Some remarkable sports cars entered the market in 2014 which had impact on the whole segment. Four models in particular made their mark last year.
Although new technologies changed the status quo last year, including the Tesla Model S electric sports vehicle and the BMWi8 hybrid, the mainstream world of sports cars still relies on conventional powertrains with added performance and style.
The following examples of sports car illustrate the latest trends adopted by the industry including light-weight frames, outstanding performance and abundance of technologies.
They represent the best of what the industry had to offer in 2014.
With the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) approaching this month, it remains to be seen whether the industry can top what it offered last year.

• BMW M4 Coupe: This is the fifth generation of the iconic M4 (formerly known as M3) with a changed engine from a four-liter V8 to a twin-turbo six cylinder engine. The M4 offers the option of a six-speed manual or seven-speed M Double Clutch transmission. The M4 exhibits all the hallmarks of a car created by BMW’s high-performance specialists — lightweight engineering, carefully honed aerodynamics, advanced race-derived chassis tuning, electronic driver assistance technologies and a sporty profile. The BMW M4 derives its firepower from a high-revving six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine which benefits from technologies developed on the race track. This 2,979cc in-line six-cylinder powerhouse, developed by BMW M, features two mono-scroll turbochargers, high-precision direct injection, fully variable valve timing and Double-VANOS variable camshaft control.

• McLaren 650 S Spyder: This is a much improved update of the 12C that elevated the 650S to the level of competition with Ferrari. McLaren has revamped the carbon-fiber 12C with 25 percent new parts. The engine is more powerful, transmission crisper, suspension and electronics overhauled, brakes beefed up and aerodynamics transformed. The 650S name combines the power output in PS – 650 (641bhp) — with S for sport. Peak power increases 25bhp over the 12C, from the twin turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine which has a revised cylinder head and pistons. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission shifts faster and there are other tweaks to enhance performance and driver enjoyment. In normal driving mode for example, upshifts under part throttle are accompanied by a millisecond cut of two cylinders, which amplifies the exhaust note.

• Jaguar F-Type: This is one of the most powerful creations of 2014. It is s muscle car that sounds like one and goes like one. It has a gorgeous design and a two-seater cabin. The F-Type is often described as the most serious sports car Jaguar has ever produced. This car was tested in the UK during the year and reviewed in Arab News. The F Type Coupe is not short on power with supercharged three-liter, six-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder. Power available to the car peaks at 340 BHP and 450 Nm of torque. The engine is linked to an eight-speed auto “Quickshift” gearbox. Performance is 0-60 MPH in 5.1 seconds and maximum speed is limited to 151 miles per hour. The driving dynamics of the F Type Coupe are unmatched, possibly due to the unique chassis and extremely strong and lightweight body-shell. The Coupe’s body is made from a single piece aluminum pressing.

• Porsche 911 Carrera GTS: Porsche revealed last year the second generation of the 911 Carrera GTS, ahead of its arrival in showrooms at the end of the year. It joins the acclaimed Boxster GTS, Cayman GTS and Panamera GTS in the range of sports cars from Stuttgart. Each of the four new 911 Carrera GTS models — a Coupé and a Cabriolet, available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive – build on the established core values of the iconic rear-engined 911 by adding further technical features to generate even higher levels of dynamic performance and driving enjoyment. Under the rear engine lid lies a flat-six power unit, tuned to develop 430 hp, an increase of 30 hp over the Carrera S. This is combined with the Sport Chrono package offering dynamic engine mounts, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) damper system which lowers the car's ride height by ten millimeters. Improved efficiency has also led to quicker acceleration and higher top speeds. Combined fuel consumption figures remain unchanged from the level of the S models. For example, when combined with the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox, the 911 Carrera GTS can return 32.5 mpg and also sprint from zero to 62 mph in 4.0 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.2 seconds). With the standard seven-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, a top speed of 198 mph is possible.