Highlighting quickest coupes and sports cars from the 2017 Singapore Motorshow

Audi R8 Spyder $TBA

540bhp, 5.2-litre V10, 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds, 317km/h top speed
The main attraction at Audi’s motor show stand was, without a doubt, the R8 Spyder, which is a topless version of the R8 sports car. Now in its second generation, the machine has continued to confound expectations and remains a stonking example of a usable, modern sports car – here are five reasons why. The Spyder was on display only, and not for sale just yet although a 2017 launch is surely in the pipeline. The convertible has the 540bhp non-Plus version of the 5.2-litre V10 engine, and a peek at its performance figures shows that it’s surely not eency-weency.

Honda NSX from $888,999 without COE
581bhp, 3.5-litre V6 hybrid, 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds, 306km/h top speed

Honda’s legendary machine has finally made a return, and while it actually debuted in Singapore in 2016, it’s still a stunning sight to behold in the flesh – as all these folks in the photo found out. The new version uses a 3.5-litre V6 as the basis for a powerful hybrid layout that’s bolstered by Honda’s SH-AWD hybrid system (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive), and as the numbers show, it could give the Audi R8 a good run for its money, while being a lot less of a guzzler when you want to cruise. How does it drive? Freaking awesome-ly.

Lexus RC Turbo $242,000 with COE
241hp, 2.0-litre turbo inline 4, 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds, 230km/h top speed

Lexus made a big splash with its first ‘proper’ coupe in years thanks to the stunning RC two-door. Powered by its excellent 3.5-litre V6, the car injected a much-needed dose of excitement along with the 5.0-litre V8-powered RC F. Now, the 3.5-litre is (sadly) replaced by the 2.0-litre turbo-powered RC Turbo, which means it’s less expensive than before, but might actually be nicer to drive thanks to less weight over the nose. The jury’s out til we test the car, but at least it still looks no less stunning in its candy-apple red metallic paint.

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Mazda MX-5 RF $172,800 with COE
158hp, 2.0-litre inline 4, 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds, 215km/h top speed

One of the purest drivers’ cars in the modern age, the MX-5 more than lives up to the big reputation laid down by its ancestors, especially in manual guise. And while owners of older Miatas have popped on removable hard-tops, this is the new, official MX-5 ‘targa’, the RF (shown in the foreground with the new CX-9 in the back). ‘RF’ stands for ‘removable fastback’, and it’s a truly beautiful riff on the already stirring MX-5 visual formula. Watch our video of the targa-top in action here.

Nissan GT-R $622,500 with COE
570bhp, 3.8-litre turbo V6, 0-100km/h <3.0 seconds, 315km/h top speed

As the ‘affordable’ supercar Godzilla may have fared worse than in the past thanks to an era of increased taxes and stacked cards against it, but the revised 2017 model reminds us that it’s still a potent force to be reckoned with. The GT-R is faster, more powerful and optimised in almost every area, from the hand-built engine to the six-speed transaxle gearbox. A hand-formed titanium exhaust, fully-adjustable Bilstein shocks and much more mean the GT-R can keep company with the most hard core performance machines around and still stomp ‘em occasionally. Try finding another car that breaks sub-3.0-seconds for this price…