Sports saloons offer the best of both worlds. They provide the space and practicality of a four-door car, while delivering the speed and character of something much more fun. Over the years, this has resulted in vehicles ranging from touring-car inspired homologation specials to V8-powered family haulers.
Built for the Track
The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II stands out as a prime example. Initially designed as a sensible compact saloon, the Evolution II served a specific purpose. It was created to homologate Mercedes’ latest developments for touring-car racing. The result was a car with bulging wheelarches, an adjustable front splitter, and one of the largest rear wings ever fitted to a four-door vehicle.
Power came from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 235bhp. Suspension and aerodynamic changes made this version far more serious than the standard 190E 2.5-16. Only 502 units were ever built, all finished in blue-black metallic. It remains one of the most recognisable Mercedes models in history.
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Ford took a similar approach with the Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth. While the original three-door model was hardly subtle, Ford made the formula easier to live with by shifting to a four-door Sapphire. The enormous rear wing disappeared, leaving a much more restrained-looking family saloon with genuine motorsport pedigree.
Under the bonnet sat a turbocharged 2.0-litre Cosworth engine, initially driving the rear wheels. A later version gained four-wheel drive and 220bhp as the company turned its attention towards rallying. It was fast, practical, and far less conspicuous than the car that preceded it.
The Lotus Carlton represents another extreme in this category.
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Perhaps the ultimate getaway car, it began life as an ordinary Vauxhall executive saloon before being thoroughly reworked into one of the fastest cars of its era. Its relatively discreet Imperial Green bodywork hid performance that could embarrass many contemporary supercars. Lotus achieved this by enlarging the Carlton’s straight-six to 3.6 litres, adding two turbochargers, and increasing output to 377bhp. Power went to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, while the suspension, brakes, and steering were all upgraded. With a top speed of 176mph, it was so fast that its suitability for public roads was seriously questioned at the time.
The Carlton stands out as a relic of a bygone era where manufacturers could disguise supercar performance under an ordinary grille. Today’s performance sedans rely heavily on traction control and dashboard displays to prove their speed, whereas the Carlton demanded a driver who could appreciate the raw output of 377bhp without the electronic crutch.
The Evolution of Power
Every generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is revered by fans, but the Tommi Makinen Edition is arguably the most desirable. Introduced to celebrate Finnish legend Tommi Makinen winning four consecutive World Rally Championship drivers’ titles with Mitsubishi, this special edition was based on the Evo VI. It received a revised turbocharger, quicker steering, a lower ride height, and suspension tuned for Tarmac rally stages.
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Red examples could even be ordered with graphics inspired by Makinen’s rally car. This created one of the most recognisable Japanese sports saloons of the era.
For many, the BMW E39 M5 remains the definitive BMW M5. It looked little different from an ordinary 5 Series, but underneath its somewhat restrained bodywork was everything needed to turn it into one of the finest vehicles ever made. It was the first M car to use a V8, with a naturally aspirated 4.9-litre engine producing 400bhp. The only gearbox offered was a six-speed manual, and all of that power was sent to the rear wheels. It could reach 62mph in 5.3 seconds, but its balance of comfort, performance, and subtlety was more important than any single figure.
Audi had already established the RS4 name with the iconic estate-only model, but the B7 generation expanded it into a full range that included a saloon, Avant, and cabriolet. For the first time, buyers could have a compact Audi RS with four doors and a conventional boot.
