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Top 20 Sports Cars of the World - Part 2

We resume our article on the Top 20 Sports cars of the world from where we had left in the previous article of the same name.

BMW M3 GTR

BMW M3 GTR was initially created in 2001 as a racing prototype. In order to qualify as a Gran Turismo car, however, BMW was forced to produce a street version as well. Only 10 units were sold to selected clients. The design of this former racing car is very clean and focused on the aerodynamics and performance. Hood and lateral vents complete the look. The racing car featured a beastly 4-litre engine, with 8 cylinders in V formation, capable of producing 444 bhp. The street version, for obvious reasons, was tweaked down a bit, producing 380 bhp. The racing one could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

Aston Martin introduced the DB4 GT in 1960, and the Zagato version was a model revamped by an automotive factory in Italy by the same name. The design of this car was quite innovative for its time as the DB4 featured a long, rounded hood. Surprisingly, the demand for the car was quite low, and only 20 units were produced. Considering that it was released in 1960, its performance was pretty impressive. The car could accelerate from from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, and it had a top speed of 246 km/h. The car would cost almost $ 1 Million in today's scenario.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII (FQ400)

Lancer Evolution, manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors already has ten generations on the same to its credit. This is car which has bagged several titles in the World Rally Championships. Mitsubishi Lancer was initially produced only for Japanese market alone, but when people started importing it into Europe and North America, Mitsubishi decided to start selling the car in other countries. The car preserved pretty much the same look since the first generation. Standard features are the frontal air vent and the carbon-fiber rear spoiler, usually matching the color of the vehicle. The Evo VIII was also the first generation to be sold in the US. The FQ400, introduced in the UK features the standard 2-litre engine of all other Lancer generations. It has a real output of more than 400 horse power, though, which enables it to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. For a fraction of the cost, this car could keep up with a Lamborghini Murcielago on a test track.

Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33)

Nissan Skyline became one of the most successful cars for street and motor racing (particularly in Japan). Its dominance was so great that people started calling it Godzilla. Skyline GT-R was based on the standard Skyline coupe frame, the GT-R version packed several racing accessories, and it became famous worldwide after its appearances on video games. The R33 version used the same 2.6-litre engine of the R32, but it introduced several improvements, like a better oil pump and an advanced intake camshaft. The result? A potency of 450 bhp, a top speed of 323 km/h and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.

Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3

Pagani is an Italian company that manufacturers carbon fiber and supercars. They started producing the Zonda in 1999, and only 10 units ship every year. As you can imagine from a company that produces carbon fiber, most of the body parts of the Zonda are designed with that material. It has a coupe style, with 2 seats, and very characteristic placement of side mirrors and front lights. The C12 S 7.3 version comes with a mighty 7.3-litre engine. It has one of the biggest 12-cylinders engines ever produced with an output of 555 bhp and a top speed of 350 km/h, this car cost around $400,000.

Porsche 911 (996 Series GT3)

Let us start with this fact to give that maximum regard for this machine. Porsche 911 came fifth in an international poll to vote the car of the century. Introduced in 1963, this car is a hallmark of the sports car industry and one of the most acclaimed Porsches ever built. The GT3 version has a very aggressive, racing look. Light materials were used in abundance for its production, and it lacks rear seats. The aerodynamics also was carefully studied to glue the car on the ground. The car comes with a 3.6-litre engine, producing 381 bhp and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.

Subaru Impreza STi

Subaru though introduced the Impreza in 1993 as a compact car, its chassis, however, became very successful on rally championships, and in 1994 Subaru launched the STi version, bringing considerable improvements to the car. The car has been immortalized on the blue frame with gold colored wheels by rally drivers, and it also comes with a rear spoiler and hood vents. The UK Impreza STi Turbo version has 215 bhp and it can go from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Most of its parts already come with brakes, suspensions, transmission and other parts tuned for racing performance.

Ford Shelby Cobra GT500

This is an offspring of the legendary partnership between Ford and Carroll Shelby which dates back to the early 1960s. Ford would produce the Mustangs, and the Shelby's factory would modify them resulting in some of the best performing muscle cars of all time. In 2007 they renewed the deal releasing the Ford Shelby GT500. The two companies managed to revive the Mustang prestige with the GT500 model. The red and white body colors are classic, with the “Le Mans” stripes going from nose to tail. Aggressive look is a usual feature with a new front line and air spitters. The Shelby GT500 comes with a 5.4-litre, DOHC V8 engine that produces a mind-numbing 500 bhp. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds. The car also features a suspension kit and other improvements from Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT).

Lotus Elise Series 2

“Performance through light weight” is a unique concept that the British sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars always believed in. The outcome of this concept was the Lotus Elise Series 2 which was introduced in 2000 which took the Lotus family to a whole new level. The Lotus Elise packs an aggressive design, despite its small frame. The car is 3.8 meters long and it weighs less than a ton as it comes with a fiberglass body shell. Considering the fact that the car features a modest 1.8-litre, 4-cylinders engine not everybody would expect much from the car right? Wrong! This baby can vroom from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 240 km/h. Given its light weight, you should also have a good time braking and cornering it.

Audi RS4 (B7 Second Generation)

Audi RS4 won the “World Performance Car” award in 2007 when there were a lot of Porsches, Ferraris and Jaguars eying the coveted title. Do we need to add anything else? Based on the A4 B chassis, the RS4 is practically a racing car masked under an executive station wagon frame. Audi RS4 is powered by a 4.2-litre engine, with 8 cylinders in V formation which produces an output of 414 bhp. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, and it also comes with Audi's Dynamic Ride Control to provide an even better driving experience.