A35, M340i, A45 S & RS5 ΤΟΥ STORY

FOUR CARS. SUB-5S RUNS TO THE TONNE, SUB RS 1-CRORE PRICE TAGS, WHICH LIGHTS THE RIGHT FIRES?

- SIMRAN RASTOGI

What a time to be an auto enthusiast in India! The price of entry into the performance car club has fallen drastically in the last couple of years, and it seems last year has been especially kind to the enthusiast with plenty of choice coming our way - and not just in SUV form. Sure, there's been the odd Cooper JCW here or Octi RS there. But again, the six seconds or so to a hundred those cars manage could be all the power you'd ever need for our roads - but we car nuts don't work that way, do we? More is never enough. Until you get to the sub-5 second 0-100kmph class. Which by any yardstick is very, very fast, and usually the point you stop trying to go much quicker. Performance on that level would usually cost you, though. Until now, that is.

Enter the A-Class twins from Mercedes-AMG – the A35 sedan and A45 S hatch, the BMW M340i, and Audi RS5 Sportback, with prices for the least expensive car here starting at Rs 58 lakh, going up to Rs 1 crore for the most expensive. Horsepower for a rupee from the factory hasn't come this "affordable” before! Of course, it can be argued that you used to be able to get a lot more for a lot less, but the fact that cars are expensive now is just one we've to swallow. Luckily, for the enthusiast with something in the way of decently padded pockets, that rupee does work fairly hard, as we can attest after two days wringing these four cars out at the Madras Motorsport Track in Chennai. Mere straight line tools these are not we guarantee wide smiles through your favorite set of corners. Heck, all these cars turned out to be an absolute riot on the track as well. So whether you're shopping for a performance car to add to your garage, or if it's meant to be the one fun car to do it all, we'd urge you to take a step back from that SUV, and take another test drive. Any of these cars would bring a wider smile to your face...