BMW M2 v Porsche Boxster GTS v Lotus Emira v Alpine A110 v Ford Mustang – car pictures of the week

The sports car class isn’t what it used to be. Where there was once a broad selection of pure, driver-focused models to suit pretty much any budget, emissions regulations, the shift towards EVs and the lack of investment in petrol power is causing them to die out. To take stock of what’s left, we tested five remaining core sports cars from BMW, Porsche, Lotus, Alpine and Ford against each other in issue 336 of evo. You can pick up a copy of the magazine in-store or via the evo shop to read the full test, and find out our winner. 

Though the choice is shrinking, there are still sports cars to suit all kinds of tastes in 2025, as attested by our eclectic group. In the two-seat mid-engined corner there’s the Porsche 718, here in Boxster GTS form with a naturally-aspirated 4-litre flat-six. Lining up next to it is the Lotus Emira, also coming with six-cylinders and three pedals, and a point to prove having not quite lived up to its promise on early drives. The Alpine A110, on the other hand, is already a surefire evo icon with its lightweight construction, parpy four-pot engine and effortless sense of flow. 

It’s the complete opposite of the Ford Mustang GT – a big, bruising coupe with twice as many seats and cylinders. Recent Mustangs have been good to drive as well as charismatic, and this one promises to deliver old-school thrills with a hearty 5-litre V8 up front, a manual gearbox in the middle and drive sent to the back. The recently refreshed BMW M2 is our other front-engined contender, packing a more powerful twin-turbo straight six than before and in this example, a manual gearbox. In fact, all of them bar the Alpine come with three pedals – proof that paddles haven’t fully taken over just yet. 

Which of the five is the most rewarding, rounded package? Three days on some of our favourite roads in North Yorkshire, in rain and shine, would give us an answer. Grab a copy of evo 336 to read the feature.