When it comes to speed, some sportscars fly under the radar despite their impressive performance. These underrated vehicles may not grab as much attention as their more famous counterparts, but they deliver surprising speed that can rival the best in the industry. Here’s a look at 25 sportscars that offer unexpected power and acceleration, proving that sometimes the fastest cars are the ones you least expect.
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Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 stands out with its rotary engine, providing a unique power delivery compared to traditional engines. The 1.3L twin-turbocharged engine produces 276 horsepower, allowing it to hit 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds. Despite its lightweight design and nimble handling, the RX-7 often goes unnoticed compared to other performance cars of its era. Its perfect balance of power and agility makes it a hidden gem with unexpected speed.
Toyota MR2 Turbo
The Toyota MR2 Turbo is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sportscar with impressive handling and acceleration. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four engine, it produces 200 horsepower, pushing it from 0-60 mph in around 6 seconds. Its lightweight body and responsive steering make it faster than expected, offering a thrilling driving experience at an affordable price point. The MR2’s design often masks its true potential, making it an underrated speedster.
Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
The Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo is a powerhouse with a 3.0L V6 engine equipped with twin turbochargers, producing 300 horsepower. This allows it to reach 0-60 mph in just over 5 seconds, making it a serious performer. Despite its advanced features like four-wheel steering and a sleek design, the 300ZX often remains in the shadow of other Japanese sports cars like the Nissan Skyline, making it an underrated speedster.
Pontiac GTO (2004-2006)
Often overlooked, the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO delivers surprising speed with its 6.0L V8 engine producing 400 horsepower. This muscle car can sprint from 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds, matching the performance of more expensive sports cars. While the GTO’s design might not scream supercar, its power and acceleration are undeniable, making it a hidden gem in the performance car world.
Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4
The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 is equipped with a 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 320 horsepower. Combined with its all-wheel-drive system and active aerodynamics, the VR4 delivers a 0-60 mph time of around 5 seconds. Its advanced technology, including four-wheel steering and active suspension, make it faster than its competitors, yet it often remains overlooked due to its heavy weight and complex design.
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is renowned for its high-revving 2.0L engine, which produces 240 horsepower and revs up to 9,000 RPM. Its lightweight chassis and precise handling allow for a 0-60 mph time of just 5.4 seconds. The S2000’s sleek, understated design hides its true performance potential, making it one of the most underrated sportscars in terms of speed and agility.
BMW Z4 M Coupe
The BMW Z4 M Coupe is often overshadowed by more popular M models, but it packs a punch with its 3.2L inline-six engine producing 330 horsepower. This results in a 0-60 mph time of just 4.8 seconds. The Z4 M Coupe’s balanced handling, aggressive acceleration, and distinctive design make it a fast yet often overlooked option in the sports car market.
Chevrolet SS
The Chevrolet SS might look like a standard sedan, but it hides a 6.2L V8 engine producing 415 horsepower, allowing it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. This rear-wheel-drive sports sedan offers precise handling and unexpected power, making it a sleeper car that surprises drivers with its raw speed.
Porsche 944 Turbo
The Porsche 944 Turbo features a 2.5L turbocharged inline-four engine that produces 250 horsepower, pushing it from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Despite its Porsche badge, the 944 Turbo is often overshadowed by the 911, making it an underrated performer. Its balanced handling and surprising power make it a worthy addition to the list of underrated speedsters.
Audi TT RS
The Audi TT RS is equipped with a turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder engine that produces 400 horsepower, enabling a 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds. While the TT is often considered more of a stylish coupe, the RS model’s lightning-fast acceleration and all-wheel-drive grip make it a surprisingly fast car that many don’t expect to perform at such a high level.
Lotus Evora
The Lotus Evora is a lightweight, mid-engine sports car powered by a supercharged 3.5L V6 engine that produces 400 horsepower. Its lightweight construction and sharp handling enable a 0-60 mph time of just 4.1 seconds. Despite its impressive performance, the Evora is often overlooked in favor of more mainstream sports cars, making it an underrated speed demon.
Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo
The Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo shares its platform with the Mitsubishi 3000GT, featuring a 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 300 horsepower. This allows it to hit 0-60 mph in 5 seconds flat. Its advanced features, such as all-wheel drive and active aerodynamics, make it a surprisingly fast car, yet it remains underappreciated in the world of performance vehicles.
Volkswagen Golf R
The Volkswagen Golf R might look like a hot hatchback, but its turbocharged 2.0L engine producing 315 horsepower gives it the speed of a much more powerful vehicle. With a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and all-wheel drive, it’s a practical yet surprisingly fast car that often flies under the radar compared to flashier sports cars.
Alfa Romeo 4C
The Alfa Romeo 4C is a lightweight sports car with a carbon fiber body and a turbocharged 1.75L engine producing 237 horsepower. It may not sound powerful, but its weight of just over 2,000 pounds allows for a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds. Its raw performance and minimalistic design make it a true driver’s car, though it’s often overlooked in the sports car world.
Ford Mustang EcoBoost
While the Ford Mustang is synonymous with V8 power, the EcoBoost model offers a turbocharged 2.3L engine producing 310 horsepower. This smaller engine allows the EcoBoost to hit 0-60 mph in just 5 seconds, offering an affordable yet surprisingly fast alternative to the traditional V8 Mustang. Its blend of performance and efficiency makes it an underrated choice.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe may not have the same reputation as other sports cars, but its 3.8L V6 engine produces 348 horsepower, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds. With rear-wheel drive and sporty handling, the Genesis Coupe surprises many with its speed and performance, despite being more commonly associated with luxury than high-speed thrills.
Jaguar XKR
The Jaguar XKR is a luxurious grand tourer with a 5.0L supercharged V8 engine producing 510 horsepower. This enables it to sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. Its sleek design and comfortable interior often lead people to overlook its raw performance capabilities, making it a true hidden gem in terms of speed.
Lexus IS F
The Lexus IS F features a 5.0L V8 engine producing 416 horsepower, allowing it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. While Lexus is known for luxury and reliability, the IS F delivers surprising speed and aggressive performance, rivaling many European sports sedans in terms of acceleration and handling.
Saab 9-3 Turbo X
The Saab 9-3 Turbo X is powered by a 2.8L turbocharged V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, giving it a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. Its understated design and all-wheel-drive system make it a sleeper car that offers more speed than most would expect, especially from a Saab, a brand known more for safety than performance.
Subaru WRX STI
The Subaru WRX STI is a rally-bred sports car with a 2.5L turbocharged engine producing 310 horsepower, allowing it to hit 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. Its all-wheel-drive system and sharp handling make it a surprisingly fast and agile car, often underestimated compared to more traditional sports cars.
Volvo C30 Polestar
The Volvo C30 Polestar is a high-performance version of the C30 hatchback, featuring a turbocharged 2.5L engine producing 250 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. While Volvo is more commonly associated with safety, the C30 Polestar offers surprising speed and agility, making it an underrated performance car.
Infiniti G37S Coupe
The Infiniti G37S Coupe is equipped with a 3.7L V6 engine producing 330 horsepower, enabling it to reach 0-60 mph in just 5 seconds. Its balanced chassis and rear-wheel drive make it a sporty, fast car that often flies under the radar in the luxury sports coupe market.
Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth offers a turbocharged 1.4L engine producing 164 horsepower, allowing it to reach 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Though it may not have the raw power of larger sports cars, its lightweight design and nimble handling make it a surprisingly fun and fast roadster.
Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
The Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 engine producing 415 horsepower, allowing it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Despite its compact size and roadster styling, the SLK 55 AMG delivers impressive speed and performance, often overlooked in favor of larger Mercedes sports models.
Acura NSX (1st generation)
The first-generation Acura NSX features a mid-engine layout and a 3.0L V6 engine producing 270 horsepower, giving it a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds. Its lightweight design and superb handling make it a performance icon, yet it’s often overshadowed by more modern supercars. The NSX’s balance of speed, handling, and reliability makes it a true hidden gem.
This article originally appeared in MyCarMakesNoise.
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