5 Cars That Should Have Performance Models

Let me talk briefly about a concept known as the halo car. No, it’s not the goody two-shoes machine that never lets drivers break the law. And it’s not Master Chief’s Warthog, nor the personal car he uses when he’s not gunning down aliens. In this instance, I’m talking about speciality cars that, either through some measure of technology and/or performance, stand above their siblings as a beacon of awesomeness.

The idea here is that such cars garner positive attention not just for themselves, but for other models in a manufacturer’s lineup; their “halo” shining down if you will. Bean counters hate them because they seldom make money on their own. Marketing pros swear by them because they generate interest and excitement for a manufacturer, resulting in stronger sales. Whatever the case, the enthusiasts always win because such cars are generally awesome to drive.

That’s why I’ve picked five current vehicles on sale that would be awesome with some kind of dedicated performance variant. Perhaps they’d help bring sales to other models, but honestly I don’t care. I just want to drive them.

Ford F-150

Yes, the current SVT Raptor is a performance variant of the F-150, but I’m talking about a dedicated on-road performance truck. At roughly 4500 pounds, the new aluminium-bodied F-150 in single-cab two-wheel drive configuration is actually a bit lighter than the 2004 SVT F-150 Lightning. That truck had a 380bhp supercharged V8 and prolific suspension tuning to be one of the fastest and best handling performance trucks of all time.

Ford already equips the Raptor with a 411bhp V8, but why stop there? The new Ford GT wields a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6, and while it’s not exactly the same as the 3.5 EcoBoost in the current F-150, it’s close enough. Even without a weight reduction plan, dropping either engine into a new F-150 would create the most epic high-performance truck the world has ever seen - and it seems Ford already has the pieces to build it. It’s time to make the Lightning live again.

Toyota Camry

I really want to see a 450bhp all-wheel drive Camry, simply because it’s been a punching bag for journalists and enthusiasts for nearly 20 years now. It’s become the poster child for mundane, passionless motoring, despite the fact that V6 Camrys have been hitting 60mph in under six seconds for the last few years.

I can’t imagine a better middle finger to the critics than building a bonkers Camry, and here’s how I’d love to see them do it. Keep the 3.5-litre V6 but have TRD tweak it to 350 ponies. Then to keep it Toyota-style, go hybrid with a 100bhp electric motor and have both mills turn all four wheels. Shift it with an automatic but give it a manual mode with big paddle shifters, and dress it up ever so slightly so people know it’s not the same old Camry. Would it be sacrilege to call such a machine the Camry RZ?

Vauxhall Viva / Chevrolet Spark

Coming to you from General Motors Korea, this little hatchback goes to Europe as the Vauxhall Viva, or to the U.S. as the Chevy Spark. Whatever you call it, I think the DNA is there to turn this little guy into a neat hot hatchback. If you need a reason, just take a look at the Ford Fiesta ST - it’s quite the go-kart and zippy to boot with its 197bhp turbo four. It sells well, and if you follow the halo theory, it’s helping sell regular Fiestas too. Thing is, I’ve driven the Fiesta and I think it’s crap. Quick and nimble crap, but crap none the less.

I’ve also driven the Spark and found it to be surprisingly comfortable and quite tossable, despite its non-performance attire. If General Motors could inject another 100 horsepower while dropping and firming the suspension a bit, I reckon they’d have a Fiesta ST killer. Or, go with a modest 50bhp increase and work hard on removing as much weight as possible. That would really give the Viva / Spark an old-school hot hatchback feel, something that’s been missing from the current crop of hot hatches.

Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 is already a great halo car, but that still doesn’t stop me from wanting a new Mazdaspeed version. This is the perfect time, because Mazda’s entire lineup of cars have never looked as dead sexy as they do right now, especially the new MX-5. There’s already a new Mazdaspeed 3 in the works that’s said to be packing 300bhp and all-wheel drive; adding a Mazdaspeed MX-5 would definitively bring the zoom-zoom back in a big way.

I’d preserve the light, effortless feel of the MX-5 by capping power around 250 ponies. That’s plenty to enjoy brisk acceleration without upsetting the MX-5’s exquisite balance, which I’d enhance with some aero tweaks and a very tight, race-derived suspension setup. Yes, it would make this little roadster a rough rider, but it would be as epic on a track as a Honda S2000.

Dodge Grand Caravan

Does a performance minivan even make sense? Before you answer that question you should know that Chrysler is developing a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Hellcat for 2017. If a 707bhp SUV with seating for five can see the light of day, I don’t think a 370bhp minivan would be a tall order. Why 370bhp? Because Hemi, that’s why. Actually I have doubts about stuffing a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 under the bonnet of the front-wheel drive Caravan, but an all-wheel drive system is rumoured for the Caravan’s sibling, the Chrysler Town And Country. That’s one key performance element we can use right off the bat.

From there, tweak up the suspension to be just a bit lower and stiffer at the corners, but bolt up some beefy sway bars to quell the Caravan’s penchant for the truffle shuffle. As for power, I still don’t think a Hemi would fit, but I bet a supercharger could find its way to the existing 3.6-litre V6. It already makes 283bhp so even modest boost levels should get us that bump to 370, and there you have it - the Dodge Grand Caravan SRT-6. It would be the coolest minivan ever, and for a company planning to buildl a bonkers 700bhp SUV, such a contraption just might make some strange kind of sense.