Panther Solo 1 – dead on arrival
Panther Solo 1 – dead on arrival
This lightweight, mid-engined Brit came achingly close to being an affordable ’80s hero
28 Nov 2024
Ferrari California – the car world's greatest misses 
Ferrari California – the car world's greatest misses
A Ferrari by name, but not sufficiently Ferrari-like in its behaviour, the noughties Cali was a hard car to love
7 Nov 2024
Alpine GTA USA – dead on arrival
Alpine GTA USA – dead on arrival
The tale of how a revised ’80s Alpine nearly became a halo car for Renault in America
24 Oct 2024
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 – the car world's greatest misses 
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 – the car world's greatest misses
The Mitsubishi Evo 10's attempts to be more serious and grown-up are where it all went wrong for the hot Lancer, says Richard Porter...
26 Sep 2024
Alfa Romeo Tipo 103 – dead on arrival
Alfa Romeo Tipo 103 – dead on arrival
This compact four-door might have rivalled the mighty Mini in the 1960s if Alfa had kept the faith
13 Sep 2024
Daihatsu Charade 926R – dead on arrival
Daihatsu Charade 926R – dead on arrival
This mid-engined miniature hero was another rally-ready special lost with the cancellation of Group B
14 Aug 2024
Saab PhoeniX – dead on arrival
Saab PhoeniX – dead on arrival
The Swedish brand’s failed 2010s revival meant we missed out on a 400bhp hybrid TT rival – and more
11 Jul 2024
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 6C - dead on arrival
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 6C - dead on arrival
In 1982 Alfa Romeo showed off a widebody, mid-engined Alfasud destined for Group B rallying. Here's why it never came to fruition
30 May 2024
The FWD Chevrolet Camaro GM‑80 – dead on arrival
The FWD Chevrolet Camaro GM‑80 – dead on arrival
How General Motors’ performance linchpin was spared the indignity of losing drive to the rear
25 Apr 2024
Toyota 222D – dead on arrival
Toyota 222D – dead on arrival
This 750bhp rallying MR2 could have seen Toyota conquer the stages, but instead fate intervened
21 Mar 2024
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve – dead on arrival
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve – dead on arrival
In 2004, Chrysler showed off a radical supercar concept with an 850bhp V12. Sadly it never came to be.
15 Feb 2024
Why the Audi TT is one of the most significant cars of the last 25 years
Why the Audi TT is one of the most significant cars of the last 25 years
To mark our 25th anniversary we name the 25 most significant driver's cars launched in the last 25 years. Richard Porter presents his case for the Aud…
12 Feb 2024
BMW M3 (F80) – the car world's greatest misses
BMW M3 (F80) – the car world's greatest misses
It may have looked the part from the off, but the first turbocharged M3 took a while to find its feet
25 Jan 2024
Porsche 984 Junior – dead on arrival
Porsche 984 Junior – dead on arrival
This miniature marvel could have seen Porsche enter the ’90s with a truly affordable entry-level sports car
11 Jan 2024
Volkswagen W12 Syncro – dead on arrival
Volkswagen W12 Syncro – dead on arrival
A genuine supercar from the maker of people’s cars seemed tantalisingly possible – until logic prevailed
8 Dec 2023
Daihatsu X-021 sports car – dead on arrival
Daihatsu X-021 sports car – dead on arrival
Daihatsu was on the verge of launching a lightweight MX-5-rivalling roadster in the '90s, but it never came to be
2 Nov 2023
Ford GN34 – dead on arrival
Ford GN34 – dead on arrival
This Ghia-styled, mid-engined V6 coupe came close to becoming Ford’s answer to the Honda NSX
28 Sep 2023
Volkswagen Golf A59 – dead on arrival
Volkswagen Golf A59 – dead on arrival
This 4WD homologation special with 400bhp potential could have rescued the Mk3 Golf’s reputation
24 Aug 2023
MG PR2 – dead on arrival
MG PR2 – dead on arrival
In an alternate reality, the MGF could have been a front-engined V8 roadster
20 Jul 2023
1990 BMW M8 – dead on arrival
1990 BMW M8 – dead on arrival
A 613bhp V12 and a 340kg diet could have enhanced the original 8-series’ reputation – but for the price
14 Jun 2023
'An ageing Range Rover can be a reliable car, especially if you carefully categorise your idea of reliability'
'An ageing Range Rover can be a reliable car, especially if you carefully categorise your idea of reliability'
Porter’s old Range Rover is proving the doom-mongers wrong. Kind of
23 May 2023
Talbot Horizon Lotus – dead on arrival
Talbot Horizon Lotus – dead on arrival
The Sunbeam Lotus successor was mid-engined and turbocharged, but lacked another vital ingredient
4 May 2023
'My Land Rover is old fashioned, out of step, and very far from the best way to get around'
'My Land Rover is old fashioned, out of step, and very far from the best way to get around'
Richard Porter contemplates whether his beloved Land Rover Defender makes any sense in the modern age
2 May 2023
‘Taking one hand off the wheel is an underrated part of the old manual gearbox experience’
‘Taking one hand off the wheel is an underrated part of the old manual gearbox experience’
Could there be a substitute for what we miss about a manual? Porter thinks so
11 Apr 2023
Alpine A710 – dead on arrival
Alpine A710 – dead on arrival
It didn’t get to succeed the A610, but instead transformed into one of the ’90s most extreme sports cars
30 Mar 2023
Ford F‑150 Lightning 2023 review
Ford F‑150 Lightning 2023 review
The electric version of America’s best-selling pickup is a 580bhp modern-day muscle car
23 Mar 2023
‘Pigeons flutter, leaves rustle, Alfa Romeo has a new comeback plan’
‘Pigeons flutter, leaves rustle, Alfa Romeo has a new comeback plan’
A journey through the familiar sights, sounds and stories of the everyday
21 Mar 2023
Mercedes-Benz C112 – dead on arrival
Mercedes-Benz C112 – dead on arrival
Despite strong demand, this V12-powered supercar was denied production – but its legacy lives on
23 Feb 2023
‘The great thing about ordering a Porsche new is that you get to indulge in the joy of specs’
‘The great thing about ordering a Porsche new is that you get to indulge in the joy of specs’
Porter plays ‘Horrible & Expensive’ with the Porsche online configurator
14 Feb 2023
HSV HRT 427 – dead on arrival
HSV HRT 427 – dead on arrival
This racing-inspired 7-litre Holden Monaro garnered more than enough interest for its limited production run to sell out. But sadly the sums didn’t ad…
19 Jan 2023
‘There’s a segment of the population that still wants Jaguars to have barrel sides and droopy boots’
‘There’s a segment of the population that still wants Jaguars to have barrel sides and droopy boots’
JLR is reinventing Jaguar. Porter doesn’t underestimate the scale of the task
4 Jan 2023
Mini-based sports car – dead on arrival
Mini-based sports car – dead on arrival
Not one but two attempts were made to spin a two-seater sports car off the original Mini’s platform, but flaws in their designs would see both stall a…
1 Dec 2022
‘Brown Chords shot to fame in 1966, taking their place as one of Britain’s top eleven bands’
‘Brown Chords shot to fame in 1966, taking their place as one of Britain’s top eleven bands’
Lost’ film footage of a 1960s band and their cars has Porter intrigued
8 Nov 2022
Volkswagen AE 266 – dead on arrival
Volkswagen AE 266 – dead on arrival
Few cancelled automotive projects have had such significant consequences, or been as costly, but the culling of VW’s original choice for a Beetle succ…
27 Oct 2022