The Untouchables
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Ariel Atom
For those times when a Miata or a Lotus Elise has just too much bodywork, there is the scandalously naked Atom, from Britain's tiny Ariel Motor Company. The original Atom (above) sports a fairly mundane four-cylinder Rover K-series engine; the new Atom 2 features a 2.0-liter VTEC four and six-speed manual from Honda's sweet Civic Type-R (another Untouchable).
For those times when a Miata or a Lotus Elise has just too much bodywork, there is the scandalously naked Atom, from Britain's tiny Ariel Motor Company. The original Atom (above) sports a fairly mundane four-cylinder Rover K-series engine; the new Atom 2 features a 2.0-liter VTEC four and six-speed manual from Honda's sweet Civic Type-R (another Untouchable).
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BWM M3 CSL
Germans have a drive for refinement that borders on maniacal. Take, for instance, the near-perfect M3, give it a new intake and exhaust, carbon-fiber composite roof panel, thinner rear glass, and a host of other weight reductions, and the BMW becomes even more the golden calf.
Germans have a drive for refinement that borders on maniacal. Take, for instance, the near-perfect M3, give it a new intake and exhaust, carbon-fiber composite roof panel, thinner rear glass, and a host of other weight reductions, and the BMW becomes even more the golden calf.
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Caterham R500
Caterhams exist in the realm between open-wheel racing cars and street-legal road cars. Like the tiger that lost it on Roy, there is no such thing as a tame Caterham¡Xthere are only degrees of insanity. On the extremely insane end of the spectrum is the R500. Weighing in at a feathery 990 pounds, the R500 has only 4.3 pounds for every one of its 230-horsepower. Fast and raw, the R500 will do 3.5-second runs to sixty.
Caterhams exist in the realm between open-wheel racing cars and street-legal road cars. Like the tiger that lost it on Roy, there is no such thing as a tame Caterham¡Xthere are only degrees of insanity. On the extremely insane end of the spectrum is the R500. Weighing in at a feathery 990 pounds, the R500 has only 4.3 pounds for every one of its 230-horsepower. Fast and raw, the R500 will do 3.5-second runs to sixty.
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Koenigsegg CC8S
A supercar from Sweden? The Koenigsegg is just that, powered by a 655-horsepower supercharged V-8. It's not quite a McLaren F1-beater, but coming from a country better known for meatballs and sex changes, it's pretty good.
A supercar from Sweden? The Koenigsegg is just that, powered by a 655-horsepower supercharged V-8. It's not quite a McLaren F1-beater, but coming from a country better known for meatballs and sex changes, it's pretty good.
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Morgan Aero 8
With tightening crash and safety requirements Morgan's old-school Plus 8 may finally end its reign of antiquity. Designed as a replacement for the Plus 8, the Aero 8 is a fully modern roadster styled to look like its stablemate. BMW's familiar 4.4-liter 282-horsepower V-8 provides the power for the lightweight, aluminum-intensive 2500-pound Aero 8. Supposedly, an Aero 8 for the States is in the works, but with the way time moves around Malvern Link, don't hold your breath.
With tightening crash and safety requirements Morgan's old-school Plus 8 may finally end its reign of antiquity. Designed as a replacement for the Plus 8, the Aero 8 is a fully modern roadster styled to look like its stablemate. BMW's familiar 4.4-liter 282-horsepower V-8 provides the power for the lightweight, aluminum-intensive 2500-pound Aero 8. Supposedly, an Aero 8 for the States is in the works, but with the way time moves around Malvern Link, don't hold your breath.
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Noble M12 GTO
Brutal is the word for the Noble M12 in more areas than one. Brutally fast, but brutally tough to handle without skill. Brutal styling, in a good way. At least the price isn't brutal¡Xat about eighty grand, the Noble is a supercar deal.
Brutal is the word for the Noble M12 in more areas than one. Brutally fast, but brutally tough to handle without skill. Brutal styling, in a good way. At least the price isn't brutal¡Xat about eighty grand, the Noble is a supercar deal.
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Opel Speedster Turbo
Opel's Speedster is a slightly larger Lotus Elise. The Speedster is small, the Elise smaller; like the difference between bantamweight and featherweight boxers, either way you're in for some excitement. Turbo Speedsters, not surprisingly, have a turbocharged version of GM's Ecotec 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder with 197-horsepower. In a roadster that weighs in at just over 2000 pounds acceleration is fierce; 60 mph is yours in only 5.1-seconds. With handling similar to an Elise, we can only hope that Pontiac's upcoming Solstice will be as good as the Speedster.
Opel's Speedster is a slightly larger Lotus Elise. The Speedster is small, the Elise smaller; like the difference between bantamweight and featherweight boxers, either way you're in for some excitement. Turbo Speedsters, not surprisingly, have a turbocharged version of GM's Ecotec 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder with 197-horsepower. In a roadster that weighs in at just over 2000 pounds acceleration is fierce; 60 mph is yours in only 5.1-seconds. With handling similar to an Elise, we can only hope that Pontiac's upcoming Solstice will be as good as the Speedster.
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Pagani Zonda C12 S
Italian industrialist Horacio Pagani's carbon-fiber-bodied, half-million-dollar masterstroke employs a 7.3-liter V-12 engine sourced from Mercedes-Benz/AMG. The twelve's creamy (and reliable) 555 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque are enough to prod the car to 60 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds.
Italian industrialist Horacio Pagani's carbon-fiber-bodied, half-million-dollar masterstroke employs a 7.3-liter V-12 engine sourced from Mercedes-Benz/AMG. The twelve's creamy (and reliable) 555 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque are enough to prod the car to 60 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds.
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Renaultsport Clio V6
The latest in a long-line of Renault hatchbacks in need of anger management, the Clio packs a 251-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 between its rear wheels. Bigger brakes, 18-inch wheels, and a body package that would make the import tuner crowd drool are all included for the $46,000 it costs to remove one from a dealer. Making a mid-engine supercar out of a front engine economy car makes about as much sense as doing the opposite; but somehow it all works in the Clio V6.
The latest in a long-line of Renault hatchbacks in need of anger management, the Clio packs a 251-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 between its rear wheels. Bigger brakes, 18-inch wheels, and a body package that would make the import tuner crowd drool are all included for the $46,000 it costs to remove one from a dealer. Making a mid-engine supercar out of a front engine economy car makes about as much sense as doing the opposite; but somehow it all works in the Clio V6.
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Smart Crossblade
The cheeky Crossblade somehow manages to make the Smart look even more like a giant roller skate. The roof and windshield are lopped off, but don't worry¡Xcustom sunglasses are included. The interior gets the hose-down plastic treatment, and a waterproof cover unfurls from the trunk.
The cheeky Crossblade somehow manages to make the Smart look even more like a giant roller skate. The roof and windshield are lopped off, but don't worry¡Xcustom sunglasses are included. The interior gets the hose-down plastic treatment, and a waterproof cover unfurls from the trunk.
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Spyker C8
Based in The Netherlands, Spyker may be an unfamiliar name to Americans, but it's hardly a new one. In 1898, brothers Acobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker built the first of many cars, and their company would go on to produce WWI fighter planes. Fast forward a century: The aluminum-bodied C8 is available in wide-open Spyder, glass-roofed Laviolette (shown here), and racy Double 12 coupe versions, each with 4.2-liter Audi V-8s, in outputs from 400 to 620 hp.
Based in The Netherlands, Spyker may be an unfamiliar name to Americans, but it's hardly a new one. In 1898, brothers Acobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker built the first of many cars, and their company would go on to produce WWI fighter planes. Fast forward a century: The aluminum-bodied C8 is available in wide-open Spyder, glass-roofed Laviolette (shown here), and racy Double 12 coupe versions, each with 4.2-liter Audi V-8s, in outputs from 400 to 620 hp.
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TVR Tuscan
Known to Americans by its scene-stealing cameo in the otherwise-lame John Travolta flick, Swordfish, TVR's Tuscan may be the sexiest Brit since Christine Keeler. Beneath its voluptuous shell resides one of TVR's own straight-six engines: The standard Tuscan gets a 350-hp, 3.6-liter version; the hotter Tuscan S gets 390 hp from 4.0 liters. And for the truly brave, TVR offers the new T440R, which features carbon-fiber bodywork, a 440-hp version of the 4.0-liter six, and a 215-mph top speed.
Known to Americans by its scene-stealing cameo in the otherwise-lame John Travolta flick, Swordfish, TVR's Tuscan may be the sexiest Brit since Christine Keeler. Beneath its voluptuous shell resides one of TVR's own straight-six engines: The standard Tuscan gets a 350-hp, 3.6-liter version; the hotter Tuscan S gets 390 hp from 4.0 liters. And for the truly brave, TVR offers the new T440R, which features carbon-fiber bodywork, a 440-hp version of the 4.0-liter six, and a 215-mph top speed.
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