5 Incredible Cars We're Stupidly Denied In The UK

1. Honda S660

Being a petrolhead in the UK can be a brilliant experience, but it does come with its frustrations; crowded city streets, exorbitant fuel prices and a road tax system which punishes high polluters. On top of that we have an insurance sector which practically restricts every young driver to a 1.0-litre econobox. And even if you are lucky enough to be of an age where you can afford a seriously fast car, you’ll find that you spend most of your life wondering where the next speed camera is.

These frustrations make it all the more surprising that the UK doesn’t welcome a wide array of small capacity sports cars. Sure, we have the brilliant ND Mazda MX-5 and the hoontastic Subaru BRZ, but these vehicles are still relatively expensive to buy and run. What we really need is something like the old Suzuki Cappuccino. In fact, what we really want is the JDM-only, Honda S660.

The S660 has been built in accordance with kei car regulations, which state that vehicles must not be more than 3.4 metres in length, or 1.48 metres in width; perfect for that inner-city London commute. Kei car engines are also restricted to 660cc, which would help keep fuel costs and road tax prices down in the UK.

The little Honda features a characterful 63bhp, three-cylinder petrol engine which is mated to a sporty six-speed manual gearbox. Now granted, on paper, that doesn’t sound like a lot of power, but when you consider that the S660 only weighs 830kg, we reckon it would be an absolute riot on our tight and twisty country roads. And as an added benefit it wouldn’t be fast enough to get you into serious trouble with the law.

Oh, and did we mention that this mini-NSX only costs £11,000 in Japan? Why the hell are we not getting these?

2. GT350 and GT350R

For the first time since the Mustang was launched back in 1964, we can now buy a right-hand drive car from local Ford dealerships. Our own Alex Kersten recently drove the new UK-specification Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT at Silverstone, and judging from his reaction, he was pretty excited about it. As part of the ‘One Ford’ plan, the blue oval originally predicted that there would be an equal split between orders for the 5.0-litre V8 and 2.3-litre EcoBoost, with the lower capacity car being more suitable for European fuel prices. However, in a recent interview, Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak revealed that a whopping 78 per cent of orders have been for the V8.

So what does this tell us? Well, it clearly demonstrates that customers are excited about finally getting an opportunity to purchase a full-fat piece of Americana. And who can blame them? We’d tick the V8 box too. Customers have clearly been so bowled over by the idea of finally owning some American muscle, that they’ve elected to ignore the fact that the Ford’s driving dynamics are still not up to the same standards of its European rivals.

So what if Ford released an even more powerful model, that had better dynamics than its competitors? Surely it would sell? Well it turns out that Ford already has, with its Mustang GT350. Only problem is, Ford UK has made it clear that it won’t be coming to the UK.

The GT350 is a masterpiece in American engineering. With a 5.2-litre flat-plane crank V8 producing over 500bhp and 400lb of torque, the GT350 features the most powerful naturally-aspirated production V8 in Ford’s history. It also receives ‘MagneRide’ adjustable dampers, 394mm discs and whopping six-piston callipers. And if that’s not hard core enough for you, you can always opt for the track-biased R with its 19-inch carbonfibre wheels and stripped out interior. We need to start a petition to get one here!

3. Subaru WRX STI ST207

The latest Subaru WRX STI came in for some serious stick from the automotive press when it was released back in 2015. The EJ257 engine felt unrefined, the interior looked distinctly last-generation and the on-road dynamics were not up there with modern-day rivals such as the Golf R and Audi RS3. But for some reason we’ve always had a soft spot for the STI. Yes it’s old school and a bit behind the times, but it’s the last of a dying breed.

If we had to choose between a fast and capable hot hatch like the new Ford Focus RS and the Subaru, we’d probably go with the former. But it wouldn’t be the easiest of choices; the Subaru just feels more special. If only Subaru could add more power, increase the STI’s presence and update the suspension, then we’d be interested.

Funnily enough, that’s exactly what Subaru did with its WRX STI S207, but as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, it’s restricted to the Japanese market only. The S207 was built as a limited-edition special of 400 units, receiving a variety of modifications. The standard STI was treated to fully adjustable suspension, uprated Brembo brakes, torque-vectoring and an increase in power to 330bhp.

Visually the car has also been modified, receiving beautiful 19-inch wheels, an aggressive front splitter, carbon rear spoiler and red accents around the grill and rear diffuser. We’d also spec ours with the stunning Sunrise Yellow paint-scheme. Beautiful.

4. Renault Sandero RS

Good news, someone at Renaultsport felt that a Renault ‘Dacia’ Sandero RS would be a great idea! Unfortunately, however, it’s restricted to the South American market. Powered by a 145bhp, 2.0-litre four cylinder engine, the RS is the ultimate version of James May’s favourite affordable car. Now, before you get too excited, the RS isn’t the quickest thing on four wheels. With a 0-62mph time of 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 125mph, the Sandero won’t set any lap records. But the guys at Renaultsport know what they’re doing, and have treated the the little econobox to firmer springs and dampers, as well as revised steering and brake sensitivity.

With its aggressive bodykit, Clio RS-styled air intakes and larger alloy wheels, the Sandero RS is a surprisingly good looking machine. Unfortunately, Renault has stated that it is unlikely to ever reach the European market, instead opting to keep Dacia an entry-level brand.

5. Chevrolet Camaro Z28

The Chevrolet Camaro Z28 was a real step-change for American muscle cars, prioritising handling and on-track performance over basic straight line speed. The Z28 really is the Porsche GT3RS of the muscle car world. With no air con, a distinct lack of carpets, and huge carbon ceramic brakes, Chevrolet used the Z28 as a statement of intent. No longer would it be pummelled into the ground by the sophisticated Europeans.

The car still weighs a portly 1733kg, but that’s a whopping 136kg lighter than the base model; not bad considering the car features a heavy 7.0-litre, 505bhp naturally-aspirated V8. That monstrous engine allows the Camaro to rocket to 62mph in around 4.0 seconds and onto a top speed of 190mph.

Handling is where the Camaro comes into its element. The Pirelli Trofeo Rs are pure car porn, with the front 305-tyres being the widest front tyres on any production car; a necessity to stop that heavy front-end from pushing on in the corners. Chevrolet says that the Z28 can pull a whopping 1.08g in the bends, and can generate up to 1.5g of stopping force.

Granted, the wide tyres and lack of sound deadening would be difficult to live with in the UK, but we simply don’t care. We would love turning up to track days in a car of this stature, and then terrorising the opposition.

These are some of the best cars that we’re denied access to in the UK. So now it’s your turn: which cars do you long for in your home country?