It’s been a bumpy ride for the UK car market in recent years, with economic worries, Brexit and the downfall of diesel all contributing to some rather quiet showrooms and forecourts. As a result, by most measures, the UK has been bumped down from fifth to sixth biggest car market in the world, with India now assuming 5th spot. However, sixth it still very large - with just under 3m sales in 2017. But that doesn’t mean every car firm wants to sell us every model in their line up.
Here are 10 fast cars that you cannot get your mitts on in Britain…
iStock.com/Sjo
Price: TBA
Where does it come from? Japan.
Can I buy it? Nope.
Will I ever be able to buy it? Not unless you move to Japan.
There have been a number of incarnations of the WRX STI over the years, some available in the UK. But the stripped out S20 versions remain out of the reach of the average Briton's driving mittens. The S208 features Subaru’s more diminutive, but harder revving 2-litre turbocharged flat-four engine. Only 450 will ever be built, so even if you're Japanese your chances of getting one are slim.
photograph by CEFICEFI, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license
Price: £11,000+
Where does it come from? Japan.
Can I buy it? No.
Will I ever be able to buy it? Not for the moment.
This nifty little 660cc sports car is for Japanese buyers only - at the moment. Like a real sports car, it boasts a mid-mounted engine, six-speed gear box and rear-wheel drive. Surprisingly, it only costs £11,000 upwards. But you can't have one. Yet. Sorry.
photograph by Bull-Dozer, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license
Price: £53,000
Where does it come from? USA.
Can I buy it? No.
Will I ever be able to buy it? Just maybe...
While the Chevrolet Camaro is known to some UK car buyers, there's no news on this version coming to these shores any time soon. Chevy want to dethrone the Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R with this motor, which features the 640bhp LT4 V8 engine first seen in the Cadillac CTS-V (also on this list).
Price: Around £75,000
Where does it come from? Germany.
Can I buy it? No.
Will I ever be able to buy it? Sure you will!
The M550i 455bhp V8 twin-turbo option is regarded as a step down from the M5, although it outdoes the old M5 in terms of acceleration.
The M550d has been made for folks who love speed but not guzzling petrol.
Both cars are only available on the continent at present, but should arrive here in time. They can do 0-62mph in 4.0 and 4.4 seconds, despite weighing nearly two tonnes.
Cadillac CTS-V
iStock.com/WendellandCarolyn
Price: £64,000
Where does it come from? USA
Can I buy it? No.
Will I ever be able to buy it? We're going to say … no
The Cadillac CTS-V has BMW in its sights and is keen to shrug off its Floridian chic. It features a 6.2-litre V8 engine with a tremendous 631bhp. Both in size and in price, it has the BMW M5 in its sights. It is unlike most of the brand's model range, but does sport the newest GM MagnaRide suspension. It also has huge six-piston Brembo brakes.
Price: £25,000
Where does it come from? Japan
Can I buy it? No you cannot.
Will I ever be able to buy it? Er, no.
While here in Europe we’ve lamented the lack of driver-focussed Toyota's, it seems that in Japan they've always had 'em. The Mark X may look a little suburban, but it's rather special. The 350 RDS version houses a 324bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine. The model has been around for 10 years, yet has still never made it to these shores.
photograph by TTTNIS, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license
Price: £8,685
Where does it come from? Japan
Can I buy it? Not yet.
Will I ever be able to buy it? Just maybe.
You might have seen the Alto RS Turbo badge in the Gran Turismo video game. It's a Japanese ‘kei car’, and offers a modest 63bhp - but when you consider the 720kg weight, it's actually rather nippy. Many see it as an ideal urban runabout for Brits - so let's hope they bring it over!
photograph by OSX, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license
Price: £100,000
Where does it come from? Australia
Can I buy it? No, cobber.
Will I ever be able to buy it? No chance.
All Australian-built cars are going the way of the do-do because the Holden factory in Adelaide is closing down. Sad indeed, but especially so when you clock the HSV GTS-R W1 - featuring a hand-built, supercharged LS9 V8 engine. This mad ding-bat of a machine boasts 637bhp. And you can't have one.
iStock.com/Tramino
Price: £45,000
Where does it come from? USA.
Can I buy it? Uh-uh.
Will I ever be able to buy it? Very probably not.
Cadillac are baying for BMW’s blood - figuratively speaking. They want to seize some of the lucrative 3-Series market for themselves and this ATS is going to help them do it - possibly. The entry-level model has nestled within it a 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing 458bhp.
iStock.com/SteveLagreca
Price: £59,000
Where does it come from? USA.
Can I buy it? No.
Will I ever be able to buy it? It's unlikely.
We all know about the Chevrolet Corvette (if only from the A-Team), but those old versions were lumpen flash-Harrys compared to the newest incarnations. A lighter body and a deliriously powerful V8 makes the Z06 a real contender against European performance cars - yet for much less money. But it doesn't really matter, coz you can't have one.
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