Although every sports car is built to satisfy our need for speed, some take the whole concept of performance to new heights. Apart from the thrilling speed and athleticism, they are also designed to turn heads and stand you out. Sports cars have been around for more than a century, thrilling different generations of gearheads with adrenaline-pumping acceleration and insane top speeds. Even non-enthusiasts cannot help but appreciate the sleek bodywork and throaty soundtrack coming out of the exhaust pipes.
From the Mustang Ecoboost with a 4-cylinder engine to the Bugatti Veyron with a 16-cylinder mill, they all focus on achieving superior driving dynamics. The good news is that there is a sports car for everyone, from those that double as excellent daily drivers to those that are only at home on the track. Read on for a list of 10 cool sports cars and their most extreme versions.
9 Dodge Challenger: SRT Super Stock
Introduced for the 2020 model year, the Super Stock, unlike other sports cars, boasts spacious accommodation for 5 passengers and top-class cargo space. Under the hood lies a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 mill that lays down 807 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque.
It hits 60 mph in 3.25 seconds, clears the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds at 131 mph, and tops out at 168 mph. Rear-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission are standard alongside a Bilstein adaptive suspension and a limited-slip differential to complete the setup.
8 Porsche 911: GT2 RS
The latest Porsche 911 GT2 RS was launched at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed and sports a heavily vented bodywork and a prominent rear wing. It boasts a luxuriously equipped cabin, an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay compatibility, and body parts made with lightweight materials like magnesium, carbon fiber, and titanium.
Power is supplied by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-6 engine that feeds 690 hp to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. With this setup, 60 mph happens in 2.6 seconds, and the quarter-mile in 10.3 seconds at 140 mph on the way to a top speed of 210 mph.
7 Audi TT: RS
To set the TT RS apart from the rest of the pack, it comes with larger air intakes and a fixed rear spoiler. The beating heart of the Audi TT RS is a fuel-efficient 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that cranks out 394 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.
Paired with a 7-speed S Tronic automatic transmission, it gives the Audi astonishing passing power while adaptive dampers keep it planted when tossed around corners. Furthermore, it has a comfortable and well-finished interior, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system.
6 BMW Z4: M40i
Expertly crafted by BMW M, the M40i is a fun-to-drive sports car that boasts sharp handling and superior road grip, thanks to the standard M differential. Power is supplied by an efficient TwinPower turbocharged 3-liter I-6 engine mated to an 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
With 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque routed to the rear wheels, the M40i hits 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and breaches the quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds at 116 mph. There is no shortage of luxury features inside and a generous lineup of tech features ensures drivers' confidence.
5 Chevrolet Camaro: ZL1
Sitting on top of the Camaro lineup, and thanks to an impressive set of mechanical wizardry, the ZL1 offers outstanding performance and engaging drive. Available on the coupe is the 1LE track package that adds wider/stickier tires, adjustable performance suspension, and spool-valve dampers.
A supercharged 6.2-liter V8 mill paired with either a standard 6-speed manual or an available 10-speed automatic transmission churns out 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The ZL1 does 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, skims past the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds at 124 mph, and tops out at 190 mph.
4 Jaguar F-Type: R
The front-engine F-Type R is a drop-dead gorgeous 2-seater that impresses with a powerful V8 engine hooked to an 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD system. Producing 567 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, the supercharged engine takes the Jaguar to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph.
To complement the engine's power, it boasts a sharp/responsive steering, strong braking power, and electronic active differential. Among the tech features offered is a 10-inch touchscreen to access the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system and the sophisticated navigation system.
3 Ford Mustang: Shelby GT500
Heading straight for the numbers, the 4,171 pounds GT500 is motivated by 760 rampaging ponies and 625 lb-ft of twist from a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 mill. The GT500 can hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, flash past the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds at 132 mph, and max out at 180 mph.
Optimized for the track, the ultimate Mustang boasts MagneRide adaptive suspension, high-performance tires, Recaro front sports seats, and Brembo brakes. Despite its weight, it handles well, and for entertainment, it has Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system and a 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system. Little wonder it was HotCars' best muscle car of 2021.
2 Porsche 718 Cayman: GT4 RS
Diving into 911 territory, the GT4 became the first 718 Cayman to receive the RS treatment with an engine derived from the 911 GT3. The naturally aspirated 4-liter flat-6 engine sends out 493 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Porsche claims a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 11.3 seconds, and a top speed of 196 mph for the GT4 RS. It also has center-lock wheels, adjustable anti-roll bars, adjustable GT-style rear wings, and engine air intakes in place of the rear quarter windows.
1 BMW M3: GTR
The road-legal GTR, one of the rarest BMWs ever and the first V8-powered M3, was built in 2001 to homologate the race version for racing. Power was supplied by a 4.0-liter V8 that pumped out up to 500 hp through a 6-speed manual transmission.
It also gained the race version's carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, rear spoilers, front/rear fascias, Recaro leather racing seats, a stiffened chassis, and a sporty suspension. Although the homologation rules required 10 road cars to be built, BMW only competed in one season of the ALMS GT series due to a change in the rules.