6 of the most exciting sports cars in the market today

With the COVID phase nearing its end and news that production and logistics channels are picking up, there is a renewed vigour in the automotive industry, both amongst the buyers and the sellers, beyond the used car market.

And if you have a zeal for something new and sporty and the money to take the plunge, here is an eclectic mix of speedsters you should consider before subscribing to brand loyalty or falling prey to a seasonal offer.

Toyota GR86

In 2012, like a ray of hope…came the Toyota 86/GR86. It was intended to be a sleek, purpose-built, and most importantly affordable coupe that the market was thirsty for. But in reality, this return-to-basics sportscar was a little too basic. It had wonky styling cues, sounded like a grinder, and was the slowest “sportscar” ever known to the modern millennial man. But pricing and nimble handling saved its case and it eventually became a sales success and legend in its own right.

But this time around they’ve done it right and many would argue that this new car should have been their first generation after all. The swanky coupe lines are even more cohesive now and the horizontally opposed Boxer engine which has grown in displacement from an anaemic 2 litres to a more apt 2.4 litres can throw a decent punch in the acceleration department. With an optimistic 228 bhp and 250 Nm at play, given the full juice, it will run away to a 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds, which in my opinion is more than enough for the college goer who needs a lecture on speeding and for the potential tuner who needs a good base. It hasn’t hit the UAE market yet, but in KSA, it has been priced at around AED 130k or so.

Nissan Z

The 7th generation of the legendary Japanese sportscar is here to stir up your segment and your senses. It tastefully blends styling details pilfered from previous generations like the 240Z with the silhouette of the previous generation. While the giant rectangular frontal grille is just there to invoke curiosity like a vacuum cleaner installation at an art installation.

Helping it zip between stop lights is a mighty 400-horse turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 that makes it a true road-going rocketship by any measure. Although this engine, which was first featured on the 2017 Infiniti QX60, deserves at least a tiny power bump as a token of natural progression. While it retains the 2-seater configuration, with the handling-enhancing brace gone the boot is marginally more commodious than its predecessor. Both the 6-speed manual and the 9-speed automatic transmission variants are priced at AED 205,000 each, but there is a 3-month waitlist.

Honda Civic Type R

Possibly the unsung hero of the sportscar market in the Middle East is the Type R. But that shouldn’t deter you from considering one. Also, it may have a Civic badge slapped onto its rear end but is anything but civil. The Type R is a raw, visceral piece of machinery that is ready for a hair-raising driving experience if you are. With a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder that puts down 320 PS of power via the taut front-wheel drive chassis, it is the apex predator on the track. And this time around it’s abandoned the hatchback format for a refined sedan shape with speed-related trims …and a big rear wing. And got to love those bright red racing bucket seats too!