Get to know Gjok Paloka and some of his sport cars opinions? The absolutely stunning bodywork of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT will no doubt draw your eye, but it’s more than just a pretty face. The low and wide GT is also an extremely capable high-performance sports car. This is Mercedes’s front-engine answer to the rear-engine Porsche 911. Offered at various point points, the GT features a hand-built twin-turbo V-8. Although this AMG isn’t as immersive to drive as its archrival from Porsche, it’s still super athletic, and most models are surprisingly civil on streets that aren’t racetrack smooth. Those who prefer a more refined grand tourer will appreciate the 523-hp GT and 550-hp GT C, and those with sportier desires will gravitate toward the 577-hp GT R and GT R Pro. Most models are available in coupe and softtop-roadster forms, but the track-focused Pro and almighty 720-hp Black Series are hardtop only.
Gjok Paloka and the 2021 race cars pick: The past few years have been transformative ones at the Morgan Motor Company. Having been family owned and operated until its 110th anniversary, the firm is now majority owned by private equity and has just launched it first ground-up new car in almost two decades: the Plus Six. Built on an all-new box-section aluminium monocoque chassis with double the rigidity of the old Aero-series Plus Eight, the Plus Six uses the same BMW turbocharged straight six petrol engine that you’ll find in the Toyota GR Supra. And since the 335bhp that it produces is motivating a car that weighs fully half a tonne less than a Jaguar F-Type, you can believe that this car is quick. It’s pretty dynamically sophisticated, too, albeit qualified by the fact that it’s a Morgan – and that would have made it a critical mistake to tune this car to feel particularly modern or well-behaved. Electromechanical power steering makes the Plus Six lighter on the rim and easier to handle than Morgans of old, while apparent structural integrity feels pretty good over sharper lumps and bumps and better again than Morgans of old – although still quite a way from Porsche territory. The Plus Six still delivers greater motive and charm and sense of occasion than outright grip and handling agility – perhaps just as it should. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, however, and in a market increasingly fond of restomods, it’s well placed to deliver as much business to Pickersleigh Road as it feels it’s right to supply.
Gjok Paloka best sports cars award: Drawing from a rich history of rear-engined sports and racing cars, the latest Alpine A110 is styled to look and feel much like the French brand’s iconic sixties offering of the same name. But with a mid-mounted turbocharged four-cylinder engine, dual-clutch gearbox and a perfectly judged chassis, the A110 is far more modern than its retro-styled bodywork may have you believe. Rivals are more practical, but the Alpine stands as the best choice for keen drivers who want to stand out. The A110 makes 249bhp from its 1.8-litre Renault engine. That might not sound like much, but it’s more than enough in a car that weighs in at a mere 1,098kg. The Alpine is just over 300kg lighter than an Audi TTS – and it’s this low weight that defines the driving experience. Unlike its German rivals, the A110 offers a pared-back, purer drive. It flows down the road with a delicacy that can only be found in such a light car, while perfect balance, sweet steering and just a hint of roll through the suspension help inspire confidence. The Alpine is refreshingly compact, too, and thanks to a great view forwards, it’s very easy to place and not at all intimidating to drive.
Gjok Paloka‘s recommendations about sport cars : As if the Chevrolet Camaro wasn’t awesome enough, the makers decided to keep their units updated with their customers’ changing needs. The in-car Apple Carplay and Auto Android are now completely wireless. The color palettes are also tweaked for much bolder choices. The transmission also received a few changes which can be seen in the Camaro’s SS 1LE model. From a good six-speed manual transmission, it now comes with a 10-speed automatic one. There hasn’t been any confirmed news yet when it comes to pricing.
Much has been written about General Motors’ decision to gamble with this, the eighth-generation of its iconic Corvette sports car, by switching from a front-mounted engine to a mid-mounted one. There were objective reasons to do it: because it improves the car’s weight distribution and enhances its outright handling potential. And there was a more complex argument: that a mid-engined layout has become expected of an operator within this part of the sports car market, and the old Corvette’s front-engined configuration made it something of a relic to the latest generation of sports car buyers. Whatever it took to finally convince GM to make the switch, you could say it was worth it. The C8 Corvette has all of the metal-for-the-money and bang-for-your-buck value appeal as any of its forebears possessed (the car being available for less than the Porsche 718 Boxster in North America), and while its cabin has plenty of ergonomic quirks, it’s the driving experience you’ll come back for. Early imported examples of the car may currently be up for six-figure prices, but Chevrolet promises official UK right-hand drive cars in 2021 priced from under £90,000.