New cars for 2015: Sports cars

New Audi TT

The third-gen Audi TT wasn’t revealed too long ago, but already, it’s being tested on our roads. Under the skin, it uses the same MQB platform as the A3 sedan. The styling is a combination of the radical first-gen car and the more subdued second-gen, with Audi’s new grille, of course. Cabin quality sees an improvement too and there’s likely to be more space as well. The V6 version is no more, so what you get is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol in either standard 226bhp or 306bhp S guises, both of which will hopefully be launched here. 

Factfile
Coming: 2015
Est price: Rs 60 lakh
Engine(s): 2.0 turbo petrol
Rivals: BMW Z4

Porsche Boxster GTS & Cayman GTS

We still regard the Porsche Boxster S and Cayman S to be the best driver’s cars available in India today, and things are only going to get better with the new GTS versions. They’re basically harder, sharper, slightly lowered versions of the standard cars with 15bhp bumps in power from their 3.4-litre flat six engines. That means the Cayman GTS is now up to 335bhp while the Boxster GTS gets 325bhp. These cars also get a lot of Porsche’s ‘go faster’ options as standard, including adaptive dampers, and the Sport Chrono Package. They also get a snarlier exhaust note. The GTS models will cost a bit more, of course, so expect to pay between Rs 1 crore and
Rs 1.2 crore for them.

Factfile
Coming: 2015
Est price: Rs 1.0-1.2 crore
Engine(s): 3.4 petrol
Rivals: Jaguar F-Type

BMW i8

The i8 looks like something out of science fiction, and in many ways, it previews what future sportscars will be like. Power will come from a combination of a 228bhp, 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine and a 129bhp electric motor, both placed low and in the centre for best weight distribution. This, and the extensive use of carbon-fibre, help give it a sharpness you would only associate with the best BMWs. But BMW will import the i8 in limited numbers so it won’t be cheap. Expect prices to be in the region of Rs 1.7 crore.

Factfile
Coming: 2014
Est price: Rs 1.7 crore
Engine(s): 1.5 turbo petrol hybrid
Rivals: Porsche 911

Nissan GT-R

Nissan will finally be bringing its monstrous GT-R sportscar to India officially. The R35 GT-R is the latest in a long line of high-performance Japanese coupés, and in its current guise, packs a humungous 545bhp from its twin-turbo V6. A very clever automatic gearbox and four-wheel-drive system help it dart from 0-100kph in under 2.9 seconds, but what it’s become really famous for is its immense grip through corners. While the GT-R is famous for outperforming cars many times its price, it will still cost an estimated Rs 2 crore when it comes here. For the performance, however, you’ll agree that even that is a bargain.

Factfile

Coming: 2015
Est price: Rs 2 crore
Engine(s): 3.8 turbo petrol
Rivals: Porsche 911 Turbo, Jaguar F-Type

Mercedes-AMG GT
Just like the SLS AMG was positioned a rung lower than the wildly exotic McLaren-Mercedes SLR before it, the new AMG GT is a step lower still. It’s clearly a little smaller than the SLS, and while that belonged in high-performance Ferrari and Lamborghini territory, the new car will go up against the likes of Porsche and Jaguar. It’s ditched the SLS’s cool but heavy gull-wing doors for conventional ones, and under the hood is the company’s new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which you’ll soon see in the next C 63 AMG as well. In the AMG GT, it will be available in two states of tune – 456bhp in the standard car and 503bhp in the ‘S’ version. The cabin layout, unlike the rather generic-looking SLS, is like no other Mercedes car, and it looks great. The GT may be smaller and positioned lower down, but will still cost north of Rs 2 crore when it goes on sale.

Factfile
Coming: 2015
Est price: Rs 2.5 crore
Engine(s): 4.0 turbo petrol
Rivals: Porsche 911 Turbo, Jaguar F-Type R

All price estimates are ex-showroom, delhi
 

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