Ultimate Sleepers

Final Nine Weird world of fast cars

by MOTOR STAFF

Nine anonymous missiles that’ll cause, for others, a bit of a fright at the lights

1 MERCEDES 450 SEL 6.9

It may blend in perfectly with the crowd at the local bowls club, but this 213kW/549Nm 6.9-litre V8 monster was, at one time, the fastest four-door in the world. Think of it as an old-school S63 AMG. Now worth big money.

2 FPV F6X

It might not have been the smartest product planning decision, but the addition of the F6 Typhoon’s 270kW/550Nm powerhouse made the Territory fl y. (At times literally, thanks to Luff y.) Chewed through tyres, brakes and fuel, though.

3 AUTECH STAGEA 260RS

Nissan GT-R engine and driveline – including the ATESSA all-wheel drive system – in a station wagon body? Genius.

And just like all GT-Rs, eminently tuneable, with power levels and speed limited only by your budget. Or your sanity.

4 BMW M550D TOURING

It may possess all the visual panache of a well-optioned 520d, but there’s nothing subtle about the M550d’s punch thanks to a 280kW/740Nm triple-turbodiesel six.

Fast, frugal, practical and sadly only sold in left-hand drive. Shame.

5 FPV GT E/F6 E

Wow, that G6 E’s sure in a real hurry. These exceedingly rare ‘luxo’ FPVs may have looked like pop’s latest ride, but full-house FPV turbo six and blown V8 engines ensured they would be a handful on soft luxury suspension.

6 MITSU LEGNUM VR4

If you love Evos but know it’s time to grow up, the Legnum is the car for you.

Lovely 2.5-litre twin-turbo V6 ensured 0-100km/h in around six seconds, while the Evo’s tricky Super-AYC diff s means this dad-mobile still knows how to dance.

7 AUDI RS6 (C5)

You could make a case for any RS6, but the anonymity of the fi rst C5 model means even trainspotters will need to take a second glance. All-wheel drive deployed the 331kW/580Nm 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8 to devastating eff ect.

8 MERCEDES R63 AMG

Australia is a big AMG market, but sadly we were denied its maddest creation, the R63 AMG. Yes, this is a six-seat people mover with a 375kW/630Nm 6.2-litre V8 stuff ed in the front. Presumably thought up in the wee hours of the AMG Christmas party.

9 VOLVO 850R

Volvos are boxy and boring. Until a Porsche-tuned 186kW turbo fi vepot is installed, that is. Subtle styling undermined by 850R’s propensity to randomly change lanes when boost arrived thanks to rampant torque steer.