5 New Sports Cars Making Us Long for Summer
Summer is in the air—optimistic folks will say the season has already started—and no matter how high gas prices get in the coming months, many people won’t hesitate to hit the road (or the track) to have some fun behind the wheel.
A bunch of new sports cars have made their debuts in recent months and left Canadians fantasizing about, us included. Here are five you should consider:
2024 Ford Mustang
The new, seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang hits the market this summer, available once again in coupe and convertible body styles. Both of its engines have received significant enhancements, starting with the turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost which now puts out 315 horsepower when using premium gasoline.
Of course, the star in the Mustang lineup will always be the 5.0-litre Coyote V8. Instead of 450 hp (GT) or 470 hp (Mach 1), it now delivers 480 horsepower—again with premium gas. When fitted with the active-valve performance exhaust system, expect 486 horsepower. The new Mustang Dark Horse, developed by Ford Performance, takes it to an even 500 horsepower.
One of the pony car’s coolest gadgets is sure to amuse owners and annoy their neighbours. We’re talking about the new Remote Rev feature allowing you to rev the engine from the comfort of your couch. That’s right, there is such a thing.
2024 Acura Integra Type S
“The all-new Integra is the North American Car of the Year, and the new 2024 Type S comes with even greater enhancements making the driving experience more exhilarating without compromising comfort and refinement,” said James Marchand, Assistant Vice President at Acura Canada.
Slightly more expensive and more powerful than the Honda Civic Type R, the Integra Type S goes on sale in Canada in June with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 320 horsepower. Acura’s SH-AWD all-wheel drive system is sadly not available and the company has not provided acceleration times, but look for 0-100 km/h sprints to be achieved in about 5.7 seconds.
Nicely tucked in sport seats with perforated Ultrasuede inserts and firmer seat bolsters, you can enjoy the sound of the ELS STUDIO 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers and 530W of power or, alternatively, listen to the variable symphony delivered by the centrally mounted triple exhaust. Thanks to an active exhaust valve, Acura promises a distinct auditory experience in each drive mode.
2023 BMW M2
The small but mighty BMW M2 is back for 2023 with a second generation that launches this spring. Longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, it packs a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine now producing 453 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque—sent to the rear wheels only (still no xDrive to avoid adding too much weight). The result is 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.3 seconds with the manual gearbox or 4.1 seconds with the automatic.
By the way, the car pictured below is painted in Toronto Red. Track day enthusiasts will greatly appreciate the redesigned M sport seats with more pronounced side bolsters. Same thing for the adaptive M suspension and M Compound brakes, the latter using six-piston fixed callipers and 15-inch discs at the front.
2024 McLaren 750S
The McLaren 720S is gone, but the company is accepting orders for its successor, the 750S. While the two cars may look very much alike, a few key details have changed.
In fact, the 750S uses around 30 percent new or modified components. It’s also 30 kg lighter thanks to various weight-saving techniques and options. Power is delivered by the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, except for a handful of upgrades that help raise output to 740 horsepower and cut 0-100 km/h acceleration times down to 2.8 seconds.
McLaren engineers have also retuned the suspension, widened the front track and quickened the steering ratio for improved handling. Big-time thrills are in store.
2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS
Porsche recently unveiled the new 718 Spyder RS as the open-top counterpart to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. For the first time, the 493-horsepower, naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer from the 911 GT3 can be found in a mid-engined cabriolet, shooting drivers from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds.
The exceptionally lightweight and purist-pleasing manual soft top of the 718 Spyder RS makes the highly evocative sound of the engine an even more compelling experience. The effect is further heightened by the standard lightweight stainless steel sport exhaust system and the distinctive process air inlets on the sides behind the headrests. Speaking of which, the full bucket seats are made of lightweight CFRP in a carbon-weave finish and offer particularly impressive lateral support, Porsche says.
