With so many new cars getting launched at almost the same time, companies turn to marketing to hype their cars up, so they stand out from the crowd. Oftentimes, that hype exceeds the real-world capabilities of the actual cars, over the past few years, there have been a few sports cars guilty of this.
Although it takes more than a skillful bit of PR to fool us, it is all too easy to fall into the traps they set for us, playing on nostalgia, history, or emotion to sell their product. These things can easily distract us from facts if we are looking at something that has been designed to lure us in, sports cars these days rarely disappoint in the looks department. At the other end of the spectrum, we have some cars that just don’t need any hype, and though they don't have the looks, they will make short work of those fast-looking sports cars.
10 Looks Fast: Mazda MX5
With one of the biggest fan bases in the automotive world, few will agree that this little sports car only looks fast. Once you get past its exceptional balance, there really isn’t much else to get excited about.
Most modern hatchbacks will outstrip it, previous generations were mocked and derided rather unfairly because they were genuinely good, now it just relies on its reputation for sales, with little to no innovation included in the latest model.
9 Won’t See Coming: Ram 1500 TRX
Well, you will certainly hear it. With that Hellcat soundtrack, there are few, if any pickups that sound like the new TRX.
Able to get to 60 in just a shade over 4 seconds, there are a lot of supercars that will get left behind off the mark. Although it was hyped as much as anything, it is in so many ways merited.
8 Looks Fast: Toyota Supra
So much hype, and all we got is a BMW Z4 in a pretty red dress (if you choose red, other colors seem irrelevant).
It has solid performance figures, but the very sad reality is that it can hardly hold a candle to the Mk4 Supra that garnered such a huge tuner fan base.
7 Won’t See Coming: Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S
Dressed like a luxury SUV, this monster will suddenly transform into a supercar slayer with the switch of a dial.
That wonderful hand-built AMG V8 will give you an enormous 503 horsepower, and that power is sent to all four wheels, making it unusually poised for a high-power Mercedes.
6 Looks Fast: Subaru BRZ
The BRZ and 86 are both designed for a specific target market; the burgeoning tuner market.
Although neither will admit it outright, the car is a blank, affordable canvas for those who want to modify a new car rather than something with some mileage on it. In stock form, it isn’t much to write home about, other than the fact that it is rear-wheel-drive.
5 Won’t See Coming: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
By all accounts, Alfa knocked it out of the park with the hot version of their Giulia sedan.
Powered by what is effectively a 3/4 Ferrari engine (that they simply won’t admit to) that produces one of the most intoxicating soundtracks that is matched by its actual on-road performance.
4 Looks Fast: Nissan 370Z
Aging and due to be replaced in short order, this particular Z car has overstayed its welcome by around 5 years.
It was a good sports car, a decade ago, but in true Nissan fashion, they squeezed everything they could out of its product lifecycle.
3 Won’t See Coming: Audi RS Q8
Smashing the record for an SUV around the Nordschleife by 5 seconds, it stands as one of the fastest SUVs of all time.
The VW Group is almost obsessed with doing everything they can to outdo their German compatriots. What it gives us as a consumer is a family car that will hold its own on any track, strange, but equally brilliant.
2 Looks Fast: BMW i8
Dressed and priced like a hypercar the BMW i8 got everyone excited when it was first launched.
Then they announced the engine; a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder lump sourced from their Mini Coopers. To say the least, this was a surprising move. But surely the electric motor would make up for the lack of power?! Nope! It didn't!
1 Won’t See Coming: Tesla Model 3
Not everyone loves Tesla, but in the Model 3 they have pulled off something nobody (that includes us) thought possible.
It is affordable, it is all-electric, and it is an absolute scud missile, able to get from 0-60 in as little as 3 seconds (depending on what software you are willing to pay for).