Europe has long been celebrated as the birthplace of the modern sports car. From the winding roads of the Alps to the historic racetracks of England, the continent’s automotive heritage is deeply intertwined with high-performance vehicles. This legacy continues to thrive, with numerous European manufacturers still producing some of the most exciting and stylish Foreign Sports Cars available today. Let’s explore ten of the best foreign sports cars that exemplify this tradition, each offering a unique blend of performance and personality.
1) 2015 Porsche Boxster
The 2015 Porsche Boxster is widely praised as a benchmark in the roadster category, delivering uncompromising performance at a more accessible price point compared to its iconic 911 sibling. This foreign sports car distinguishes itself with a lighter chassis, enhancing its agility and road grip, providing drivers with exceptional confidence in cornering and handling. The Boxster offers a choice of two potent engines: a 2.7-liter six-cylinder producing 265 horsepower, ideal for spirited drives, and a more powerful 3.4-liter six-cylinder, delivering 315 horsepower in the Boxster S and an even more impressive 330 horsepower in the GTS variant. These engine options ensure this foreign sports car boasts considerable performance across the range. A traditional six-speed manual transmission comes standard, appealing to purists, while Porsche’s acclaimed seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automated manual transmission is available for those seeking lightning-fast gear changes and enhanced performance.
2) 2015 BMW Z4
The 2015 BMW Z4 stands as a compelling foreign sports car, often considered a rival to the Porsche Boxster, yet appealing to a slightly different segment of enthusiasts. Equipped as standard with a retractable hardtop, the BMW Z4 offers year-round usability, blending open-top thrills with coupe-like refinement. Its suspension setup prioritizes comfort alongside sporty handling, making it a versatile foreign sports car suitable for both spirited drives and relaxed cruising. The Z4’s engine lineup is equally impressive, starting with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 240 horsepower in entry-level models. The sDrive35i variant steps up with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine delivering 300 horsepower, providing a significant boost in performance. For the ultimate Z4 experience, the sDrive35is enhances the 3.0-liter engine further, pushing output to 335 horsepower and increasing torque to 332 lb-ft. Transmission choices are plentiful, including a six-speed manual, a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual, and an eight-speed automatic, depending on the specific Z4 model selected, allowing drivers to tailor their driving experience in this foreign sports car.
Photo by BMW Media
3) 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia
The 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia represents the pinnacle of Italian foreign sports car design and performance, a true exotic that captures the heart of driving enthusiasts. Hailing from Maranello, the 458 Italia is engineered for high performance, evidenced by its naturally aspirated, high-revving 4.5-liter V-8 engine, positioned behind the driver and producing a staggering 562 horsepower. This powertrain configuration is a hallmark of foreign sports cars focused on ultimate driving dynamics. A seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission channels this power to the rear wheels, ensuring rapid and precise gear changes. The Ferrari 458 Italia’s meticulously engineered chassis responds instantly to driver inputs, delivering exceptional handling and agility. Acceleration is breathtaking, reaching 60 mph from a standstill in a mere 3.4 seconds, positioning the Italia among the quickest foreign sports cars and indeed, automobiles, in the world.
4) 2015 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works
In stark contrast to the Ferrari 458 Italia in terms of price, but not in driving excitement, is the 2015 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works. This foreign sports car, in hatchback form, showcases that thrilling performance can be accessible and compact. The John Cooper Works edition represents the most performance-oriented version of the iconic MINI Cooper, featuring an upgraded suspension and braking system designed for enhanced agility and stopping power, essential elements in spirited foreign sports car driving. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 208 horsepower. Paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission, this engine provides more than enough thrust to make the lightweight MINI a joy to drive, offering a playful and engaging experience that appeals to foreign sports car enthusiasts who value nimble handling and character.
5) 2015 Audi R8
The 2015 Audi R8 presents itself as a visually striking foreign sports car that lives up to its exotic appearance with impressive performance credentials. Sharing engineering elements with Lamborghini, another esteemed brand in the foreign sports car world, the R8 delivers a high-performance driving experience that matches its stunning design. Featuring a mid-mounted engine and Audi’s renowned quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard, the R8 provides exceptional grip and a sense of stability, even at high speeds, making it a more approachable exotic foreign sports car for a wider range of drivers. The base engine is a 4.2-liter V-8 producing 430 horsepower, offering strong performance. However, for those seeking even greater thrills, a 5.2-liter V-10 is available, churning out 525 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, elevating this foreign sports car to supercar territory. Both engine options can be paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, catering to different driving preferences. The V10 Plus trim further enhances performance with a 550-horsepower version of the V-10 engine, cementing the R8’s status as a top-tier foreign sports car.
6) 2015 Lamborghini Aventador
The 2015 Lamborghini Aventador is an audacious foreign sports car, designed for extreme performance and visual drama, embodying the Lamborghini ethos of uncompromising power and striking aesthetics. With a top speed exceeding 200 mph, the Aventador is built for sheer velocity and exhilarating driving experiences, demanding respect and a high level of driving skill to fully exploit its capabilities. This foreign sports car is powered by a massive 6.5-liter, twelve-cylinder engine, situated behind the cockpit, unleashing a monstrous 691 horsepower and 508 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission channels this immense power, enabling lightning-fast gear changes. All-wheel drive and launch control are standard, ensuring optimal traction and explosive acceleration, propelling the Aventador from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, making it one of the most brutally fast foreign sports cars on the market.
7) 2015 Jaguar F-Type
The 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE marks Jaguar’s return to the foreign sports car segment after a long absence, bringing British style and performance back to the forefront. This compact and stylish foreign sports car offers a range of powerful engine options, starting with a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 available in 340-horsepower and 380-horsepower versions, providing a compelling blend of performance and refinement. For ultimate power, a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 is also offered, generating a formidable 495 horsepower, positioning this foreign sports car firmly in high-performance territory. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the range, offering smooth and responsive gear changes. The supercharged V-8 version of the Jaguar F-Type boasts a top speed approaching 190 mph, highlighting its impressive performance capabilities. Initially launched as a convertible, a coupe version was introduced for 2015, expanding the F-Type’s appeal and offering buyers a choice of body styles in this desirable foreign sports car.
8) 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Mercedes-Benz, renowned for its engineering prowess, showcases its foreign sports car expertise with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar. The SLS AMG coupe holds the distinction of being the first vehicle developed entirely in-house by AMG, Mercedes-Benz’s high-performance division, signifying its commitment to creating exceptional foreign sports cars. While its iconic gull-wing doors are visually striking, they are just one aspect of this car’s appeal. An all-aluminum chassis ensures a lightweight structure, contributing to agile handling and performance. Power comes from a hand-built 6.2-liter V-8 engine, delivering 583 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, providing immense power and a distinctive V-8 soundtrack. A seven-speed automated manual transmission is standard, enabling rapid acceleration, with the SLS AMG reaching 60 mph in a swift 3.8 seconds, solidifying its status as a high-performing foreign sports car.
9) 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C
After a 20-year absence from the US market, the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C marked a triumphant return for the iconic Italian brand, bringing a uniquely styled foreign sports car to enthusiasts. Available in both coupe and convertible body styles, the aggressively designed two-seater 4C boasts a turbocharged 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automated manual gearbox transmits power to the rear wheels, delivering a focused and engaging driving experience, characteristic of Italian foreign sports cars. While its horsepower figure may seem modest compared to some rivals, the 4C’s strength lies in its exceptionally lightweight construction, utilizing extensive carbon fiber to achieve a remarkably low weight of just 2,465 lbs. This lightness translates to impressive agility and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 4.3 seconds, demonstrating that the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C is a true foreign sports car that prioritizes driving purity and lightweight performance.
10) 2015 Lotus Elise
The Lotus Elise, completely redesigned for the 2015 model year, represents the epitome of lightweight and focused foreign sports car engineering. This incredibly stripped-down coupe tips the scales at a mere 1,931 lbs, making it one of the lightest cars available on the market, emphasizing Lotus’s philosophy of “simplify, then add lightness.” The Elise’s stiff suspension and rigid chassis are geared towards track performance, making it more of a weekend toy than a daily commuter, appealing to foreign sports car purists who prioritize driving experience above all else. The 2015 Lotus Elise is powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 134 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque. The Elise S variant adds a supercharger to the same engine, boosting output to 217 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph sprint in just over four seconds. Both models are equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, further enhancing the driver engagement and connection in this quintessential foreign sports car.
