Recently, Top Gear asked its readers what they'd want from a performance car, and the results were an interesting mix of unhinged lightweight builds or retro nostalgia. Shove the M4 GTS engine in the i8 to create an M1 regen, anyone?
While many of these reader suggestions sound a bit like our own artificial lab-grown creations, this did make me wonder: what is the recipe for the perfect performance car?
That is the question I pose to you, dear reader, so sign up and get commenting below. But first, let me throw a few thoughts of my own out there to help get you thinking.
The obvious shape to think of when it comes to a performance car is a two-door coupé or convertible – whether front, mid, or rear-engined. However, there exist a few other shapes worth considering as well.
For many, mainly motoring journalists, wagons like the Audi RS 6 Avant or BMW M3 and M5 Touring are often heralded as the pinnacle of practical performance motoring. Hot hatches also present a good case for themselves, although while wagons are back in fashion, the hatchback feels like it's well on the way out.
Then, there's the choice of engine to consider. While turbocharged four-pots are what everyone seems to be giving us these days whether we like it or not, while V10s and V12s are largely on the way out, there's still plenty of room for the smooth straight-six and beefy V8.
Even then, there's still the debate as to whether turbocharging, supercharging, or leaving it naturally aspirated is the right course of action. Whether or not it would need to have a hybrid system to keep it viable with the real world's various regulations, as you'll see in the latest supercars like the Lambo Temerario, is also another question.
Perhaps the only thing we can all agree on is that the perfect performance car wouldn't be front-wheel drive, and I say that as a Golf GTI owner. But even then, is rear-wheel drive still the way to go, or does all-wheel drive truly have more merit when it comes to modern performance?
For me, I'm fairly convinced that the perfect performance car would have a V8 up front with linear power delivery, meaning no turbocharging; ultra-precise steering that's tight on turn-in, but suspension that's nicely balanced and not too punishing; and a manual gearbox with rear-wheel drive. For the sake of balance, a sleek two-door coupé or convertible makes the most sense. As less of a track-day hero and more of a weekend warrior, I'd take a drop-top and wear the slightly lower degree of chassis rigidity.
The closest thing to what I've described? The recently-departed Jaguar F-Type. The manual gearbox thing is an issue, as only the V6 model was offered with one, but it hits all the other marks and the ZF eight-speed auto is a goodun anyway.
Honourable mentions include the Lexus LC 500 (10 automatic gears is far too many), Aston Martin Vantage (twin-turbo and no manual anymore), Chevrolet Corvette (the engine is in the middle), and the Ford Mustang which... wait a second...
You know how sometimes when you're mucking around on the guitar trying to come up with a new riff and you accidentally write 'Smoke on the Water'? It turns out this is my automotive equivalent of that.
