While supercars have enjoyed a natural home on teenagers' bedroom walls for decades, in the real world, the stinging reality is that they aren't really that great to own. Try taking a Huracan for a spin down your city lane and you'll see how much fun it is. (Spoiler alert: not a lot). So when rallying took off in the '80s and '90s, it spawned a new type of performance car. These cars were built for tarmac and mud, so their road-going cousins were naturally well-suited to real-world conditions. What's more, they often had four doors, plenty of legroom, and a boot in the back, unlike sports cars. These road-going rally cars soon became a favourite among enthusiasts as they were accessible, easy on the pockets, and fun to drive. And the reason car manufacturers spend millions of dollars competing in motorsports stems from this theory: “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday.” This means that if a manufacturer can get their car competing in, and maybe even winning, motorsport events, fans will want some of that pedigree in their own car. This is one of the reasons rallying is so captivating. And it comes as a win-win situation for all. Now, if you're looking for road-going cars with a rally-racing pedigree, we list down four of them.
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Inspired by Subaru's factory-backed FIA World Championship Rally series race cars and tuned for maximum performance, the 2021 Subaru WRX STI can overwhelm the faintest of hearts. In fact, the STI's finicky turbocharged flat-four-cylinder engine and firm suspension would startle even ardent driving enthusiasts. It also boasts of an all-wheel-drive system and manual-only transmission which are hallmarks of this sedan. What's more, it pumps out 305bhp and 290Nm of torque.
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It's the feistiest version of the Ford Fiesta, packing a punchy petrol engine and stiffer suspension for a more focused driving experience. With its lightweight and lively dynamics, the Fiesta ST turns a highway on ramp into a tarmac stage. It has a 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder which turns the econobox it is based upon into a proper hot hatch. It looks pretty much like the regular Fiesta has put on a tracksuit and hit the gym. Moreover, it makes 200bhp.
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The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (or the Evo) is a seriously competent vehicle. With WRC heritage, the Evo was a major rival of the Subaru WRX STI throughout its 10 generations. Unfortunately, the Evo went out of production in 2015 but it still has a strong cult following. It has a high-strung turbo engine with variable valve timing and a very advanced all-wheel drive system that can send varying amounts of power to each individual wheel. As a result the Evo gained a reputation for punching well above its weight, giving Porsches and Nissan GTRs a run for their money on twisty roads. The Evo X might be more needy in terms of maintenance than the other cars on this list and also less practical and a little raw for daily driver duty. But if you want a rally car above all else, look no further.
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Hyundai is the new kid on the block when it comes to rallying. Hyundai runs their I20 in the World Rally Championship and has had great success in the sport. Developed by Hyundai's N division, who run the WRC cars, the Veloster N is available with a factory mechanical limited slip differential and a choice of dual clutch automatic or manual gearbox. It was also crowned Road and Track Performance Car of the year in 2019. This beauty makes 275bhp.
These were our top picks for road-going cars that are inspired from rally ones. Let us know which one you would want to add to your garage.
