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  1. Alfa-Romeo 8C Competizione. With a total build of just 500 units, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is rated one of the world’s most exclusive machines. Not only that, but it’s also been voted the world’s most beautiful car. With its Ferrari-sourced 4.7-litre V8, it also lacks nothing by way of performance.
  2. Callaway C15. Enhance a Chevrolet Corvette C6 by boosting its performance and appearance and the result is the Callaway C15. From the American niche maker of the same name, the Callaway comes with supercharged V8 engine, full leather interior, proprietary Callaway/Eibach suspension system, Le Mans brake package and carbon magnesium wheels.
  3. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. At $670,000 or thereabouts, the 612 Scaglietti is the most expensive Ferrari you can buy in Australia. It’s also the biggest to wear the prancing horse badge, and is rated as the fastest point-to-point four door sports car in the world. Its 5.8-litre V12 puts out nearly 400 kW and 588 Nm.
  4. Ferrari F430. Only recently superseded by the 458 Italia, the F430 has proved an outstanding sales and on-track success for Ferrari with its dynamic handling and indefatigable 4.3-litre V8.
  5. Ferrari Scuderia. The Scuderia is the hard-core version of the F430, being lighter, faster and even more performance focused. It’s also some $130,000 dearer, at around $574,000, and hence rarer.
  6. Jaguar XK. Jaguar’s XK recently received an upgrade which included a bigger V8 engine (283 kW 515 Nm 5.0-litre). At around $224,200, it’s some $30,000 less than the supercharged XKR.
  7. Lamborghini LP560-4. Lamborghini took its already well-regarded Gallardo to a new dimension with the 560-4, featuring a bigger V10 with more grunt and the retention of all wheel drive.
  8. Lamborghini Murcielago. Now superseded by the LP640, Lamborghini’s original Murcielago won lots of followers with its epic 6.2-litre V12 and other-worldly body.
  9. Maserati GranTurismo. Maserati’s GranTurismo comes with a fitting V8 soundtrack to its sensational looks. There’s now an S version, with bigger engine and more of everything.
  10. Mazda MX-5. Mazda’s ubiquitous MX-5 is the MG TC of the modern ages. With its sublime balance and handling, little wonder it’s the biggest selling sports car of all time.
  11. Morgan Aero 8. They don’t become more bespoke or British than the hand-built Morgan with its ash frame. The Aero 8, complete with BMW V8, continues the tradition.
  12. Subaru WRX STI Spec-R. The STI Spec R is the hottest of Subaru’s fabled Impreza WRX current line-up. At $66,990, it represents solid value in the bang for buck stakes.
  13. VW Golf GTi Pirelli. VW brought its accomplished Golf Generation V to an end with a limited edition GTi Pirelli featuring a suspension specially tuned to its performance Pirelli tyres as well as tread motif on the sports seats. Arguably the best Golf GTi.
  14. Westfield XI. UK kit car maker Westfield rolled back the years with its recreation of the Lotus XI sports-racer of the mid-1950s. It uses BMC A Series running gear under a shapely glass fibre body.
  15. Nissan 370Z. Nissan's 370Z carries on the great tradition of Z cars going back more than 40 years to the legendary 240Z. The current iteration is the most powerful and best equipped of its peerage and offers performance in an everyday practical package.
  16. JCW MINI. The JCW in JCW MINI stands for John Cooper Works, a moniker honouring an association between the original hot Mini and John Cooper of Formula One fame in the early1960s. In keeping, the JCW is as hot as a new MINI gets by way of performance.
  17. Lotus Elise S. The Lotus Elise S is very much in keeping with Lotus founder Colin Chapman's philosophy of "adding lightness". At less than 700 kg, it offers poise, balance and exquisite handling to the point where a normally aspirated 1.8-litre Toyota engine is more than suffice.
  18. Audi R8. It surely says something that when EVO magazine tested the Audi R8 at the Bedford Autodrome in the UK, it was fifth fastest behind the Porsche Carrera GT, Caterham CSR 260, McLaren F1 and Enzo Ferrari. The 4.2 V8 Audi was quicker than the Koenigsegg CCX, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mosler MT900, Ascari KZ1 and Porsche 997 GT3, putting it in elite company. We found it obliging on the road, too.
  19. HSV GXP. For around $60,000, the entry level HSV GXP is great buying. Under the multi-scooped bonnet is the same powerful 317 kW 550 Nm V8 engine that powers the rest of the HSV range while a softer suspension tune makes it highly agreeable as a day to day driver.
  20. Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X TMR. The TMR (Team Mitsubishi Ralliart) enhanced EVO X is basically the TMR Bathurst Edition less different wheels and badging. But it sports all under-skin modifications such as high-flow exhaust, remapped ECU and progressive rate springs that take the EVO to a new level.
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latest issue cover Apr/May
Out Now
RACQ