Cars That Look Fast…But Aren't

Carmakers have long understood that a car with a ‘go-faster’ stripe is far more appealing than the one without. These days, manufacturers go even further than that, making a real effort with the styling to produce something really quite eye-catching, with pretensions of being quick off the lights. 

However, the lack of a drivetrain quickly betrays them for dressing up a pushchair to look like a go-cart. Here are a few cars that look like luxury sports cars, but are little more than stylish slow-mobiles…

Scion tC 

Looking like a lean, mean fighting machine from the Nineties, the tC is anything but. Seven whole seconds to find 60mph from the 2.5litre engine? It hardly seems possible.

Honda Cr Z 

130hp certainly doesn’t seem a lot from a marque as synonymous with racing as Honda. Certainly it looks the part, but this hybrid doesn’t do it like it should. Someone’s going to be upset.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Considering it has a turbo under the bonnet and a super-aggressive grill, you would be forgiven for thinking this little number might press you back in your seat as it takes off. But with a 0-60mph in seven seconds, the only thing pressing you back in your seat is surely disappointment. The four-cylinder six-speed 1.6litre engine offers up just 201hp. Imagine what it’s like without the turbo.

Dodge Dart

Dressed up like a cross between a Ford GT and an AC Cobra, the Dodge Dart has anything but bite, taking a full nine seconds to reach 60mph with its 160hp 2.4litre lump. No thanks, I’d rather walk.

Mitsubishi Lancer GT

With GT in the title and all that this implies, you might be shocked to find out that this 2.4litre engine only delivers a tiny 168hp. That means a pedestrian eight seconds to find 60mph. 

Mini Cooper Coupe

Looking souped-up to the nines, this Mini is unfortunately still a Mini, with a 1.6litre engine producing only 121hp. 0-60mph will take eight seconds, but at least you’ll crawl along the road in style.

Lexus Ct 200H

With a very sporty looking front end, you’d be forgiven for thinking this hybrid would pack some punch. But it takes a considerable 10 seconds to reach 60mph from the 134hp, 1.8litre combination engine. You could always get Grandma to push.

Chevrolet Impala

The new version looks pretty sporty and indeed, it’s possible to get a 3.6litre V6 version. However, the standard Chevy Impala is a 2.5litre version, producing just 195hp. Soporific.

Fiat 500 Abarth

This little imp has the same engine as the wolf in sheep’s clothing Dodge Dart above, but weighs considerably less, hence why it takes seven seconds to reach 60mph. It does look like it should do a lot more though – and it really should, being an Abarth, a name that conjures up images of fast cars and racing triumphs. Remember the Fiat Uno turbo? Well, this ain’t that.

Thinking about it though, the car industry has always been one requiring that the ‘buyer beware’. Which other cars do you know of that are slower than they look? Tweet us your suggestions at @LKPerformance and we may add them to our list!