![\"During](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks.jpg\" "\\"During")
<\/a><\/p>\nDuring the 2000s, we received some of the best cars ever produced by their respective manufacturers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
From hot hatchbacks to hypercars, and everything in between, some of the best cars of all time graced showroom floors during the period, whether because of their beauty<\/strong>, outstanding driving dynamics<\/strong> or just downright craziness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Join us as we take a look at 25<\/strong> of the very best in alphabetical order, as well as 5<\/strong> bonus cars that had the potential to join such esteemed company, but for one reason or another, never got the chance:<\/p>\n Launched as a halo model for the Italian brand, just 500<\/strong> examples of the Alfa Romeo<\/strong> 8C Competizione<\/strong> were ever built, alongside a further 329<\/strong> Spiders<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Powered by a Ferrari-derived, 4.7-litre, 444bhp naturally-aspirated V8<\/strong>, which was later shared with the Maserati Granturismo, the 8C received a bespoke platform, carbon fibre bodywork<\/strong> and carbon ceramic brakes<\/strong> to accompany the thunderous soundtrack.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cIn GT terms it\u2019s a bit of a hot rod, but when you step out, you want to step right back in.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n With looks that haven\u2019t aged a day, you may recognise the DBS<\/strong> as the first proper Bond car to have accompanied Daniel Craig during his time as the world\u2019s most famous spy. But Aston\u2019s super-GT was so much more than just a movie star.<\/p>\n Arriving in 2007 as a more focused version of the DB9 grand tourer, the DBS weighed 65kg <\/strong>less than the car it was based upon, thanks to an aluminium structure and a blend of carbon fibre and aluminium body panels. The DBS also had a 5.9-litre, 510bhp V12<\/strong> at its disposal \u2013 and, if optioned, this colossal powerplant could be controlled via a six-speed manual gearbox<\/strong>. Unfortunately\u00a0though, there was no box to tick on the configurator for a glovebox-located defibrillator.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cIn being lighter, more accelerative and a much more accomplished grand tourer than the Vanquish S, the DBS is a fitting dynamic successor.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Unveiled in 2005 as an answer to the BMW M3, the B7-generation RS4<\/strong>\u00a0set the Audi Sport brand on a completely different path, proving that the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer could indeed build exciting drivers\u2019 cars in the 21st century \u2013 something that had been increasingly called into question.<\/p>\n Available in saloon, estate and convertible flavours,\u00a0the RS4 was able to break such a stereotype mainly through the deployment of a truly great powertrain. Namely, Audi fitted a\u00a04.2-litre, 414bhp naturally-aspirated V8 <\/strong>screamer (the redline could only be located after 8250rpm<\/strong>) and a six-speed<\/strong> manual gearbox<\/strong> that we described as \u2018hard to find fault with<\/strong>.\u2019<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cSensationally quick, practical and desirable. Something very special.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In 2006, \u00a0Audi caused jaws to drop even further\u00a0when the covers came off their first ever supercar, the R8<\/strong>. Named after the successful Le Mans\u00a0racer, the R8 was the sister car<\/strong> to the Lamborghini Gallardo \u2013 but, somehow, it managed to be even better, emerging as the victor in our coveted Driver\u2019s Car of the Year<\/strong> issue.<\/p>\n At first, the R8 was offered solely with the same 4.2-litre V8<\/strong> that had made the RS4 such a star, with the only variable being which gearbox it was coupled with. The optional six-speed automated R-Tronic \u2018box was never the best; however, the six-speed<\/strong>, open-gated manual<\/strong> provided a sense of drama that the Audi brand had never before been attributed to. A Lamborghini-derived 5.2-litre V10<\/strong> was also offered at a later date.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cAs an everyday supercar it has few rivals. And even fewer flaws.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n First shown in 2008, the C6-generation Audi RS6<\/strong> was on the receiving end of one of the automotive world\u2019s craziest powertrain matchups \u2013 a 580bhp, 5.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V10<\/strong> within the unassuming silhouette of an Audi saloon or Avant, depending on which version was chosen.<\/p>\n Although, once you got a bit closer, the blistered wheel arches, huge wheels and massive exhausts did struggle to play down the demon lurking under the aluminium bonnet. Little wonder the number plate reads \u2018666\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cThe major strength of the RS6 remains its colossal engine, but this time around Audi has given it a chassis that will allow it to challenge the likes of M and AMG.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n During the 2000s, BMW released not\u00a0one but two generations of the M3. The third generation, the E46, came along in 2000 with a 338bhp, 3.2-litre straight six<\/strong>, and eventually spawned Competition and CSL variants with more power, and especially in the case of the CSL, additional rarity.<\/p>\n However, with the introduction of Audi\u2019s acclaimed, V8-powered B7 RS4, BMW needed to up their game \u2013 and they responded in 2007 with the E90<\/strong> M3<\/strong>, which was afforded an all-new 4.0-litre, 414bhp eight-cylinder\u00a0<\/strong>powerplant of its own. It was also offered as a coup\u00e9, a convertible and a four-door saloon, pitching it as a direct rival for the Audi. In the end, the RS4 emerged as a surprising victor, but the E90 still proved itself as a great M car.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cOne of the most sensational V8 engines yet to be installed beneath the bonnet of a road car.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Although, whilst the idea of shoehorning a howling 4.0-litre V8 into the baby M car of the time was certainly a crazy one, it was nothing compared to what had happened to the M5 a few years earlier.<\/p>\n The fourth-generation of the M5, designated \u2018E60<\/strong>\u2019, was unleashed for the first time in 2005.\u00a0However, as the previous generation\u00a0had already been equipped with an enormous\u00a04.9-litre V8<\/strong>, the\u00a0M division<\/strong>\u00a0were inclined to develop a very special engine in order to better it – resulting\u00a0in the E60 being powered by a\u00a0Formula 1-inspired<\/strong>,\u00a05.0-litre<\/strong>,\u00a0500bhp<\/strong>\u00a0V10<\/strong>. Offered in both saloon and estate form, the E60 M5 has since gone down as one of the best \u2013 and craziest \u2013 BMW products of all time. \u00a0<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cIt’s such a complete, beguiling car that it might just be the best car in the world. Which is why we award a rare five stars.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n A list of the greatest cars from the 2000s, or in fact a list of the greatest cars of all time, just wouldn\u2019t be complete without the inclusion of the Bugatti Veyron<\/strong>. First shown in production form in 2005 after a long and difficult birth, the Veyron was the ultimate showcase of what the VW group, under the directorship of the late Ferdinand Pi\u00ebch<\/strong>, was capable of at the height of its power.<\/p>\n Built at the Bugatti factory in Molsheim, France, the Veyron 16.4 set a new precedent for what a car could achieve. It produced 1001bhp <\/strong>from an 8.0-litre, quad-turbocharged W16<\/strong> engine, that required no less than 10<\/strong> radiators to keep cool. This remarkable powerplant, which was coupled to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox<\/strong> and a four-wheel-drive<\/strong> system, allowed the Veyron to reach a top speed of 253mph<\/strong> at the Ehra-Lessien test facility in Germany in 2005, making it the fastest car in the world at the time. A convertible version, the Grand Sport<\/strong> (pictured), followed in 2009.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cI’ve driven the car that won Le Mans for Audi in 2002 and I’ve driven a Jag Fl car that had 900bhp, and I can tell you here and now, the Veyron feels quicker than either of them within the confines of a mountain road.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n For the C6-generation of the iconic Corvette model, which made its first appearance in 2005, Chevrolet utilised some incredibly modern and sophisticated components when developing the high-performance variants, with the ultimate example being the C6 ZR1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Developed under the codename \u2018Blue Devil<\/strong>\u2019, the ZR1<\/strong> had a thunderous 6.2-litre supercharged LS7 V8<\/strong> engine which produced 638bhp<\/strong> and 604lb ft<\/strong>, and was mated to a six-speed manual gearbox<\/strong>. In addition, the roof, bonnet and front wings were made of carbon fibre, the suspension out of aluminium, and in a Corvette first, the ZR1 also received magneto-rheological adaptive dampers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cthe fastest, most powerful and most expensive car ever produced by GM is a new classic among ‘Vettes.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n As the direct successor to the F40 and F50, the Enzo Ferrari<\/strong> had a large pair of boots to fill when it arrived on the scene in 2002. In order to achieve such a task, Ferrari raided the parts bin of the Scuderia Formula 1 team<\/strong> when creating what was initially referred to as the Type F140.<\/p>\n The Pininfarina-designed body was entirely made of carbon fibre, the 651bhp, 6.0-litre V12<\/strong> was mated to an F1-style automated manual gearbox, and the brakes were made from silicon carbide<\/strong>. Plus, a chap called Michael Schumacher was drafted in as development driver\u2026<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cThe Enzo is undoubtedly Ferrari’s most committed expression of its huge FI and road-car experience.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Announced as the replacement for the vulnerable F430 in 2009, the Ferrari 458 Italia<\/strong> moved the mid-engined supercar game along by a drastic margin.<\/p>\n With a body penned once again by Pininfarina, that still looks as fresh today as it did when it was new, the 458 gained an all-new 4.5-litre naturally-aspirated V8<\/strong> that produced 562bhp<\/strong>, and was deemed so brilliant that it was the recipient of multiple Engine of the Year awards. In addition, the 458 also received a similarly contemporary 7-speed Getrag dual-clutch automatic gearbox<\/strong>, which offered a big improvement over the unit found in the F430.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cThe 458 Italia is a once-in-a-generation Ferrari and the finest we have ever road tested.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Introduced as a concept during Ford\u2019s 100th anniversary<\/strong> in 2002, and then in production form a year later, the GT <\/strong>was evidently designed as a homage to the legendary GT40 racer of the 1960s. With styling that strayed very little from that of the original car, the GT was the ultimate slice of retro cool from the outside.<\/p>\n However, the same couldn’t be said for what was hiding underneath the throwback aluminium bodywork, as the GT was a serious, thoroughly modern supercar. Described in our review summary as a \u201cdevastating cross-country device with sublime steering\u201d, the GT was powered by a 550bhp, 5.4-litre supercharged V8<\/strong>, which was enough for 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds<\/strong> and a top speed of 205mph. <\/strong><\/p>\n What we said: \u201cThe engine performance is astronomical. Corners are simply the bits that punctuate the fun, as the GT\u2019s positive on turn-in, but you\u2019re always aware of its size and weight. I’d have one though – It\u2019s a cracker.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Ford unveiled the second generation of the Focus RS<\/strong> in 2008, with RS Rally Team boss Jost Capito<\/strong> stating that it was \u2018a shark to the [Focus] ST\u2019s dolphin.\u2019 It certainly had the aesthetics to pull off such a claim; with flared wheelarches, aggressive vents and spoilers, duel exhaust tips and the garish \u2018Ultimate Green\u2019 WRC-inspired paint colour pictured, it certainly looked the part.<\/p>\n Performance was hardly lacking either, with a turbocharged, 2.5-litre inline five-cylinder<\/strong> engine capable of 305bhp<\/strong> and 325lb ft<\/strong>. Given the links to the Focus rally car, four-wheel-drive was reportedly considered; however, Ford decided it was unnecessary. It certainly wasn\u2019t missed\u2026<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cFast and, more importantly, fun. The new benchmark hot hatch.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The first production Koenigsegg model, the CC8S, was unveiled at the very start of the decade at the 2000 Paris Motor Show. At the time, the Swedish hypercar firm was still very much in its infancy, so the CC8S utilised a 4.7-litre V8 that was based around a Ford-designed block \u2013 albeit one that had been completely re-engineered in \u00c4ngelholm.<\/p>\n However, when the time came to replace the CC8S with a new model, Koenigsegg developed an all-new engine themselves for the first time. The model in question was 2006\u2019s CCX<\/strong>, and its brand new dry-sumped<\/strong>, twin-supercharged<\/strong> 4.7-litre V8<\/strong> produced 806bhp<\/strong> and 693lb ft<\/strong> \u2013 unprecedented numbers for a car only weighing 1280kg<\/strong>. Today, Koenigsegg builds some of the world\u2019s most impressive powertrains, and the CCX is largely to thank for it.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cNow we know that there\u2019s only one Swedish car that resembles a jet fighter on wheels \u2013 and it isn’t a Saab.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Announced as the replacement for the much-loved but flawed Diablo, the Murcielago<\/strong> was unveiled in 2001 and instantly became a poster car for a generation. Low-slung, angular and sleek, with a theatrical pair of retractable air intakes, the Murcielago looked like a proper Lamborghini \u2013 and with a\u00a06.2-litre naturally-aspirated V12<\/strong>, it also had the performance to match. A roadster promptly followed, until an updated version \u2013 the LP-640<\/strong> \u2013 came along in 2006 (pictured).<\/p>\n As the name suggests, the facelifted Murcielago received a horsepower boost to 640<\/strong>, and the engine grew from 6.2 to 6.5-litres<\/strong>. Alongside the Gallardo, the Murcielago LP-640 and its derivatives were also the last cars to be offered by the Italian brand with a manual gearbox<\/strong>. Not many people refrained from ticking the \u2018e-gear\u2019 automated manual option, making manual LP640\u2019s incredibly rare and sought-after today.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cOff the top end of the desirability scale. Glorious name, glorious shape, glorious engine. Glorious steering. Glorious, in fact\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The so-called \u2018baby Lambo\u2019 was first shown to the world in 2002, and proved an immense success for the Italian brand \u2013 in fact, the Gallardo was comfortably the best-selling Lamborghini of all time until the arrival of the Urus SUV, with over 14,000 units produced (a number that has since been overtaken by its successor, the Hurac\u00e1n).<\/p>\n However, only 618<\/strong> of that total was made up by the first generation of the Gallardo Superleggera<\/strong>, which was unveiled in 2007. Offered as a stripped-out, lightened version of the standard Gallardo, the Superleggera weighed 100kg <\/strong>less than the car it was based upon, despite being allowed to keep its four-wheel drive system. Thankfully, the sonorous 5.0-litre V10<\/strong> also remained.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cIt\u2019s the sort of car Ferrari used to make once upon a time.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Co-developed and built by McLaren, and designed by Gordon Murray<\/strong>, the Mercedes SLR was unveiled in production form in 2003 after a series of concepts and development delays. With a dry-sumped 5.4-litre supercharged V8<\/strong> that made 617bhp <\/strong>and 575lb ft<\/strong>, it perhaps came as no surprise that the SLR was monstrously fast.<\/p>\n However, with a flawed set of early carbon ceramic brakes, a harsh ride, a lazy 5-speed automatic gearbox and, despite carbon fibre construction, a kerb weight of 1700kg<\/strong>, the SLR was something of a problem child; meaning it couldn\u2019t compete dynamically with the likes of its rivals, the Enzo Ferrari<\/strong> and Porsche Carrera GT<\/strong>. Where it impressed instead was as a long distance grand tourer, and with sensational styling, this Anglo-German curiosity more than deserves a spot on the list.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cEven at 192mph it was still accelerating like a train.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The Merecedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series<\/strong> was unveiled in 2007, and\u00a0has since become one of our favourite models ever built by the team in Afalterbach.<\/span><\/p>\n Taking inspiration from a special CLK Safety Car that AMG developed for the Formula 1 World Championship, <\/strong>the Black Series<\/strong>\u00a0gained outrageously widened wheel arches, a carbon fibre rear diffuser and door cards, bucket seats in the front\u2026and no seats at all in the rear. And, while the 6.2-litre<\/strong>, naturally-aspirated V8<\/strong> from the standard CLK 63 remained, in the Black Series it was fettled to produce 500bhp<\/strong>.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cOne thing is immediately clear: this is the most extreme Mercedes currently on sale, including the SLR.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In fact, the\u00a06.2-litre<\/strong>\u00a0AMG V8<\/strong>\u00a0was deemed so special by Mercedes that they decided to use it at the heart of their next supercar. The supercar in question, the\u00a0SLS AMG<\/strong>, arrived in 2009 with jaw-dropping styling \u2013 including the evocative and iconic\u00a0gullwing doors<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 and a set of driving dynamics that more than\u00a0lived up to the way it looked.<\/p>\n Here, the 6.2-litre V8 lump was stretched to\u00a0563bhp,<\/strong>\u00a0which placed it squarely in the firing line of the brilliant\u00a0Ferrari 458 Italia<\/strong>. In fact, the same 7-speed Getrag dual-clutch automatic gearbox was used in both cars \u2013 but, while the Ferrari was a bona fide, textbook supercar, the front-engined SLS was inherently more GT in its approach. The 458 edged it at the time, however Mercedes\u2019 effort deserved the credit it received for also being a fantastic car.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cOutrageous pace and grip. A truly useable supercar.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n As one of the decade\u2019s most anticipated cars, the R35-generation<\/strong> of the Nissan GT-R had a lot of hype to live up to when we first drove it in Japan in December 2007. Afterall, Nissan had claimed that, for almost half the price, the GT-R was quicker than the latest Porsche 911 Turbo, and had been built with an unmatched level of attention to detail.<\/p>\n Well, both claims turned out to be true. Thanks to a bespoke 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6<\/strong>, the 473bhp <\/strong>GT-R eclipsed the Turbo\u2019s 0-60mph time (3.5 <\/strong>vs 3.6 seconds<\/strong>), and also set a blistering 7min 37sec<\/strong> lap around the N\u00fcrburgring. In addition, the \u2018giant killer\u2019 GT-R was one of the first road cars to be fitted with launch control, and each example received a hand-built dual-clutch automatic gearbox assembled in individual \u2018clean rooms\u2019 to ensure reliability. Remarkably, the R35 GT-R only went out of production in 2024<\/strong>.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cFaster than a 911 Turbo, laden with tech and only 55k\u2026is the GT-R too good to be true? No, it\u2019s even better.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n While it is true that the Nissan GT-R did ultimately outpace the Turbo variant of the 997.1-generation Porsche 911, which came along in 2006, let\u2019s not discount the Porsche just yet. In fact, in recent years, 997 Turbo<\/strong> values have been on the rise \u2013 and there are several reasons as to why.<\/p>\n For instance, the 997 Turbo, in pre-facelift, 3.6-litre <\/strong>guise, was the final 911 Turbo to feature a \u2018Mezger\u2019<\/strong> flat-six engine derived from the unit found lurking within the 911 GT1 Le Mans-winning race car. It was also the final 911 Turbo to be offered with a manual \u2019box, too, which adds another level of desirability today. And, while the GT-R was faster, the 911 was certainly no slouch either, with our road test concluding that we\u2019d choose one over both the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cNot only is it one of the fastest cars we’ve ever tested, but it’s also the best 911 Turbo yet, no question.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n As it turned out, 2006 proved an important year for the 997.1-generation of the Porsche 911. First of all, we received the brilliant 911 Turbo, which was promptly followed by the GT3, and then this – what many regard as one of Stuttgart\u2019s finest ever pieces of work \u2013 the 997.1 GT3 RS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Another example of a 911 propelled by a 3.6-litre<\/strong>, motorsport-derived \u2018Mezger\u2019 flat-six<\/strong>, but here with a scintillating redline of 8400rpm<\/strong>, the GT3 RS took the already extreme GT3 and pushed things further. A widened bodyshell accommodated increased front and rear track widths, and 20kg<\/strong> of weight was removed from an already lightweight starting point. It was available exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox, too, unlike the PDK-only GT3 RS of today.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cThis is some of Porsche’s best work to date: directly related to a racing car, staggering on the circuit, but also quite at home on the road.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Unveiled in concept form in 2000, and following as a production model in 2003, the recipe for the Porsche Carrera GT is arguably as good as it gets. Power came from a 603bhp, 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V10<\/strong> that originated from a cancelled Le Mans prototype<\/strong>, which, at the request of the project\u2019s development driver, Walter R\u00f6hrl<\/strong>, was controlled via a six-speed manual gearbox.<\/p>\n Notorious for its tricky-to-use, 7.5-inch<\/strong> diameter clutch, which was chosen for its incredible effect on throttle response, the Carrera GT used innovative carbon construction to achieve a curb weight of just 1380kg<\/strong>. With a 205mph<\/strong> top speed, not only was the Carrera GT one of the world\u2019s fastest and most technologically-advanced cars when new, it was also the greatest-ever to drive according to our road testers.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cThe Carrera GT is the best supercar ever made, and probably the most exciting road car in history.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In truth, we could have chosen pretty much any one of the Renaultsport performance models released by the French manufacturer during the 2000s for our list, given that they very rarely got it wrong. However, at the expense of the mighty Clio 182 Trophy, we\u2019ve decided to include the Megane R26.R<\/strong> for its sheer craziness alone.<\/p>\n Very much the GT3 RS of the hot hatch world, the R26.R went to places that no other hot hatch had previously dared. Using the R26 F1 Team as a starting point, the R26.R slashed 126kg<\/strong> of weight through the use of an outrageous carbon fibre bonnet, Perspex windows, lightweight wheels, a roll cage and race car-spec Sabelt bucket seats. After such intense weight-saving measures, and also with 227bhp<\/strong> on tap, it\u2019s perhaps not a surprise that the R26.R broke the front-wheel-drive N\u00fcrburgring lap record when it was new.<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cAs a genuine driver\u2019s car the M\u00e9gane R26.R has few rivals, and not just in the world of hot hatchbacks but at any level, at any budget.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The original Golf GTi <\/strong>of 1976 was the car to popularise the hot hatch, introducing a new audience to the world of the performance car. A few generations later, though, and the GTi had lost its fun factor, becoming too grown up to replicate the achievements of the original.<\/p>\n That was until the Mk5 GTi<\/strong> arrived in 2004, and righted all of the Mk3 and Mk4\u2019s wrongs. With pumped-up styling, exclusive 18\u201d alloy alloys and \u2018Interlagos\u2019 tartan seat inserts, the Mk5 certainly looked like a GTi should \u2013 and, as we later found out, it also drove like one, too. The Mk5 GTi is a great driver\u2019s car and a dead set future classic, making it a worthy successor to the likes of the Mk1 and Mk2.\u00a0<\/p>\n What we said: \u201cThe GTi has returned, and this time it has image and<\/em> ability.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n That wraps up our list of the best performance cars produced during the 2000s. However, how about the ones that we were promised, but never arrived? Let\u2019s look at five more gems from the period that, for one reason or another, never saw the light of day\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The stunning Alfa Romeo Diva<\/strong> concept was unveiled at the 2006 Geneva Motorshow, and took inspiration from the legendary 33 Stradale<\/strong> of the 1960s.<\/p>\n With a shorter nose-to-tail length than that of a Fiat Punto, and powered by a transversely-mounted 3.2-litre Busso V6<\/strong>, the Diva had so much potential. However, it seems as though there were never any plans to put the butterfly-doored sports car into production \u2013 perhaps due to the imminent arrival of the 8C.<\/p>\n A diesel V12-powered supercar? Well, what seems like a complete oddity today was taken very seriously back when it was new, as we tipped the R8 V12 TDI<\/strong> to \u2018change high performance forever.\u2019<\/p>\n As a rare example of a concept that we actually got to drive, the
\nAlfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2007)<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/p>\n
\nAston Martin DBS (2007)<\/h2>\n
![\"Aston](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-2.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nAudi RS4 B7 (2005)<\/h2>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-3.jpg\")
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\nAudi R8 (2006)<\/h2>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-4.jpg\")
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\nAudi RS6 C6 (2008)<\/h2>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-5.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nBMW M3 E90 (2007)<\/h2>\n
![\"BMW](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-6.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nBMW M5 E60 (2005)<\/h2>\n
![\"BMW](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-7.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nBugatti Veyron (2005)<\/h2>\n
![\"Bugatti](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-8.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nChevrolet Corvette ZR1 C6 (2009)<\/h2>\n
![\"Chevrolet](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-9.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nEnzo Ferrari (2002)<\/h2>\n
![\"Enzo](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-10.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nFerrari 458 Italia (2009)<\/h2>\n
![\"Ferrari](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-11.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nFord GT (2003)<\/h2>\n
![\"Ford](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-12.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nFord Focus RS Mk2 (2008)<\/h2>\n
![\"Ford](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-13.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nKoenigsegg CCX (2006)<\/h2>\n
![\"Koenigsegg](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-14.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nLamborghini Murcielago (2001)<\/h2>\n
![\"Lamborghini](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-15.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nLamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (2007)<\/h2>\n
![\"Lamborghini](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-16.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nMcLaren-Mercedes SLR (2003)<\/h2>\n
![\"McLaren-Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-17.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nMercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series (2007)<\/h2>\n
![\"Mercedes-Benz](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-18.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nMercedes SLS AMG (2009)<\/h2>\n
![\"Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-19.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nNissan GT-R R35 (2007)<\/h2>\n
![\"Nissan](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-20.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nPorsche 911 Turbo (2006)<\/h2>\n
![\"Porsche](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-21.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nPorsche 911 GT3 RS (2006)<\/h2>\n
![\"Porsche](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-22.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nPorsche Carrera GT (2003)<\/h2>\n
![\"Porsche](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-23.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nRenaultsport Megane R26.R (2008)<\/h2>\n
![\"Renaultsport](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-24.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nVolkswagen Golf GTi Mk5 (2004)<\/h2>\n
![\"Volkswagen](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-25.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nAlfa Romeo Diva (2006)<\/h2>\n
![\"Alfa](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-26.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nAudi R8 V12 TDI (2008)<\/h2>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/performance-cars-of-the-2000s-redefined-speed-design-and-engineering-benchmarks-27.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n