SUPER-SALOONS

Mercedes-amg C63 S From £66,800 Mercedes-amg’s best hot four-door. Chassis is uncompromising but engaging with it. Wonderfully tactile and playful.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio From £59,000 Hot Giulia’s handling dynamism is unmatched, but engine, gearbox and interior aren’t on the same level as the Mercedes-amg.

BMW M3 Competition Pack From £56,600 Sharp, lean and as precise as a surgeon’s scalpel. Incredibly well mannered but a bit reserved at low speeds.

Audi RS7 Performance Pack From £94,500 Titanic V8 engine and four driven wheels makes this a genuine sub-4.0sec 0-60mph prospect. Handling not as natural as some.

Jaguar XJR From £92,400 Doesn’t quite ape the bang-for-buck value of the XFR, but has chiselled style and performance kudos to burn.