Coupes under $50k
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- Best coupes under $50k
Whether you’re just starting to drive or heading into a mid-life crisis, coupes appeal to all of us. Luckily, these days you don’t need to spend big money to enjoy the thrills of the swept-back driving experience.
While you are able to buy a Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 for less than $40,000, choices start to expand once you’re shopping under the $50,000 so let’s start there.
Toyota 86
It is getting a little long in the tooth, but the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ combo still offers sports car thrills for an affordable price. Available in manual or automatic with a choice of specification levels, the Toyota 86 has stood the test of time despite external pressure to fill it with extra power.
Mazda MX-5
With the nameplate just celebrating its 30th birthday, there’s small wonder why so many flock to the Mazda MX-5 for an engaging top-down drive. Even if you’re more of a hard-top fan, Mazda now offers the RF version which includes a folding metal roof.
Hyundai i30 Fastback N
A relatively new player to the coupe game, Hyundai’s i30 N was transformed into a four-door coupe following the success of the hatchback. Sleeker styling marries with everything that made Hyundai’s first true hot hatch great
Subaru XV a stand-alone model
Subaru will introduce the jacked-up XV version of its forthcoming new Impreza as a stand-alone model to rival the Nissan Dualis and Volkswagen Tiguan.
World’s cheapest car gets a $4.6m bling makeover
It might have no radio, no airbags and no power steering, but this model of the world’s cheapest new car is now worth some serious cash after it was covered in $4.6million-worth of gold, silver and jewels in Mumbai last week.
Mid-sized wagon warfare
Launch of the all-new Hyundai i40 Tourer, the addition of cheaper, fuel-frugal Volvo V60 variants, and a hefty $3370 pricecut to Mazda 6 Touring signals mid-sized wagon warfare.
Nissan creates GT-R SUV
Nissan has taken the GT-R’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6, six-speed transaxle and all-wheel-drive chassis, and stuffed the complete powertrain into its Euro-only Juke compact SUV.
World’s largest Rolls-Royce dealership opens
The world’s largest Rolls-Royce dealership has opened, where else but Abu Dhabi. The occasion was marked by the unveiling of a Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection Phantom Drophead Coupe.
West Philly teens build award-winning “Badass Hybrid” car
Teenagers from a low-income school built a “badass” hybrid car that has outperformed other vehicles built by professional engineers and graduate students from Ivy League universities.
Drive shifts into high gear
He’s got skills, and can double-clutch through a swiftly fading orange light like nobody’s business. See it for yourself – check out Drive in cinemas October 27th.
F1 stars pay tribute to Wheldon
Dan Wheldon may not have received the F1 break that his considerable talent deserved, but that did not prevent many of the drivers he should have been racing against from paying tribute to him on hearing news of his passing in a 15-car accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.
Drunken dad uses nine-year-old daughter as designated driver
A man from Michigan, US, was arrested on two charges of child abuse after having his nine-year-old daughter drive his van to a nearby petrol station because he’d been drinking, police said on Tuesday
Gran Turismo 5
Driving game Gran Turismo 5 narrows the gap between virtual gaming and real-life racing. But by how much? We sent PlayStation hot-shoe Glenn Butler to Laguna Seca in an Audi R8 V10 to find out.
All electric DeLorean to enter production in 2013
The DeLorean Motor Company of Humble, Texas has announced plans to build all-electric version of the iconic, stainless steel gull-wing sports car made famous in the ‘Back to the Future’ films of the 1980’s.
French 1,000hp Genty Akylone supercar
French company Genty has announced its plans to launch the Gentry Akylone supercar.
A sweeping return for Holden Hurricane
It debuted in 1969 as Holden’s first ever concept – a futuristic, wedge-shaped two-door mid-engine V8 – but has mostly sat forlornly in dealerships, museums and storage sheds ever since.
Lotus grabs them young
Lotus has become the first car manufacturer to have an official foothold in the entry-level category, and says it isn’t only interested in spotting future driving talent.
HDT will polarize opinion
HDT has made a sensational, fourth addition to its Heritage line-up with the release of the VL inspired Group A.
Commodore engineering threatened?
Holden is in talks with the union body representing its Australian engineers about the future of its local design and engineering operations, which may be moved offshore in as little as three years.
All-new Peugeot 208 debuts
Peugeot has bucked the (literally) growing small car trend by introducing a new model that is both smaller and lighter than its predecessor.
Achtung, Japan: BMW, VW reliability soars
EVERYBODY expects Toyota to top a reliability survey… but the Germans?
New Mini Roadster
Mini has revealed the first two-seat open-top Mini ever – taking the number of new Mini variants up to six.
Holden to launch Jackaroo successor
Holden will reintroduce a heavy-duty off-roader to its lineup from early 2013. It will be badged the Colorado 7, and is a full-size seven-seater.
Justin Bieber’s custom Batmobile revealed
Dubbed the Bat-illac, take a first look at Bieber’s Batmobile – Justin Bieber’s lastest ride.
Lexus GS to attack 5 Series and E-Class
The executive sedan class has gone through a massive shake-up over the past six months, with the new Audi A6 and Jaguar XF 2.2d launching locally.
“I crush you like a Bug…”
Not an ’80s movie quote, but a faulty switch on Volkswagen’s latest Beetle that could literally have heads rolling in America.
New Nissan PIVO 3 concept car of the future
Nissan has unveiled the brand new PIVO 3 concept car ahead of the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in December – a compact all-electric urban commuter vehicle that majors in smarts.
