The recipe for the perfect sports car is a lightweight body, short wheelbase, eccentric exterior design, manual gearbox, and a fun outgoing personality. However, it’s not necessary for a lively sports car to have unhealthy amounts of power, but it should be able to harness all of its horses properly, like the Japanese-built Mazda Miata for example. Unlike Japanese auto manufacturers, European car brands tend to always do things differently, especially with their older cars, and that's partially the reason why these teensy sports cars have such unbelievable power figures.

Adding a grandiose amount of power to a sports car won’t ensure it to be any better than its less powerful alternatives, but these carmakers went and did it anyway. These are the most powerful small Euro sports cars with monstrously powerful hearts that give them their go.

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10 Caterham Seven 620 R

caterham seven 620r
via autocar.co.uk

Caterham has been around since the dawn of time, and they used to fine-tune Lotus Seven race karts. Fast-forward a few decades and Caterham is still dabbling in overpowered Sevens, but in 2018 they released their most powerful vehicle yet, the Seven 620 R.

Rear 3/4 view of the Seven 620
wsupercars.com

Unlike other naturally-aspirated Caterhams, the 620 R had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a supercharger stuck onto it to wind out 310 hp. Along with its power increase came virtually no driver aids, a 5-speed manual gearbox, and a ton of weight-saving components resulting in a curb weight of no greater than 1,400 lbs.

9 BAC Mono R

BAC Mono quarter front
Via Briggs Automotive Company

Tiny road-legal go-karts is a niche automotive segment that all automotive enthusiasts adore, and the competition is tougher than ever. So in an attempt to break their way into this market, BAC equipped their 1,250 lb exoskeleton kart called the Mono R with a naturally-aspirated four-banger that emitted 340 hp.

BAC Mono R at Red Bull Ring record
Via BAC

Keep in mind, an average go-kart used for indoor racing only produces around 10 hp, so having something similar with more than 30 times its power is a death wish... a fun death wish be it.

Related: 10 Reasons Why We Love The BAC Mono

8 Audi TT RS

Audi TT RS - Front Quarter
Via NetCarShow

Unfortunately, Audi has announced that the TT has reached the end of its lifespan, and will probably be replaced with a more eco-friendly hybrid or full-blown electric model. However, there is a slight silver lining to this dark cloud, see they arranged a proper send-off for the TT with the final version of its RS variant.

Audi-TT-RS
via carpixel

It had a Quattro all-wheel-drive system, a bonkers turbocharged five-cylinder engine, and overall some even consider it to be a baby R8. Its 2.5-liter inline-five managed to squeeze out almost 400 hp and resulted in a sub-3.5 second 0-60 time.

7 Audi RS3

2022-Audi-RS3-sedan-1
via: Audi

The new 2022 Audi RS3 is the epitome of what a pocket rocket is. Its turbocharged five-cylinder engine manages to pump out more than 400 hp, and since the RS3 comes standard with Quattro all-wheel-drive, this compact sports sedan can reach 60 mph from a standstill in as quick as 3.4 seconds.

Audi-RS3-rear-via-Audi-MediaCenter
via Audi

Previous generations of the RS3 have all been blisteringly quick, but not only is the new one light on its feet but also fun to drive as it now offered an option to switch to rear-wheel-drive on command, also known as drift mode.

Related: 11 Things To Know Before Buying The 2022 Audi A3

6 Lotus Exige Cup 430

Motoring Research

Lotus has created some blistering little sports cars, but they also were seen more of a Miata rival, than say an M3, but this 2,400 lb Exige Cup 430 is the fastest road-going Lotus ever and thrashes around tracks like there's no tomorrow.

Motoring Research

Powering the rear wheels was a mid-mounted 3.5-liter V6 right out of the bigger Lotus Evora, and its model designation, 430, is quite referring to its unbelievable 430 hp output.

Related: 5 Cheap Mid-Engined Sports Cars Every Gearhead Should Own (5 That Are Best Avoided)

5 BMW M2 CS

2020 BMW M2 CS
Image: Peter Nelson

Firstly the M2 was too bland, then the crowd got used to the M2 Competition’s brutality, so BMW made one last attempt at thrilling sports cars enthusiasts worldwide, and it’s called the CS. The M2 CS hid an astonishing S55 twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six that generated 444 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, that’s nearly 40 more horsepower than the M2 Comp.

BMW-M2-CS---Rear-1
Via BMW Media

The CS was only offered in four colorways, black, white, silver, and its one-of-a-kind blue; all fitted with gold or black alloy wheels, and it came standard with a proper six-speed manual. Only 200 of these busy Beemers were ever made, and their values are already rising above what they were sold for when new.

4 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS front view
Via: Porsche

If you’ve ever wondered what a more compact Porsche GT3 would have been, Porsche has heard you loud and clear. So here it is, the brand spanking new Cayman GT4 RS.

Rear 3/4 view of the Cayman GT4 RS on the move
Via Porsche

At first glance it might just look like a Cayman GT4 with some added aerodynamic parts for faster lap times, but tucked in the rear was now a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six borrowed from the 911 GT3. This engine produced almost 500 hp, and since it had a red-line of 9,000 rpm, there was never a dull moment in this stickshift track-orientated Porsche.

Related: Why We Love The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

3 Ariel Atom 500

2010 Ariel atom2010-ariel-atom-500
Via: Motor1

We have no idea whose idea it was to put a wicked 500 hp 5.0-liter 500 hp V8 into what is basically a roll cage on wheels, but we do salute him or her for their bravery. The Ariel Atom 500 weighed just 1,210 lbs, and that meant its frame could be catapulted from 0-60 in just a par of 2 seconds, deeming it one of the quickest accelerating gasoline cars the world has ever seen.

Ariel Atom 500 V8 on the track
Via roadandtrack.com

Be warned, if you were to get hold of one of these limited-edition Ariel Atoms, you won’t have much of a face left after driving it, nor will you have a clean pair of pants.

2 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

aston martin v12 vantage
Via carpixel.net

Leave it up to the Brits to go far and beyond everyone’s expectations to create a small supercar that packs a 6.0-liter V12 which produces more than 560 hp. Not only did you have to be a skilled driver to control that heap of power, but since it could reach speeds greater than 200 mph, there was no tame way to handle the V12 Vantage S.

Red Aston Martin V12 Vantage S.
Via: Aston Martin

Aston Martin definitely hit the ball out of the park with their last first-generation Vantage, and it will forever remain one of the most elegant and mighty vehicles the world has seen.

1 Jaguar F-Type SVR

Jaguar F-Type SVR Side
Via: Favcars

For a sports car that weighs 4,000 lbs, it sure doesn’t sound like it could be classified as a small sports car, but since the F-Type SVR’s wheelbase is only 103 inches long, there must be another reason for its bulky weight - that supercharged 5.0-liter V8 of course.

Even the F-Pace SVR's design evokes power.
Via Trevor Hofmann / HotCars.com

It brings 575 brutal British horsepower to life, has a raspy tone more aggressive than any other sports car, and when you keep your foot planted down this cat can surpass 200 mph. It breaks our hearts to say, but this might be the most aggressive F-Type we'll ever receive as emission laws get stricter by the day.