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419 briefs · 4149 min · 97–192 on page 2 of 5

Fiat Coupé

Chris Bangle · 1993

The Fiat Coupé is a front-wheel drive two-door, four-seater designed by Chris Bangle at Centro Stile Fiat and built by Fiat between 1993 and 2000. Production ended with 72,762 units. It launched with 2.0 L 16V four-cylinder engines, added 1.8 L and five-cylinder 2.0 L variants in 1996, and received updates including a Variable Inlet System in 1998. Special editions included the 1998 Limited Edition with body kit and titanium grey details, and a 2000 1.8 L European edition marketed as elegant and affordable. Its design prioritised silhouette over packaging. It did not solve front-wheel drive compromises. It changed expectations of what a mainstream coupé could look like—and how long it could endure without reinvention.

Fiat Panda

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1980

The Fiat Panda (1980) is a two-box, three-door hatchback designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani. It was conceived as a utilitarian 'container' matching the Fiat 126's weight and cost, using monocoque construction, a flat floor, and high roof for upright seating. Its interior features a seven-position adjustable rear seat — inspired by a folding lounge chair — enabling multiple configurations including a flat bed or V-shaped load support. The cargo area accommodates two 50-litre wine demijohns with all passengers aboard. Giugiaro described it as 'like a pair of jeans': simple, practical, unadorned. It won the Compasso d'Oro industrial design award in 1980.

Fiat Uno

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1983

The Fiat Uno is a supermini designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, launched in January 1983 to replace the Fiat 127. It was produced over a single generation with a 1989 facelift, offered in three- and five-door hatchback body styles, and built from 1983 to 1995 in Europe and until 1 January 2014 in Brazil. With over 8,800,000 units built, it ranks as the eighth most produced automobile platform in history. Its tall, square body featured a Kamm tail and achieved a drag coefficient of 0.34. It used front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout with MacPherson strut front and twist-beam rear suspension.

Fiat X1/9

Marcello Gandini · 1972

The Fiat X1/9 is a pragmatic mid-engined sports car — engineered, not styled. Its innovation lies in relocation, not invention: moving the Fiat 128’s transverse drivetrain to the rear of the cabin. Gandini’s architecture-first method produced a car that met US safety rules from day one, offered usable storage and visibility, and proved mid-engine packaging could work in volume production. It is neither fast nor refined. It is consequential because it worked — and because it showed how much could be achieved without starting over.

Fisker Karma

Henrik Fisker · 2011

The Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in range-extended electric sports sedan produced by Fisker Automotive between 2011 and 2012. It was manufactured by Valmet Automotive in Finland. The EPA rated its all-electric range at 32 mi (51 km), and its fuel economy at 52 mpg‑US equivalent in all-electric mode and 20 mpg‑US in gasoline-only mode. It was priced from US$102,000 in the U.S., and around 1,800 units were delivered in North America and Europe through December 2012. Approximately 2,450 Karmas were built before production ceased in November 2012.

Ford Bronco

Paul G. Axelrad · 1966

The 1966 Ford Bronco is Ford’s first SUV. It launched as a compact, off-road vehicle using its own chassis. It was built at Ford’s Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan.

Ford Escort RS Cosworth

Stephen Harper · 1992

A rally-bred, mechanically singular hatchback—built to satisfy Group A, not taste.

Ford GT40

Roy Lunn · 1964

A mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive racing car developed by Ford between 1963 and 1964 under Roy Lunn’s direction, built in Slough then Dearborn, to beat Ferrari at Le Mans.

Ford GT90

John Coletti team · 1995

The Ford GT90 is a 1995 concept car that launched Ford’s 'New Edge' design language. It uses a carbon-fibre body over an aluminium monocoque, and mounts a 5.9-litre V12 mid-ship. It shares only roof-cutting doors with the GT40. It was never intended for production or racing. As of 2025, it resides in the Hajek Motorsports Museum.

Boss 302 Mustang

Larry Shinoda · 1969

The 1969–1970 Boss 302 Mustang is a Trans-Am homologation special designed by Larry Shinoda. It used a unique thin-wall, high-nickel 302 cu in (4.9 L) H.O. V8 with solid lifters, 4-bolt main bearings, threaded freeze plugs, and canted-valve heads. It was sold only in a complete package including a four-speed manual, upgraded suspension, brakes, and aerodynamic aids. A total of 7,013 units were sold.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

Uwe Bahnsen team · 1986

A purpose-built Group A weapon disguised as a saloon — engineered for stability, not style.

GMC Syclone

GMC · 1991

The GMC Syclone is a 1991 high-performance compact pickup based on the GMC Sonoma. Built by GMC and Production Automotive Services (PAS), it featured a 4.3L turbocharged V6, 4L60 automatic transmission, BorgWarner 4472 AWD transfer case (35/65 torque split), Mitsubishi turbo, Garrett intercooler, and 4-wheel ABS. At launch, it was the fastest stock pickup in the world—and its acceleration outperformed the Chevrolet Corvette and Ferrari 348 ts. It established that AWD and forced induction could coexist in a production truck without sacrificing usability. It did not offer a manual, nor did it prioritise ride comfort or cabin isolation. Its legacy is mechanical audacity, not longevity or luxury.

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50

Gordon Murray · 2022

The GMA T.50 is a sports car manufactured by Gordon Murray Automotive. Designed by Gordon Murray, it is the logical successor to the McLaren F1. It went into production in 2022 at GMA’s Surrey facility. It features a 3,994 cc naturally aspirated V12 developed by Cosworth. It achieves a dry weight of 997 kg, with its V12 weighing 178 kg and its chassis 30 kg lighter than the McLaren F1’s. A distinctive feature is the 8.5 kW 40 cm aerodynamic fan integrated into the rear, powered by a 48 volt electrical motor. It incorporates the fan car concept of the Brabham BT46B.

Hindustan Ambassador

Morris · 1957

The Hindustan Ambassador is a saloon built in India from 1957 to 2014, based directly on the Morris Oxford Series III. It used a fully enclosed monocoque chassis and remained almost unchanged across its entire production run. It was not designed in India, nor did it evolve with changing global standards—but it endured as a functional, spatially generous, mechanically simple vehicle embedded in India’s administrative and transport systems.

Holden Monaro

Joe Schemansky team · 1968

The Holden Monaro is an Australian-built, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-door coupé produced across three generations: 1968–1971 (HK/HT/HG), 1971–1979 (HQ/HJ/HX/HZ), and 2001–2006 (VX/VY/VZ). It was also assembled in South Africa (1970–1973) and exported globally under multiple badges including Chevrolet Lumina Coupe, Vauxhall Monaro, and Pontiac GTO. The third generation was also remanufactured by HSV as high-performance variants without the Monaro nameplate.

Honda Beat

Pininfarina · 1991

The Honda Beat is a kei-class, two-seater roadster with rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, designed by Pininfarina and produced by Honda from May 1991 to February 1996; approximately 33,600 units were built. It features a 656 cc three-cylinder engine with MTREC technology, a 5-speed manual transmission, disc brakes on all four wheels, and was marketed exclusively in Japan as 'Midship Amusement'.

Honda Civic Type R EK9

Honda · 1997

The 1997 Honda Civic Type R (EK9) is the origin point of Honda’s Type R line — a JDM-only, naturally aspirated, front-wheel-drive hot hatch built on the sixth-generation Civic platform. It introduced the core Type R principles: weight reduction, chassis stiffening, engine tuning, upgraded brakes and suspension, manual-only transmission, and red Honda badging. Produced in 16,000 units between 1997 and 1999, it used a hand-ported 1.6 L DOHC VTEC B16B engine, seam-welded monocoque, helical LSD, and Recaro seats.

Honda NSX

Masahito Nakano · 1990

The Honda NSX (1990) is a two-seater sports car manufactured by Acura. Masahito Nakano was Chief Designer of the first generation, produced from 1990 until 2006. It launched as a two-door coupé, later adding a targa top variant. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and a transversely-mounted naturally-aspirated V6 engine.

Honda NSX (first generation)

Honda · 1992

The first-generation Honda NSX is a Japanese-built, mid-engine, two-seater sports car introduced in 1991. It was the first production car with an all-aluminium semi-monocoque, using a revolutionary extruded aluminium alloy frame and suspension components. This construction saved nearly 200 kg over steel in the body and 20 kg in the suspension. It featured an independent 4-channel ABS, electric power steering, and a suspension compliance pivot that maintained near-zero wheel alignment change. Its 3.0 L V6 engine was DOHC 24-valve and non-VTEC in early production, later upgraded to VTEC.

Hummer H1

AM General · 1992

The Hummer H1 is a full-size, four-wheel-drive utility vehicle based on the M998 Humvee, developed and built by AM General. It was produced from 1992 to 2006, rebadged as the Hummer H1 under GM's 1999 marketing agreement, and powered by multiple V8 engines — gasoline and diesel — with varying displacements and configurations. Production occurred at AM General’s Mishawaka, Indiana facility, and ended in June 2006 due to impending diesel emissions regulations. The vehicle was offered in several body styles including soft top, four-door hard top Sport Utility Truck, and Alpha Wagon.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Joel Piaskowski team · 2008

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports coupe launched in Korea on October 13, 2008. It shares its platform with the Genesis luxury sedan. It arrived in US dealerships on February 26, 2009, as a 2010 model. It was discontinued in 2016. Engine options included a 2.0T turbocharged 4-cylinder and an optional 3.8 L Lambda V6. A 6-speed manual was standard; automatics were 5-speed or ZF 6-speed. Powertrain upgrades followed a 2011 facelift. The 2.0T was dropped in North America after 2014.

Hyundai N Vision 74

SangYup Lee · 2022

Hyundai N Vision 74 is a functional, road-capable concept that tests hydrogen-electric drive in a rear-wheel-drive sports layout. It is not a production preview, nor a styling manifesto — it is engineering made visible.

Hyundai Pony

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1975

The Hyundai Pony is South Korea’s first mass-produced and exported car. It is a small rear-wheel-drive automobile produced from 1975 to 1990 in saloon, liftback, coupé utility, and estate body styles. Giorgetto Giugiaro designed both the 1974 Pony Coupé Concept — shown at Turin, uncommissioned by Hyundai — and the 1975 production Pony. The concept influenced domestic advertising and reverse engineering at Ulsan, but never entered mass production.

Iso Grifo

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1965

The Iso Grifo is a 1965 Italian grand tourer styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone and engineered by Giotto Bizzarrini. It uses American-sourced Chevrolet V8 engines and Borg-Warner transmissions. Production ran from 1965 to 1974, totalling 413 units. It was intended to compete with Ferrari and Maserati GTs.

Iso Rivolta IR 300

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1962

The Iso Rivolta IR 300 is a 1962 Italian grand tourer designed for long journeys. It was Iso's first luxury car. Giorgetto Giugiaro styled it at Bertone. It used a Chevrolet 327 V8 and BorgWarner 4-speed manual. 797 units were made between 1962 and 1970.

Jaguar C-X75

Ian Callum · 2010

The Jaguar C-X75 is a 2010 concept car designed by Ian Callum. It uses four wheel-mounted electric motors and two diesel-fed micro gas turbines. It was intended to influence future Jaguar design and technology. Production was announced in 2011 for 2013–2015 but cancelled in December 2012 due to the Great Recession.

Jaguar E-Type

Malcolm Sayer · 1961

The Jaguar E-Type is a British front-engined, rear-wheel drive grand tourer introduced in March 1961 in Geneva. Designed by Malcolm Sayer as a roadster, it was based on the D-Type racing car and used a novel front-subframe-to-body-tub construction that eliminated the ladder frame. It featured independent coil-spring rear suspension, torsion-bar front suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes — inboard at the rear — all power-assisted. Its sleek appearance, advanced technologies, high performance, and competitive pricing established it as an icon. A 2+2 four-seater version was released in 1966.

Jaguar XJ

William Lyons · 1968

The 1968 Jaguar XJ6 is the last saloon designed under Sir William Lyons’ leadership. It is a full-size luxury car, front-engine, rear-wheel drive, launched as a four-door straight-six on a 2.76 m wheelbase. It uses the 4.2 litre XK engine. From 1970, it served as Jaguar’s flagship four-door model. It did not gain a long-wheelbase option or V12 engine until 1972. Lyons considered it his last and proudest achievement.

Jaguar XJS

Malcolm Sayer · 1975

The Jaguar XJS is a luxury grand tourer launched in 1975, developed by William Heynes on the XJ saloon platform, with early styling by Malcolm Sayer under project XJ27. It evolved from 1967 proposals into a V12-powered coupé, later offered as fixed-profile and full convertible.

Jaguar XJ220

Keith Helfet · 1992

A mid-engine, rear-wheel drive two-seat supercar produced by Jaguar from 1992 to 1994 in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing. Developed from a V12, 4WD concept by Jaguar employees working in their spare time — the 'Saturday Club' — to revive Jaguar’s Le Mans legacy for FIA Group B. Final production version used a 3.5 L twin-turbo V6, achieved 217 mph at Nardo (catalytic converter removed), and set a Nürburgring lap time of 7:46.36 in 1991 — faster than any prior production car. Made use of engineering from Jaguar’s then-current racing car family. Unveiled publicly at the 1988 British International Motor Show in Birmingham.

Jaguar XJR-9

Tony Southgate · 1988

The Jaguar XJR-9 is a sports-prototype race car designed by Tony Southgate and built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) in 1988. It features a Jaguar 7.0-litre V12 engine, carbon composite body, and mid-mounted, longitudinally oriented, rear-wheel-drive layout. A Le Mans–specific variant, the XJR-9LM, used a low-drag aerodynamic package. It won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1988, and took six victories in the 1988 World Sports Prototype Championship.

Jaguar XK120

William Lyons · 1948

The XK120 is a pivotal machine—not because it was perfect, but because it was decisive. It launched a new engine. It forced production. It claimed speed before the world had recovered enough to question it. Its value lies in its clarity of purpose and its consequences.

Jeep Cherokee (XJ)

Dick Teague · 1984

The Jeep Cherokee (XJ) is a foundational off-road vehicle designed by Dick Teague and launched by AMC in 1983. It introduced unibody construction to American 4x4s, marketed itself as a Sportwagon, and reshaped consumer expectations — becoming the template for the modern SUV.

Kia Stinger

Gregory Guillaume · 2017

The Kia Stinger is a mid-size liftback/fastback built from 2017 to 2023. It evolved from the 2011 GT Concept in Frankfurt and the 2014 GT4 Stinger in Detroit. Design was led by Peter Schreyer and Gregory Guillaume at Kia’s Frankfurt studio. It uses a shortened version of the Hyundai Genesis' front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform with additional steel reinforcement. The sole transmission is an 8-speed automatic with five driving modes plus paddle-shifters. GT variants are equipped with Brembo brakes and Michelin tires. For the European and Korean markets, the Stinger is offered with a base 2.2-liter CRDi diesel I4. Kia claims that the Stinger accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.7, 6 and 4.9 seconds for the 2.2-liter diesel, 2.0-liter gasoline and 3.3-liter gasoline respectively.

Koenigsegg Agera

Christian von Koenigsegg · 2010

The Koenigsegg Agera is a Swedish mid-engine sports car produced by Koenigsegg Automotive AB. It succeeded the CCX/CCXR and was named Hypercar of the Year in 2010. Its Agera RS variant became the world's fastest production car in 2017. Production ceased in July 2018 and it was succeeded by the Jesko in 2019. It uses an in-house developed 5.0-litre V8 engine with twin-turbochargers and a specially developed CIMA 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters.

Koenigsegg Jesko

Christian von Koenigsegg · 2019

The Koenigsegg Jesko is a limited-production mid-engine sports car made by Koenigsegg Automotive AB. It succeeded the Agera and was named after Christian von Koenigsegg’s father. It debuted at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show and sold out before the show ended. It features a redeveloped 5.1 L twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, increased redline, and dual-fuel capability. The car has three variants — Absolut, Attack, and Sadair's Spear — differing in aerodynamics, suspension, and purpose. Production is capped at 125 units, built between 2019 and 2023.

Lamborghini Aventador

Filippo Perini · 2011

The Lamborghini Aventador is a mid-engine, two-seater sports car designed by Filippo Perini and launched at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It uses a 6.5 L V12 engine and was named after a Spanish fighting bull from 1993. It succeeded the Murciélago and was replaced by the Revuelto in 2023.

Lamborghini Countach

Marcello Gandini · 1974

The Countach is a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car developed by Lamborghini as a successor to the Miura, with Marcello Gandini of Bertone as lead designer. It debuted as the LP500 concept at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show and entered production in 1974. Its design pioneered the 'Italian Wedge' style, building on Gandini's earlier work like the Lancia Stratos Zero and Alfa Romeo Carabo. The car retained the Miura’s layout but introduced major innovations including scissor doors, a full tubular spaceframe chassis, and progressive aerodynamic refinements over its 16-year production run ending in 1990, with 1,983 units built.

Lamborghini Diablo

Marcello Gandini · 1990

The Lamborghini Diablo is a longitudinal, mid-engined V12 sports car built from 1990 to 2001. It was Lamborghini’s first production car over 200 mph, first AWD model (VT, 1993), and first open-top V12 (roadster, 1995). Marcello Gandini created the original design proposal. Its 5.7 L V12 produced 492 PS and 580 N⋅m, achieving 325 km/h and 0–100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. It prioritises top-speed capability over agility, refinement or usability.

Lamborghini Espada

Marcello Gandini · 1968

The Lamborghini Espada is a Gandini-designed, Bertone-bodied, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand touring coupé built between 1968 and 1978. It replaced the 400 GT 2+2 and shared mechanical underpinnings with the Islero. Three series were produced: S1 (1968–1970), S2 (1970–1972), and S3 (1972–1978). Gandini drew inspiration from the Marzal and Pirana show cars and prioritised vehicle architecture, construction, assembly, and mechanisms over styling.

Lamborghini Gallardo

Luc Donckerwolke · 2003

The Lamborghini Gallardo is a V10-powered sports car designed by Luc Donckerwolke and built by Lamborghini from 2003 to 2013. It was developed under Volkswagen Group ownership, based on the 1995 Calà concept. Named after a famous breed of fighting bull, it served as Lamborghini’s entry-level and best-selling model, with 14,022 units built. It preceded the Huracán and ended production on 25 November 2013.

Lamborghini LM002

Lamborghini · 1986

The LM002 is Lamborghini’s first production off-road vehicle. It followed two failed rear-engined military prototypes — the Cheetah (1977) and LM001 — both rejected for poor handling. It moved the Countach’s V12 to the front, adopted a new ladder-frame chassis, and entered production from 1986 to 1993 in 301 units. Named 'LM' for 'Lamborghini Militaire', it broke Lamborghini’s bull-naming tradition. It was introduced under the Mimran brothers’ ownership and discontinued after Chrysler’s 1987 acquisition.

Lamborghini Murciélago

Luc Donckerwolke · 2001

The Lamborghini Murciélago is a mid-engine, all-wheel drive sports car produced from 2001 to 2010. Designed by Luc Donckerwolke, it was Lamborghini’s first new design in eleven years—and its first under Audi ownership. The first-generation model used a 6.2 L naturally aspirated V12 engine. A total of 4,099 units were built.

Lancia Rally 037

Pininfarina · 1982

The Lancia Rally 037 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive rally car built by Lancia in the early 1980s for FIA Group B competition. It won the 1983 World Rally Championship Manufacturers' title and remains the last rear-wheel-drive car to do so. To meet homologation rules, 200 road-going examples — later confirmed as 207 units — were built between 1982 and 1984. Its engine is a longitudinally mounted 2.0-litre (later 2.1-litre) supercharged straight-four, developed by Abarth. The car debuted in 1982 and was succeeded by the Delta S4 in 1985.

Lancia Delta S4

Abarth · 1985

The Lancia Delta S4 is a Group B rally car built by Lancia in 1985 and 1986. Abarth helped engineer its twincharged engine. It replaced the 037. It used a tubular space frame chassis.

Lancia Flaminia

Pininfarina · 1957

A 1957–1970 Italian luxury car, Lancia’s flagship successor to the Aurelia. Built in saloon, coupé, and cabriolet forms — with the two open-top variants exclusively coachbuilt by firms including Pininfarina.

Lancia Stratos

Marcello Gandini · 1973

The Lancia Stratos is a rear mid-engined rally car designed by Marcello Gandini for Lancia and Bertone. It debuted as a fluorescent red prototype at the 1971 Turin Motor Show with a crescent-shaped wrap-around windshield and a mid-mounted Dino Ferrari V6. Its final production form, the Stratos HF Stradale, featured a 2.4 L V6 and was built from 1973 to 1975 in 492 units. It won the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Lancia Stratos Zero

Marcello Gandini · 1950

The Lancia Stratos Zero is a 1970 Bertone-Lancia concept car designed by Marcello Gandini, built on a crashed Lancia Fulvia HF1600 rally chassis, featuring a radical low-slung fiberglass body, digital instrumentation, and a mid-rear-mounted 1.6 L V4 engine.

Land Rover Defender

Land Rover · 1990

The Defender is a British off-road vehicle lineage developed in the 1980s from the original Land Rover series launched in April 1948. It was initially sold as the Land Rover One Ten (1983), Land Rover Ninety (1984), and Land Rover One Two Seven (1985), before being renamed Defender 90/110/130 in 1990 following the Discovery's introduction. It features four-wheel drive, a steel ladder chassis, aluminium alloy bodywork, coil springs front and rear, and permanent four-wheel drive enabled by a centre differential in the transfer case. It gained a worldwide reputation for ruggedness and versatility.

Range Rover Evoque

Gerry McGovern · 2011

The Range Rover Evoque redefined compact luxury SUVs by delivering the LRX concept almost unchanged—prioritising form, brand continuity, and packaging over hybrid tech or expanded utility.

Land Rover series

Maurice Wilks · 1948

The Land Rover Series I is a utilitarian off-road vehicle born from Maurice Wilks’s farm needs in 1947. It introduced mass-produced civilian four-wheel drive with doors and a hard roof. Its box-welded frame and aluminium body prioritised longevity over comfort. It changed expectations of what a post-war utility vehicle could be — and remains defined by what it refused to become.

Lexus LFA

Kengo Matsumoto · 2010

The Lexus LFA is a rare, self-contained argument against automotive trend-chasing: no hybrid system, no forced induction, no digital mediation. It exists to deliver a specific sensory contract—between driver, engine and road—and nothing else.

Lincoln Continental

Elwood Engel · 1961

The 1961 Lincoln Continental is a four-door saloon styled by Elwood Engel. It originated as a rejected 1961 Ford Thunderbird proposal in 1958. Ford executives redirected it into a four-door, four-seat Lincoln. Its success convinced Ford President Robert S. McNamara to retain the Lincoln brand after considering its termination. Engel focused specifically on Lincoln vehicles during his time at Ford.

Lincoln Futura

Bill Schmidt · 1955

The Lincoln Futura is a 1955 concept car designed by Bill Schmidt and John Najjar, built by Ghia in Turin, Italy, at a cost of $250,000 (equivalent to $3,000,000 in 2025). Its styling was original by 1950s standards, featuring a double clear-plastic canopy, exaggerated hooded headlight pods, and very large, outward-canted tailfins. The car had a complete powertrain and was fully operable, in contrast to many show cars. Its official public debut was on January 8, 1955, at the Chicago Auto Show; it had been shown to the press at the city's Congress Hotel on January 5. While being displayed elsewhere in the U.S. that spring, the Futura was seen by the country's television audience on Today ("The Today Show") on March 3, 1955. The idea for the Futura came from designer Bill Schmidt, who got the idea while he was diving, after an encounter with a shark.

Lotus Carlton

Lotus · 1990

The Lotus Carlton is a high-performance sports saloon developed by Lotus from the Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega A, designated Type 104. Its engine was enlarged to 3.6 L and fitted with twin Garrett T25 turbochargers; it uses a ZF 6-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential. Exterior upgrades include a rear spoiler, bonnet cooling vents, Lotus badges, a body kit, and widened wheel arches. Rear suspension was modified with a new arm and revised bushings, and self-leveling suspension and Servotronic power steering were borrowed from the Opel Senator. It was sold only as a saloon, with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, and 950 units were produced between 1990 and 1992.

Lotus Elan

Ron Hickman · 1962

The 1962 Lotus Elan is a rear-wheel-drive roadster designed by Ron Hickman. It uses a steel backbone chassis and fibreglass body. It weighs ~1,500 lb. It has a DOHC 1,558 cc engine, four-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and 4-wheel independent suspension. It was Lotus’ first commercial success. It influenced the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota 2000GT.

Lotus Elise

Julian Thomson · 1996

The 1996 Lotus Elise redefined sports-car priorities by making mass the primary engineering target. Its bonded aluminium chassis and fibreglass body achieved 725 kg — enabling sharp responses and direct feedback without high power. Designed by Julian Thomson and Richard Rackham, it launched in September 1996 and remained in production until 2021.

Lotus Elite

Peter Kirwan-Taylor · 1957

The Lotus Elite Type 14 redefined what a production car’s structure could be — but exposed the gap between material ambition and mechanical reality.

Lotus Esprit

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1976

The Lotus Esprit S1 is a 1976 Giorgetto Giugiaro design for Lotus Cars. It is a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupé built on a steel backbone chassis. It emerged from Project M70 as a successor to the Europa. Its 'folded paper' aesthetic was among the first of its kind in production. Its chassis later carried the DeLorean. Its design prioritises structural clarity and geometric rigour over comfort or concealment.

Lotus Seven

Colin Chapman · 1957

The Lotus Seven is a British-built, open-wheel, two-seat, open-top sports car designed by Colin Chapman to embody performance through low weight and simplicity. It was produced from 1957 to 1973, originally by Lotus Cars (Lotus Engineering), and featured a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with a tubular spaceframe and lightweight aluminium/fibreglass bodywork. The Series 1 used a 1,172 cc Ford Sidevalve straight-four engine and was used both on road and in club racing. Over 2,500 original Lotuses were sold. After 1973, Caterham acquired the rights and continued production as the Caterham 7. The design inspired widespread imitation in the kit car market.

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra · 2010

The Mahindra Thar is a compact SUV launched in India on October 4, 2010. It replaces the MM540 and Major. It is named after the Thar Desert. Its design traces directly to the Jeep CJ series, which Mahindra had built under licence since the 1940s.

Maserati 3500 GT

Touring · 1957

The Maserati 3500 GT was Maserati's first successful Gran Turismo and series production vehicle, developed 1956–57 and launched in late 1957. Its bodywork was designed by Carrozzeria Touring following an introduction by Franco Cornacchia; Touring's 2+2, superleggera 'Dama Bianca' prototype was selected for series production after being shown alongside an Allemano prototype at the March 1957 Geneva Salon. It featured a front-mounted 3.5 L straight-six engine and rear-wheel drive, and 2,226 units were built between 1957 and 1964.

Maserati 5000 GT

Touring · 1959

The Maserati 5000 GT is a rare, bespoke grand tourer commissioned by the Shah of Persia and built by Maserati in collaboration with Carrozzeria Touring, featuring a modified 4.9 L V8 engine derived from the 450S and mounted in a strengthened 3500 GT chassis. It was produced from 1959 to 1966, with 34 units made, primarily as two-seat coupés.

Maserati Biturbo

Pierangelo Andreani · 1981

The Maserati Biturbo is a foundational but flawed machine: a compact, turbocharged executive coupé that reshaped Maserati’s entire output for sixteen years — yet failed to deliver on durability, credibility, or track results.

Maserati Bora

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1971

The Maserati Bora is a pivotal machine: the first mid-engined street car and first with four-wheel independent suspension from Maserati. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign in the late 1960s, it launched in 1971 under Citroën ownership and ended production in 1978 after De Tomaso’s acquisition. Its 0.30 drag coefficient and ‘gentle bends’ reflect a transitional moment in automotive design—between organic curves and hard-edged modernism. Named after the Bora wind of Trieste, it redefined what a Maserati grand tourer could be: technically current, aerodynamically advanced, and architecturally coherent.

Maserati Ghibli

Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1967

The 1967 Maserati Ghibli AM115 is Giugiaro’s final full expression of arched, flowing form — a front-engine, RWD, 2+2 fastback coupé defined by its shark nose, steel body, and 4.7 L V8. It launched as a 2-seater concept at Turin in 1966. Production ran 1967–1973. Variants followed in 1969: Spyder and SS. Total output: 1,295 units. It predates Giugiaro’s angular shift — the Bora arrived in 1971.

Maserati Khamsin

Marcello Gandini · 1974

The Maserati Khamsin is a Gandini-designed, Bertone-built grand tourer produced by Maserati between 1974 and 1982. It debuted as a concept at the 1972 Turin Auto Show, entered production after being shown at the 1973 Paris Motor Show, and was developed under Citroën ownership as a front-engined alternative to the mid-engined Bora.

Maserati MC12

Frank Stephenson · 2004

The Maserati MC12 is a homologation special built to return Maserati to FIA GT racing. Designed by Frank Stephenson on the Ferrari Enzo’s chassis, it is longer, wider, taller, and more aerodynamically efficient. Its mid-rear V12 layout prioritises balance over packaging. Only 62 were built: 50 road cars and 12 racers. It is uncompromising, specific, and historically consequential — but not versatile.

Matra 530

Philippe Guédon · 1967

The Matra 530 is a French sports car created and built by Matra. It was in production from 1967 to 1973. It was Matra's first 'true' sports car. It was named after Matra's R.530 missile. It was designed by former Simca designer Philippe Guédon. It used a steel platform chassis with perforations for lightness. It used a 1699 cc Ford Taunus V4 engine and transaxle. It featured a targa top roof.

Matra Djet

René Bonnet · 1962

The Matra Djet is the world's first rear mid-engined production road car. It began as the René Bonnet Djet in June 1962. It used a 1,108 cc Renault 8 engine mounted mid-ship. Its fiberglass body was bonded to a steel chassis. Production ran from 1962 to 1967 across both makers. Total units: 1,689.

Matra Murena

Antonis Volanis · 1980

The Matra Murena is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive hatchback sports car produced from 1980 to 1983. It inherited the Bagheera's layout but introduced a new galvanised steel chassis—the first production car to do so—and used fibreglass-epoxy for its twelve major body panels. It featured three separate seats in one row and a 5-speed manual transaxle. Total production was 10,680 units.

Mazda 787B

Nigel Stroud · 1991

The Mazda 787B is a Group C sports prototype that won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans using a Wankel rotary engine — the only non-reciprocating engine car to do so as of 2026. Built between 1990 and 1991, five units were made: two 787s and three 787Bs. It prioritised reliability and fuel efficiency over outright speed, outlasting faster rivals. It marked the end of rotary power in top-tier endurance racing. It was the first Le Mans win by a Japanese manufacturer — unmatched until Toyota in 2018.

Mazda MX-5

Tom Matano · 1989

The 1989 Mazda MX-5 is a lightweight, two-seat, unibody sports car co-designed by Tom Matano and C. Mark Jordan. It launched at the Chicago Auto Show and was built at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant. Its design follows the Jinba ittai philosophy and draws direct inspiration from 1950s–60s British and Italian roadsters — especially the Lotus Elan. With a curb weight under 1,100 kg, it prioritises balance, responsiveness, and driver engagement over power or luxury. The first generation sold 228,961 units between 1989 and 1997.

Mazda RX-3

Mazda · 1971

The RX-3 is what the world outside Japan called the Mazda Savanna, the rotary version of the Grand Familia. It came as a coupé, sedan and station wagon, started on the 10A rotary and moved to the larger 12A. It was the most popular of the rotary cars Mazda built before the RX-7, and it raced successfully in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and North America.

McLaren F1

Gordon Murray · 1992

The McLaren F1 is the first road-going car manufactured by McLaren. Gordon Murray conceived it as 'the ultimate road-going sportscar'. It used a full carbon-fibre monocoque, a central driving position, and a bespoke BMW V12. It won Le Mans outright in 1995 in LM specification. Only 106 were built between 1992 and 1998.

McLaren F1 GTR

Gordon Murray · 1995

The McLaren F1 GTR is the racing variant of the McLaren F1 sports car, first produced in 1995 for grand touring style racing, such as the BPR Global GT Series, FIA GT Championship, JGTC, and British GT Championship. It was powered by the naturally aspirated BMW S70/2 V12 engine. It is most famous for its overall victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans where it won against faster purpose-built prototypes in very wet conditions. The F1 GTR raced internationally until 2005 when the final race chassis was retired. Bodywork modification saw the addition of various cooling ducts, most noticeably a large one in the center of the nose and two placed in the location of the storage lockers on the side of the car. A large adjustable fixed wing was added to the rear of the car. Even the 1995 versions of F1 GTR generated enough downforce to run along the ceiling at 100 mph. The interior was stripped of all luxuries and given a full racing cage. Carbon brakes replaced the stock units.

McLaren P1

Frank Stephenson · 2013

The McLaren P1 is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive hybrid supercar styled by Frank Stephenson. It is the second model in McLaren’s Ultimate Series and a spiritual successor to the F1. Production ran from 2013 to 2015, limited to 375 units. Its design draws partial inspiration from a sailfish. It shares the F1’s carbon fibre monocoque and mid-engine layout. It debuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show after a concept reveal at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. It is one of the first high-performance sports cars to incorporate hybrid technology.

Mercedes-AMG One

Gorden Wagener team · 2022

The Mercedes-AMG One is a production reality — not a show car — built to prove F1 hybrid technology can function on public roads. Its layout, powertrain and aerodynamics are derived directly from contemporary Formula One. It sacrifices usability for fidelity. It is not a supercar for driving. It is a rolling validation of a racing specification.

Mercedes-Benz W201

Bruno Sacco · 1982

The W201 redefined what a compact luxury sedan could be—not by shrinking the S-Class, but by building a new class with structural integrity, scalable safety tech, and unambiguous engineering intent.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz · 1979

The G-Class is a body-on-frame, four-wheel drive luxury SUV originally developed as a military off-roader. It features boxy styling dictated by its ladder chassis and three fully locking differentials — a hardware configuration retained across 46–47 years of production. It remains one of Daimler’s longest-produced vehicles, with the second-generation W463 launched in 2018 and a smaller 'little G' announced in 2023. It was sold as the Puch G in some markets until 2000.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Mark Fetherston · 2010

The SLS AMG is a decisive, uncompromising statement: AMG’s first self-contained supercar, lighter and faster on track than the SLR McLaren, powered by the most potent naturally aspirated V8 in series production at launch.

Mercedes-Benz W113

Paul Bracq · 1963

The Mercedes-Benz W113 is a two-seat luxury roadster/coupé introduced in 1963. It replaced the 300 SL and 190 SL. It was marketed as the 230 SL, 250 SL and 280 SL. Paul Bracq and Béla Barényi co-designed its patented concave hardtop — the source of the 'Pagoda' nickname. All models used a fuel-injected inline-six engine. Aluminium was used on the bonnet, boot lid, door skins and tonneau cover to reduce weight. 48,912 units were produced, with 19,440 sold in the US.

Mercedes-Benz W126

Bruno Sacco · 1979

The W126 is the second-generation S-Class, designed under Bruno Sacco at Daimler-Benz AG. It launched in 1979, added the C126 coupé in 1981, and ran until 1991 — the longest and highest-volume S-Class generation. It introduced ABS as standard, early airbags, hydropneumatic suspension, and distinct chassis coding. Its aerodynamic refinement (Cd 0.36 saloon, 0.34 coupé) served durability and presence over agility. It anchors Sacco’s S-Class trilogy — W126, W140, W220.

Mitsubishi Starion

Mitsubishi · 1982

The Mitsubishi Starion (1982–1989) is a Japanese rear-wheel-drive fastback coupé with a front-mounted turbocharged straight-four engine. Sold globally under multiple names—including Colt Starion in the UK and Conquest in North America—it pioneered electronic fuel injection in turbocharged Japanese performance cars. Offered in narrowbody and widebody forms, it split into non-intercooled narrow and intercooled wide variants after 1985.5. It prioritised drivetrain integration and regulatory compliance over raw output or chassis novelty.

Nissan Be-1

Naoki Sakai · 1987

The Nissan Be-1 is a tightly edited response to urban life in late-1980s Japan. It is not fast. It is not spacious. It is not branded. It is precise, deliberate, and self-contained. It exists because Naoki Sakai solved a specific problem: how to make a small car feel like an object of intention—not utility.

Nissan Pao

Naoki Sakai · 1989

The Nissan Pao is a deliberately small, retro-styled hatchback built in Japan between 1989 and 1991. It belongs to Nissan’s Pike Factory series, conceived as a fashion object rather than a transport tool. Its design references specific European city cars—Mini, 2CV, Fiat 500, Austin A40—with functional reinterpretations of their details. It sold out in three months despite no Nissan branding and limited production of 31,352 units. It trades utility and dynamics for coherence, charm, and cultural timing.

Nissan R390 GT1

Ian Callum · 1997

The Nissan R390 GT1 is a Le Mans GT1 race car designed in 1998 by Ian Callum at TWR Design, built jointly by Nismo and TWR in Atsugi, Japan. One road car was built for homologation; eight race cars followed.

NSU Ro 80

Claus Luthe · 1967

The NSU Ro 80 is a four-door, front-engine executive sedan manufactured and marketed by the West German firm NSU from 1967 until 1977. It was developed as a mid-sized front-wheel drive sedan to serve Germany’s growing middle class. Claus Luthe designed its clean wedge shape and large glasshouse. It achieved a drag coefficient of 0.35 at design freeze and 0.34 in final production — without modifying the outer body after wind tunnel testing. It featured inboard front brakes, four-wheel ATE Dunlop disc brakes, fully independent suspension (MacPherson struts front, semi-trailing arms rear), and power-assisted ZF rack and pinion steering. Its twin-rotor Wankel engine delivered 84 kW (113 bhp) from 995 cc but suffered early unreliability and poor fuel economy. It won Car of the Year in 1968. Total production was 37,204 units.

Oldsmobile Toronado

David North · 1966

The Oldsmobile Toronado is a personal luxury car produced from 1966 to 1992. It was the first U.S.-built front-wheel drive automobile since 1937. It originated as a 1962 design painting by David North and evolved from a non-production compact concept into a full-size personal luxury coupe built on GM’s E platform. Its defining engineering feature was the Unitized Power Package (UPP), integrating a large V8 and transaxle into a compact front-wheel drive layout. The first-generation model used a 425 cu in (7 L) Super Rocket V8.

Opel GT

Erhard Schnell · 1968

The Opel GT is a front-engine, rear-drive two-seat sports car. Its first generation (1968–1973) began as a 1965 styling exercise shown in Paris and Frankfurt. It used Kadett B mechanicals and Brissonneau & Lotz bodywork. Erhard Schnell styled it as a fastback.

Opel Kadett C

Opel Design · 1973

The Opel Kadett C is a small family car produced by Opel from 1973 to 1979. It is the fourth-generation Kadett and Opel’s version of General Motors’ T-Car platform. It was the last small Opel to feature rear-wheel drive. Most customers opted for the two-door 'Limousine' saloon. A four-door variant was produced mostly for export. The Limousine accounted for just under 63% of production. Eleven percent were three-door estate-bodied Kadett Caravans. Slightly under 10% were two-door coupés. The Kadett City, a three-door hatchback, was added in May 1975 to compete on price with the Ford Fiesta.

Pagani Huayra

Horacio Pagani · 2011

The Pagani Huayra is a mid-engine sports car produced by Italian sports car manufacturer Pagani from 2011 to 2015. It was limited to 100 units. It uses a 6.0 L twin-turbocharged V12 engine. It is named after Wayra Tata, the Quechua wind god. It was named 'The Hypercar of the Year 2012' by Top Gear. It sold out on 11 February 2015. It has a top speed of about 383 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 97 km/h in 2.8 seconds.

Perodua Kancil

Daihatsu · 1994

The Perodua Kancil is a microcar defined by its origin, not its invention.

Peugeot 203

Peugeot · 1948

The Peugeot 203 is a foundational post-war saloon. Its monocoque structure, coil-sprung chassis and rack-and-pinion steering set new internal benchmarks. It carried Peugeot alone for six years. It sold nearly 700,000 units. It offered three body variants on two wheelbases. It used one engine, one drivetrain, one brake system. It was rational, not revolutionary.

Peugeot 404

Pininfarina · 1960

The Peugeot 404 is a large family car produced by Peugeot from 1960 to 1975. Styled by Pininfarina, it launched as a saloon, estate, and pickup. A convertible arrived in 1962; a coupé in 1963. It used a 1.6 litre petrol engine (Solex carburetor or Kugelfischer fuel injection) or a 1.9 litre diesel. A 3-speed ZF automatic was optional. It gained fame as a taxicab and earned a reputation for durability and value. Its bodyshell closely resembles that of the 1959 Austin Westminster.

Peugeot 405

Pininfarina · 1987

The Peugeot 405 is a large family car designed by Peugeot and styled by Pininfarina, produced from 1987 to 1997 in Europe and under license in Iran until 2020. It shares its floorpan with the Citroën BX but lacks hydropneumatic suspension except on 4x4 variants. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1988 by the largest number of votes in the history of the contest. About 2.5 million vehicles have been sold worldwide, both in left and right drive versions, as a saloon and estate. In early 2020, the 33-year production run of the Peugeot 405 was counted as the 'twentieth most long-lived single generation car in history'. Its appearance is similar to the Alfa Romeo 164, launched the same year and also styled by Pininfarina.