How to make a small fortune out of building British sports cars.

[SueEllen]

The middle classes, after having paid Osborne, their mortgage, private school fees and propped up their BTL portfolio will buy the this:

Sandero – Dacia UK

The only people I've seen with one of those are OAPs.

[Troll]

UK spec, RHD, V8 Ford Mustang - From £34,495

Plastic again

[DimPrawn]

And would match a 911 Targa 4S stride for stride. How the hell they get 360bhp out of a two litre engine I don't know. But that's their job to know, not mine!

Mitsubishi Evo FQ-400 | Autocar

2 litre four pot and 400 bhp. But vulgar and council estate image means I've no interest in it.

[bobspud]

And would match a 911 Targa 4S stride for stride. How the hell they get 360bhp out of a two litre engine I don't know. But that's their job to know, not mine!

Mercedes have stolen a march on reducing engine sizes and are getting very good at it.

As others have said the v8 is sadly on a demise. My current merc v6 350 petrol was the same 0-60 as the previous 5.0 v8 and has been way too fast for most uk roads. yet this years model is a 3ltr twin turbo with an extra 67 ponies...

[DimPrawn]

Mercedes have stolen a march on reducing engine sizes and are getting very good at it.

As others have said the v8 is sadly on a demise. My current merc v6 350 petrol was the same 0-60 as the previous 5.0 v8 and has been way too fast for most uk roads. yet this years model is a 3ltr twin turbo with an extra 67 ponies...

Peugeot RCZ R | Peugeot's most powerful production car ever, producing an impressive 270bhp

The new RCZ R’s 1.6 THP turbocharged petrol engine generates 270 bhp propelling the car from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds.

[bobspud]

Peugeot RCZ R | Peugeot's most powerful production car ever, producing an impressive 270bhp

The new RCZ R’s 1.6 THP turbocharged petrol engine generates 270 bhp propelling the car from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds.

My work mate bought one of those. The suspension was like a piece of granite

[Hobosapien]

You can see from just the cars mentioned above that most mainstream stuff is going small block turbo with impressive output figures for a relatively small capacity.

Problem for me is these days it's not about speed it's about experience. There are loads of diesel barges that can embarrass non-turbo petrol cars if driving within sensible limits. So the petrol ones go turbo too for that torque experience that people miss after their sales rep diesel.

I'm hoping as mainstream cars go more and more towards automation and comfort that there will be a resurgence of pure retro cars like a typical TVR or Lotus. Stripped down back to basics for those that see a car as something more than an a mode of transport.

We thought the last of the V8s was the Mad Max Interceptor. It may come sooner than that if we all settle for the heavy bland luxo barges or warm hatch offerings with 'eco' engines they're forcing on us.

Enjoy the petrol while it's still 'cheap'. Diesel is soulless. Clarkson was right about that.

[bobspud]

You can see from just the cars mentioned above that most mainstream stuff is going small block turbo with impressive output figures for a relatively small capacity.

Problem for me is these days it's not about speed it's about experience. There are loads of diesel barges that can embarrass non-turbo petrol cars if driving within sensible limits. So the petrol ones go turbo too for that torque experience that people miss after their sales rep diesel.

I'm hoping as mainstream cars go more and more towards automation and comfort that there will be a resurgence of pure retro cars like a typical TVR or Lotus. Stripped down back to basics for those that see a car as something more than an a mode of transport.

We thought the last of the V8s was the Mad Max Interceptor. It may come sooner than that if we all settle for the heavy bland luxo barges or warm hatch offerings with 'eco' engines they're forcing on us.

Enjoy the petrol while it's still 'cheap'. Diesel is soulless. Clarkson was right about that.

Saab were doing small bore blocks with big turbos for years and they were good fun and comfortable to drive. It almost felt like the rest of the car industry was waiting for them to die so that it could move in to that space.

Its not petrol supping that is going to kill the big v8. Its the V8 that is committing suicide. The arms race from the quality manufacturers has taken things way past sensible to a point where they make a great car for top gear but its useless if not dangerous on a road.

Audi make some amazing v8 and v10 engines but 80% of the power band cannot be used on a road
The Mercedes v8 is iconic but their standard 4.7 v8 is now faster than the last of the SL55 AMG units and those were BEASTS.
AMG v8 units are just so powerful now the only one I would consider would be the GL63 because it has a traction system that can cope.

There is no place left for any of the above because the bog standard models are already way too fast. Worse than that, we are in the balance were its possible to be able to buy a UK wide average speed system that will effectively enforce 72 miles an hour across all major infrastructure.

[LondonManc]

Saab were doing small bore blocks with big turbos for years and they were good fun and comfortable to drive. It almost felt like the rest of the car industry was waiting for them to die so that it could move in to that space.

Its not petrol supping that is going to kill the big v8. Its the V8 that is committing suicide. The arms race from the quality manufacturers has taken things way past sensible to a point where they make a great car for top gear but its useless if not dangerous on a road.

Audi make some amazing v8 and v10 engines but 80% of the power band cannot be used on a road
The Mercedes v8 is iconic but their standard 4.7 v8 is now faster than the last of the SL55 AMG units and those were BEASTS.
AMG v8 units are just so powerful now the only one I would consider would be the GL63 because it has a traction system that can cope.

There is no place left for any of the above because the bog standard models are already way too fast. Worse than that, we are in the balance were its possible to be able to buy a UK wide average speed system that will effectively enforce 72 miles an hour across all major infrastructure.

Which is one reason why I've swapped my Cayman S for a Jaguar XF. No point being able to do 50-90 in the blink of an eye if you're getting a ticket for it in most places.

[bobspud]

Which is one reason why I've swapped my Cayman S for a Jaguar XF. No point being able to do 50-90 in the blink of an eye if you're getting a ticket for it in most places.

Indeed