CATEGORIES

BEST BUYS BMW M CARS

THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.

TYRE 2024 TEST

Want to fit the very best tyres to your performance car? The annual evo Tyre Test identifies the cream of the current crop

HONDA ACCORD TYPE R

A liberal sprinkling of Honda Type R fairy dust on the late-'90s Accord produced an unlikely evo icon and a genuine performance bargain

TOY STORY

Where best to store some of Toyota’s most prized and valuable racing superstars? Under the wind tunnel at its Cologne HO, of course...

POWER PLAY

It develops 819bhp. It has no turbochargers, no hybrid assistance. Ferrari describes it as the most complete GT it's ever made. And it’s so proud of its mighty V12 engine it’s named the whole car after it. This is the 12 Cilindri

THE FIRST SAMURAIS

Japan has been responsible for many of our favourite driver's cars of recent decades, but their ancestors are often much less well known. We take a look at where the big manufacturers began their performance car journeys

DEFINITELY. NO MAYBE

Three Japanese performance icons - Lexus LFA, Subaru Impreza 22B and Nissan GT-R. Over three days on some of our favourite roads we explore what makes each uniquely thrilling, but also the car culture that unites them

1V3.0

F1, P1... and now W1. The next chapter in McLaren's Ultimate Series is the British firm's challenger to the forthcoming new Ferrari hypercar and a £2million, 1257bhp, hybrid-powered, technical tour de force

Thornley Kelham European RS

One man’s dream to build the perfect Porsche 911 has resulted inthis aaticMously restored and enhanced classic. We delve into the details and take it for a drive

Bentley Continental GT Speed

The new Continental GT is the most powerful Bentley ever, and the beginning of anew plug-in hybrid era for Crewe. But is it still a benchmark grand tourer?

Audi RS6 Avant GT

The petrol-powered RS6 super-estate is going out in a blaze of glory with the bombastic GT, complete with 1980s racing battledress. What’s not to like?

Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo - The latest, V6-powered GranTurismo is now available in open-top form. Is its combination of performance, comfort and style a winning one?

How appropriate for a car that includes a variant called 'Folgore' ('Lightning' in Italian) in its line-up that giant forks of the stuff are straddling the road ahead. It's almost as if Maserati has a direct line to the big man upstairs. Then again, giant hailstones are clattering against the fabric roof as well, and then turn to a deluge of water so heavy that to top 15mph feels reckless. Possibly not the environment the Italian firm had in mind when they chose to launch the new GranCabrio Trofeo around the Italian Lakes. Still, if nothing else it's a stern test of the canvas above my head and one that it passes with ease: there are no puddles forming inside, as you would expect of a £169,585 convertible, and it feels as quiet and snug as if I was driving the GranTurismo coupe.

Cupra Formentor Abt

It's farewell to the original Cupra Formentor with an Abt-tuned run-out package. It's a quietly excellent car; just a shame about the price...

Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo

This misguided departure from the French brand's hot hatch heritage saw the Clio fall from grace

REBIRTH OF AN ICON

The Kalmar 9X9 is a modernday reinterpretation of Porsche's game-changing 959 supercar, with a carbon body and up to 917bhp. And evo is helping to develop it

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The underachieving Mk8 GTI gets a shot at redemption with the new, revised Mk8.5 version. Is it the leap forward it needs to be?

BEST BUYS

FAST FORDS FROM THE CORTINA TO THE ESCORT AND THE FIESTA, Ford is responsible for some of the most popular cars in British history. But alongside these everyday machines it has also produced a stream of desirable driver's cars.

HY AND DRY

The switch to electric power means an early exit for Hyundai N's brilliant ICE hot hatch duo. We go for a farewell drive in the 120 N

SEXY BEAST

The Vanquish name is back for Aston Martin's latest seriesproduction flagship, with a stunning new look and simply brutal performance from an 824bhp twin-turbo V12

THE JOY OF DRIVING

From mastering the everyday commute to unlocking the full potential of your performance car, our new series will help you become safer, more confident and ultimately more skilled behind the wheel

TINY DANCER

You haven't seen a Mini dance like this before, but then you haven't seen a Mini with a 4-litre M Power V8 under the bonnet and rear-wheel drive. Introducing Vini...

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO

Grandaddy to the Temerario and the car that transformed Lamborghini was the brilliant, V10-engined Gallardo. We get reacquainted with a Lambo legend

TEMPEST

The Temerario, Lamborghini's replacement for the Huracán, swaps the iconic V10 for a downsized turbocharged V8 and three electric motors. But fear not. With a 10,000rpm red line and 907bhp, it's set to go down a storm

NOMAD'S LAND

Ariel's off-road sports car has been reborn. We're first to drive the Nomad 2, on some of the UK's best B-roads

BEST BUYS RENAULT SPORT

OF ALL THE MANUFACTURERS THAT HAVE PULLED OUT OF the hot hatch game recently, Renault is the one we'll probably miss the most. Its Renault Sport division churned out a stunning run of performance cars over the past three decades, more often than not setting the benchmark by which others were judged.

THE ANATOMY OF A FORD SIER RA RS500

Group A was a golden era in touring car racing, and nothing captured hearts and minds quite like the wild, bewinged Sierra. We look under its skin

ZERO TO HERO?

Great British Sports Cars (GBS to its friends) isn't a household name, but that could change. We visit its HQ and drive the Zero, its modern take on a Lotus Seven, to find out if it deserves a bigger audience

Hot Shot

How designer and car nut Craig Callum found his dream job as head designer at Hot Wheels

PAST FORWARD

Singer's latest restomod offering is a unique take on the revered Porsche 930 Turbo. Is it as good to drive as it is to look at?

MONSTER MUNCH

Inspired by a brake-eating 1970s Le Mans racer and packing a 705bhp twin-turbo V12 and a manual transmission, the Valour is an Aston Martin for modern times but with bags of old-school appeal