In pictures: 5 champions of sportsmanship on the test bench

Is there still a need to present the Miata, the quintessence of the “roadster spirit”. the reputation of the clic version with a soft roof is such that we almost forget its “targa” version with a folding hard roof. Is it the magic of the roll bar that increases the rigidity of the body? Still, with an equivalent engine, it proves to be the pure sports car of the Mazda family, especially with the 184 hp engine. A tail to enjoy without moderation!

If you deplore the fact that pure sports cars have been sacrificed on the altars of safety, decarbonization, industrial standardization and sanitized road comfort, rejoice! Here is a car like we are no longer supposed to make. A coupe with a 235 hp naturally aspirated engine, rear-wheel drive, manual gearbox and lightweight… capable of obeying you with your finger and eye on all terrains, but also moving smoothly in metropolitan traffic jams …The recipe of the first generation has been preserved, but optimized in all areas. Just as irresistible as the Yaris GR Four, the other unicorn on wheels in the Toyota range.

Yes, it is no longer sold. But this means that it can begin to circulate second hand, among informed collectors! this series limited to 1,9876 copies, using the livery from the start of the Renault Sport adventure, at Le Mans then in Formula 1, will remain the last sports car with a thermal engine from the diamond brand. And as soon as you get behind the wheel, it reminds you why this line of Megane RS will remain in the history of what the British call “hot hatches”: the magic of the turbo engine, an ultra-high performance chis, a machine that can be used on a daily basis and is unstoppable on the track. An endangered species, therefore, but what a swan song!

Since the first M2, this lineage which might have seemed condemned to live in the shadow of the M3 and M4 has almost become cult for certain sports BMW purists. This is thanks to its pure propulsion character, which makes it perhaps the most direct heir of the original M3s of the 1980s or 1990s, or even of the 2002 Turbo of 1973. Compared to the previous M2 Competition, this one has certainly gained some 150 kilos, but it also has an even more incisive front axle and an adaptive suspension ensuring very high level efficiency. All this while consuming less than 9 liters per 100 km while respecting the speed limits. A sort of magic formula.

Several months after driving it, the experience remains unforgettable. So imagine the happiness that the privilege of having it permanently at your disposal can bring… More discreet than the clic GT3, it manages to do without a spoiler without losing any of its efficiency. This high-end machine is both a pure sports car designed for the track and an elite road car. With the crown jewel of its 510 hp naturally aspirated flat six-cylinder which with each increase in revs gives you the impression of being on the 24 hour track of Le Mans, reaccelerating after Mulsanne or Arnage. A version which already has, and will undoubtedly keep for a long time, its place among the great 911s of history…