend in 2020 by offering a truly demonic Camry. The 3.5L V6 produces 301hp and 267lb-ft of torque. This is by far the fastest factory-made Camry ever.
4 BMW M5
When BMW Motorsport started creating M-powered vehicles, it probably did not realize that it would transform the German auto industry forever. The M 635 CSI was a tremendous sports coupe that was unfortunately too exclusive for the vast majority of people. The M5, however, was far more accessible. As a result, BMW never discontinued the sports sedan.
The M5 is one of the fastest sports sedans around the Nürburgring. As a matter of fact, it is fair to wonder if the 2020 BMW M5 has reached the status of supercar or not. This insane Bavarian sedan is fitted with a twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 that can produce 600hp at 6,000 rpm and 553lb-ft of torque at 1,800 rpm. Needless to say, such an amazing car is far from affordable.
3 Dodge Charger Hellcat
From the early 1990s onward, German automakers dominated the sports sedan scene. Between the amazingly engineered M-Series to the overly powered AMG-Series, American sports sedans could not rival their German counterparts in any way, shape, or form. It was not until the mid-2000s that American car manufacturers, namely Dodge and Chrysler, came up with some respectable sports sedans.
Though the muscle sedans seem to have been and buried by the domestic auto industry, Dodge decided to bring the style with its monstrous Charger Hellcat. The 6.2L Hemi V8 develops a cool 707hp and 650lb-ft of torque. With an MSRP at around $70,000, it is possible to add a variety of options to turn this already mean sports sedan into a true street-legal race car.
2 Tesla Model S
To most people in the world, an American sports sedan is equipped with a big-block V8 that produces an indecent amount of horsepower and torque. Though it is partially true, Tesla went the opposite way. The manufacturer of electric cars, batteries for a utility-scale solar plant, and rocket ships has been manufacturing the coolest electric sports sedan.
The Model S is unlike most sports sedans currently available on the market. First, it is the only American-made vehicle packing so much technology. The giant screen on the console is one indicator of the number of gadgets embedded in the car. The Model S has a range of 402 miles. As far as actual horsepower is concerned, the Model S cranks out 778hp. That is far more powerful than the vast majority of sports sedans out there.
1 Porsche Taycan Turbo S
Tesla proved to the world that electric cars did not have to be as awful as the Toyota Prius. Elon Musk also showed the world that the oil lobby was no longer as powerful as it used to be. Consequently, major car manufacturers such as Porsche came up with their own versions of electric sports sedans. The Taycan is by far one of the most complete electric cars out there.
The Taycan Turbo S is a breath of fresh air in this world filled with Tesla cars. As the car is made by Porsche, it's safe to assume that some of the issues associated with Tesla will not happen with Porsche, given the German company's tenure and experience. The Taycan Turbo S has a range of 192 miles. Its electric engine is capable of producing 616hp and 774lb-ft of torque.