Nine cars we need in Australia

We’re spoilt for fast imported metal, but there are some gems we miss out on

1. CATERHAM 620R

Fresh out of the local lunatic asylum, you need only do the maths to get an idea of the ‘fastest Caterham road car ever’: 231kW plus 545kg equals 0-97km/h in 2.8sec. Six-speed sequential ’box needed to tame the 2.0-litre blown four-pot.

2. CHEVY CAMARO

Why is this car not made in right-hand drive? That is the question. In SS guise, Chevy’s new Mustang-mauler scores the 6.2-litre LT1 V8, with 339kW, and in auto trim does 0-97km/h in 4.0sec. It looks tough and costs $52K in the States.

3. HONDA S660

Remember the Toyota MR2? This could be its successor of sorts, if it ever leaves Japan. Honda’s tiny S660 cops a mid-mounted 660cc turbo 3-cyl, belting out – you sitting down? – 47kW and 104Nm. But it weighs 830kg. Would be a laugh.

4. CIVIC TYPE-R

We’re in denial this car is even on this list, still reeling from the news Honda Australia isn’t bringing its 228kW, 400Nm turbocharged, ’Ring-slaying hot hatch to Oz. A shame, but here’s hoping they consider the next model come 2018.

5. TOYOTA MARK X GRMN

Almost definitely the coolest Toyota you’ve never heard of, the manual, rear-drive, LSD-equipped Gazoo Racing-tuned Mark X GRMN takes its 236kW and 380Nm from a 3.5-litre V6, and turns rear tyres to smoke. Sadly, only 100 will be built, zero for Oz.

6. FORD GT

Thanks to Falcon, the Blue Oval has a special place in the heart of many Aussies. But with sadly no right-hand drive version planned, they’ll never get to hear the 450-odd kW twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 of Ford’s new supercar in anger, at least locally.

7. C7 CORVETTE

Rumours still abound that a Corvette will come to Oz at some stage, but for now, we can only salivate over such things as the C7 Z06. Sporting 484kW from its LT4 6.2-litre blown V8, the Z06 does 0-97km/h in 2.95sec (!) and, in the USA, costs $105K...

8. MUSTANG GT350R

Yes, each day we thank the car gods the Mustang is even coming to Oz, but we still can’t help but want the hero versions like the GT350R. Its 5.2-litre flatplane-crank V8 revs to a peaky, for a Yank V8, 8250rpm and makes 392kW. No right-hand drive.

9. WRX STI S207

The angriest WRX ever from the factory is bedecked in STI-branded goodies and comes with a 2.0-litre turbo flat-four (found only in Japanese STIs) but now with 241kW and 431Nm. Unfortunately the entire car is to be found only in Japan, too.