Top fifteen Fastest Sleeper Cars From 0-60 MPH
There’s a good chance some of us have been there. Think back to that sunny, warm day a few years ago when you were out in your very first car. You had just cleaned it, packed it up at the gas station and were feeling pretty good about yourself and the world. You pulled up to a stoplight and beside you sits a soccer mom in her station wagon. You determine the way is clear and it’s time to showcase her and her groceries what four-cylinders of fury can do. The light turns green and before your little rail has even crossed the line she is on the other side of the intersection. What you just witnessed was a sleeper – or that car you bought had some serious issues.
In all seriousness, rapid cars often look the part. For example, take one look at a Lamborghini Aventador or a Bugatti Veyron and the vast majority of us would know it was a very quick and high spectacle car. There are however a number of cars on the streets which indeed don’t look like they could leave you red-faced off a stop. No spoilers, massive scoops, vents, stripes or overly-loud harass – nothing to give away the power which exists under the fetish mask. These are termed as sleepers, or cars that have surprising spectacle hidden under a relatively bland exterior. These are wolves in sheeps’ clothing.
The following looks at fifteen of the fastest sleeper cars in terms of 0-60 spectacle. There is a broad range in vehicle types and we think #1 may surprise more than a few people. Naturally, the car buffs among you will look at some of the following sleepers and huff and puff because a car brand is included that screams spectacle. Before getting too arched out of form, take a breath. Car aficionados can (and should) spot a sleeper a mile away – to them, every car on this list should be lightly recognizable. However, to the vast majority of people who don’t know a lot about cars (or care) the following vehicles aren’t very different from the other vehicles they see on a daily basis during the Saturday errands or weekday commutes. To most people, that boxy black coupe kind of looks like the car their grandfather drove. To those of us in the know, it’s a wolf on the prowl and we know better than to take it on.
fifteen . Two thousand six Volvo V70R AWD Estate – Five.6 sec.
For most of us, the words Volvo and spectacle don’t truly go together. Despite there being a handful of pretty powerful vehicles produced over the brand’s history, Volvos remain the “family” car. They are known for being solid, safe and dependable vehicles but not necessarily track starlets. It may not look it from the outside but this Scandinavian station wagon packs a punch for anyone who attempts to test it. Hidden underneath the grocery-getter exterior is a five-cylinder turbocharged engine which produces three hundred hp and two hundred ninety five lbs ft of torque – all of which goes to the road thanks to the all-wheel-drive system.
T-12. Two thousand ten Acura TL SH-AWD – Five.Two sec.
Acura has always been sold as the premium brand of Honda in North America. Their cars usually have more features and designs that make them stand out next to their counterparts. That said, this particular Acura sedan is anything but arousing looking. If critics are united in one thing it’s that they consider the TL a bland design. To most motorists, the TL wouldn’t stand out even if it was right in front of you. Perhaps that suits this vehicle. Underneath the rather vanilla assets is a 305hp V6 engine which powers the car’s AWD system. That’ll get it from 0-60 in just Five.Two seconds which is the exact time put down by Acura’s legendary NSX sports car in 1994.
T-12. One thousand nine hundred ninety two Lotus Carlton – Five.Two sec.
This particular vehicle eyed most of its time in Europe but became available for import into North America several years ago. Lotus is synonymous with spectacle and treating but this particular model doesn’t fairly look right. To the untrained eye, the Carlton (yes, we’re laughing at the name too) looks like a Mazda Protégé or Suzuki Esteem. Sure it has a spoiler and some fetish mask vents but the car just doesn’t have the presence of a performer. Most people’s laughter quickly stops once they begin gasping on the harass of this animal. The Carlton, as it turns out, is powered by a twin-turbocharged, inline-six engine which produces three hundred seventy seven hp and can get up to eighty nine km/h in very first gear alone.
T-12. Two thousand four Subaru Forester Two.5XT – Five.Two sec.
Car buffs will know that any Subaru with a hood-scoop is a potentially quick car. Nonetheless, the vast majority of this Japanese company’s cars have had rather bland and boring designs over the years. This has helped some of them attain true sleeper status. The WRX/STI Impreza may be Subaru’s trademark performer but that only helps the Forester XT fly under the radar. In all likelihood, many who even notice this vehicle have enough trouble attempting to determine whether it’s a wagon or a puny SUV. Under the relatively conservative exterior is a turbocharged motor which produces two hundred ten hp and two hundred thirty five lbs ft of torque. It’s enough to throw around the Labrador Retrievers and leave most people in the dust while they attempt and figure out what kind of vehicle it is.
eleven . Two thousand thirteen Ford Taurus SHO – Five.1 sec.
In 1989, Ford produced a special variation of the Taurus sedan, known as the SHO. With its Yamaha V6 engine, the SHO put down a 0-60 time of 6.Five seconds, which was quick, and helped the car attain sleeper status. Over twenty years later, Ford reincarnated the Taurus SHO with even better spectacle. On the outside this looks like your typical business or “old man” car. Just observe out because this “old man” is packing a twin-turbocharged Three.5L V6 which puts down three hundred sixty five hp. That’s a significant boost over the older SHO and enough to ensure that this Taurus maintains its cult status as a sleeper car.
ten . One thousand nine hundred eighty six Buick Grand National – Four.8 sec.
If there was one single car to be used as the poster child of the sleeper cars it would be Buick’s Regal Grand National. There are more than a few car enthusiasts who would love to have one of these cars in their garage. With a turbocharged Trio.8L V6, the Grand National ate Camaros for breakfast and had the spectacle to rival with Corvettes. For the unaware, the Grand National looked like the kind of car your grandfather had, with its long bondage mask and boxy design. There was very little to indicate this Buick had considerable bite. That said, in black, the Grand National looks like the kind of car Darth Vader would choose to drive, if he was attempting to maintain a low profile but looking for something to match his personality.
nine . One thousand nine hundred ninety five Audi RS2 Avant – Four.7 sec.
This very ’90s-looking European station wagon was only built for a little over one year. At the time, not a lot of people would have known the potential of this family car. Today, next to the more modern Audi designs, most people wouldn’t even give it a 2nd look. Don’t let the looks deceive you, however, The Audi RS2 Avant was designed by Audi and Porsche. Its Two.2L turbocharged engine produces three hundred eleven hp which gets it up to sixty mph in Four.7 seconds. Its overall spectacle and acceleration is superior to many Porsche nine hundred eleven and Corvette models making this one potent sleeper.
eight . Two thousand fourteen Chevrolet SS – Four.Five sec.
Rising from the ashes of the Australian-built Pontiac G8 is the Chevrolet SS. Fans of Chevrolet and, indeed, Australian Commodore V8 racers, will know the potential of this car. Those unaware of what lies under the fetish mask will treatment the SS in the same way Pal the Elf approached a hissing raccoon in the classic holiday movie. Untrained eyes may think this is some sort of Malibu-type vehicle. It may have a rather tame exterior but the SS quickly reminds you it’s what’s inwards that counts. Under the bondage mask is the 6.2L V8 found in the Corvette. Enough said.
seven . Two thousand thirteen BMW 760Li V-12 – Four.Four sec.
There’s absolutely no indication anywhere on this car that a massive V12 engine sits under the bondage mask. Those familiar with BMW’s will know enough to stay clear. The rest of us will very likely look at the 760Li and think that it’s a nice, but big, luxury car meant more for VIPs than spectacle. Odds are, the 760Li you are looking at is a V8 model which is no slouch. There is the chance that under the elegant and classic BMW exterior lies a twin-turbocharged 6.0L V12 which produces five hundred thirty five hp and a impetuous five hundred fifty three lbs ft of torque. With a look that says Bruce Wayne and spectacle that screams Batmobile this car would be at home in Gotham City.
six . One thousand nine hundred ninety one GMC Syclone – Four.Three sec.
Odds are that you have seen more than a few GMC Sonoma pickup trucks around. With just under Trio,000 built in one production year, it is a bit less likely you have crossed paths with a GMC Syclone. Other than the badging, the Syclone looked identical to the Sonoma – but don’t be fooled. This puny pickup packed a massive punch. Under the spandex hood was a two hundred eighty hp turbocharged V6 engine which got the vehicle up to sixty mph in just Four.Three seconds. With very little to indicate its spectacle and a slew of reviews often comparing it with Porsches, Corvettes and Ferraris, the GMC Syclone deservedly has a place on any list of the fastest sleepers.
five . Two thousand eleven Cadillac CTS-V Wagon – Four.Two sec.
Cadillac has worked indeed hard over the last several years to wiggle off the “old man” pic it had developed and reinvent itself as a sporty and fashionable car for the junior generations. To some degree this has worked but the brand is still largely associated with wealthy or retired owners. Throw a station wagon into the mix and you have one of the most potent Saturday morning antique-hunting sleepers around. Yes, the CTS-V Wagon has a number of strikes against it because it’s a wagon, it’s generally considered ugly and it’s a Cadillac. Nonetheless, under the rubber hood is a five hundred fifty six hp supercharged V8 engine which will leave most challengers well and truly eating its dust.
T-3. Two thousand eleven Audi RS3 Sportback – Four.1 sec.
To those in the know, the RS badge is a major warning sign that this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. To everyone else, the RS3 Sportback looks like a typical petite station wagon, or a bloated Volkswagen Golf if you truly don’t know cars that well. Under its spandex hood is a three hundred forty hp, three hundred thirty two lb. ft torque producing turbocharged inline-five engine. To emphasize its sleeper status we’ll ask you this one question. Pulling up to a stop with a Lamborghini Diablo on one side and an RS3 Sportback on the other, which one do you stand the better chance of hitting? Hint: We’re feeling like Italian tonight.
T-3. Two thousand five Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Wagon – Four.1 sec.
The last wagon to feature on this list comes to us from Mercedes-Benz. Yes, it has an AMG badge but most people have no clue what that means. Looking at the E55 AMG Wagon you’d find very little to indicate this car can embarrass many Porsche and Corvette owners. After all, the E55 is a wagon that can carry seven passengers and has the cargo capacity of most puny and mid-sized SUVs. It also has quicker acceleration than a Ferrari F355 and is only 0.Four seconds slower than an F40 – not bad for a full-sized family car. This is all thanks to its four hundred seventy hp supercharged V8 which also produces five hundred sixteen lbs ft of torque.
two . Two thousand thirteen BMW M5 – Three.6 sec.
What, the BMW M5? Surely we’re kidding? After all, the M5 is the powerhouse of the BMW lineup. Then again, if you know what an M5 looks like and you know what an M5 is capable of then you are not like most people. To the majority of drivers, a M5 just looks like a big BMW with all the classic design features you’d expect from the German manufacturer. To be fair, from the outside there is very little to suggest this particular BMW has a twin turbocharged V8 under the rubber hood. The engine’s five hundred sixty hp and five hundred two lbs ft of torque are astounding as the 0-60 time suggests. If it wasn’t for the M5 badges, the vast majority of drivers would have no clue this was sitting next to them at the stop light.
one . Two thousand thirteen Tesla Model S P85D – Trio.Two sec.
The only indication that this car is a performer might be its modern and sleek lines and painted brake calipers. That said, it’s four-door, a Tesla and electrical. For most people, those three factors would most likely write this electrical car off as far as sleeper status goes. After all, electrified cars are all about the environment, conservation and efficiency, right? Treatment this wolf with that thinking and you will get bitten. The P85D is a six hundred ninety one hp, AWD monster which gets up to sixty mph in a ridiculous Three.Two seconds. There’s no roar or grumble as this car pulls away – just the sound of your jaw pulling down.