Come what may (or Christmas), the world of cars, EVs and automotive-related things never stops moving. Whatever your wildest wishes might be this year, they're unlikely to match how bonkerly-brilliant the latest Ford GT looks, but driving the future (aka a Polestar 2) on the other hand could be a very realistic possibility. Either way, there's no doubting you should all make a New Year’s resolution to go racing more in 2023. And for that, we have the necessary inspiration to get you pumped.
Asterix is getting a Citroen 2CV… kinda
Asterix and Obelix, plucky heroes fighting the Roman menace, have kept kids entertained for decades, and they’re about to be in a new film – Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (coming to Netflix Spring ‘23). Despite the, er, old school setting, Citroen’s adding its own iconic Gallic flair to the film with a chariot based on its era-defining 2CV. At first glance, you can’t miss the little 2CV’s shape, but being a movie car it comes with some special extras: its wheels are made of shields, the suspension uses boar stomachs (groundbreaking in its era, probably), and headlights powered by magic potion-fuelled fireflies. In the Roman era Gaul you’d simply not be seen in anything else.
Polestar for the win
Polestar’s rise is pretty meteoric. Mixing Scandinavian design with cutting edge tech, its cars are something of a thinking man’s EV. But that doesn’t mean there's no fun to be had. The ludicrously named Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack comes with (in case it wasn’t obvious) two motors producing a combined 469bhp and 502lb ft, with power fed to them from a 78kWh battery. While its claimed 301 mile range might be a touch fanciful, the sub 5.0 second 0-62mph time certainly isn’t – the thing is FAST. It’s also fun to hurl round corners, though you do feel its not insignificant 2.2 tonne weight when you’re pressing on. The interior is neat and clutter free, its Google UI is a dream to use. Looks smart, too.
Dutch firm Donkervoort reveals featherweight supercar
You’ll be forgiven for not being au fait with Donkervoort. It’s a Dutch firm that was born of its founder Joop Donkervoort’s irritance that he couldn’t get a Caterham in The Netherlands, so he built his own. Its latest, the F22, is the latest, high tech evolutions of Joop’s dream car. It weighs just 750kgs and comes with a 493bhp turbocharged 2.5-litre five cylinder engine. That, reckons Donkervoort, means it’s good for 180mph. The weight’s so low thanks to a light steel and F1-grade carbon fibre chassis. It might not be that practical for a weekly shop, but that’s not really what it’s for - its true purpose is to go very fast, and put a big grin on your face, which’ll probably happen as you corner at up to 2.15g. Want one? Only 75 will be built and they’re all north of £211,000.
Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato is the stuff of dreams.
Alfa’s Giulia saloon is an underrated gem of a thing. Wild, beautiful, and silly powerful, it’s the car you want to buy before heading to a BMW dealer and buying an M3. Perhaps Zagato’s take on it, the Giulia SWB, would change your mind? Sixties inspired styling, a 533bhp turbocharged motor, and a manual gearbox is pretty much a recipe for motoring perfection. It’s just a shame that only one’s been made and it’s already been sold. At least you can still buy the regular saloon.
Ford GT Mk IV packs 800bhp+ and looks to die for
The Ford GT is a hell of a car. Packed with race car tech, a powertrain that’ll keep just about everyone entertained, and the kind of silhouette you never tire of looking at. It’s reaching the end of its production run, but before it goes Ford has given it a track only facelift. The Mk IV comes with more than 800bhp (thanks to a tweaked 3.5-litre turbocharged V6), aero designed to get the best out of every corner, and a smoothed over body. Ford paired up with race car specialists Multimatic to create the most extreme GT to date, which means this ain’t just a stickers and power job: It’s the real deal. Only 67 will be made, each going for $1.7million.
Radical gets more radical
Radical doesn't mess around when it comes to making pointy things that go very, very fast. We know the firm's SR10 is an incredible machine, but the one that makes up the grids on the majority of the Radical’s 12 global championships is the less-savage-but-still-madder-than-a-box-of-geese SR3. Racers all over the world love its usability, and how far they can push it, but Radical reckons it’s got more to give, so has released the SR3 XXR. The new car comes with some pretty cool tweaks, like a new pit speed limiter, fettled aero, brighter DRLs, lightweight wheels, upgraded AP Racing brakes and plenty more besides. It motor's been given a thorough working over as well – the 1.5-litre mill now produces 232bhp and can run on biofuels for greener racing. If the new year is your time to get on track, have a word with Radical and you can have an SR3 XXR in your pit garage by the end of February 2023.
