By Paul Kramer · January 7, 2026

Some cars exist to get you somewhere on time.
These are not those cars.

These are the cars that turn a 15-minute commute into a 45-minute joyride and make you say things like, “I just needed to warm it up,” to people who don’t understand you.

Tunes are important in these cars as you also want to match the era of music to the car you’re driving.  Of course, if Take the Long Way Home by Supertramp comes on, you know you have to oblige and take the most circuitous route home.  

You didn’t choose them for efficiency.
You chose them because driving should feel like something.

You didn’t take the long way.
The car did.

A Beetle turns every drive into an event:

If you’re socially awkward, this is a great ride to help you assimilate to the human race.  Plus, you can perform some egregious traffic law violations and everyone will give you a pass.

You arrive late, smiling, and slightly smelling like fuel. Perfect.

You don’t speed, you waft.

You glide down the road as if the asphalt was a slip-and-slide®.

The over boosted power steering allows you to easily pilot this 2 ton American muscle with your tongue.
You arrive late smelling faintly of vinyl and happiness.

(PS This is one of my dad's, “The Ed,” favorites, so I had to include it.)

Manual convertible Saabs make you late because:

The delay isn’t an accident.
It’s intentional therapy.

GTIs. Minis. Anything that makes more noise than power and slightly irresponsible.

These happy meals on wheels scoff at Waze or Google Maps when it keeps suggesting the quickest way home.  You search out 2-lane roads that have more twists than a competitive eater’s small intestines. 

You say you’re “just running errands,”
but the on-ramp grand prix is a thing.

You’re not drifting, you’re scrubbing in your tires.  Doesn’t everyone do that after picking up take-out food?

You arrive drenched in sweat with your forearms aching, but riding that numbing endorphin high.

Speed is optional.
Noise is not.

These cars just force you to find tunnels.

You’re late because you rolled the windows down, turned the radio off, and let the car do the talking.
That’s not poor time management — that’s self-care.

Some cars get you there efficiently. Others get you there happy.

So what if you’re late because you took the long way, waved at another Beetle, or found a road that didn’t exist five minutes ago!

You didn’t waste time. You used it properly.

See you when I get there. 👋

— Paul Kramer

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By Tim Harris · January 7, 2026

All-new or meaningfully new for 2026. Any price. No filler.

This is the grown-up version of the list. Below you’ll find what it is, how much power it makes (or is expected to make), when you can get one, and—most importantly—why anyone should care. No nostalgia padding. No trim-level theater.

Let’s get into the metal.

What it is: The nuclear Corvette
Power: ~1,200–1,250 hp (twin-turbo V8 + hybrid AWD)
ETA: Late 2025 deliveries, full 2026 model year
Why it matters:
This isn’t an iteration—it’s a category jump. AWD, hybrid torque fill, and numbers that put legitimate hypercars on notice at half the money. Chevrolet finally stopped pretending Corvette lives in a separate universe from Ferrari and McLaren.

Who it’s for: People who want maximum performance without waiting for an allocation phone call.

What it is: The missing middle
Power: Expected 495–550 hp (wide-body, NA V8 likely retained)
ETA: 2026 model year
Why it matters:
OPTIONAL MANUAL Transmission is the hot take. Every Corvette generation needs a Grand Sport. Wide body, track focus, real-world usability. This will almost certainly be the best-driving C8 for normal humans, not the loudest spec sheet.

Who it’s for: Enthusiasts who actually drive their cars instead of explaining them.

What it is: Toyota’s true halo car
Power: Twin-turbo V8 hybrid, estimated 700–800+ hp
ETA: 2026 (road car follows GT3 race program)
Why it matters:
This is Toyota abandoning irony. Front-engine, rear-drive, motorsport-first development, and a GT3 sibling. The LFA was art; this is intent.

Who it’s for: Buyers who want Ferrari performance with Japanese engineering discipline.

What it is: The fastest daily driver on Earth
Power: 700+ hp (hybrid-assisted flat-six)
ETA: 2026 deliveries
Why it matters:
This isn’t a facelift. The 992.2 Turbo S introduces electrification done Porsche-correctly: faster everywhere, no drama, zero learning curve. It will quietly destroy everything while idling in traffic.

Who it’s for: People who value time more than noise.

What it is: Roma replacement, done properly
Power: Twin-turbo V8, approx. 620–650 hp
ETA: 2026 U.S. deliveries
Why it matters:
Ferrari finally clarified its front-engine GT formula. The Amalfi is lighter, sharper, and more driver-focused than the Roma, without turning into a cosplay supercar.

Who it’s for: Ferrari buyers who actually drive.

What it is: MC20, refined and repositioned
Power: 621 hp twin-turbo Nettuno V6
ETA: 2026
Why it matters:
This isn’t a rename exercise. MCPura tightens the MC20 concept with improved interior execution and sharper identity. Maserati is betting this car defines its modern performance image.

Who it’s for: Buyers who want Italian drama without Ferrari waitlists.

What it is: The attainable sports car
Power: 400 hp (twin-turbo V6), manual or auto
ETA: 2026 model year
Why it matters:
In a world of bloated performance cars, the Z remains honest: rear-drive, manual option, reasonable size, reasonable money. That alone makes it important.

Who it’s for: Enthusiasts who value driving over flexing.

What it is: Urban EV minimalism
Power: ~8 hp (yes, eight)
ETA: 2026 U.S. availability
Why it matters:
This car doesn’t pretend to be fast, green, or revolutionary. It’s small, charming, and purpose-built. In an era of overpromising EVs, that honesty is refreshing.

Who it’s for: City dwellers, resort communities, and people who enjoy smiling.

What they are: Manual-only limited editions
Power: WRX ~271 hp, BRZ ~228 hp
ETA: 2026
Why they matter:
These cars exist purely to signal that Subaru still cares about enthusiasts. Manual gearboxes, visual identity, and zero apologies.

Who they’re for: Drivers who believe fun is tactile.

What it is: The front-drive benchmark
Power: 315 hp turbo four
ETA: 2026
Why it matters:
No other FWD car balances track capability and daily usability like this. The 2026 refresh keeps the Type R relevant while everyone else chases complexity.

Who it’s for: Drivers who value precision over layout dogma.

Acura Integra Type S (2026) What it is: Civic Type R, grown up Power: 320 hp turbo four ETA: 2026 Why it matters: Same performance DNA, cleaner design, better daily livability. Acura quietly built one of the best real-world performance cars on sale.

Who it’s for: People who want speed without shouting.

What it is: Civic Type R, grown up
Power: 320 hp turbo four
ETA: 2026
Why it matters:
Same performance DNA, cleaner design, better daily livability. Acura quietly built one of the best real-world performance cars on sale.

Who it’s for: People who want speed without shouting.

What it is: Rear-drive chaos, contained
Power: 453 hp twin-turbo inline-six
ETA: 2026
Why it matters:
The M2 is the last small BMW that feels like old BMW. Short wheelbase, big torque, minimal filtering. It won’t exist like this forever.

Who it’s for: Drivers who enjoy correcting oversteer.

What it is: Open-wheel insanity with plates
Power: TBD (lightweight, high-rev focus)
ETA: Orders open 2025 / 2026 builds
Why it matters:
This is the boldest wildcard on the list. A legitimate manufacturer ID, a formula-inspired street car, and zero interest in mass appeal. Whether it succeeds or not, it deserves attention.

Who it’s for: People bored by convention.

What it is: Lightweight electric sports car
Power: ~268 hp
ETA: 2026 overseas / 2027 U.S. expected
Why it matters:
If anyone can make an EV that feels alive, it’s Caterham. Project V proves electrification doesn’t have to mean weight, numbness, or boredom.

Who it’s for: EV skeptics who still believe in steering feel.

2026 isn’t about one trend—it’s about divergence:

This is a year where manufacturers picked sides—and that’s good for enthusiasts.

Reader question:
Which of these would you actually put money down on—and which one do you just want to see someone else be brave enough to buy?

— Tim Harris

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