Sports Car reviews

A year after announcing that it had become an official video game partner for Gran Turismo Sport, Mazda has unveiled its new digital ride for the game. Called the RX-Vision GT3 Concept, the GT3-class racer is as enthralling and as captivating as you expect it would be.

That’s not a surprise given that the racer pilfers some of its design cues from the obnoxiously raunchy RX-Vision Concept that Mazda unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The low-riding, slinky racer is the creation of Ikuo Maeda, Mazda’s global design boss. The Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept isn’t available in Gran Turismo Sport, at least not until May 25, when it arrives as part of an online update. It will join the Atenza Gr.3 as the second GT3-class Mazda in the game.

Introduced in 2014, the Mercedes-AMG GT is no longer the company’s flagship sports car, but a full lineup of vehicles. In three years, AMG not only developed a Roadster but also launched a higher performance coupe and a beefed-up convertible too. Oh, and it also created two different race cars based on the GT. In all, the AMG GT includes seven members, which is darn impressive. But Mercedes-AMG won’t stop here. Although rumors of a Black Series model have yet to be confirmed, recent spy shots suggest that such a version is indeed underway. And we might just see it in the metal in early 2019.

With the GT R in showrooms, a Black Series model might not make much sense, but Mercedes has plenty of room to either slot it between the GT S and GT R or place it above everything else as a range-topping model. The latter scenario is more likely, so we could get an AMG GT with close to 600 horsepower and built in a very limited run. We should find out more later this year, so make sure you stick around for updates. Meanwhile, have a look at my speculative review below.

Update 3/24/2020: The Mercedes-AMG Black Series is about ready for production and we just got a fresh look. Check out the Spy Shots section below to see the latest pictures and learn what has changed!

The Mercedes-AMG GT R is a real looker with its long nose and swooped back cabin. Just looking at it evokes all the feelings you’d expect from a precision-built, six-figure machine that bears both the AMG and Mercedes logo. It’s an impressive car, to say the least, but what happens when you get behind the wheel of one of the 750 GT R Roadsters that will be produced? Does it still evoke that same high-end sports car feeling? Does it still feel like it’s ready for the track from the moment you sit down in the seat? Does it drive any different compared to the coupe it is based on? Well, we spent a week with the AMG GT R, and we’ve set out to answer all those questions and more.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is an upcoming high-performance variant of the 982-generation Cayman that’s rumored to debut in 2020. Essentially a more aggressive and powerful version of the existing 718 Cayman GT4, the 2021 will be the first of its kind and the first modern 718 to feature the "RS" badge. This car has been in the rumor mill ever since the first Cayman GT4 was introduced in 2015, but it took Porsche around four years to turn it into reality. Better late than never, I guess.

The 2021 718 Cayman GT4 RS is more than just a rumor now. The car has already been spotted on public roads with some camouflage on its body, but also with a beefed-up exterior. It features bigger vents in the front, a big rear wing, and many small details that set it apart from the already familiar GT4. Just like the latter, the 2021 718 Cayman GT4 RS will feature the 911’s 4.0-liter flat-six under the hood, but in a more powerful setup. Let’s find out more about it in the review below.

Update 3/18/2020: The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS has been spotted doing some cold-weather testing and there are a few subtle changes that you need to know about. Check it out in our “Spy Shots” section below!

The 2020 Skoda Octavia vRS is the high-performance version of the fourth-generation liftback sedan. Available in both sedan and wagon body styles, the 2020 Octavia vRS boasts the sportier, more angular design of the latest Octavia, but the really big news is that it features a hybrid drivetrain. This isn’t surprising given that it shares underpinnings with the latest Volkswagen Golf,, but it’s the first vRS model to sport a form of electrification. The 2020 Octavia vRS iV is the first performance Skoda model with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It also joins other electrified Octavia models like two mild hybrids and a less powerful plug-in. Let’s find out more about this performance four-door in the review below.

We’ve all heard of Mansory, but few of us actually love the German tuner’s audacious creations. But other than Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys, Mansory is also in the business of spicing up fully-blown off-road side-by-sides like the Can-Am Maverick.

That’s right, you can go to Mansory and ask them to tweak your Maverick on all fronts. And they’ll gladly do it, except the end result won’t be called Maverick anymore. It’s new name is Xerocole. Mansory Xerocole.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S is the range-topping version of the latest, 992-generation Porsche 911. Unveiled during the virtual edition of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, the 2021 911 Turbo S arrive before its least powerful twin, the Turbo. Fitted with a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter flat-six engine rated at 640 horsepower, the 2021 911 Turbo S is the most powerful 911 Turbo model ever. It’s also the quickest, as the beefed-up coupe needs only 2.6 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standing start. How does it compare with the old Turbo S and similar sports cars on the market? Let’s find out in the review below.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E53 is a facelifted version of the performance sedan that sits between the regular E-Class and the AMG E63. The sedan that replaced the old AMG E43 arrived less than a couple of years ago, but Mercedes-Benz decided to upgrade it alongside the standard E-Class. The facelift adds restyled front and rear sections and some new tech, but the drivetrain remains unchanged.

The 2021 McLaren 765LT is the range-topping version of the company’s Super Series family, built around the 720S core model. Essentially a successor to the 675LT, the 2021 765LT is yet another tribute to the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail, a race car fitted with an elongated body for enhanced aerodynamics. The 2021 765LT shares many components with the familiar 720S, but it features a more aggressive aero package with carbon-fiber components, a race-focused interior, and a more powerful engine. As the name suggests, the V-8 engine cranks out 765 PS, which converts to 755 horsepower, 45 more than the regular 720S.

Announced at Audi’s Annual Press Conference in Ingolstadt earlier this year, the Audi E-Tron GT is a new all-electric four-door coupé destined to hit the market in 2020. Offered as part of the Audi electric onslaught in which the Ingolstadt-based company will reveal 20 new electric models by 2025, the Audi E-Tron GT will sit at the top of the Audi Sport division, and will be responsible for constructing an all-new character trait for Audi’s line of Sport vehicles. With models such as the Audi A5 Sportback and Audi A7, the company obviously has some proper knowledge of the four-door coupé design. The E-Tron GT will act as a flagship for this intriguing car segment.

Given the E-Tron GT will take technology, design features, cabin specs, and possibly drivetrain hardware from other E-Tron vehicles, we already know a thing or two about the new car. Marketed to fight against the likes of the Tesla Model S and similar entries from other manufacturers, the Audi E-Tron GT could be even more impressive than the recently introduced E-Tron Quattro SUV.

Update 03/09/2020: A prototype for the Audi E-Tron GT has finally been spotted in the wild. Check out the latest spy shots and what we’ve learned in our special “Spy Shots” section below!

The 2021 Koenigsegg Gemera is a two-door, four-seat hypercar developed by the Swedish company that gave us the Agera, Regera, and Jesko. But unlike its siblings, and despite having only two doors, the 2021 Gemera offers seating for four. And it does so via four equally comfortable seats, so it’s not just a regular grand tourer. The 2021 Gemera boasts a hybrid drivetrain under the skin, comprising three electric motor and a three-cylinder engine. As shocking as it may sound, the three-cylinder generates 600 horsepower, making it the most powerful of its kind in production, and works on a variety of fuels, including CO2-neutral methanol. Overall, the hybrid drivetrain pumps out an amazing 1,700 horsepower and 2,581 pound-feet of torque. Let’s find out more about the world’s first practical megacar - aka Mega GT - in the review below.

Alfa Romeo isn’t the first brand you think of when it comes to lightweight performance sedans. But the Italian automaker is looking to flip that narrative with the arrival of the Giulia Quadrifoglio GTA.

Lighter, faster, and more powerful than any version of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the Giulia GTA — it stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerita or “Grand Touring Lightened” — represents a complete makeover of the Giulia sedan.

Significant changes can be seen in the exterior, interior, and drivetrain departments, so much so that you’d be excused for thinking that Alfa Romeo has lost its marbles and has decided to dive in the deep end of the performance sedan pool. Not that we’re complaining; the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA has the vibe of a king slayer. It certainly looks like one.

Alpine’s return to automotive prominence hit another milestone with the unveiling of the A110 Legende GT. Billed as the “most refined interpretation of the A110 to date,” the A110 Legende GT breaks away from its contemporaries with a smattering of exclusive touches, including an all-new paint finish that will be seen for the first time on the A110.

There is, of course, more to the Legende GT than a fancy new paint. The special edition also boasts a bespoke exterior that matches the exclusivity of the interior. Alpine only plans to release 400 units of the A110 Legende GT. The special edition sports coupe is available to order in France with a starting price of €69,300. That’s around $77,000 based on current exchange rates.

The Briggs Automotive Company, or popularly known as BAC, has been in existence for just over a decade. Its first and only car to date, the Mono, was born in 2011. Since then, the car hasn’t gone through much of a change. The single-seater seems to be designed as a track car and then toned down in each department to make it road legal.

Since its inception, the Mono has more or less remained the same; but BAC was looking to bring out the second-gen 2021 Mono at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. As luck would have it, the show itself got canceled, but the company decided to launch it anyway. Does it get any better than the previous-gen Mono?

The 2020 Audi RS6 Avant is the range-topping version of Audi’s midsize wagon, the A6 Avant. Arguably the most iconic RS model, the RS6 Avant returns with a brand-new exterior and is more powerful than ever. Unlike its predecessor, it’s no longer entirely based on the A6, as it borrows front fascia elements from the A7 and the R8. The 2020 RS6 Avant is also the first of its kind to feature a hybrid drivetrain thanks to a 48-volt system. Granted, it’s not a full-fledged hybrid, but it’s an essential step toward electrification. Unlike its predecessors, the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant will be offered in the United States.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 is a naturally-aspirated version of the existing 718 Boxster. Essentially an update for the current 718 Cayman GTS, the GTS 4.0 ditches the turbocharged, 2.5-liter flat-four engine in favor of a 4.0-liter flat-six mill.

The engine is shared with the range-topping 2020 718 Boxster, but detuned in order to slot the GTS 4.0 lower in the lineup. Unveiled alongside an identical version of the 718 Cayman, the 2021 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 hits the road with 394 horsepower and various suspension components borrowed from the 911 GT3.

The GTS 4.0 also marks the return of the naturally aspirated engine in the 718 Boxster lineup (beyond the Spyder model of course), but it will probably be offered only for a limited time. Let’s find out more about it in the review below.

Toyota made some major changes to the 2021 Toyota Supra, the most important of which come in the form of updated power output for the six-cylinder model and the introduction of the four-cylinder Supra to the U.S. market. However, there was another gem hidden in Toyota’s announcement, and that is the Supra A91 Special Edition. It doesn’t come with any extra power over the standard model, but it is based on the six-cylinder model, so it does have the extra power.

We spied the upcoming Volkswagen Golf GTI once again and this time it was the hotter TCR version.

The TCR will of course have more power than a normal GTI and it will also be more driver focused. Where the regular GTI will have 180 kW / 245 horsepower, the TCR will have a mighty 221 kW / 300 horsepower. And like the old GTI TCR, the power goes via a DSG dual clutch gearbox and a locking differential to the front wheels. No manual option is planned as for now.

The brake discs are drilled and the suspension is lower and more firm compared to a standard GTI. The intercooler hidden behind the front bumper looks slightly bigger than on the standard GTI but we are not really sure.

There will of course also be some optical changes like special wheels and oval exhaust pipes. The rear spoiler on the production ready car will be bigger than on this prototype and the interior will also be special for the TCR.

Aston Martin is rolling out a pair of special edition models to celebrate the automaker’s historic one-two finish at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans. Appropriately dubbed the “59 Edition” models, 24 units of the DBS Superleggera and 59 units of the Vantage AMR have been given the special edition treatment.

Both models take their exclusive styling cues from the race-winning DBR1 racer, which roared to victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 1959, beating powerhouse teams from Ferrari and Porsche on its way to victory.

The super rare Astons were commissioned by the automaker’s dealership in Gloucestershire, England. The cost of owning the DBS Superleggera 59 comes up to £325,000 — that converts to around $420,000 — while the Vantage AMR 59 is priced at $209,995. Sadly, all 24 units of the DBS Superleggera 59 are already accounted for, though there might still be available units of the Vantage AMR 59.

The 2020 Aston Martin Vantage Volante is the convertible version of the Vantage, the company’s most affordable sports car. Unveiled a couple of years after the coupe, the 2020 Vantage Volante features the quickest folding roof on the market, which takes only 13.5 seconds to pack and unpack. The 2020 Vantage Volante is heavily based on the Vantage coupe so it comes with the same underpinnings under the shell. Powered by a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 engine borrowed from AMG, the 2020 Vantage Volante hits the road with 503 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of twist on tap. The British drop-top competes with high-performance convertibles like the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and the Porsche 911 Cabriolet.

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen! It’s been a long road to get to this point, but now we’re finally getting our first look at the next-generation Volkswagen Golf R. A test mule of the big daddy Golf R was recently spotted doing some test runs in the snow, and yes, this particular prototype is wearing nothing but fresh paint.

There’s no camouflage in sight, allowing us to see the next-generation Golf R in all its glory. Specific details in the prototype present clear markings of the Golf R’s DNA so unless Volkswagen has a surprise for us with a different Golf-based hot hatch, what we’re looking at here is the next-generation Golf R.

There’s no set timetable on when the Golf R is expected to arrive, but with the just-as-new Golf GTI expected to debut at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen could hold off the Golf R’s debut for later in the year. Or it could join the Golf GTI in Geneva. Either way, the all-new Golf R is here.

Lotus is paying homage to Australia’s most famous race by launching the Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition. Limited to just six units — yes, six — the Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition is as exclusive as it’s going to get. The special edition sports car boasts exclusive features befitting its status, none more prominent than a rare paint finish that hasn’t been used in a Lotus since the Lotus Esprit that starred in the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

In addition to the exclusive paint, the Elise 250 Bathurst Edition also comes with interior upgrades and mechanical improvements. The sports car’s 1.8-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine, on the other hand, remains in stock form. The cost of owning one of the six Lotus Elise 250 Bathurst Edition models sits at AUD109,900.

That converts to around $73,760 based on current exchange rates. Unfortunately for us here in the U.S., all six units of the Elise 250 Bathurst Edition are exclusive to the Australian market.