Cape Town - 2018 will see a slew of performance cars make their way to South Africa. From hot hatches to super saloons, performance car enthusiasts will be chomping at the bit for what's in store.
Wheels24 has earmarked five cars that we can't wait to drive on track or up our favourite mountain passes.
1 Honda Civic Type R
First seen at the Geneva motor show in 2017, the new Civic Type R is due in Mzansi imminently. The 2.0-litre VTEC turbo engine of the previous generation Type R has been carried over and tuned to produce 235kW while torque remains unchanged at 400Nm.
The short-throw six-speed manual has also been retained. Power goes through the front-wheels.
The latest Type R will have a selection of driving modes on offer. A new ‘Comfort’ setting sits alongside agile ‘Sport’ and track-focused ‘+R’ modes. Honda says each selection tailors the adaptive dampers, steering force, gear shift feeling and throttle response of the car.
Due: Late January 2018
2 Audi RS 4
The team from Ingolstadt have a knack of building excellent estate or avant performance cars (to use the Audi vernacular). It all started with the RS 2 and in 2018 Audi has released the B9 model.
It's powered by the same 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbocharged engine from the RS 5, power figures are reportedly 335kW/600Nm. It has a sport differential and uses an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Quattro, is of course, standard.
Audi says the rapid avant will reach 100km/h in under four seconds.
Due: Audi SA says the RS 4 is still under consideration.
3 BMW M5
The first M5 to be fitted with all-wheel drive when it launches locally later this year, the F90 version has a lot to live up to.
Fitted with a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 441kW/750Nm. BMW claim the M5 rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and 0 to 200km/h in 11.1 seconds.
Top speed, meanwhile, is an electronically limited 250km/h, but the optional M Driver’s Package elevates it to 305km/h.
The M5 will have configurable modes to choose from based on combinations of the DSC modes (DSC on, MDM, DSC off) and M xDrive modes (4WD, 4WD Sport, 2WD).
Don't fret, you can still do massive oversteer powerslides.
Due: March 2018
4 Renault Megane RS
First seen at last year's Frankfurt motor show, the Megane RS uses an all-new 1.8-litre turbocharged engine is available, for the first time, with a choice of two transmissions.
Power figures are reportedly 205kW/390Nm and it can reach 100km/h in under six seconds.
In Europe, Renault will offer a six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic transmission. There are five driving modes: comfort, normal, sport, race and perso.
Like before, the Megane's front wheels deal with all that power, however its trumpcard may be the fitment of four-wheel steering, a first in the segment.
Due: June/July 2018
5 Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic
It might have been released late last year, but we haven't had a go in the E63 S yet. And boy do we want to. Who can say no to a snarling 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 450kW!
Mercedes claim a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.4 seconds.
Inside you'll find smatterings of wood, brushed aliminum and leather. This is truly a limousine with a rocket under the bonnet.
The E63 S, like its rivals, also has configurable driving modes and can be driven in only two wheel drive without any electronic intervention.
A further highlight is the AMG Speedshift MCT nine-speed sports transmission; combined for the first time with a wet start-up clutch.
Due: Available now