Ford has launched a comprehensive package to help drivers go electric. The Ford Power Promise now comes with every new Ford EV, including the forthcoming Ford Puma Gen-E.
The headline Ford Power Promise offer is a free home electric car charger, plus free installation. Ford will also provide up to 10,000 miles’ of home energy bonus, meaning EV owners can drive for free if they recharge at home.
The Ford Power Promise also includes a five-year towing assistance package, so motorists won’t be stranded at the side of the road if their EV battery runs out.
Helping to make this unlikely is the Ford BlueOval Charge Network, which provides access to more than 33,000 public charge points across the UK. The FordPass app is also designed to ‘eliminate the stress and storage of multiple apps for public charging payments’.
Lastly, the Ford Power Promise comes with a five-year service plan and an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty.
Making EVs less stressful
Ford UK chair and MD Lisa Brankin acknowledged that switching to an EV can be a daunting prospect for some drivers. “Ford has decided to simplify and de-stress the entire ownership experience by launching a one-of-a-kind promise to new electric car buyers,” she explained.
“This commitment from Ford aims to entice new buyers into the exciting world of electric vehicles and stimulate additional demand for our freshest-ever lineup of electric passenger cars.”
As well as the new Puma Gen-E, the Ford Power Promise is offered on the Ford Explorer, Ford Capri, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford E-Tourneo Custom and Ford E-Tourneo Courier.
Those who already have a home EV charger can choose a £500 cash alternative instead.
Working with Octopus Energy
The Ford Power Promise builds on an existing relationship the car company has with Octopus Energy. Customers can benefit from the Intelligent Octopus Go smart energy tariff, which charges vehicles for just 7p per kWh overnight.
Ford says this will save 70 percent compared to electricity price cap rates. Charging a new Puma Gen-E could cost as little as £3.23, the firm has calculated.
“With every electric car that takes to the road, we’re getting closer to zero-emissions transport,” said Octopus Energy’s Alex Schoch. “To reach the finish line, we need to make green driving cheap and accessible.
‘Working together with Ford, we’re able to create a compelling incentive for drivers to make the switch to electric, saving their pocket and the planet at the same time.”
The Ford Power Promise comes in response to a survey carried out by the firm that showed one in four customers experience greater uncertainty and complexity when buying a new EV. One in eight people found it too difficult to arrange home charging, while one in three believe that EVs take too long to charge.
Ineos Automotive has unveiled a new marketing campaign, deliberately poking fun at the rival Land Rover Defender.
The provocative ‘Us vs. Them’ message is intended to differentiate the Grenadier 4×4 from ‘regular school-run SUVs and soft-roading crossovers’, according to Ineos.
Leading the campaign is a poster that pictures a muddy Grenadier squaring-up to clean Land Rover Defender.
To ensure the message hits home, Ineos had the advertisement placed on a digital billboard right next to the Lookers Park Royal Jaguar Land Rover showroom in West London.
Demonstrating the difference
Ineos and Land Rover are no strangers to rivalry, following years of legal battles between the two companies.
In 2020, Land Rover lost a ruling to trademark the shape of the original Defender, opening the door for Ineos to start production of the Grenadier.
“We’ve held our tongues while winning the court cases over and over again, and we feel it’s now time to set the record straight. We’re not them and we’re not trying to be them,” said Lynn Calder, CEO at Ineos Automotive.
“Good luck to the others: they’re cool cars. But we’re tired of the comparisons. To be clear, this is all about saying we’re different.”
New battles on the horizon
Last year, Ineos had to temporarily halt production of the Grenadier 4×4 and related Quartermaster pickup truck.
A supply chain issue, believed to be related to German seat manufacturer Recaro entering insolvency, led to Ineos stopping production of vehicles in September 2024.
The company’s factory in Hambach, France, was able to start building cars again in January this year. Ineos is now targeting major expansion in China, Mexico and the United States for 2025.
However, the introduction of tariffs on imported cars by the United States could impact those plans. Because its manufacturing facility is in the European Union, Ineos products will be hit by a 25 percent tariff on vehicles sold in the USA.
Lynn Calder added: “This is what happens when politicians sit on their hands. As a growing, EU-based automobile brand, we are vulnerable to tariffs, and we need our politicians to support our business, our jobs and our economies. We need urgent and direct political intervention on tariffs.”
The Young Driver road safety scheme has just delivered its 1.5 millionth lesson, 16 years after it was established.
Teaching children as young as nine years old about the essentials of driving, the scheme has achieved an 84 percent reduction in accidents for those who attend.
Young Driver has organised almost 9,400 events since 2009, operating from 70 venues across England, Scotland and Wales.
This means youngsters have racked-up 750,000 hours of driving experience, guided by a team of 430 instructors and using dual-control cars.
The kids are alright
Each Young Driver session sees a realistic road system created on private property. This allows motoring novices to experience junctions, roundabouts and areas to practice other manoeuvres.
The scheme also places a focus on mastering basic skills that will help once drivers turn 17, including clutch control, braking, steering and observing the road.
One in five new drivers typically has an accident in the first six months after passing their driving test. However, this drops dramatically to less than one in 25 for Young Driver alumni.
Ten-year old Taylor Deans from Coventry took Young Driver’s 1.5 millionth lesson. Savhannah Deans, his mother, said: “I’ve wanted Taylor to try a driving lesson with Young Driver for a while, so we decided to do it for his 10th birthday. I was blown away with how much he learnt.”
Practice makes perfect
Ian Mulingani, managing director of Young Driver, said: “Everything we do is about safety and helping young people realise the responsibility that comes with being behind the wheel of a vehicle. Practice really does make perfect and the accident statistics for our past pupils prove this is a positive way to improve the safety of young people behind the wheel. But it’s still something they have fun doing.”
Earlier this year, Young Driver purchased 170 new Suzuki Swift cars, replacing its ‘unreliable’ fleet of Vauxhall Corsas.
Youngsters can also experience driving a variety of other vehicles, from a Mercedes-Benz SL500 roadster to a fire engine.
Children aged under nine can receive special tutoring in Young Driver’s own Firefly Sport EVs.
Denmark is known for its contributions to cuisine, design and quality of life, but the Scandinavian country will soon be responsible for the most powerful V12 engine on the road.
Zenvo Automotive, located in the small Danish town of Præstø, has unveiled its new ‘Mjølner’ V12, destined to power the Aurora hypercar.
The first example of the hand-built engine has been completed, in collaboration with Northamptonshire-based Mahle Powertrain – and Zenvo has just released more details.
When fitted to the Zenvo Aurora, this incredible engine should allow for an estimated top speed of 280mph. So, exactly how much power are we talking?
Pushing for maximum power
The 6.6-litre Mjølner V12 engine makes use of four turbochargers, and even pre-heats its catalytic converters. The result is a colossal output of 1,250hp, plus a rev limit of 9,800rpm.
Zenvo then adds a 200hp integrated hybrid electric motor to the seven-speed paddle-shift transmission, along with additional 200hp electric motors to power each front wheel.
Combined output with the hybrid system is 1,850hp – more than a Bugatti Tourbillon – along with an estimated 1,250lb ft of torque.
With Zenvo aiming for a kerb weight of just 1,450kg, accelerating from 0-62mph should take just 2.8 seconds. And the Aurora could reach 248mph in a mere 17 seconds.
An engine built by ‘car guys’
Zenvo is no stranger to pushing boundaries in engineering. Its previous TS1 GT featured a radical ‘centripedal’ rear wing that could lean when cornering to maximise downforce, and also act as an air brake when needed.
The Aurora is expected to enter production in 2026, with each car tailored specifically to its individual owner.
“A key part of the Aurora programme is around delivering an emotional connection for drivers and passengers, designed to stimulate the senses,” explained Jens Sverdrup, chairman of Zenvo Automotive.
“Sound and visceral drama is what Aurora will be all about, and the engine is a vital element in this, which we will turn up to 11. At Zenvo, we are a team of passionate, genuine ‘car guys’, and it is not every day that a V12 engine is born, so it is very proud moment and very exciting to finally showcase Mjølner. The fact it is the world’s most powerful road car engine was not something we set out to achieve, but is a result of us pushing what we know is possible.
“This is a hugely important milestone, and the next step will see – and hear – it come to life. It has been designed to deliver at every level, which shows the progress we continue to make.”
The difference between a compulsory and a voluntary excess is often misunderstood when it comes to car insurance.
That’s according to research by comparison website GoCompare, which found excess charges were widely overlooked or disregarded by drivers when arranging an insurance policy.
Only 35 percent of drivers surveyed said they checked the policy excess when arranging cover. And worryingly, only 30 percent could afford to pay the excess in the event of an insurance claim.
What is a car insurance excess?
The excess is the amount of money you will have to pay upfront if you make a claim on your car insurance. An excess will be applied to claims for theft, fire damage, at-fault accidents and write-offs.
From the insurance company’s point of view, the aim of having an excess is to deter fraud and false claims. It also helps keep down the cost of insurance by having the policy holder absorb some of the loss in the event of a claim.
There are two types of excess: voluntary and compulsory. Combined, these make up the ‘total excess’, which could add up to a significant sum of money. It’s one of the reasons why you should check the finer details of an insurance quote, and not just the annual premium, before you sign up for a new policy.
Compulsory or voluntary excess?
For example, if the compulsory excess is £500 and the voluntary excess is £250, you’ll have to pay £750 towards the cost of any claim. That’s on top of the cost of your annual premium.
The compulsory excess is set by the insurer and will vary depending on several factors, such as the policy holder’s age, driving experience and the type of car that is insured.
The voluntary excess is chosen by the policy holder and is the amount of money they are prepared to pay upfront in the event of a claim. Paying a higher voluntary excess could reduce your premium, but obviously it will cost more if you make a claim.
It’s also worth noting that insurance companies will only process claims once the excess charges have been paid, regardless of who is at fault.
If the other driver has admitted fault and notified their insurance provider, the excess might be waived. Only when the insurer is certain you’re not at fault will you get the excess payment back.
Advertising your used car for sale sounds simple enough. However, you’d be surprised how many people get the basics wrong.
Little mistakes can make a big difference, too – they could affect the final price you agree with a buyer.They may also mean the difference between shifting your car in record time or having it sat on your driveway for longer than expected.
Our quick guide will help sell your used car quickly, easily and for the best price. Read on for what you need to know.
Prepare your car for sale
Before you get as far as listing the car for sale, you’ll need to prepare it for viewing. Those sweet wrappers in the footwell, dog hairs in the boot and sticky finger marks on the rear windows aren’t a good look.
Potential buyers will make snap decisions based on the car they see in the photographs, so a few hours spent washing and waxing will pay dividends in the long run. At the very least, a visit to the local hand car wash will ensure your vehicle is fit to be seen.
Alternatively, bring in the experts. A mini valet is likely to cost upwards of £30 and will include a wash and wax, interior dust and vacuum, window clean and rubbish removal. That should be enough to attract potential buyers on the strength of your advertisement.
For seriously soiled motors, a full valet is a good move – especially for more expensive cars. Think of this as a deep clean, which is likely to include a polish, power-washed wheelarches, an interior shampoo, the door and boot shuts cleaned and the interior deodorised.
Prices vary depending on the size of car, length of valet and additional services, such as engine steam cleaning. But £100 to £200 could be money well spent if you’re looking to achieve a top price for your vehicle.
Any chips, dents or damage you find should be rectified prior to sale, but only if it will affect the price you expect to achieve. There’s little point spending £250 on a car that’s worth just £500, for example. Use your common sense.
Where to sell your car
Once upon a time, selling a car meant selecting from a small number of outlets, with the weekly Auto Trader magazine the most likely avenue. Other options included the small ads in the local newspaper, weekly car magazines and the Post Office noticeboard.
Times have changed and there are a now many different ways to sell your car. Let’s examine some of the most popular.
Online
Simply advertising your car online and hoping for the best isn’t enough – you have to select the most appropriate channel. Consider the car and the audience it’s likely to appeal to.
If it’s a performance car, PistonHeads might be the best option. For older vehicles, have a look at Car & Classic. It’s free to list your vehicle and many fans of retro and classic cars will happily spend an hour on the site, dreaming of filling their fantasy garage.
For everything else, the former print hero is now one of the leading outlets of the digital age. Auto Trader claims a car is listed for sale on its website every 60 seconds, with buyers offered numerous different search options and pre-defined fields.
Other outlets to consider include Gumtree, one-make car forums, social media and the eBay auction site.
Print
While selling online is quick and easy, printed media should not be ruled out. If you’re not in a hurry to sell or are looking to achieve the maximum price possible, advertising in a glossy car magazine could be for you.
You should also consider the weekly classic car newspapers, such as Classic Car Weekly and Classic Car Buyer. Remember, not everyone goes online to buy a car. Traditional methods still work.
Other options
Other options to consider are car auctions, part-exchanging at a local dealer or selling via a company such as We Buy Any Car.
There are pros and cons associated with each of these options, so decide if they’re right for you. Bear in mind that, in the majority of cases, you’re likely to achieve far less than the retail value of your car. The flipside is a hassle-free sale.
How to photograph your car
With your car fresh from its makeover, now’s the time to take some photographs. You don’t need to be a wannabe Annie Leibovitz behind the camera, but it’s essential to take a good range of shots to present your car in all its glory.
Think brochure shots rather than anything too arty. If possible, find a plain background and make sure you shoot in daylight, but avoid direct sunlight.
Today’s smartphones will be more than up to the task, but avoid using any of the phone’s fancy filters. It’s definitely a case of #nofilter here.
As for the selection of photos, we recommend the following:
Front three-quarter
Rear three-quarter
Side profile
Front face-on
Rear face-on
Dashboard – taken from behind the front seats
Dashboard – looking through from one of the rear doors
Front seats
Rear seats
Inside the boot
Engine bay
Close ups of all the alloy wheels
Any damage
Roof up and roof down (convertibles only!)
Any special features/modifications
Finally, make sure the photos are in focus. You’ll be amazed how many sellers forget this simple point.
Do your homework
You’re almost ready to write the advertisement, but before you do, it’s time to do some homework. Don’t worry, it’s nothing too strenuous, but could avoid wasted time in the long run.
Take a look at similar cars for sale, which will help you decide how much to ask. If it’s a classic car, check out the Practical Classics guide for a rough estimate of what you’re likely to achieve.
If the vehicle is stuck somewhere between classic status and being relatively modern, you might consider selling via eBay. The market will dictate the price, but list the car with a reserve if you’re worried about getting less than it’s worth.
It’s also worth mentioning eBay has an advanced search function, allowing you to view the prices of recently sold vehicles.
Writing the ad: the essentials
This is it: your moment to shine – a chance to give your beloved motor the send-off it deserves. A sales pitch to beat all sales pitches. Just avoid heading into David Brent territory.
Be informative and descriptive, but don’t be afraid to ‘big up’ your motor. List the positives, point out the faults, but above all else be honest. It’s illegal to wrongly describe your car.
Crucially, the ad must encourage people to pick up the phone to arrange a visit and test-drive. But you don’t have to give everything away. You can read our guide to writing the perfect advert for a used car here.
In general, be clear and avoid using jargon or meaningless phrases. ‘First to see will buy’ means nothing and text-speak is a no-no. When you’re done, put your words through a spell checker.
Once the ad is written, you’re all set. Be prepared for your phone to start ringing off the hook. Not that mobile phones can ring off the hook…
Skoda has announced a range-topping vRS version of its Elroq compact electric SUV. Strutting its stuff at Milan Design Week 2025, the Elroq vRS becomes Skoda’s fastest-accelerating production car to date.
In addition, new battery technology also makes this the quickest-charging electric vehicle in the Skoda range.
Johannes Neft, Skoda board member for technical development, said: “Skoda vRS models traditionally combine dynamic performance and sporty looks with well-balanced driving characteristics and practicality. The Elroq vRS is no exception”.
Rapid performance and charging
Powering the Elroq vRS are two electric motors with a total output of 340hp. All-wheel drive is included, helping the family SUV achieve a new Skoda record of accelerating from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds.
Top speed for the Elroq vRS is 111mph, while the 84kWh battery pack offers an official range of 340 miles.
The hottest Elroq is the first Skoda to be compatible with charging speeds of up to 185kW. This means a DC rapid charger can replenish the battery pack from 10 to 80 per cent in around 26 minutes.
Skoda says using an 11kW home wallbox will require eight hours for the vRS to be fully charged.
True green performance
Skoda has given the Elroq vRS a sporty makeover on the outside, with bespoke front and rear bumpers, lowered sports suspension and a set of 21-inch alloy wheels. The marque’s vRS-specific Hyper Green paint colour is on the options list, too.
Inside, the Elroq vRS gains sports seats clad in Suedia microfibre upholstery with lime-green stitching, stainless steel pedal covers and carbon fibre-effect trim.
Standard equipment includes Matrix LED headlights, three-zone climate control, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control.
Skoda will confirm UK prices and the final specification later this month. The first completed examples of the vRS Elroq will arrive in the summer.
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles will host a special cruise-in to pay tribute to the late motorsport legend, Ken Block.
Taking place on Sunday 6 April 2025 between 8am and 2pm, the 43i Cruise-In will see hundreds of special cars on show. Visitors will also get the chance to meet automotive personalities who worked with Block.
Brian Scotto, co-founder of Hoonigan and board member of the charitable 43 Institute, is one of the VIPs due to attend. Scotto will also record a live podcast from the event.
Ahead of the 43i Cruise-In, the Petersen Museum will host special events throughout the week, including a celebration of “National Ken Block Day” on 3 April.
Remembering the People’s Champ
Those purchasing a ticket to attend the 43i Cruise-In also gain entry to the “People’s Champ: The Impact of Ken Block” exhibition, which opened at the Petersen earlier this year.
This will include a special tour of the vehicles, personal effects and memorabilia associated with Ken Block. The tour will be led by Ron Zaras, former creative director at Hoonigan.
The exhibition chronicles Block’s life from entrepreneur to motorsport star, highlighting some of the cars made famous by his “Gymkhana” series of YouTube videos.
For those unable to attend this weekend’s Cruise-In, the People’s Champ exhibition will remain open at the Petersen until October 2025.
Free donuts included
Tickets for the 43i Cruise-In are priced at $43, including access to the Petersen Museum to enjoy the Ken Block exhibition. Those attending will also receive an exclusive poster, along with free on-site parking.
Drivers with a modified show car to display can buy entry for $69, which includes access for two people to the Petersen Museum, along with dedicated show car parking.
Spectator access to the show car Cruise-In parking area is free, and even includes complimentary coffee and donuts.
More information about the 43i Cruise-In is on the Petersen Automotive Museum website, where you can also purchase tickets for the event.
We appear to be falling out of love with sports cars. Registrations are down across Europe, with some models seeing a major slump in sales. Blame the popularity of SUVs or soaring household bills, but it isn’t down to a lack of choice.
Indeed, our list of the best sports cars shows a segment in rude health, with buyers able to choose from a range of hardcore and soft-focus options.
Here are the best sports cars to buy in 2026, with our choices presented in alphabetical order.
Alpine A110
The Alpine A110 proves you don’t need the default Porsche 718 Boxster or Cayman to experience the joys of a relatively affordable, daily-driver sports car. This pretty French coupe was designed to deliver one thing: unadulterated fun. Prices start from a whisker under £55,000.
All versions are powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, which in R flavour (pictured) produces 300hp. While this is the same as the A110 S, the R is 34kg lighter and rides 10mm lower on manually adjustable coilovers, with stiffer anti-roll bars and Michelin Cup 2 tyres.
We said: ‘The R will appeal to collectors and those who want the ultimate A110 regardless of cost (you can imagine Alpine F1 drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon each having one as their company car). Ultimately, though, this version serves to underline the unadorned brilliance of the standard A110.’
Caterham has been playing the role of wasp at the supercar picnic since 1973. That’s when the company acquired the rights to build and develop the Lotus Seven, one of Britain’s most driver-focused sports cars. Today, prices range from £29,500 to £80,000, or you can have the chassis, boxed components, engine and gearbox delivered to your garage, along with an assembly guide.
The Seven 360R (pictured) uses a 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine and will hit 60mph in just 4.8 seconds. To go even faster, check out the Seven 620, which adds a supercharger to the Ford engine for a 0-60mph time of 2.79 seconds and a top speed of 149mph.
We said: ‘It’s totally impractical, and downright masochistic on longer journeys, but a Caterham Seven offers a raw and visceral driving experience like little else. Once you find an ideal road, in the perfect weather and surroundings, the sensations are addictive and will leave you wanting more.’
The Ford Mustang is a hugely successful sports car. It’s an automotive icon, and as American as baseball or mom’s apple pie. You can now buy an electric Mustang – the Mach-E SUV – but we’re talking about the old-school V8 here. Available as a GT coupe, GT convertible or Dark Horse edition, it costs from £56,000.
Even in entry-level guise, the 446hp Mustang will hit 62mph in just 5.3 seconds, but if you choose the 453hp Dark Horse edition, the sprint time drops to 5.2 seconds in the six-speed manual version – or an impressive 4.4 seconds if the 10-speed automatic is your thing.
Driving the Mustang Mach 1 (pictured), we said: ‘If you want to go sideways, you can, but the Mach 1 is too polished to play the all-out hooligan. That doesn’t mean it has morphed into a flighty sports car, though. It remains quite a physical experience, with a heavy six-speed manual shift and a sense of weight shifting that betrays its 1,851kg heft.’
A list of the best sports cars must include a Lotus, even if Norfolk’s finest is now mostly building SUVs and EVs. With a starting price of £89,500, the Emira feels a long way from the Elise, but this is every inch a Lotus for the modern era. Indeed, thanks to a top speed of 182mph, the entry-level Emira is the world’s fastest four-cylinder car.
It shares its engine with the Mercedes-AMG A45 S and we reckon it’s a better sports car than the V6 version. That said, thanks to the 406hp Toyota V6 engine, the flagship Emira (pictured) can hit 62mph in just 4.3 seconds, before maxing out at 180mph.
We said: ‘In the long Lotus tradition, the Emira remains a ‘chassis’ car, with the engine as a supporting act. The Toyota V6 is certainly effective, but its gruff, rather workmanlike voice isn’t as exotic as a howling Porsche flat-six. I’m not wholly convinced by the notchy and slightly ponderous manual gearshift either. Nonetheless, this is the most complete Lotus ever, and a reassuring reminder that, even with the electric revolution already underway, Hethel hasn’t forgotten its past.’
Why spend £60,000 on a sports car when half that amount could get you behind the wheel of the world’s favourite roadster? Over four generations and 35 years, the Mazda MX-5 has cemented a reputation for being the benchmark affordable sports car.
For a while, the brilliant 132hp 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G was our engine of choice in the MX-5. With just enough power to entertain, a sublime six-speed gearbox and superb rear-wheel-drive handling, it was the perfect MX-5. Perfect, that is, until Mazda tweaked the 2.0-litre engine. Now with 184hp, it injects the MX-5 with added excitement. It’s genuinely thrilling.
We said: ‘It is delicate, adjustable and floods you with feel and feedback. Compared to a hot hatch, it almost feels over-soft, as the body rolls in corners and the suspension is supple over bumps. This, however, is because it’s so light, meaning Mazda hasn’t had to battle with managing excess weight.
‘Best driven with fingertips, it’s nimble and flows beautifully, feeling exactly like the 1960s throwback Mazda intended since day one.’
First launched in 2020, the Morgan Plus Four boasts a bonded aluminium platform, double wishbone suspension and a twin-turbocharged BMW engine. Updates for 2024 included LED headlights with integrated indicators, new puddle lights, a redesigned rear diffuser and an optional Dynamic Handling Pack.
At £1,995, the latter is an essential upgrade, giving the Plus Four a newfound sense of poise and accuracy. Developed with suspension specialist Nitron, it consists of stiffer springs, adjustable dampers and a rear anti-roll bar. It’s the best upgrade you can make to a Morgan.
We said: ‘The Morgan Plus Four is a trad British sports car with modern manners – if you opt for the new Dynamic Handling Pack. Most people will buy a Boxster instead, but a Morgan isn’t for most people. It’s a car that keen drivers can enjoy without qualms, blending exciting performance with lucid steering, deft damping and real exuberance when its limits are tested. Appearances, it seems, can be deceptive.’
When the Porsche 718 is this good, you have to wonder whether it’s worth spending nearly £100,000 on a Porsche 911. Granted, it’s not quite as simple as that, but in the context of the rest of the Porsche range, the 718 Boxster and Cayman seem good value for money.
The GTS 4.0 versions are our pick of the range. A return to the flat-six engine might sound like a U-turn following the company’s switch to four-cylinder power, but it was music to the ears of Porsche purists. Alternatively, if your budget stretches that far, the flagship Cayman GT4 RS blurs the boundaries between sports car and supercar. It’s outrageously exciting – and a guaranteed future classic.
Driving the Cayman GT4 RS, we said: ‘The air intakes that replace the rear side windows are located just behind your ears, and the effect is like hugging the speakers at a Motorhead gig. As the revs soar, the voracious gasp of induction is overwhelmed by the bandsaw blare of six wide-open throttle bodies. The piercing top notes are pure racing car.’
To many people, the Porsche 911 is the definitive sports car, bridging the gap between affordable two-seaters and six-figure supercars. Sure, prices start from around £100,000, but the beauty of the 911 is that you don’t have to progress far beyond the ‘entry-level’ model for the pure Porsche experience.
Indeed, we think the 911 Carrera, which was updated in 2025, is all the 911 you could ever need. Granted, a total of 394hp from a 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six looks a bit ‘meh’ in a world of 400hp+ hot hatches and 1,000hp EVs, but they don’t offer the poise and purity of a 911. The new 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid is good, but the ‘basic’ Carerra gets our vote.
We said: ‘If you have £100,000 to splash on something sporty, it remains the default choice. Does ‘default’ also mean ‘dull’? Absolutely not. I’ve been lucky enough to test many exotic 911s, from classic RS models to a tuned Turbo. I always enjoyed the experience, but after a few hours I usually felt ready to return the keys. That isn’t the case here. Indeed, I could have happily carried on driving the Carrera, taken it home and lived out my days with it. The only sports car you need? Yes, something like that.’
Meet the Radical SR10 XXR, a purpose-built race car with Bugatti-baiting performance and no electronic driver aids. It’s not the kind of car you’d climb into for a commute to the office, unless your office happens to be a racetrack.
Power is sourced from a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine from the Ford Focus ST, which, thanks to a custom Garrett turbocharger, forged pistons, a high-flow exhaust and a Life Racing ECU, produces 425hp. That’s in a car weighing just 725kg. No surprise, then, that it’ll hit 62mph in just 2.4 seconds.
We said: ‘Forget track-focused road cars: this is the real deal. The Radical SR10 XXR will teach you to be a better driver, and make you grin in the process. Its real USP, though, is the Radical Cup race series: a relatively affordable route into national-level motorsport.’
The Toyota GR86 is the successor to the much-loved GT86, with a 234hp 2.4-litre ‘boxer’ engine and a similar surfeit of power over grip. It’s a pure sports car of the sort that will soon be extinct, serving up constant feedback and fun. Sadly, buyers are all too aware of time running out, and the entire UK allocation for the GR86 has already been sold. If you want one now, you’ll have to buy used – and probably pay a hefty premium over the £30,000 list price.
Aside from its propensity to oversteer, the GR86 offers a practical hatchback boot, two child-sized rear seats and typical Toyota build quality. Yes, the interior is a bit plasticky and fuel economy could be better. But trust us, you really won’t care. This car makes even a mundane journey feel special.
We said: ‘The added torque transforms how the GR86 drives, answering the main criticism of its predecessor. Its growly flat-four no longer relies solely on high revs, pulling strongly through the mid-range to its 7,400rpm limiter. The control weights feel carefully calibrated, too, with endlessly chatty steering, perfectly spaced pedals, a snappier manual gearbox (an automatic is optional – don’t even think about it) and a proper handbrake.’
The new Maserati GT2 Stradale is now available to order in the UK, with a production run of 914 cars planned.
Based on the mid-engined MC20 supercar, Maserati revealed the GT2 Stradale at last year’s Monterey Car Week in California.
The Stradale is directly inspired by Maserati’s GT2 racing car, which returned the Italian marque to motorsport in the 2024 GT2 European Series.
Along with the regular GT2 Stradale, Maserati has also launched an ‘Edizione Corse’ special edition, which celebrates the on-track success the race car enjoyed last year.
Celebrating motorsport success
Powering the GT2 Stradale is a modified version of Maserati’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged ‘Nettuno’ V6 engine. Total power is 640hp – 10hp more than the related MC20.
With more power and 60kg less weight than an MC20, the GT2 Stradale can accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds. Flat out – on a circuit, of course – it will reach a top speed of 202mph.
At the top of the range, the celebratory Edizione Corse version of the GT2 Stradale comes with an array of extra features.
Limited to 16 examples (the number of podiums claimed by the GT2 racer in 2024), the Edizione Corse gains a titanium racing-only exhaust, lightweight ‘Monodado’ alloy wheels and an interior carbon fibre pack.
An invite to the Maserati Racetrack Academy in Italy, along with a GT2 racing car experience, is included for good measure.
Create your own road racer
Customisation will be important for GT2 Stradale customers, aided by the opening of Maserati’s new ‘Officine Fuoriserie’ at its factory in Modena.
Designed as a dedicated space for personalisation, Officine Fuoriserie caters to the wishes of Maserati customers, from bespoke paint schemes to special liveries.
Even without delving into the Fuoriserie programme, the GT2 Stradale offers an optional Performance Pack, bringing race-spec carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres and a dedicated ‘GT2 Corsa Evo’ driving mode.
Prices for the Maserati GT2 Stradale start from £273,510 – almost £50,000 than an MC20. For those wanting spec their dream GT2, it is also now available on Maserati’s online configurator.
