Modestly styled and exceedingly rapid, the Audi RS5 mk1 is a refined two-door, four-seater coupe and cabriolet, powered by a magnificent 444bhp 4.2-litre V8 engine derived from that of the Lamborghini Gallardo. Its hi-tech chassis and sophisticated all-wheel drive system add to its ability to make almost indecent haste cross-country in all weathers; the RS5 is equally adept at effortless, fast-paced long-distance cruising.
Stylish yet discreet, the Audi A7 Sportback mk1 is a four-seater premium executive car that just happens to have a hatchback rather than a regular saloon boot; think of it as an Audi A8 in a posh frock. The A7 Sportback mk1 is powered by a range of powerful and refined diesel and petrol engines, many models feature Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system, and it’s capable of consuming large distances quickly and comfortably.
If excitement and drama are your chief desires in a two-seat sports car, then few fit the bill better than the TVR Chimaera. Its combination of a thumping great V8 engine, a lightweight fibreglass body and handsome styling, redolent of British roadsters of old, make it a mouth-watering combination. But this is not a car for the faint-hearted; it requires lots of effort to drive, build quality is variable, and if you buy one that’s been badly maintained, it’ll cost you a fortune to run.
The Renault Zoe became one of the first mass-market electric cars when it appeared in 2012. A comprehensive overhaul has kept it competitive against a new gaggle of supermini rivals from the likes of Honda, Mini and Peugeot. What the Zoe lacks in style and desirability, it makes up for in usability; even now, its official range of 245 miles is greater than that claimed by most of its immediate competitors.
The Porsche Boxster has had its ups and at least one very well-publicised down, but the current 718 Boxster remains a beautifully engineered roadster that’s exceptionally good to drive. Far from being stripped-out road racers, Porsche’s mid-engined sports cars are very well-appointed machines that can be used every day. The range-topping models, the GTS 4.0 and Spyder, are seminal performance cars that will be revered for years to come.