Iconic performance machines like the Porsche 911 and various BMW M cars fall around this price range.
When the conditions are right and a performance car is in its element, it can make for an incredibly thrilling experience. However, Indian road conditions and traffic often render performance cars impractical for daily driving, and many of them sport low-slung form factors, which require care when traversing our pockmarked streets. Still, the joys of owning a performance car are aplenty, and if you’re in the market for one in the Rs 1-2 crore ballpark, there are quite a lot of compelling options on the table.
10. BMW M2
Price: Rs 1.03 crore
Don’t let the BMW M2’s compact proportions fool you – under its hood lies a 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-6 developing 480hp and 600Nm, funneled entirely to the rear wheels through an 8-speed torque converter automatic or a 6-speed manual gearbox.
M2 is the only car here to offer a manual gearbox
The latter option sets the M2 apart as the only car on this list to offer a manual transmission, and this is the version we tested (and raved about) in our review. Bury the throttle at rest, and the M2 should hit the 100kph mark in 4 seconds flat (4.2sec with manual) and go on to hit an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph (285kph with optional performance pack).
9. Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe
Price: Rs 1.11 crore
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In many ways, the GLC 43 Coupe is one of the most suitable performance cars for Indian conditions. Not only do you get a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine pushing out 421hp and 500Nm, but the 201mm ground clearance ensures you can deploy all that grunt to the road without worrying about scraping the underbelly.
Once the power reaches all four wheels via a 9-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the GLC 43 Coupe sprints to 100kph from rest in 4.8 seconds and tops out at an electronically-limited 250kph. Read our review of the GLC 43 Coupe to learn more about everything the high-riding sports car offers.
8. BMW i5 M60 xDrive
Price: Rs 1.20 crore
All-electric mobility is a sign of the times, and the i5’s inclusion in this list (among other performance EVs) represents exactly that. Sold here solely in top-spec M60 xDrive form, the i5 comes equipped with an 83.9kWh battery pack, dual-motor setup producing 601hp and 820Nm channelled to all four wheels.
This allows the i5 to accelerate from 0-100kph in just 3.8 seconds and reach a v-max of 230kph. When we tested the i5, we found that while its instantaneous torque and balanced chassis deliver the hallmark BMW driving feel, the low ground clearance can make traversing speedbreakers a worrisome process.
7. BMW M4 Competition
Price: Rs 1.56 crore
One of the most capable performance cars of the modern era, the M4 Competition is a stunning coupe that can be surprisingly tame for everyday use, as we discovered in our review. Its 530hp, 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-6 engine sends power to all four wheels via an 8-speed torque converter gearbox, enabling a 0-100kph sprint in a supercar-baiting 3.5 seconds.
M4 CS available as more radical version of M4
If the “standard” M4 isn’t extreme enough for you, BMW also offers its more track-focused iteration – the M4 CS – for an asking price of Rs 1.89 crore in India. The M4 CS notably features a 20hp power bump over the M4 Competition, as well as weight savings of 20kg, an improved cooling system, lighter wheels, lots of CS-specific design touches, and more. All of these changes result in a 0.1sec improvement in the M4 CS’ 0-100kph time (3.4 seconds) and a 302kph top speed.
6. Audi e-tron GT Quattro
Price: Rs 1.72 crore
The Audi e-tron GT is a four-door coupe that stands as one of the best-looking electric cars currently on sale, and comes equipped with a 93.4kWh battery, dual-motor powertrain that churns out 530hp and 630Nm. Thanks to Audi’s hallmark Quattro all-wheel drive system, the e-tron GT sprints from rest to 100kph in 4.1 seconds – eventually maxing out at 250kph.
Facelift inbound
Audi is gearing up to launch a facelifted version of the e-tron GT in India sometime in 2025. We reviewed the e-tron GT facelift’s top-of-the-line Performance trim last year, and came away very impressed.
5. Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe
Price: Rs 1.94 crore
The GLE 53 Coupe does everything the GLC 43 Coupe does, but wrapped up in a bigger, burlier, and stronger package. The GLC Coupe’s 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain has been swapped out for a beefier 3.0-litre inline-6 turbo-petrol engine paired to a mild hybrid setup in the GLE Coupe, developing 435hp and 560Nm. Power goes to all four wheels via a 9-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
This heightened output is capable of a 0-100kph sprint in 5 seconds, as well as an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph. In our review of the GLE 53 Coupe, we discovered that its throttle response is quite sporty and sharp, and that the SUV builds speed deceptively quick.
4. Porsche Taycan 4S
Price: Rs 1.96 crore
As Porsche’s very first electric car, the Taycan proved that going emissions-free doesn’t mean giving up driving pleasure. The Taycan 4S comes fitted with a 79.2kWh battery pack hooked up to four electric motors – one for each wheel – outputting 598hp and 710Nm.
When fully unleased, this grunt can catapult the Taycan from rest to 100kph in just 3.7 seconds, while top speed is limited to 250kph. Our review of the latest Taycan 4S also noted its razor-sharp steering and low center of gravity, making for a driving experience that’s unmistakably Porsche.
3. Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance 4Matic+
Price: Rs 1.98 crore
When the latest AMG C 63 S traded its hunky V8 for a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine paired with a rear-mounted electric motor, some eyebrows were raised. However, the new hybrid setup has enabled a jaw-dropping combined output of 680hp and 1,020Nm to be meted out to the asphalt, with the engine itself being the most powerful 4-cylinder motor (476hp) so far.
All of that power rotates all four wheels via a 9-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and our track review of the C 63 S E Performance found that performance is phenomenal (albeit not as unhinged as prior C63s). 0-100kph is achieved in a claimed 3.4 seconds, and the top speed is rated at 280kph.
2. BMW M5
Price: Rs 1.99 crore
Tipping the scales at just over 2.4 tonnes, the latest G90 M5 may not have the lightweight credentials of its predecessors, but with a 727hp and 1000Nm output from its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain, there’s no denying that it’s the ultimate performance sedan money can buy.
At 3.3 seconds, the M5’s 0-100kph time belies its kerb weight, and should you opt for the M Driver’s package, the top speed is a manic 305kph. Our review of the new M5 did find a slight dip in its corner-carving abilities, but the sedan makes up for it by being a veritable missile on the road.
1. Porsche 911 Carrera
Price: Rs 2.11 crore
One of the most iconic names in automotive history, the Porsche 911 needs no introduction. While the base Carrera trim is priced a smidge above Rs 2 crore, there’s no other car on this list that’s as thoroughbred and prestigious as the 911, which is why we can consider it here. The 911 Carrera puts out 394hp and 450Nm from a rear-mounted 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-6 engine and blitzes through the 0-100kph mark in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 294kph.
In our review of the 992.2 911 Carrera, we found that it’s still one of the most well-balanced sports cars out there, and remains the gold standard in driver-focused machines.
All prices ex-showroom.
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