Coupe

Alpine (pronounced 'Al-peen') only makes one model, but if you’re in the market for a sports car, this French brand is worthy of your attention.

Its A110 is one of the best-handling cars on sale today. And while it’s not especially powerful, it’s still properly quick, thanks to its low weight.

The looks and character of today’s A110 were inspired by a legendary namesake that won the first ever World Rally Championship back in 1973. But the new car is undoubtedly a worthy successor.

ALPINE

A110

​​When you drive an Alpine A110, you get used to being asked one question over and over: "Wow, that's cool – what is it?" So just in case your history of French sports cars is a wee bit patchy, here's a brief explanation.&nbsp;

The original Alpine A110 was a small rear-engined sports car born in the Sixties. It proved to be mightily good for rallying thanks to its low weight, nimble handling and eager Renault engine.

The connection between the two French brands became even closer when Renault bought<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/alpine"> Alpine</a>. Under Renault's stewardship, Alpine continued until the mid-Nineties when the name faded away... until this all-new A110 came along.

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The styling of the current Alpine A110 is almost a carbon copy of the original's, and so is the concept: a tiny featherweight <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a> that places sheer driver enjoyment ahead of out-and-out lap times.

The most significant change is that the engine now sits in the middle of the car – as it does in its chief rival, the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361"> Porsche 718 Cayman</a>. The purest expression of the original car’s ethos is the standard car, while if you want something more focused, there's the A110 S, the A110 GT and the A110 R.

Read on to&nbsp;find out whether the Alpine A110 has what it takes to defeat rivals as varied as the Cayman and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gr-supra/coupe/review/n19387">Toyota GR Supra</a>.

The Alpine A110 is one of the most entertaining sports cars you can buy

Alpine A110

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

Sports

You might recognise the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante’s basic form because, although the famous British brand counts this as a bespoke model, it is in fact heavily based on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/db11/coupe/review/n17217">DB11</a>. There’s a hard-top (coupe) version that you can read about by clicking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbs/coupe/review/n18289">here</a>; in this review we’re focusing on the convertible (or Volante in Aston speak).

There are more than just a few tweaks to justify the big price hike over the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/db11/sports/review/n17315">DB11 Volante</a>. For a start, the DBS has a wider stance, which is designed to improve stability and gives greater road presence. The DBS is lighter than the regular DB11 Volante, too. How? Well, instead of the DB11’s aluminium bodywork, it uses mostly lighter carbonfibre cladding to improve everything from its handling to its performance.

Speaking of which, its 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine is also from the DB11, but with the wick turned up considerably. Yep, this mighty drop-top pumps out a scarcely believable 715bhp – almost twice as much as a basic <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/sports/review/n17167">Porsche 911 Cabriolet</a>.

All this power is channelled to the rear wheels only, through a rear-mounted, eight-speed automatic gearbox that&nbsp;has&nbsp;been beefed up to handle the mutinous 664 lb ft of torque. But is this an overpriced, overpowered toy? Or is it worth considering instead of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/continental-gt/coupe/review/n17232">Bentley Continental GT Convertible</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/720/coupe/review/n174">McLaren 720S Spider?</a>&nbsp;

Click through to the next page and we’ll begin to tell you all you need to know.

Yes, Aston Martin is the preferred manufacturer of a certain (not so) secret agent, but its latest cars offer a lot more than the chance to indulge your Bond fantasies.

The DB12 is a very fast and very luxurious long distance cruiser, and the DBS is arguably one of the most glamorous cars around.

Proving it's not afraid to move with the times, Aston has also embraced&nbsp;the march of the SUV; its DBX707 is a stunning example of what's possible when building a fast, expensive and sporty SUV.

ASTON MARTIN

If you can afford it, there are few more glamorous and exciting ways to get around – especially on sunny days&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante

A spaceship&nbsp;landing in the car brand's line-up. That’s how the Audi R8&nbsp;was described – by Audi – when it was launched.

Back then, we were used to Audi’s considered approach to its everyday models and also its flurries into motorsport, most notably with the legendary Audi Quattro rally car. But a supercar? That was new. That was news.&nbsp;And, a decade or so on, the R8 has garnered the respect of its rivals.

This latest version represents formidable competition to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/vantage/coupe/review/n194">Aston Martin Vantage</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>. It serves as a halo model for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audi</a> Sports’ performance line-up, but it’s also been joined by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/e-tron-gt/saloon/review/n22728">Audi E-tron GT</a> high-performance electric car.

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That’s interesting, because the Audi R8’s naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V10 petrol engine is, perhaps, the very antithesis of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>. Looked at in basic terms, it’s a positively antiquated piece of engineering, and yet... it’s one of the best engines on sale today.&nbsp;

We’d go so far as to say that its only true rival in the Top Trumps of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">best sports cars</a> is the&nbsp;wonderful naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat six in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n17328">Porsche 911 GT3</a>. Why? Well, you can read all the reasons later in this review, but reason number one is: it sounds awesome. It can make anyone with a nuanced love of cars weak at the knees.&nbsp;

The Audi R8 engine comes in two different power outputs, both well over 500bhp. There's a choice of rear-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive, and whichever you go for, you get an S tronic seven-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a>.

Is all that enough to make it the pick of a talented bunch of seriously respected supercars? Read this review to find out. And whichever car you settle on, visit our free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying service</a> to see how much we can save you on scores of makes and models, with lots of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a> to be found.

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

The R8 does everything a proper supercar should – and then some – while also being user-friendly

Audi R8

Sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke foresaw everything from communications satellites to remote working – but&nbsp;also said we’d have bio-engineered monkey servants. Yes, predicting the future is hard, but if we were to have a crack, we’d suggest that this BMW M2 is likely to be a safe place to put your money.

Why? Well, for starters, the M2 slots in as the most compact model in BMW’s current M <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/performance-cars/n23035">performance car</a> range, and if you look at the division’s back catalogue, you see that the smaller models tend to be among the most revered. The original M3, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/z3/sports/used-review/n271">BMW Z3</a> M Coupé and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/used-audi-rs3-vs-bmw-1-m-coupe/n15984">BMW 1M Coupé</a> are all bonafide classics.

In addition, the M2 features rear-wheel drive and the option of a manual gearbox (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/bmw">BMW</a> gives you an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard), which should help it appeal to enthusiasts. And as the final purely combustion-powered car the M division will ever build, it’s destined to be historically significant.

Under the bonnet sits a variant of the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine that powers the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m3/saloon/review/n135">BMW M3</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m4/coupe/review/n17199">BMW M4</a>. It's&nbsp;been detuned for the M2 so that it produces ‘only’ 454bhp, but that’s still more than even the limited-run CS version of the previous-generation car offered.

What’s more, the adaptive suspension and lightweight carbon-fibre roof that were reserved for the CS last time are now standard features. And as a variant of the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/coupe/review/n125">BMW 2 Series Coupé</a>&nbsp;the M2 has an excellent pedigree, being&nbsp;closely related to the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/coupe/review/n62">BMW 4 Series</a> – our reigning Coupé of the Year.

So, does all of that make it a match for rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/sports/review/n17215">Audi TT&nbsp;RS</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a>? And is it a better choice than its bigger brother, the M4? Those are questions we’ll be answering in this BMW M2 review, which covers everything from how good it is to drive, to how practical it is and how much it will cost you to buy and run.

Then, when you’ve decided which new car is right for you, make sure you get it at a great price by checking out the deals available through our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying service</a>. There are lots of tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new&nbsp;sports car deals</a>.

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Smallest BMW M performance&nbsp;car combines searing pace with terrific grip, traction and handling

BMW M2

“Do not try to do everything. Do one thing well.” So said Apple's Steve Jobs – and as the&nbsp;BMW Z4 shows, he had a point.&nbsp;Why? Well, the third-generation Z4 appears to have gone back to basics, with a greater focus on driver enjoyment.

You see, while the second-generation Z4 was more user-friendly to broaden its appeal, the main problem was its folding metal hard-top roof. It was great at keeping out the elements, but was also very heavy and dulled the car's handling.

This latest Z4 has a&nbsp;lighter fabric hood and redesigned suspension to improve handling. There's a choice of two petrol engines, and in March 2024 BMW made the most powerful version (the 335bhp&nbsp;Z4 M40i)&nbsp;available with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-cars-come-with-a-manual-gearbox/n26678">manual gearbox</a>.

If that sounds like your kind of convertible two-seater, you'll probably be considering the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/boxster/sports/review/n27">Porsche 718 Boxster</a> too. So how does the BMW Z4 get on against the Boxster and other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car rivals</a>? Read on to find out...

The Z4 is a&nbsp;comfortable and practical alternative to a Porsche 718 Boxster

BMW Z4

Our overall rating:Rated 4 out of 5

The Bugatti Chiron has a very clear brief: to be the world’s fastest, most exclusive, most expensive production car.

Bugatti is part of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> group and Bugatti sits at the top of the VW group pyramid. If you imagine that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/skoda">Skoda</a> is at the bottom - purveyors of great value, ‘simply clever’ family cars with untellable practicality and enviable costs of ownership - well, the Chiron is the opposite of that.

It’s a carbonfibre two-seater, with an engine in its middle, behind the cabin. There’s an ultra-strong passenger cell, plus carbonfibre bodywork cladding the top of it.

It may not surprise you to learn that there’s only one engine and transmission option. It might surprise you to find that it’s an 8.0-litre W16 petrol engine with four turbochargers, which drive through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to all four wheels, albeit with a bias towards rear-wheel drive.

Even in the realm of hypercars, the Chiron is quite fast, as its predecessor, the Veyron, was, when that was introduced in 2005 and became the world’s fastest production car. The Chiron’s acceleration and top speed is similarly, today, beyond the realms of its competitors: it can go from 0-62mph in 2.5sec, and is electronically limited to 261mph.

It arrived on sale at a time when it had few direct competitors. Koenigsegg and Pagani sell the cars closest to it: the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder and McLaren P1 were all off-sale at the time of the Chiron’s arrival.

Volkswagen owns several hugely desirable brands, including Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche, but Bugatti is the most exclusive of them all.

For many years, its Veyron hypercar was famous for being the fastest road car of them all, with a top speed of 254mph. Meanwhile, the Chiron that succeeded it has moved things on again, and the fastest versions are capable of more than 300mph.

If you’re after the ultimate – and have almost unlimited funds to play with – this is it.

BUGATTI

CHIRON

The Bugatti Chiron is unmatched for performance and price, but there are more rewarding and engaging sports cars

Bugatti Chiron

Sports cars don’t come much more old school than the Caterham Seven – as you can see from these photographs.

It’s based on a super-lightweight design by Lotus – the Lotus Seven – which was built from the late Fifties and into the Seventies. Caterham's version&nbsp;doesn’t actually share any parts with the original, but it does look&nbsp;a lot like it – and many people would argue that that’s to its credit.

Today, though, you’ll find some thoroughly modern engines under the bonnet – although don’t go expecting a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a> version any time soon (or ever, perhaps).

The cheapest Caterham 7 is powered by a tiny 660cc three-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s surprisingly sprightly, but the track-focused 620 that sits at the other end of the range is in an altogether different performance league, and will out-accelerate some Ferraris.

Most versions are available in kit form – it really does turn up in boxes and you build it yourself. That gives buyers the option of saving cash and, assuming they have a certain amount of engineering know-how,&nbsp;getting stuck into the oily bits.

For a reasonable premium&nbsp;Caterham will sell you a fully built one. While you could argue that the pricing structure is pretty punchy for a pared-back sports car, the flip side is that few cars will hold on to their value against depreciation as well as the Seven

Read on over the next few pages of this review to find out all you need to know about the Caterham 7, including which versions make the most sense, what it's like to drive, how comfortable (or otherwise) it is inside, and whether we’d recommend buying one.

If Caterham were a band, it would be a one-hit wonder. But a one-hit wonder with a catchy, seasonal song that re-enters the charts year after year.

The ‘song’ in question is the Seven, a lightweight, two-seat sports car that started life as a Lotus.

Caterham itself was a Lotus dealer. However, when Lotus decided to discontinue the Seven in 1973 so that it could concentrate on more complicated and expensive cars, Caterham bought the rights to the design.

It’s been building the Seven ever since, although Caterham has continued to refine the car and now offers numerous versions and power outputs.

CATERHAM

SUPER SEVENS

The Caterham 7 offers unadulterated fun when the sun is shining but it's very impractical

Caterham Seven

The Chevrolet Corvette is a wildly popular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports car</a> in America, but the idea of driving one in the UK has had limited appeal until recently because it only came in left-hand drive form.

Times are changing, though, and this eighth-generation Corvette – the C8 Stingray – can be had&nbsp;with the&nbsp;steering wheel on the right. Hallelujah!

That’s not all. To ensure it&nbsp;has the good manners to compete with its sophisticated European rivals, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/chevrolet">Chevrolet</a> has based it on an entirely new platform and given it more power than ever before.

You can buy it as a coupé&nbsp;with a removable hardtop or as a dedicated convertible with an electrically retractable roof. That’s right, all Corvettes allow you to experience the wind in your hair – it's just what happens to the roof that changes.

The engine is now placed in the middle of the car, rather than up front under the bonnet. That’s a massive departure from the norm, especially when you consider that every Corvette since 1953 has been front-engined.

The surprises don’t stop there, either. Despite costing less than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m4/coupe/review/n17199">BMW M4</a> Competition and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a> GT4, the standard car has a 475bhp, 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine, a specially developed twin-clutch automatic gearbox, adaptively damped manually adjustable suspension and a Z51 Performance Package. It’s like eating&nbsp;at a Michelin-starred restaurant for American Diner prices.&nbsp;

There's also a faster version on the horizon, called the Z06. That&nbsp;will be a natural rival for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n17328">Porsche 911</a> GT3.&nbsp;

To find out whether the Chevrolet Corvette feels as at home in Europe as it does in Utah, keep reading this comprehensive review. We'll cover performance, comfort, running costs and more, and tell you how it compares&nbsp;with the main rivals.

And if temptation gets the better of you, we can help you find Corvettes and many other models of car for the lowest prices available if you search our free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a>&nbsp;pages. They have lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a>.

Chevrolet in the UK has been through several incarnations. In the 2000s, it brought its evocative&nbsp;name to bear on a series of rather humdrum Vauxhall-derived hatchbacks and SUVs.

Chevrolet largely&nbsp;withdrew from Europe in 2015 after struggling to make an impact, but used examples do at least have the virtue of being incredibly cheap.

Today, the only 'Chevy' you can buy in the UK&nbsp;is the Corvette - a sports car that has all the emotion and drama you'd expect.

&nbsp;

CHEVROLET

CORVETTE

Effortless performance, great ride quality and a plush interior put the Corvette on a par with some of Europe's best sports cars

Chevrolet Corvette

What you’re looking at is arguably the most important road car to come out of Maranello in decades. Called the Ferrari 296 GTB, it marks the moment the brand’s electrification strategy, honed in Formula One, makes its way into a mainstream supercar. Think of it, if you will, as a Ferrari for the Drive to Survive generation.

Indeed, for many buyers, it must be an alluring prospect to be able to watch Charles Leclerc battle his way to a win in his hybridised, V6-engined Ferrari SF-23&nbsp;then spend the evening driving your very own electrically boosted, V6-engined 296 GTB road car. As they used to say back in the Sixties, “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”.&nbsp;

But what does all that mean for time-honoured Ferrari enthusiasts? After all, the engine is traditionally the heart and soul of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ferrari">Ferrari</a> road car, with founder Enzo Ferrari once stating: “I build engines and attach wheels to them.”

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So surely, after decades of producing soulful V8-engined Berlinettas, a move to a more compact, electrically-assisted <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a>&nbsp;(PHEV) V6 will only serve to diminish some of that Ferrari magic.&nbsp;

Well, we’ll find out shortly.&nbsp;

One thing’s for sure, though – if ‘The Old Man’ were alive today, we reckon he’d have a hard time not being impressed by the 296 GTB’s official power&nbsp;output of 819bhp – a whopping 109bhp more than its V8-engined predecessor, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/f8-tributo/sports/review/n164">Ferrari F8 Tributo</a>.

We also suspect he’d be a fan of how the 296 GTB looks, because despite being packed with cutting-edge tech, it shares a number of design cues with the dainty 250 LM of the Sixties. Hence our press car’s Maranello Concessionaires GB livery.

When it comes to rivals, the 296 GTB has a broad cross-section of competitors, ranging from the PHEV&nbsp;McLaren Artura to the distinctly old-school <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/huracan/coupe/review/n17163">Lamborghini Huracán</a> Tecnica. And because it can be had with a track-focused handling package, called the Fiorano Performance Pack, it is also in direct competition with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n17328">Porsche 911 GT3</a> RS.&nbsp;

At this point, it’s worth us pointing out that while you're unlikely to get discounts on a supercar like this, we can help you find the best prices on most makes and models if you search our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>. They're a good place to find the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a>.

One of the world’s most famous brands and an integral part of the Formula 1 grid since the first championship in 1950, Ferrari fully lives up to its exalted reputation, producing some of the best sports cars money can buy.

Its entry-level model (although that term hardly seems appropriate) is the Portofino convertible, which is powered by a twin-turbo V8 and capable of blasting from 0-62mph in 3.5sec.

Then further up the range you find the mid-engined 488s, in coupé and Spider forms, and two GT cars: the GTC4 Lusso and the appropriately named 812 Superfast, a V12 monster that can hit 211mph.

FERRARI

296 GTB

Plug-in hybrid supercar is an incredible piece of engineering – but also a very, very expensive one

Ferrari 296 GTB

When Ferrari replaced the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/ferrari-458-spider-review/n8321">458 Italia</a> with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/488-gtb/coupe/review/n164">488 GTB</a>, the decision to switch from a naturally aspirated engine to a turbocharged unit to improve both performance and fuel economy was a controversial one.

Not because people were hoping for a car that was slower and dirtier, you understand, but because the 458 was almost universally regarded as one of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ferrari">Ferraris</a> ever and it was feared such a significant change would lead to a car that was less exciting.

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In most respects those fears proved unfounded, even though the 488 didn't meet with universal approval. But now we have this open-top version, the Ferrari 488 Spider, which has the potential to both address the problems and create new ones.

Like the GTB, it has a 3.9-litre twin-turbo engine that's connected to a seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox and sends 660bhp to the rear wheels. And while the Spider is slightly heavier because Ferrari has had to add stome structural stiffening to make up for the loss of the fixed roof, this is still a car that can blast from 0-62mph in 3.0sec and reach 202mph.

Read on over the next few pages to find out how the Ferrari 488 Spider compares to the GTB and rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/650/sports/review/n17154">McLaren 650S Spider</a>.

The Ferrari 488 Spider is a convertible supercar that’s more compromised than the 488 GTB on which it’s based, but just as special in its own way

Ferrari 488 Spider

The V12 engine and Ferrari have a long history. It can be traced all the way back to the first road car to wear the prancing horse logo: the 1.5-litre V12 used in the 125 S of 1947 that produced just 116bhp.

Over the years, that fabled engine has grown in size and power, fitted to iconic Ferrari models such as the 250 GTO, 550 Maranello and F12 Berlinetta. In short, whether you were playing in 1968 or 1998, if your Top Trumps card had a V12 Ferrari on it, you were laughing.

Fast forward to today and the latest V12 from the Italian firm is its craziest yet. Indeed, the Ferrari 812 Superfast is fitted with a 6.5-litre V12 that produces a frankly absurd 789bhp. That means a 0-62 mph time of 2.9sec and it’ll get to 120mph before some hot hatches will manage the former. If you’re feeling confident (and have enough room), it will carry on all the way to 211mph.

To ensure all that power isn’t wasted, there are various clever systems onboard to keep you on the Tarmac and beating lap times. But, of course, all this power and technology comes at a lofty price.

The lucky few who have enough cash to consider one might also be considering other coupé GTs such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/vanquish/coupe/review/n17263">Aston Martin Vanquish S</a> but, given the 812’s aggressive nature, also proper performance cars such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/720/coupe/review/n174">McLaren 720S</a>.

So, let us guide you through what the 812 is like to drive, what it’s like inside and its running costs over the next few pages.

812 SUPERFAST

Parallel-universe performance and mind-bending agility, but a huge price tag to go with it

Ferrari 812 Superfast

This is not just any car – this is the Ferrari F8 Tributo. So what exactly is it, and what's&nbsp;the meaning behind its unconventional name?

Well, put simply, the F8 Tributo is a heavily updated version of the 488 GTB. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ferrari">Ferrari</a> claims it benefits from improved steering feel, enhanced electronics and even more power than its predecessor.

That power comes from an engine based on the 3.9-litre used in the track-focused 488 Pista.&nbsp;The Tributo&nbsp;name, meanwhile, pays tribute to the past 40-odd years of mid-engined, V8, two-seater berlinettas.

Well, that’s the official line anyway, but we suspect it’s also intended to pay respect to what is&nbsp;likely be Ferrari’s last non-hybridised V8 engine. The 296 GTB, for example, will use an electrically boosted V6 while the Italian brand's flagship, the SF90, uses a hybridised V8.&nbsp;

Anyway, back to the engine in the Ferrari F8 Tributo. It has titanium internals, an intake from the 488 Challenge race car, improved cooling and a new exhaust.

The results are pretty astounding: 710bhp at 8000rpm (50bhp more than the 488 GTB) and 568lb ft of torque.&nbsp;All that translates into a 0-62mph time of just 2.9sec and a top speed of 211mph flat out.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-performance-cars-2022/n23035">best performance cars</a> impress with more than just statics, though. Indeed, the Ferrari F8 Tributo’s closest rival –&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/720/coupe/review/n174">McLaren 720S</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;is engaging and fun to drive at any speed.

So, can&nbsp;the F8 Tributo deliver the same experience? That’s what we'll tell you over the next few pages of this review.

Even if you’re not in the market for a Ferrari, we can help you save money on a number of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">best sports cars</a> (and most other makes and models) through our free&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>.

F8 Tributo

An engineering masterpiece, with a chassis that has greater finesse than any other supercar currently on sale.

Ferrari F8 Tributo

Ever since the introduction of the 250 GT/E back in 1960, Ferrari has prided itself on offering the finest front-engined four-seat GT cars on the market; even Enzo himself famously preferred these practical tourers over their two-seat counterparts.

And yet, until the FF arrived to replace the 612 Scaglietti, Ferrari had never offered a four-wheel-drive GT – a move that immediately marked the FF out as the technological tour de force in the Ferrari range.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe>

Indeed, it’s a role that the updated FF, now renamed GTC4 Lusso, still serves today. Featuring four-wheel steering from the limited-run F12tdf and – for the first time in Ferrari’s history – a choice of two engines, the GTC4 is arguably the most interesting car in Ferrari’s limited line-up, but also one of the most confusing.

So to find out which GTC4 is for you, read on for our full in-depth lowdown.

GTC4 LUSSO

The most practical supercar on the market is also one of the finest to drive

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso

If you ask Ferrari what the Ferrari Roma&nbsp;is all about, it'll tell you 'La Nuova Dolce Vita' – the&nbsp;new sweet life. In other words, it harks back to the carefree pleasures of Rome in the Fifties and Sixties.&nbsp;

To that end, the Roma is unlike other modern <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ferrari">Ferraris</a>. It doesn’t have the fussy and harsh body angles that come from designs sculpted in wind tunnels for maximum performance.

Instead, there are visual echoes of the 1950s Ferrari GT cars that had long, uninterrupted and simple lines flowing&nbsp;from front to back. The Roma is elegance on four wheels.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The return to simple design doesn’t mean this 2+2 coupé&nbsp;is all form over function, though. It has a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 under that curvaceous bonnet&nbsp;for a start, giving&nbsp;you more than 600bhp to play with.

You get similar suspension to&nbsp;more performance-focused Ferraris, but controlled by&nbsp;a different software set-up. In fact, the Roma ends up being a half-way house between the sports-honed F8 Tributo and the&nbsp;softer <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/portofino/sports/review/n19050">Ferrari Portofino</a>.

To live up to that, it needs to be easy to live with if you drive it every day, but deliver&nbsp;driving thrills to match its looks when you're in a more exuberant mood.&nbsp;So, how well does it do that?

Over the next few pages of this review, we’re going to investigate that very question, rating the Ferrari Roma for performance, comfort, usability, practicality and more. We'll also compare it with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">best&nbsp;sports car</a>&nbsp;rivals.

As you'd expect, the Roma&nbsp;keeps&nbsp;glamorous company, so those rivals include the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/db11/coupe/review/n17217">Aston Martin DB11</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/continental-gt/coupe/review/n17232">Bentley Continental GT</a> and the (very tough to beat) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>. &nbsp;

Remember, when you next buy a new car, we can often help you get it for the best price – although you won't find discounts of the rarified likes of the Roma. Simply search our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a> to see if you could save money on your chosen make and model&nbsp;without haggling.

Roma

A classically beautiful grand tourer with such astonishing&nbsp;performance you probably won't notice the troublesome&nbsp;infotainment

Ferrari Roma

That this&nbsp;supercar exists at all is because <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/ford">Ford</a> wanted to return to the Le Mans 24-hour race and needed a car to do it with. Regulations say it must sell road-going versions of whatever car it races with, so here we are: the long, low, race-derived Ford GT.

It's built around a lightweight carbonfibre chassis, in which up to two occupants sit, and has a very narrow body to help it slip through the air.

In the middle, just behind the driver, sits a highly tuned 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with two turbochargers. The engine makes 638bhp and 550lb ft of torque – even more than it does in the racing version, which has to be limited to meet regulations.

All that grunt goes to the rear wheels through a seven-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a>. There are very clever 'active' spoilers to enhance the aerodynamics, and the suspension has two different heights: one for the road and the other for the track.

The car was built by Ford’s project partner, Multimatic of Canada, at a rate of 250 a year until the 1000 it planned to sell were all snapped up.

We were lucky enough to drive&nbsp;one in the UK to find out just what sort of performance and handling this very special model delivers. Oh, in case you're wondering what it's like to live with, we also rated the Ford GT in all the practical areas too, including interior space and running costs.

Remember, if your car needs are a bit less rarefied, we can help you find the best prices through our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>. They list plenty of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a>.&nbsp;

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

If you want a fast road car that you can use on track, the GT isn't it. Instead this is a race car with numberplates, making it awesome to drive but not as refined as its rivals

Ford GT

If you want to buy a new V8-engined sports car then time is running out – especially if that car happens to be a Jaguar F-Type.

The F-Type will end a decade in production in early 2024, and its demise will mark the end of 75 years of combustion-engined <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/jaguar">Jaguar</a> sports cars, stretching all the way back to the XK120 of 1948.

To celebrate that milestone, all V8-powered versions of the F-Type are now special edition 75 models, featuring unique paint colours and lots of standard luxuries. However, if you’ve fallen for the F-Type’s looks and want to pay as little as possible, there’s still an entry-level 2.0-litre petrol (called the P300).

As always, you can choose between the hard-top F-Type Coupé and the drop-top F-Type Convertible. So, is the Jaguar F-Type still worth buying and, if it is, which version should you choose?

Over the next few sections, we’ll tell you everything you need to know, including how the F-Type squares up against its key rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/8-series/coupe/review/n18853">BMW 8 Series</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a> in the areas that really matter to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a> buyers.

Jaguars are consistently among the best-handling cars of their kind, with the firm’s model range encompassing the XE, XF and XJ saloons, the F-Type sports cars and multiple SUVs.

Jaguar was actually relatively late to launch its first SUV, the F-Pace, but it quickly followed it up with the smaller E-Pace and the all-electric I-Pace.

That SUV range will keep growing, too, with larger and more luxurious SUVs planned to take on the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover from sister brand Land Rover.

JAGUAR

F-TYPE

Sports car has a lot of charm and there are some good discounts around, but you need to choose carefully

Jaguar F-Type

The Lamborghini Huracan Spyder is the end result of removing the roof from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/huracan/coupe/review/n17163">a Huracán coupé</a>.

It retains the coupé’s angular looks and stonking V10 petrol engine, but replaces its hard top with a fabric roof that folds away in 17 seconds at up to speeds of 31mph.

And, like the coupé, the Spyder is available with two or four-wheel drive, but adds 120kg to the coupé’s weight due to the extra strengthening Lamborghini has had to employ to keep its body as stiff as possible.

That does little to dumb down the Spyder’s frankly ridiculous performance; its V10 still packs a 602bhp punch (572bhp for the rear-wheel-drive version) that's capable of launching the car from standstill to 62mph in just 3.4sec (3.6sec for the rear-wheel-drive model).

If that's not enough, you can blow more cash on the wild Performante version, which has 631bhp and a bunch of active aero aids to make it even faster in a straight line (0-62mph takes just 2.9sec) or round a track.

The Huracan Spyder isn’t the only exotic open top on offer to the UK’s richest car buyers. There’s the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/488-gtb/coupe/review/n164">Ferrari 488</a>&nbsp;Spider and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/650/sports/review/n17154">McLaren 650S Spider</a>, too, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">the slightly cheaper Audi R8</a>&nbsp;Spyder uses exactly the same engine.

Read on to find out whether it's worth forking out for this open-top Huracan over the coupé version.

Lamborghinis have been adorning bedroom posters since the mid-1960s. Not bad for a company whose origins lie in making tractors.

Today, Lamborghini is part of the Volkswagen Group, and as well as bolstering its core sports car portfolio, it has branched out to launch the Urus – a luxurious SUV that’s a rival to the similarly rapid Bentley Bentayga W12 and Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

LAMBORGHINI

HURACAN

The Lamborghini Huracán Spyder provides a vivid driving experience, but it's let down by average handing and a cramped interior

Lamborghini Huracan Spyder

We all know that, when it comes to movies, sequels are rarely better than the original. But when it comes to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports cars</a>&nbsp;the opposite is often true. Take Lamborghini for example. The Gallardo, the predecessor to the Lamborghini Huracán, was a bit of a disappointment when it was first released, with a poor handling balance and a troublesome single-clutch automatic gearbox.&nbsp;

All told, it took six years for Lambo to create a Gallardo that driving enthusiasts lusted after, in the form of the rear-wheel-drive LP550-2 Balboni. And now, it looks like history might be repeating itself.&nbsp;

What you’re looking at here is the Lamborghini Huracán Evo and it’s essentially a completely reengineered version of the legendary Italian specialist’s smallest supercar. And, if history has anything to teach us, this is a good thing. Because, while the original Huracán certainly didn’t lack in raw performance, it was never the most exciting supercar to drive.

Now, though, the Huracán has inherited the 631bhp engine that debuted in the awe-inspiring – but limited-run – Huracán Performante, as well as receiving a number of chassis tweaks to notch the entertainment up a bit.

But that’s not all. As well as this four-wheel-drive monster, the Huracán Evo line-up also offers a 602bhp, rear-wheel-drive model, aptly named the Evo RWD. It’s lighter, does without the rear wheel steering system of it’s four-wheel drive range partner and is designed to offer a more raw driving experience.

Key rivals include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/720/coupe/review/n174">McLaren 720S</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17866">Mercedes-AMG GT-R</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> Turbo S, against which the Lamborghini is competitively priced. However, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a> makes the Huracán look rather expensive, since both cars use the same basic underpinnings and V10 engine.

So, how does the Huracán compare with the best sports cars&nbsp;available? And which version makes the most sense? Read on over the next few pages to find out. And if reading this whets your appetite for a new car, our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals service</a> is here to make life easy while saving you a packet. It has lots of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a>.

A&nbsp;theatrical masterpiece that delivers breathtaking performance.&nbsp;

Lamborghini Huracán

The Lexus LC 500 and LC 500h are the striking result of a brand throwing away its rule book. Fed up with fighting against German premium car makers, Lexus bosses decided that they would do everything they could to get noticed.&nbsp;

This is a luxury <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupes/n17019">coupé</a> with a sufficient smattering of performance drama and driver involvement to hold the interest of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a> enthusiast, but it's a grand tourer first and foremost.

The LC therefore has the capability to carry a couple of occupants and their baggage in generous comfort over a long distance – or four people over a much shorter one. Rivals range from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/coupe/review/n17268">Jaguar F-Type</a>&nbsp;to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/sports/review/n17206"> </a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/8-series/coupe/review/n18853">BMW 8 Series</a>.

Buyers can choose from two engine types. The LC 500 is powered by a whopping great old-school naturally aspirated 467bhp V8 with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The more efficient alternative is the LC 500h, a hybrid model that links a 295bhp 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine to an electric motor to deliver a total power output of 354bhp.

There are three trim levels: standard, Sport Pack and Sport Plus Pack, with each step dialling up the characteristics of the car in the way that their names suggest.

By the way, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/lexus">Lexus</a> also sells a soft-top version. To read all about that, see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/lc/sports/review/n22113">Lexus LC 500 Convertible review</a>.

Read on over the next few pages to find out how the LC compares with its rivals and which version we’d choose. If you've decided it's the car for you, check out our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals service</a> for great <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a>.

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

A flawed yet desirable grand tourer with a surprisingly soulful edge. The V8 version is a lot of fun

Lexus LC

The Lotus Emira&nbsp;is&nbsp;a pretty big deal for the celebrated car maker: it's expected to be the last <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/lotus">Lotus</a>&nbsp;with an internal combustion engine before the brand goes all-electric.

If it’s good, the Emira could become&nbsp;as iconic as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lotus/esprit/coupe/used-review/n443">Lotus Esprit</a> or the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lotus/elise/sports/used-review/n24290">Lotus Elise</a>&nbsp;but if it’s merely average it will be a sad footnote in&nbsp;petrol-powered&nbsp;Lotus <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a>&nbsp;history.

It's the successor to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evora, a 2+2 coupé that was brilliant to drive but challenging to live with. However, given that the track-focused <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lotus/exige/coupe/review/n21689">Lotus Exige</a> is no longer available, this new model could be expected to plug that gap&nbsp;too.

It also faces some tough rivals, including&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a> and the more GT-focused <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/coupe/review/n17268">Jaguar F-Type</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gr-supra/coupe/review/n19387">Toyota GR Supra</a>. In other words, the Emira has a lot to live up to. Fortunately,&nbsp;it will be available with two distinct engines that should each give the car a different personality.

The Lotus Emira arrives with a 3.5-litre V6 provided by Toyota and supercharged for its Lotus application, for a healthy 400bhp. Lotus gives you a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic.

There's also a&nbsp;Mercedes-AMG turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 360bhp and an eight-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">dual-clutch automatic</a>. We’ve experienced that engine in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n17170">Mercedes-AMG A45</a> (a former best hot hatch at our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/new-car-awards">Car of the Year Awards</a>) and it sounds fantastic and packs a proper punch.

To find out whether the Lotus Emira is a hit or a miss, keep reading this comprehensive review. We've driven it, and will tell you how we rate its&nbsp;performance, comfort, running costs and more. We'll also&nbsp;compare it with the main sports car rivals.

If temptation gets the better of you and you decide to treat yourself, make sure you check out the savings to be had on our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying pages</a>. They offer lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a>.

Fancy something small, lightweight and fast? Then Lotus possibly has the right car for you. In fact ‘simplify then add lightness’ was the mantra of company founder Colin Chapman as far back as 1952.

These days, Lotus sells four models, with the core of the range being the Elise. Then there’s the more hardcore 3-Eleven, the sporty Exige and the Evora – which is pitched as a rival to the Porsche Cayman.

Big changes are afoot, though, because Lotus plans to build its own SUV in the near future, with the hope of broadening the brand’s appeal to families. The planned car will use Volvo underpinnings and will tackle rivals such as the Porsche Macan and Maserati Levante.

LOTUS

EMIRA

Sports car has fine handling, a luxurious interior and a plush ride, but the current V6 engine doesn't do it justice

Lotus Emira

“Simplify, then add lightness”,&nbsp;said Lotus founder and legendary designer Colin Chapman. It's the motto that the company has lived by since it was founded and expresses the thinking behind every Lotus from Chapman’s pioneering Lotus 25 Formula 1 car to, yup, you guessed it, the Lotus Exige.&nbsp;

Designed from the outset as a road legal track car, the first-generation Exige essentially took what was best about the popular open-top Elise <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports car</a> and ramped everything up a notch. From its lightweight composite roof, to its stripped-out interior and more powerful engine, the Exige was one of the first sports cars that sought to truly satisfy the needs of track day enthusiasts.

Two decades and three generations later, it still serves that purpose, slotting into the Lotus line-up between the cheaper four-cylinder <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lotus/elise/sports/review/n17224">Lotus Elise</a> and the larger, more luxurious Evora.&nbsp;

The Exige line-up is also now divisible into three specifications, depending on your budget and your preference between road or track driving.&nbsp;The ‘entry-point’, if you can call it that, is the 345bhp Exige Sport 350. Capable of 170mph, it’s certainly no slouch, and is a natural rival for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a>.

At the other end of the range is the scalpel sharp Exige 430, with its adjustable suspension, aggressive wings and 430bhp – and a price tag to rival a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n17328">Porsche 911 GT3</a>, it’s fair to say it’s something of a specialised tool for the privileged few. And, between the two, there’s the Sport 410. Think of this as a cheaper, more road orientated Cup 430 rather than an upgraded 350, and it could be the sweet spot of the range.

Without wishing to give too much away, the Exige is one hell of a track car, but should you really consider one over more civilised rivals? Read on to find out.&nbsp;

EXIGE

Not an everyday car, but the Exige offers an unmatched driving experience

Lotus Exige

The Mazda MX-5 is one of the best loved and most recognisable sports cars you can buy, with millions of fans around the world and a string of awards to its name.

You can choose between a regular soft-top model, the MX-5 Roadster, for care-free fun in the sun, or the MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback), which has a folding metal roof for added security. This review covers both body styles.

Mazda launched the first-generation MX-5 more than 30 years ago, with a focus on plastering a big silly grin on your face. It has earned its stripes as a "fun car"&nbsp;since then, and the current MX-5 sticks with all the essential elements that have made it such a hit, including the lowest price in its class.

The thing is, a lot has changed since the first MX-5, so how does it stack up against the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">best sports cars</a>,&nbsp;including the light and lithe <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>, the formidable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;the MX-5 convertible’s closest rival, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/z4/sports/review/n64">BMW Z4</a>?&nbsp;

Read on to find out whether the Mazda MX-5 is the right car for you...

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

MX-5

The much-loved MX-5 sports car is great to drive and doesn't cost a fortune

Mazda MX-5

Technically, the 540C is McLaren’s entry-level car, although that classification seems more than a little unfair. While it’s certainly the cheapest car the company offers, it still gets a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 like almost every other McLaren currently on sale.

In the 540C, it develops a mighty 533bhp – enough for a 0-62mph time of just 3.5sec and a top speed of 199mph. They may sound like supercar numbers, but McLaren classifies this as part of its Sports Series, which includes the <a href="ww.whatcar.com/mclaren/570/coupe/review/">570S</a> and 570GT.

The 540C certainly goes up against cars that many think are super – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911 Turbo</a>. Like those cars, it’s designed to be usable on a daily basis rather than as a weekend-only adrenaline pump.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fGDAxmT9U-k"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/540/coupe/review/n17233/on-the-road">Watch the next video</a>

Over the next few pages, we'll tell you how it matches up to those rivals, how practical it is and even what it’ll cost to run. More importantly, we'll tell you just how much fun it is, too.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

To many, McLaren will always be best known for its motorsport activities, but it also has a growing range of high-performance cars designed to challenge the likes of Ferrari and Porsche.

Most McLaren models share two key components: a central tub made out of carbonfibre and a powerful V8 petrol engine. And with cars ranging from the entry-level 540C to the hardcore (but still road legal) Senna, McLaren cars rival everything from the Jaguar F-Type to the Porsche 911 and Ferrari’s 488 Pista.

MCLAREN

The magnificent McLaren 540C is surprisingly usable, shockingly rapid and great fun to drive, even at everyday speeds

McLaren 540C

If you were to take a look at the specifications of the McLaren 570S, you might expect McLaren to describe it as a supercar. With 562bhp from a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8, it’s good for a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 204mph.

It seems McLaren doesn’t reckon that’s enough performance for a supercar these days; the Woking-based company insist that the 570S is a sports car. That doesn’t mean it counts the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-5/sports/review/n17349">Mazda MX-5</a> as a rival, though –&nbsp;the 570S has the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911 Turbo</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a> firmly in its sights.

Both of those are cars that can potentially be used every day, yet can still top 200mph on a long enough stretch of autobahn or runway. The McLaren is certainly fast enough, but there’s more to it than that.

To make sure it’s a practical proposition, the carbon fibre chassis has been designed to ensure entry and exit is as painless as possible. Furthermore, storage space is more generous than you would have found in the now discontinued McLaren 12C. Arguably, this is the most complete car the brand has ever built.

Over the next few pages, we'll tell you how it matches up to those rivals, how practical it is and even what it’ll cost to run. More importantly, we'll tell you just how much fun it is, too.

The McLaren 570S is crushingly fast yet communicative and fun, even at sane speeds

McLaren 570S

Looking at the specifications of the McLaren 570S Spider, it's clear that this is a car that can bring the fight to open-top rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/sports/review/n169">Audi R8 Spyder</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/488/sports/review/n17194">Ferrari 488 Spider</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/sports/review/n17167">Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet</a>, with a big V8 petrol engine, a top speed on the naughty side of 200mph and a blistering 0-62mph sprint time of 3.2sec.

As its name suggests, the 570S Spider is a convertible version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/570/coupe/review/n17142">570S Coupé</a>. It is, in fact, the third model in McLaren’s 570 family, which also includes the luxury-oriented <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2016-mclaren-570gt-review/n14035">570GT grand tourer</a>. And, because there’s no open-top version of the lesser <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/540/coupe/review/n17233">540C</a>, it’s also the most affordable convertible McLaren.

Naturally, the 570S Spider is quick, but it also needs to be engaging and rewarding for drivers of all abilities. And in keeping with the current crop of civilized supercars, which are easy to live with, comfortable and, whether you’re driving on road or track, offer reasonable space for your luggage.

The 570S Spider faces a tough challenge, then. Over the next few pages we’ll tell you what it’s like to drive, how it compares to its rivals and whether you should buy one.

A folding hard-top roof has only broadened the appeal of the 570S – the Spider is a hoot to drive quickly, yet is also usable as an everyday car

McLaren 570S Spider

The trouble with convertible supercars is that they sacrifice dynamic appeal for their ability to let in the sunshine, right?

Well, it’s certainly true that a lot of them do, because taking tin clippers to their roofs compromises structural rigidity. And while some of this can be restored by reinforcing them&nbsp;elsewhere, that adds weight which hurts agility and performance. However, the McLaren 720S Spider is a bit different.

Unlike many of its rivals, you see, the 720S has a carbonfibre (rather than metal) structure, with this not only making it very light, but also extremely stiff. In fact, the open-top Spider version weighs just 49kg more than the coupé – and strength isn’t lost.

The Spider also uses the same 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/720/coupe/review/n174">720S coupé</a>, with this sending a whopping 720 metric horsepower (hence the name) or 710 of the Queen’s brake horsepower (bhp) to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox that can be manually controlled via steering wheel-mounted paddles.

All of this means the 720S spider can accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.9sec and reach a top speed of 212mph (202mph with the roof down). Yes, the coupé accelerates even faster, but only by 0.1sec, while its top speed is the same.

In this review, we’ll tell you everything else you want to know about the McLaren 720S Spider. And while we won’t be able to get you a discount on one&nbsp;at the end of it, be sure to check out the deals available through <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">our New Car Buying service</a> if you’re next car is going to be a little more mainstream, because we could potentially save you thousands without the hassle of haggling.

Like it’s coupé sister, the McLaren 720S is staggeringly fast and involving, yet perfectly usable every day.

McLaren 720S Spider

The Mercedes-AMG E63&nbsp;is one of those cars that makes&nbsp;you question reality, or at least the reality of how much power you need in an 'ordinary' saloon or estate. After all, here's one with more grunt than some supercars.

Really, we're not joking: the E63 kicks out 604bhp and that's backed up with 627 lb ft of shove from its frankly bonkers 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine. That's the same engine that you'll find in a supercar, by the way, because it's also found in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17866">Mercedes-AMG GT</a> but guess what? The E63's version is more powerful and that means it's the quicker-accelerating of the two cars.

Does any five-seater really need so much welly? Well, according to AMG, which is the performance arm of&nbsp;Mercedes-Benz, this one does. It has to compete with the likes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs6/estate/review/n17185">Audi RS6 Avant</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m5/saloon/review/n184">BMW M5</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/panamera/hatchback/review/n17212">Porsche Panamera</a> Turbo&nbsp;– which are all&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/category/performance-car">performance cars</a>&nbsp;with similar outputs or, in some cases, even more.&nbsp;

If you fancy using your modern V8 muscle car&nbsp;for the school run and family holidays, there's even an estate version. That manages to do everything the saloon does (in other words, go really, really fast) but with a boot full of stuff on board. If that stuff is breakable, though, make sure that it's well tied down otherwise&nbsp;you’ll be in trouble.

Read on over the next few pages of this review to find out what the Mercedes-AMG E63 is like to live with every day, and how it compares with its rivals.

If&nbsp;by the end of it you're dead set on buying one, don't forget to check out the free What Car?<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/deals">&nbsp;New Car Buying</a> service, where you'll find great savings on nearly every new car available, including plenty of tempting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/deals">Mercedes E-Class deals</a>.

Saloon

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

E CLASS

Tremendously quick and amazing fun, thanks to its&nbsp;fabulous-sounding engine and entertaining handling.

Mercedes E63 AMG

AMG might be famous for shoehorning big engines into luxurious saloons and SUVs, thereby&nbsp;endowing them with supercar-bothering acceleration, but let’s not forget they also build two-seat sports cars, such as the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster.

Like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17866">AMG GT Coupe</a>, which you can read about by clicking the link, the GT Roadster comes with a stonkingly potent, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine under that long, long&nbsp;bonnet. And, while it's the only engine available, it's&nbsp;available with a choice&nbsp;of power outputs to suit a wider spectrum of tastes and budgets.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe>

Regardless of power output, the V8&nbsp;drives the rear wheels only,&nbsp;though a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-type-of-automatic-gearbox-should-i-buy/n17022">seven-speed&nbsp;automatic gearbox</a>. All variants get an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, to help boost traction off the line and out of corners, which&nbsp;means that even the least powerful model, the GT C Roadster, can rattle off the 0-62mph sprint in a mere 3.7sec. Oh yes, and flat out it’ll reach 196mph.

However impressive those numbers are, the GT Roadster has a stern fight on its hands. Not only does it need to compete with the ever-popular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/sports/review/n17167">Porsche 911 Cabriolet</a>, there’s also the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/sports/review/n169">Audi R8 Spyder</a> to think about. Meanwhile, the pricier GT R version&nbsp;is treading on the toes of bespoke supercars, like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/570/sports/review/n17304">McLaren 570S Spider</a>.

To find out <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/sports/review/n17335/on-the-road">how it performs on the road</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/sports/review/n17335/space-practicality">what it’s like to live with</a>, keep reading&nbsp;over the next few pages. And, whichever car you decide on, do take&nbsp;a look at our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/">New Car Buying</a> pages for big savings on a huge variety of makes and models.

AMG GT

Looks and sounds fantastic, but not the best-handling convertible sports car

Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster

With mobile phones and&nbsp;laptops, the presence of huge amounts of power in a neat little package is enormously seductive to many buyers – and the same applies to the new Aston Martin Vantage.

While the Vantage is Aston Martin's smallest and least expensive model, it appears to be built with the same level of attention to detail as its larger stablemates and somehow manages to contain a similarly brawny engine under the bonnet. You could say it gives you the most fun for your buck – although that buck is still bigger than for several&nbsp;versions of the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>.

While there’s plenty to like about the Vantage, it’s been around long enough for the brand to treat it to a rather hefty mid-life update for 2024.

Changes include an extra 30mm added to the width of the car, new pop-out door handles and styling cues from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/aston-martin/one-77">Aston Martin One-77</a> supercar. A redesigned interior inspired by the one in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/db12/coupe/review/n25897">Aston Martin DB12</a> promises to be plusher and more user-friendly, and the (already very powerful) engine has been reworked to produce an extra 153bhp.

Does all that make the new Aston Martin Vantage a worthy adversary to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">best sports cars</a>&nbsp;including the 911, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/huracan/coupe/review/n17163">Lamborghini Huracán</a> and the next-generation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17866">Mercedes-AMG GT</a>? Read on to find out...

VANTAGE

The 2024 Vantage sports car combines huge performance with fun and a beautifully crafted interior

New Aston Martin Vantage

V-engined sports cars are fast going extinct, but the Mercedes-AMG GT&nbsp;Coupé is one of few realistically priced options that&nbsp;remain on the critically endangered list.

We use the term "realistically priced"&nbsp;loosely&nbsp;of course, because the AMG GT&nbsp;is still an astronomically expensive car by most standards. However, at least it doesn't cost&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/296-gtb/coupe/review/n25991">Ferrari 296 GTB</a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/huracan/coupe/review/n17163">Lamborghini Huracán</a> money.

Indeed, now that the Audi R8 and Honda NSX have bitten the dust, the V8-powered AMG GT's closest rivals are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/vantage/coupe/review/n194">Aston Martin Vantage</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>.

In this review, we're focusing on the two-door Coupé&nbsp;version of the AMG GT –&nbsp;if you need more space, check out&nbsp;our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17968">Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door review</a>.

Read on to find out how fast the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé&nbsp;is, how well it handles and how it compares with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">best sports cars</a> you might be considering.

The Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé looks and sounds fantastic, but there are more&nbsp;agile sports cars

New Mercedes-AMG GT

When it comes to Japanese performance cars, the Nissan GT-R is arguably top dog, partly because it puts the 'F' in fast.

The inheritor of a legacy of sporting machines badged 'Skyline GT-R', the current-generation model took the car’s reputation for giant-killing pace to new heights when it was introduced.&nbsp;More recently, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/nissan">Nissan</a> has added even more power to a recipe that includes a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and a uniquely complex four-wheel-drive system.

The car’s mission is to deliver colossal speed and excitement at about half of the price at which it’s available in most supercars – and in a package that can be used every day and in almost any weather. And if the regular GT-R isn’t quite fast enough for you (perhaps you’re an ex-Apollo astronaut?), there are the Track and Nismo versions.

Both benefit from stiffer race-track focused suspension, improved body rigidity and lighter wheels, and the range-topping Nismo has more power, improved aerodynamics and carbon-ceramic brakes. How does 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds sound to you?&nbsp;

Over the next few pages of this review, we’ll let you know whether&nbsp;the Nissan GT-R is good enough to compete with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-performance-cars-2022/n23035">best performance cars</a>, and compare it with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/coupe/review/n17268">Jaguar F-Type</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>. We'll rate it for performance, interior quality and more, and tell you&nbsp;which version we like best.

When you’ve decided which new car is perfect for you, make sure you find the best price by looking at our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> service. You could make substantial savings on the brochure price without having to&nbsp;haggle, and find some tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/nissan/gt-r/coupe/deals">Nissan GT-R deals</a>.

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

GT-R

An immensely fast and surprisingly practical supercar –&nbsp;even if it is a little short on desirability

Nissan GT-R

If you want a&nbsp;convertible car, you're spoilt for choice. But what if you want a two-seater convertible that goes like a sports car, and makes you smile whether it's summer or not? Then take a look at the&nbsp;Porsche 718 Boxster. 

In fact, the 718 Boxster really is the default choice. It’s basically the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a>&nbsp;– one of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">best sports cars</a> on sale –&nbsp;with the roof removed but very little, if anything, left on the table dynamically. 

That’s why the Boxster is not only comparable with drop-top cars –&nbsp;such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/sports/review/n13">Audi TT Roadster</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/z4/sports/review/n64">BMW Z4</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/sports/review/n17">Jaguar F-Type Convertible</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;but also hardtop, hard-core sports cars, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gr-supra/coupe/review/n19387">Toyota Supra</a>.

Oh yes, and it doesn't hurt that it comes with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/porsche">Porsche</a> badge on its nose to impress the neighbours. So, how do we rate the Porsche 718 Boxster? Read on to find out...

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

BOXSTER

The Boxster open-top sports car is sensational to drive and beautifully built

Porsche 718 Boxster

Here at What Car? we tend not to comment on looks but in the case of the Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder — a car that's&nbsp;prettier than a new-born foal — they’re somewhat impossible to ignore.

It’s an arresting thing, but before you start thinking “Yeah, style over substance” there&nbsp;is a proper sports car beneath its svelte skin.&nbsp;That’s because the Spyder is mechanically identical to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a>&nbsp;GT4, and that’s a proper bit of kit — built for the road but with track-day use in mind.

It&nbsp;means the Spyder inherits the GT4’s 414bhp 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine, which removes in a fell swoop the biggest criticism of the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/boxster/sports/review/n27">Porsche 718 Boxster</a>&nbsp;and Boxster S — their&nbsp;coarse, four-cylinder turbocharged motors.&nbsp;

Further enhancing the Spyder's pedigree (and the GT4's to boot) is its&nbsp;front suspension. This&nbsp;is closely related to&nbsp;the&nbsp;last <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> GT3's and,&nbsp;by default,&nbsp;gets Porsche's PASM adaptive dampers as standard, plus&nbsp;a&nbsp;squat&nbsp;stance –&nbsp;some&nbsp;30mm lower than the standard Boxster. You also get bigger brakes than you do in&nbsp;a regular Boxster, with the option to upgrade them&nbsp;to lightweight carbon ceramic discs.

In fact, the only thing that marks it down as less of a purist’s performance machine is the loss of the GT4’s massive fixed rear wing. That’s to keep the Spyder’s flowing lines unsullied, and instead it makes do with a pop-up spoiler that rises above 74mph.

It still gets other effective aerodynamic aids, though, including a front splitter and rear diffuser to help it Hoover itself&nbsp;to the ground, creating&nbsp;yet more grip from&nbsp;the specially developed,&nbsp;sticky Michelin tyres.&nbsp;

Right, that’s enough chit-chat. Is the Boxster Spyder the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/convertibles/n17007">best convertible</a> sports car you can buy for the money? Read on to find out...

The Boxster Spyder convertible has a fabulous engine and handling

Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder

The entry-level model from most car brands demands that you make a few compromises – but not the Porsche 718 Cayman.

You see, while the Cayman is Porsche's least-expensive model, it's long been one of our five-star cars. It's&nbsp;hardly what you'd call cheap, but it's still incredible value for money by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a> standards. And the&nbsp;way it balances performance and driving fun with everyday usability positions it perfectly for many buyers.

If you're keeping costs down, the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the entry-level Cayman has plenty of power, and can be upgraded to a 2.5-litre version in the mid-level Cayman S.&nbsp;Porsche also offers a 4.0-litre, six-cylinder in the GTS.

With the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/coupe/review/n17268">Jaguar F-Type</a> going off sale, competition in this class is dwindling, but rivals are hardly weak. So, if you're thinking of getting a Cayman, you'll probably be considering the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m2/coupe/review/n17172">BMW M2</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gr-supra/coupe/review/n19387">Toyota GR Supra</a> too.

Read on to find out whether the Porsche 718 Cayman is better than rival&nbsp;sports cars when it comes to performance, interior quality, practicality and costs...

CAYMAN

The Porsche 718 Cayman is one of the best sports cars on the planet

Porsche 718 Cayman

What you’re looking at might just be the most significant Porsche Boxster since the first-generation car was launched in 1996. Why? Well, because the Porsche 718 Spyder RS will be the last combustion-engined Boxster.

That’s right, the next time we see a 718&nbsp;roll out of the Porsche factory gates it will be powered by electrons rather than fossil fuel. However, rather than wallow in this finality, Porsche's GT Department has seized the opportunity to give its mid-engined drop-top sports car a proper send-off by bestowing it with the full RS treatment.

So the 718 Spyder GT gets carbon-fibre panels, carbon-fibre-backed seats, a fiddly carbon-fibre <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/convertibles/n17007">convertible</a> roof, revised aerodynamics&nbsp;and tweaked suspension. The Weissach package – which we think is a must-have addition – gets you&nbsp;magnesium wheels (reducing the car's weight by&nbsp;10kg) and titanium tailpipes for the stainless-steel exhaust.

The result is a 1,410kg weight figure, which is very impressive when you consider that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/porsche">Porsche</a> has also managed to shoehorn the full-fat 4.0-litre flat-six engine from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n17328">Porsche 911 GT3</a> behind the bulkhead. We know the motor well: its manic howl and 9,000rpm red line need to be experienced to be believed.

Rivals for the Porsche 718 Spyder RS are few and far between. You could, of course, look at a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/sports/review/n17206">Mercedes-AMG SL</a>&nbsp;but that's more of a cruiser&nbsp;than an out-and-out <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a>. And while a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/720/sports/review/n21902">McLaren 750S Spider</a> is in another performance league, so is its price tag. In reality, the Spyder RS’s closest rival is its hard-top cousin, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-porsche-718-cayman-gt4-rs-review/n25116">718 Cayman GT4 RS</a>. Read on to find out how they compare...

Spyder RS

The Porsche 718 Spyder RS offers the ultimate drop-top sports car driving experience

Porsche 718 Spyder RS

Some things in life should be left as they are. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, for example, wouldn’t be the same without its tilt. The same applies to the iconic shape of the Porsche 911.

Under the skin, though,&nbsp;there have been loads of changes to Porsche’s rear-engined <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports car</a> over the years. This latest version is codenamed the 992 and you can choose from five turbocharged flat-six petrol engines.

The range kicks off with the 380bhp Carrera and Carrera T, and the 444bhp Carrera S, and even those versions offer serious performance.&nbsp;Then there's the Carrera GTS (Gran Turismo Sport), plus two Turbo-badged models that are among the fastest cars on the road. Indeed, the 641bhp Turbo S can do 0-62mph in a scarcely believable 2.8 seconds.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HNHaRQXKObk" width="560"></iframe>

There are also Cabriolet and&nbsp;Targa versions, plus&nbsp;a&nbsp;hardcore 911 GT3 model. Further down the line, Porsche will offer two plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) versions –&nbsp;including one with more than 600bhp and a top speed of almost 200mph.

We've tested the Porsche 911 for performance,&nbsp;practicality and more, and in this review we'll tell you how it compares against it's main rivals, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/vantage/coupe/review/n194">Aston Martin Vantage</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/coupe/review/n17268">Jaguar F-Type</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17866">Mercedes-AMG GT</a>.

Iconic sports car is thrilling to drive, but also surprisingly&nbsp;easy to live with

Porsche 911

For those who prefer their sports cars served with a splash of fresh air, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet has long been a superb choice. Yet, while much of this success is down to the fact Porsche has never messed too much with the recipe, by the time every variant of the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> is on sale, there will be some significant firsts for the car.

Perhaps the biggest news of all is that two <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars-2022/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> models are planned. But don’t for a second worry that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/porsche">Porsche</a> is having its New Coke moment.

The first versions it’s chosen to launch are the Carrera S and Carrera 4S. These have historically been the most popular, and each is still powered by a flat-six engine that’s slung behind the rear axle to help give huge traction out of corners.

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In both cases, you get 30bhp more than previous versions, and acceleration that’s on a par with the 911 coupé; the rear-wheel drive S gets from 0-62mph in 3.7sec and the all-wheel drive 4S in 3.6sec. Meanwhile, the fabric roof takes just 12sec to fold up or down and can be operated at speeds of up to 30mph.

So, should you choose the 911 Cabriolet over rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8 Spyder</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/sports/review/n17">Jaguar’s F-Type</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/sports/review/n17335">Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster</a>? To help you decide, this review covers everything from what it’s like to drive to how practical it is and how much it will cost you to buy and run.

Then, when you’ve decided what to buy, make sure you head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals section</a> to get the best deal. It has plenty of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/convertible">new convertible car deals</a>.

The 911 Cabriolet is a superb high-performance car for those who want driving pleasure and a little wind-in-the-hair fun

Porsche 911 Cabriolet

We all know the Porsche 911 GT3&nbsp;has one almighty flaw – in engineering terms, slinging its engine and gearbox behind the car's back axle is downright silly.

Which is how an early <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> owner would look once that pendulous rear end started swinging. At that point, with flailing arms, they'd anxiously ponder whether the outcome would be a) Quite Silly – careering&nbsp;backwards through a thicket, or b) Extremely Silly – testing the car's crumble zone against something more solid.

Still, in the past few decades, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/porsche">Porsche</a> has tweaked, fettled and transformed the 911 into a great-handling car. In fact, it's&nbsp;become the default&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports car</a>&nbsp;of choice, with even the monster 641bhp Turbo S version becoming so civil and devoid of dastardly dynamics that dear-old nana can pin its throttle with impunity.

Could dear-old nana drive the GT3 with the same blithe confidence? That’s debatable. Today’s GT3 has had the most significant tweaks yet, including a huge helping of extra downforce and, for the first time in a 911,&nbsp;double-wishbone front suspension that's key to improving its front-end grip. It's&nbsp;still not for the fainthearted, though.

You see, the GT3 is, at its core, a racer – a 911 that’s been stripped out, strengthened, sharpened, then shipped out ready to race on Sunday, in championships including the Porsche Supercup (Formula One’s supporting race series).

To qualify for racing, a certain number of GT3s have to be sold as road cars, so some of those stripped-out racers get air-con, sat-nav and a few other creature comforts bolted back in, number plates slapped on the front and rear, and are sold to some very lucky punters.

If you wish, you can have your hardcore GT3 in a more understated Touring specification. Porsche tones down the motorsport connection by removing the rear wing, offering a fully painted front bumper and replacing carbon fibre interior trim elements with dark brushed aluminium. Under the skin, though, the Touring is every bit as focused as its stablemate.

Do the upgrades put the latest 911 GT3 at the top of the supercar tree? Well, without wishing to give too much away, it’s a hell of a thing.

Read on to find out exactly why that is and whether the 911 GT3 has become a bit too hardcore. After all, if you can afford one, you’re spoilt for choice, with rivals ranging from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/huracan/coupe/review/n17163">Lamborghini Huracán</a> to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mclaren/720/coupe/review/n174">McLaren 720S</a>.

By the way, while you're unlikely to get discounts on a supercar, we can help you find the best prices on most makes and models if you search our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a> service. It's a good place to find <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports">new sports car deals</a>.

Supercar has a stunning-sounding&nbsp;old-school engine wedded to a sublime-handling chassis.&nbsp;Utterly brilliant

Porsche 911 GT3

What is a Porsche 911 Targa&nbsp;exactly? Well, back in the 1960s there were worries that the US would ban full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-convertibles-2022/n17007">convertibles</a> on the perfectly reasonable grounds that if you rolled one, it might very well knock your block off.

So in 1966, designers came up with a clever solution for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> sports car. Instead of the whole roof folding away, the Targa had removable roof panels above its front seats that kept you blissfully aerated on a summer’s day, but behind you the rear window and roll-hoop stayed in place to protect you. Genius.

Fast forward nearly sixty years and convertibles never were banned, they just grew a lot safer, and this means the full-blown <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/sports/review/n17167">Porsche 911 Cabriolet</a> is there for wind-in-the hair motoring if you want it. Yet, seemingly anomalously, the 911 Targa still exists, too, for reasons that mainly boil down to style; folk just love its classic looks. But, arguably its roof – now electrically operated – offers better insulation in the depths of winter than the Cabriolet’s.

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Could the 911 Targa actually be a better convertible than a 911 Cabriolet? And can it trump rivals that include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/sports/review/n169">Audi R8 Spyder</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/sports/review/n17">Jaguar F-Type Convertible</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/sports/review/n17335">Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster</a>? Find out in our in-depth review.

When you’ve decided what to buy, head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a>&nbsp;section for a hassle-free deal. It has lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/convertible">new convertible car deals</a>.

One of the very best open-top sports cars you can buy

Porsche 911 Targa

Once upon a time, rally-bred Japanese performance cars like the Subaru WRX STI had a comfortable little niche all to themselves. With turbocharged engines, four-wheel drive and affordable prices, they were an all-weather alternative to conventional European road rockets.

But over time, the popularity of cars like the WRX STI has waned. Tighter emissions laws made them more expensive to run, they kept getting more expensive to buy and then the Europeans started making more and more four-wheel drive hot hatches like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17162">VW Golf R</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus-rs/hatchback/used-review/n17887">Ford Focus RS</a>.

Even so, the WRX STI is still with us and now costs a similar amount to the aforementioned Golf and Focus. For the asking price, you get plenty of equipment, 297bhp and a truly permanent four-wheel-drive system that promises to make the WRX STI even more capable.

Keep reading for our verdict on how the Subaru WRX STI drives, how spacious it is and what it’s like to live with.

Once best known for its flame-spitting, rally-bred Imprezas, Subaru’s focus now is on cars that will appeal to a far wider audience, and especially one that values go-anywhere ability and no-nonsense values above all others.

The result is a mixed bag of offerings, none of which rise beyond being average in their class but most of which have facets that make them stand out from their rivals. Core to its range are the Forester and Outback SUVs, while the Levorg is a more conventional estate.

At other extremes, there’s also the BRZ, an entertaining coupé that is let down by its price and resale values, and of course the Impreza, which comes in a variety of forms, including a hot model.

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