Are these the best cars currently on sale?

The Rules

I often find it fun to fantasise about owning all of the cars that I love, organising them into categories, sorting by brand or type. But, eventually you have to limit you're day-dreaming. So, I'm going to set out my ideal garage of vehicles currently available from each major country who have an automotive market. This includes France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the US, and Japan. The reason I have chosen these countries is most other countries are influenced by these markets. I'm also aware that most British companies are foreign owned but my choice is independently owned as a small British company working with other manufacturers.

Japan - The 2021 Toyota GR Yaris

I'm beginning with a car that has taken the automotive world by storm and left most journalists in collective awe of its brilliance: the Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris. This nimble little hot hatch has some jaw-dropping numbers on its side and a recipe very close to perfection.

To begin with we'll go over some backstory; this car was created as a homologation special for Toyota's 2021 WRC season in the same spirit of the Group B cars of old such as the Audi Sport Quattro. This means that a specialised roadgoing version would be created to allow Gazoo Racing (Toyota's racing division) to use the car for rallying. Just 25,000 examples are being sold worldwide and only a small fraction of that will be sold in the UK. Though, regrettably, COVID-19 meant that they could not finish testing of the car and had to use the current generation rally car for this season and with new regulations coming in for 2022 they cannot use the car we see in the image above. However, they are using many of the same components for their new car such as the engine.

I'm now going to impeccably transition to said engine; it is an understated single turbo 1.6 Litre 3-cylinder until you feel its 257BHP and 360NM of Torque making it the most powerful 3-cylinder ever. Another interesting fact is that some of these engines have supposedly been put on the dyno at about 270BHP which are ridiculous numbers for such a small motor. One reason for these variations in power is the fact that these vehicles are individually crafted on the same production line as the Lexus LFA was with the absolute precision of the large Japanese firm and 10 times the man hours per car compared to the normal Yaris.

The car uses a sophisticated all-wheel drive system to provide a firm and planted driving experience. This coupled with a notchy 6-speed manual gearbox, small steering wheel and 3 very different driving modes (normal, sport and track) makes for a unique formula. The car also comes with 4 seats, a small boot and a medley of Toyota instruments and because of the shorter wheelbase is a 3 door model. It's lightweight with aluminium panelling and a carbon fibre roof to make it fast, fun and surprisingly practical.

I would have mine in Precious Black with the circuit pack which gives you forged BBS alloys, red brake calipers, a Torsen Limited-Slip Differential and Circuit tuned suspension. I think this would be the perfect daily driver; it's useful for a shopping run with the obligatory country road drive afterwards. We recently test drove this car so look out for an article later on with more information and a full review.

Germany - 2022 Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Touring

We are in our masterfully presented garage. I imagine mine draped in motorsport memorabilia with neatly arranged tools which I don't really know how to use displayed in the corner. I step away from admiring a race used F1 helmet and spin on my heels to be met by a jaw-dropping Porsche 911. However, this is no ordinary 911 nor any ordinary GT3 (as if you could categorise those as 'ordinary'), this is a GT3 Touring and it comes with a sublime balance of chic and performance. The one that is in front of me in my fantasy is finished in a bewitching Gentian Blue Metallic colour with contrasting red brake calipers and Satin Neodyme wheels.

This is essentially a 992 GT3 with the sentiment of a normal 911. It carries over the inner workings of the normal GT3 that Andrew Preuninger (Porsche's GT car guru and head of development) and his boffins have fettled over since the beginning of time but adds features such as a leather interior, automatically deploying spoiler and Gurney flap due to aero deletion and a manual gearbox as standard (a PDK is also an option).

It is meant as a more street focused Porsche GT car providing its driver with a similar thrill but without the added racy features which is much more discreet and in high demand. It keeps the same GT3 elements such as the bumpers and venting etc. But, with the lack of a wing it has a completely different aura - one of unnoticed performance. There is carbon fibre reinforced plastic panels, thinner window glass, an optional carbon fibre roof and lightweight forged alloy wheels. The Touring also carries the large air ducts from the standard car with a subtle rear grille plaque emblazoned with the model name and a sports exhaust system with silver or black styling around the car. There is a Porsche chronograph on the dashboard and unique embossing and embroidery.

In terms of performance it keeps the same Naturally Aspirated 4.0 Litre Flat-Six from the GT3 and it's technical features are identical. It delivers 503BHP and 470NM of torque and revs to a stunning 9000RPM through a 6-speed manual transmission or 7-speed PDK semi-automatic. This paired with a luxurious leather interior provides a unique driving experience. I would have mine in the earlier mentioned Gentian Blue and I'd also like the Porsche Heritage Pepita Karo seats. Notable owners of the 991 generation of this car include Top Gear's Chris Harris and Actor/Automotive Enthusiast Daniel Wu (both owners went for intriguing colour schemes).

United Kingdom - 2022 Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) T50

Here's another new but ultimately timeless automobile to add to the collection. The reason I say timeless is that the basic idea for this car was first conceived almost 30 years ago by the same man: Gordon Murray. The genius designer has concocted a stunning amount of revolutionary cars across his lengthy career - the Mercedes McLaren SLR and a selection of Brabham F1 cars are just a few that come to mind. However, the most important car for this article is the McLaren F1 because this is its modern reincarnation with some interesting tweaks. The F1 debuted in 1992 and rewrote the supercar rulebook to provide a perfectly executed driver's car which had never been seen before.

Carrying on with the T50, it carries similar features to Murray's vision from the 90s such as its central driving position, 6-speed H-pattern gearbox, Naturally Aspirated V12 (by Cosworth this time, not BMW) and that same unshakable belief that the drive comes before the statistics. So, rather hypocritically, I'm going to get the statistics out of the way and get to the good stuff. It's N/A V12 produces 690BHP coupled with 450 Nm of Torque but it's the ear splitting noise that'll leave you foaming at the mouth. It revs to almost 12,000RPM - yes, you read that right. So this thing sounds like an old F1 car with on-road capability; a recipe for success I daresay.

Excluding the noise, GMA thinks that the stats are meaningless. The T50 is not supposed to be the next record breaker, not supposed to carry a couple of thousand horsepower. It's supposed to be the final analogue supercar in a period of technologically overpowered cars. They don't want it to tackle the Ferrari SF90, they want it to provide one last hurrah of a manual supercar. It has a very niche market (which is a reoccurring theme with my garage) not that it matters because they're only making 100. Excluding the £3 million price tag, this car is perfect; it's an assault on the senses with its gearbox, intake and engine noise and minimal driver aids.

The ducting, aerodynamics, carbon fibre monocoque and McLaren F1-esque styling provide a good looking and technologically functional car with a blend of usability and performance. Professor Murray has built a car with some ridiculous engineering feats including its rear mounted fan providing ground-effect like downforce - all without the use of wings and splitters. I would have mine in a McLaren F1 style orange.

In all honesty, this passage is just a taster of what this car is and there is so much more that I could write about in terms of specifics. For now though, I'll redirect you to a series of YouTube videos and the Collecting Cars Podcast which I particularly enjoyed; A conversation between Chris Harris and Gordon Murray is a perfect way to spend an hour so find it wherever you get your podcasts. Below is Dario Franchitti listening to the Cosworth V12 revving to redline on the Gordon Murray Automotive YouTube channel so feel free to gawp, drool and otherwise show actions of awe.

France - 2021 Alpine A110 Légende GT

​This is another car that encourages its driver to smile with glee on every journey. The modern reincarnation of the A110 debuted in 2017 displaying its lightweight body, 1.8 Litre single turbo Inline-4 engine from the Mégane R.S and perfect Rear-Wheel-Drive, Mid-Engined layout. Alpine is Renault's sports brand and made their comeback with a modern version of their rally legend from the 70s (playing off of their rally heritage much like the GR Yaris).

The first model came with a 249BHP engine but in 2018 the S model was released bumping up the power to a manageable 288BHP and 320NM of torque. You may think that this is a modest amount for our 300+ MPH world but with Alpine's incredible weight-saving routine this car will easily match the likes of the Porsche Cayman/Boxster, Audi TTRS and Toyota Supra. The S is the more Porsche GT3-like of the line up with a perfect setup for on-road and on-track use and plenty of manageable power available. Don't misinterpret this, however, the S is meant to be a 'different' car, not a better one. It's just a change in setup from the other models. Its better handling and body control is supposed to make for a unique experience.

This particular Légende GT model carries the A110S engine and suspension upgrades with extra details such as a tan or black leather interior, gold styling, badges and calipers, a set of 18 inch model specific alloys and a choice of two colours: Mercury Silver and Abyss Blue (the blue is the one I'd have it in). As well as some unique interior details - including a numbered plaque - it has a set of technical equipment including a premium audio system, braking sensors and the standard 7 inch screen.

The beefier engine does 0-62 in a healthy 4.4 seconds and a 155mph top speed. The A110 uses a lightweight 7-speed Dual-Clutch gearbox which is actually lighter than having a manual option so they kept the paddle shift because it would inevitably sell better and save weight. The Alpine engineers have gone to extreme lengths to shave off every gram for premium performance and as much comfort as can be allowed. The final weight comes out at just 1080kg with a phenomenal power to weight ratio of 262PS per tonne. For example, the body is made completely of aluminium and can be paired with an optional carbon fibre roof. Also, it carries lightweight Sabelt bucket seats with a weight of just 13kg.

I'm particularly fond of the looks which have a sleek and aerodynamic design which harks back to the original Alpine. A flat floor and functional diffuser dispel the need for large aero which ruins this type of car. I think the Abyss blue colour and a tan brown interior would really finish off the look. I would take this particular car because of its S level performance and the rarity of this trim level with just 300 European based cars being produced. Not to mention the fact that this is a rare car to begin with (I've only ever seen 3 and one was outside the dealership in Kent). Of the few sporty French cars left, this is the best of the bunch.

United States - 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Madness. That is the only way to describe this car. I don't know what illicit substance was being passed around during the Ford ideas pitch meeting but it made them channel the craziness of the original Shelby cars like the Cobras or Mustangs. It's like a lunatic walked into their office and took their drawing board and a basic Mustang chassis and then had an epiphany of speed.

So, that aforementioned lunatic put a 760 Horsepower Supercharged V8 with 848NM of torque (read that again, the ridiculous numbers will still be there) and uprated everything. The engine - aptly codenamed as 'The Predator' - is the most powerful ford engine ever created and propels the vehicle from 0-60 in 3.3 seconds through its Rear-Wheel Drive configuration. The only transmission available is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with no manual option because they're chasing their competitors from Dodge and Chevrolet so optimise performance. The huge shift paddles and gearing is perfect for on road and on track driving but I would love to feel that much power out of a manual gearbox.

The primarily carbon fibre based options list can raise the price rather drastically providing a variety of changes to the base model. There are a selection of packs such as the Carbon Fibre Track Package which makes the GT500 even more race orientated with exposed carbon wheels, rear seat deletion, more aero such as a huge rear wing, Michelin Pilot cub sport 2 Tires etc. My configuration breached the $100,000 mark which is possibly too much for a Mustang. The reason I said dollars is that the Shelby is only sold in the US so an importation would have to be taken into account and if you want your dream muscle car in your UK based garage you'll need around £130,000 plus some savings for the fuel costs because the MPG will leave you weeping in the corner of the room.

The fact that this is a red blooded American muscle car may be misleading because it is reportedly as torte and refined as any equal European sports car. It provides grip and power on demand and is not so burly as to only dominate on the drag strip and be unable to turn right at Mugello. Excluding the crazy V8 soundtrack straight from Omaha Beach, which is quite possibly the loudest stock exhaust on a production car, the GT500 would fit in with it's counterparts such as the 718 Cayman GT4. It is relatively practical with daily drivability; like a Fiesta ST with an added 560BHP.

I think I would have mine in the Twister Orange with the Absolute Black Racing Stripes (stripes which work surprisingly well) with the ludicrously expensive Track Package and Technology Package to give the whole GT500 experience.

Italy - Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA(M)

So how do you make the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio better? Well, if you would consider a sportier, more powerful and track focussed vehicle laden with carbon better, then yes, the Giulia GTA is better

The ethos of the GTA is in the name -'Gran Turismo Alleggerita' which is 'Grand Tourer, Lightened' in English. It is supposed to be a more lightweight version of their already highly acclaimed (though poorly selling) Giulia QV with two new models available - the GTA and GTAm. Today I'm going to focus on the GTAm model because it is the most hardcore and advanced of the two options with a half roll cage, bucket seats and the huge carbon rear spoiler.

Let's start with the engine, It's a Bi-Turbo 2.9 Litre V6 with 532BHP (a 30BHP increase over the normal Quadrifoglio) with uprated internals and a jewel of an exhaust system - a centre exiting Akrapovic system with one of the throatiest 6-cyclinder sound I have ever heard. Then we can look at the evil looking body kit which is befitting of a clichéd supervillain's car. It is muscular and fierce with adjustable aero in the front splitter paired with the large rear wing and venturi rear diffuser. This all comes from the partnering with Sauber and their Formula One drivers who consulted and assisted with development - handy having Kimi Räikkönen as a test driver, isn't it?

The lightweight aspect of GTA comes from the carbon for the driveshaft, Sabelt seat shells, roof, bonnet, front bumper, front wheel arches and rear wheel arch inserts. There is also deletion of the rear seats and rear interior door cards, polycarbonate rear windows, a thinner windscreen and fabric door pulls to shave off that final miniscule amount of weight. The interior is trimmed almost entirely in alcantara but the usual amenities have stayed with touch screens, phone connectivity etc. Just with the added roll cage and fire extinguisher.

The car is lightweight, powerful, planted, well handling and just seems like a blast to drive. It would fit in with Touring cars and Drift cars offering a blend of handling and enjoyment that will set decent lap times with some added tire squeal.

It was created for the 110th Anniversary of the Alfa Romeo brand and plays off of the GTA heritage. This being the Giulia GTA Sprint of 1965 which served Alfa's racing division well at the time. So, they added power, removed weight (by 100kg) and changed the driving experience to make 500 of the most sporty vehicles in Alfa's line-up meaning affluent collectors should procure their wallets and put in their order for such a rare car. I am not so fortunate but I'd still hypothetically take mine in Alfa Red with red calipers, red stitching and red harnesses (spotting the reoccurring red theme?). Even though it's irrational and impractical - the Giulia GTAm just sounds like fun and the king of the super saloons.

Conclusion

I wanted to write this to get you more acquainted with my car tastes and provide a bit more information on the current cars on sale. Especially now in a time where the rhetoric is that the petrol car is dying out and electrification is rearing its controversial head. I'm all for electrification as long as the vehicles of today and of the past are preserved. We need to savour these 'last hurrah' vehicles such as the T50 which even Gordon Murray said is being built in "the best time to build the last analogue supercar". I hope you've enjoyed reading my thoughts and impressions on these cars (I've certainly enjoyed using all of the car configurators) and look out for more specific reviews and insights later on. Please like, follow and comment your ideal garage using the same parameters - I'm interested to see the tastes of different readers.

I'd also encourage reading my recent review of the Golf GTI Edition 30 which will be linked below this article and check out my Instagram account which I've started posting on.