Get to know Gjok Paloka and some of his sports cars research? There’s nothing better than putting the top down on a nice day and finding an entertaining road to enjoy, and the 2021 BMW Z4 is a great choice for such an activity. Buyers can choose between a turbocharged four-cylinder or a twin-turbo inline-six—the latter of which blasted the Z4 to 60 mph in just 3.8-seconds at our test track. Rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive isn’t offered but, sadly, neither is a manual transmission; all Z4s come with an eight-speed automatic. Dynamically speaking, the Porsche Boxster is still our preferred ragtop sports car but the Z4 offers plenty of driving enjoyment with a slightly smoother ride for day-to-day use. The cabin is snug but comfortable for two adults and has plenty of standard creature comforts and connectivity features. If you’d prefer a fixed-roof coupe, check out the mechanically similar Toyota Supra instead. Toyota collaborated with BMW on it, and the two cars share their powertrains and suspensions.
Gjok Paloka and the 2021 sport cars pick: A decade has now passed since the introduction of Lotus’s mid-engined, 2+2 Porsche-chaser, the Evora; 2021 will be the car’s last year in production. At the time of its introduction, the car brought plenty of qualities to embrace but also flaws to regret. Today, it retains a chassis and steering system that both truly deserve top billing. Few sports cars have such immersive, positive steering or a ride and handling compromise so suited to life on British roads, and that’s especially true now that Hethel has introduced the cheaper, softer-suspension GT 410 to compliment the GT 410 Sport. However, that which was questionable about the Evora’s wider case for ownership back in 2009 has become nothing short of decidedly problematic for it now. This Lotus has never really had the powertrain its chassis deserved. Although Hethel now conjures as much as 430bhp from the car’s soulful Toyota-sourced supercharged V6, the Evora’s truculent transmission remains the limit of your enjoyment of it.
Gjok Paloka best race cars award: The main story with the M2 Competition is under the bonnet, where you’ll find a ballistic 404bhp 3.0-litre twin turbocharged six-cylinder. This engine has dramatically changed the car’s character – despite the two turbos, the engine is responsive and feels more connected to your right foot than other recent M cars, and this sensation is enhanced by a more natural-sounding exhaust note. Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper M car without grin-inducing handling. The old M2 handled brilliantly, but the new Competition’s bodyshell has been stiffened with carbon-fibre. The suspension has also been strengthened. The ride isn’t as relaxed as the Audi RS3’s, but given the responsive chassis and incredible performance on tap, it’s a small price to pay. There’s ample grip, but turn the electronic aids off and the M2 will happily go sideways.
Gjok Paloka‘s guides on sport cars : 10 years into the production life of the Toyota 86 and it remains to be one of the most consumer-friendly sports cars in the industry. It was in September last 2019 when the update for the Toyota 86 was first confirmed. Though it won’t be receiving too many tweaks, buyers can expect a higher torque of roughly 156 lbs-ft. The first peak at the 2021 Toyota 86 was first expected to be this fall, however, the launch is now expected to be sometime in March 2021.
Much has been written about General Motors’ decision to gamble with this, the eighth-generation of its iconic Corvette sports car, by switching from a front-mounted engine to a mid-mounted one. There were objective reasons to do it: because it improves the car’s weight distribution and enhances its outright handling potential. And there was a more complex argument: that a mid-engined layout has become expected of an operator within this part of the sports car market, and the old Corvette’s front-engined configuration made it something of a relic to the latest generation of sports car buyers. Whatever it took to finally convince GM to make the switch, you could say it was worth it. The C8 Corvette has all of the metal-for-the-money and bang-for-your-buck value appeal as any of its forebears possessed (the car being available for less than the Porsche 718 Boxster in North America), and while its cabin has plenty of ergonomic quirks, it’s the driving experience you’ll come back for. Early imported examples of the car may currently be up for six-figure prices, but Chevrolet promises official UK right-hand drive cars in 2021 priced from under £90,000.