The Best US Market Cars We’re Missing Out On

We’re jealous that the US has access to these beautiful cars and we don’t.

As Brits, we’re proud to be British. When it comes to sport, culture, music – we seem to think we’re the best in the world at everything. Even with cars, the UK are doing pretty well.

Land Rovers / Range Rovers are sold internationally as highly regarded luxury SUVs, McLaren have a firm position in the world of supercars, Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Mini are all also relevant names in markets around the globe, even if all those brands aren’t technically ‘British’ anymore. Even MG and Lotus appear to be rearing their heads from hibernation to once again make their presence known to the world.

That being said, our friends across the pond do have some stunning cars that, unfortunately, aren’t sold in the UK. Here’s some we’re sour about:

Cadillac ATS-V Coupe

The US’s competitor to the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, the ATS-V Coupe is more than just a 4-door powerhouse. Producing 464bhp from a twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6, the ATS-V certainly has the power of a run and gun American muscle car but it also has the agility to stop it from looking foolish on a track.

Body and wheel movement is controlled by Magnetic Ride Control dampers, electronic-differential delivers power to the wheels intelligently and the steering is said to be quick and precise. All-in-all, it is a great shame that Cadillac exited the UK market in the 2010s, if not for any other reason than the ATS-V performance saloon/coupe.

Toyota Avalon TRD

Although it’s not exactly an American car, this is one that the US has and the UK does not. Possibly Toyota’s best looking car on sale at the moment, the Avalon TRD may not be the fastest of the sports saloons when it comes to straight-line speed but it offers plenty of performance technology for superb handling around corners.

This car would most likely appeal to the same kind of people that fawn over the Toyota GR Yaris. If you like Japanese cars, like fast saloons and like a car that has loads of technical performance features that your friends won’t understand, the Avalon TRD could have been the car for you…if it was sold in the UK.

Hennessey Venom GT

Based on Lotus’ own Exige, it’s a major slap in the face that Brits cannot buy a Hennessey Venom GT in RHD.

Rather than add lightness, the Americans did the most American thing possible and took a Lotus Elise and added power. Although this isn’t the best example of an affordable US car that we would buy if we could, the Hennessey Venom GT is an example of a supercar that should be made available to enthusiasts around the world, not just in the US. Only 13 models were made and all of them were left-hand drive.

Chevrolet Corvette C8

Not only is the Corvette C8 a beauty to look at but it also just so happens to be a mid-engine 500hp V8 supercar that costs £15,000 less than a BMW i8 (when they were still being produced). It’s excellent value for money and is also a fantastic example of modern American engineering with the C8 Corvette being Chevy’s most refined model yet.

Far less brutish than previous models, the C8 is capable of finessing through corners just like its European counterparts and although up until now the UK has never had a right-hand drive Corvette, that is all due to change later this year when the C8 is said to go on sale in Britain. We won’t have to miss out on this one for much longer! The wish has been granted!

Let us know which US-market car you wish you could buy in the UK, in the comments.

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