10 Sleepers you might not have known until now – Part 1

#10 Nissan Stagea (WC34) 260RS Autech Version

Engine Layout: 2.6i I6 Twin Turbo
Engine Code: Nissan RB26DETT
Power: 206 kW / 280 PS
Drivetrain Layout: AWD, 5 speed manual
Vmax: 180 km/h (limited)

This is a car many JDM fans know, but in case you didn’t knew it before – this is the wagon variant of the R34 Skyline GT-R. It has the complete powertrain of the GT-R, including the ATTESA E-TS AWD system. According to http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/122517-autech-stagea-how-many-until-when.html
a total amount of 1734 260RS were produced, split into 986 Series 1.5 and 748 Series 2 models.

#9 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

Engine Layout: 3.2i V6 NA
Engine Code: Alfa Romeo Busso V6 3.2
Power: 184 kW / 250 PS
Drivetrain Layout: FWD, 6 speed manual or 6 speed Selespeed (sequential gearbox)
Vmax: 246 km/h

Another car that’s well known amongst enthusiasts of European hatchbacks. But just in case you didn’t know this hot hatch was one of the most powerful hot hatches on the streets 10 years ago. Packing a 250 PS strong version of the legendary Busso V6, it could easily hunt down Porsche Boxsters. Moreover, well-known Alfa tuner Autodelta offered a “bored out” version of the GTA sporting a 3.7-litre V6, producing 333 PS (245 kW) and a split-axle differential gear for the front wheels. Autodelta has also made a Rotrex supercharged version producing 407 PS (300 kW).

#8 Volkswagen T4 Multivan/Caravelle/California 2.8 V6

Engine Layout: 2.8i VR6 NA
Engine Code: VAG AMV
Power: 150 kW / 204 PS
Drivetrain Layout: FWD, 4 speed automatic
Vmax: 194 km/h

This car is due it’s weight and form not really fast, so it’s not really a sleeper, but imagine having one of the most famous VAG engines in your VW Bus and use it as a camping bus.

#7 Volvo V70 R (Typ S)

Engine Layout: 2.5i I5 Turbo
Engine Code: Volvo B5254T4
Power: 221 kW / 300 PS
Drivetrain Layout: AWD, 6 speed manual or 5 speed Automatic (later: 6 speed Auto)
Vmax: 250 km/h (limited)

One of my favorite cars of all time. It has lots of torque (400 NM) and goes from 0 to 60 mph in under 6 seconds. This package is rounded up by large Brembo brakes, a KKK-Turbo and the Volvo 4C multi-mode suspension that had been developed in conjunction with suspension experts Öhlins. Even the press loved it:
In a 2006 article titled The Manwagon, The Wall Street Journal linked the V70R to a trend “to lure speed-crazy guys with kids,” saying “car makers are trying to transform the dowdy old family hauler into something new,” and that “consumer research had unearthed a surprising number of family men who thought wagons could be cool, if only they had more guts.”

#6 Honda Torneo Euro R

Engine Layout: 2.2i I4 NA
Engine Code: Honda H22A1
Power: 160 kW / 217 PS
Drivetrain Layout: FWD, 5 speed manual
Vmax: 180 km/h (limited)

The Torneo was only sold in Japan and it’s a ‘sister’ model of the Accord. While the Accord was sold exclusively at Honda Clio dealerships, the Torneo was available at the other two Honda networks, Honda Verno and Honda Primo as the successor to the Honda Ascot and Honda Rafaga, respectively. This increases the image of the Torneo being a sportier variant of the Accord. It was also only equipped with VTEC engines and the Euro R is the most powerful one. It included an H22A engine rated at 220 bhp (160 kW), 5-speed manual transmission, Recaro seats, leather-wrapped MOMO steering wheel, helical-torsen LSD, sports suspension, sports exhaust (including 4-2-1 stainless headers) and an aluminum-alloy gear shift knob. It was also fitted with a unique factory body kit that included flares and was available in some colors not available to lower trim package Accords (such as Milano Red). Fun-fact: All Torneos came with Honda’s internet-based navigation system called Internavi.

#5 GMC Syclone

Engine Layout: 4.3i V6 Turbo
Engine Code: GM LB4
Power: 209 kW / 284 PS
Drivetrain layout: AWD, 4 speed automatic
Vmax: over 200 km/h

Ok, this car is well-known amongst pick-up enthusiasts, especially in ‘Murica. But for everyone who doesn’t knew it until know: The GMC Syclone is a high-performance version of the GMC Sonoma pickup truck. Back in the day it was the fastest pick-up around.
These trucks were built at PAS in Michigan (A company which sadly doesn’t exist anymore, thanks to http://www.tyguy.net/gmc_allg.htm for that info). All trucks were equipped a Mitsubishi TD06-17C 8 cm² turbocharger and Garrett water/air intercooler attached to a 4.3 L LB4 V6 engine with unique pistons, main caps, head gaskets, intake manifolds, fuel system, exhaust manifolds, and a 48mm twin bore throttle body from the 5.7 L GM Small-Block engine. Furthermore, these bad boys featured the Corvette’s TH700R4 4 speed automatic transmission. A Borg Warner all-wheel drive transfer case split torque with 35% forward and 65% to the rear wheels. With this setup these trucks could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed of over 200 km/h. According to tyguy.net, 2995 units were produced of which a total of 113 trucks were exported. Included in this figure are 10 Marlboro Syclones and 3 PPG Indy Pace Trucks. The special-edition Marlboro Syclone was the grand prize for the ten winners of The Marlboro Racing ‘92 Contest. All ten trucks were provided to American Sunroof Corporation (ASC) and featured a Targa top, red paint with white stripes, Boyd Coddington “Cobra” wheels with Marlboro emblem center caps and Goodyear Eagle GS-C tires and many other exclusive options. These cars are highly collectable, so get one now.

#4 Ford Mondeo ST220

Engine Layout: 3.0i V6 NA
Engine Code: Ford MEBA
Power: 166 kW / 226 PS
Drivetrain Layout: FWD, 5 speed manual
Vmax: 250 km/h

Did you know that Ford once offered a ST-badged Mondeo? No? Well this is it. The ST220, a Mondeo packing a 3.0 l natural aspirated V6 with 226 PS. There is not much information about it, but according to Wikipedia, the Turnier (Wagon version) was 10 km/h slower than its sedan counterpart. If you ordered this car in an understated color like silver or black, no one would estimate you’re driving a powerful car, because Mondeos are often seen as granny cars.

#3 Opel Omega Lotus / Vauxhall Lotus Carlton

Engine Layout: 3.6i I6 Twin Turbo
Engine Code: Opel C36GET, Lotus LF2
Power: 277 kW / 377 PS
Drivetrain Layout: RWD, 6 speed manual
Vmax: 283 km/h

If Opel would build nowadays a performance version of the Insignia with a 100,000 € price tag, would you buy it? No? Well, that’s what I guess most performance sedan buyers thought back in 1991, too, when the Lotus Omega came out. Back in the day it had a hefty price tag of 125,000 DM (which are in today’s money roughly 100,000 €) but for this serious amount of money you could get the second fastest sedan of the world (only beaten by the Alpina B10 Biturbo which could reach 291 km/h). Only 988 were built at the Lotus facilities in Hethel, GB. Every car was powered by a 3.6 l straight-six engine packing 377 PS and 557 NM. Officially it could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds but there were cars that could that in under 5 seconds, which was really crazy back in the 90s.

Performance modifications started with an upgraded engine, which was enhanced by Lotus from the standard Opel 2969 cc 24v straight six unit (used in the GSi). The engine was enlarged to a capacity of 3615 cc. Lotus then added twin Garrett T25 turbochargers, which provide up to 0.7 bar of boost from about 1500 rpm. The original distributor ignition system of the engine was replaced with a three-coil wasted spark system. The distributor drive was re-purposed as a water pump drive for the water-air intercooler circuit. The intercooler itself is manufactured by Behr and is capable of reducing the temperature of the compressed charge from 120 °C to 60 °C.

In addition to fitting two turbochargers and an intercooler system, Lotus directed a number of engineering changes to the engine so that it would perform reliably with the higher power output. To cope with the higher cylinder pressures (about 95 bar), the external webbing on the engine block was reinforced. The crankshaft was replaced as well; early development crankshafts were machined from billet steel in Italy, but the production units were forged by Opel and sent to Maschinenfabrik Alfing Kessler for machining. The cylinder head was left mostly the same as the 24-valve head from the Opel Omega, although the combustion chamber was milled to reduce the static compression ratio to 8.2:1 (from 10.0:1). The engine is fitted with forged slipper pistons produced by Mahle. Piston connecting rods were replaced with new units made to an original Lotus design.

The same six-speed manual ZF transmission as fitted to a contemporary Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 was used to transfer this power to the rear wheels via a rear limited-slip differential from the V8 Holden Commodore.

Unfortunately, the car turned out to be not very reliable.

#2 Renault Safrane Biturbo

Engine Layout: 3.0i V6 Twin Turbo
Engine Code: Renault Z7X 726
Power: 193 kW / 262 PS
Drivetrain Layout: AWD, 5 speed manual
Vmax: 250 km/h

The Safrane is the successor of the R25. In 1994, Renault launched the high-performance Biturbo version available in RXE and Baccara models. This model featured a twin-turbo, 262 PS (193 kW; 258 hp) evolution of the 3.0 L V6 of the Alpine A610, developed with the assistance of German tuning firms Hartge and Irmscher, coupled with all-wheel drive. However, it was only available with a manual transmission, as no automatic gearbox existed anywhere in the world for a transversely mounted engine of that horsepower with AWD.

Given that automatic transmissions and V8 engines are strongly preferred in the price class where Biturbo competed, it is not surprising that only 806 Biturbos were made – though the German Wikipedia site says that only 640 cars were produced. Production ended in September 1996. In the same year, the French coachbuilder Heuliez presented the Safrane Long Cours, which was something like a station wagon version of the Safrane Biturbo in luxury Baccara trim.

#1 Toyota Blade Master

Engine Layout: 3.5i V6 NA
Engine Code: Toyota 2GR-FE
Power: 206 kW / 280 PS
Drivetrain Layout: FWD, 7 speed CVT
Vmax: 180 km/h (limited)

This is car most people never heard about. To be honest, I didn’t hear of it until yesterday, when I stumbled upon it while I was searching the meaning of the Auris’ MultiMode gearbox (I’ve found a 7 years old PDF on my PC where I configured an Auris with this gearbox. It’s a sequential gear box btw.). So let’s go back to the Blade. The Blade is the upscale sister of the Auris, which replaced the Toyota Allex. This car was exclusively at Japanese Toyota dealerships Toyota Store and Toyopet Store locations, while the Auris was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store and Toyota NETZ Store locations. It has a different front and rear end than the Auris and packed a powerful 3.5 l V6 in the Blade Master and Master G trims. For me this car is one of the best sleepers I know, because nobody would think that it has such a massive motor under its hood and honestly this car looks rather dull. I would really use a European Auris as a project car and swap this motor in, maybe even turbo or supercharge it and I bet it would turn out to be a glorious tracktool.

So what do you think of this list? Which sleepers should I include in Part 2? As always, thanks for reading.

This content was originally posted by a Car Throttle user on our Community platform and was not commissioned or created by the CT editorial team.