St Patricks days is upon us, and (a pint of a certain famous Irish stout aside), what better way to celebrate than with some of the best green cars on the market today?
No, we don’t mean green in the environmental sense — one car aside — we mean literally green, and seriously fast.
Vauxhall Corsa VXR
As if the Vauxhall Corsa VXR wasn’t loud enough with its huge intakes, twin exhausts and large rear spoiler, a lick of green paint makes sure it’s not missed amongst the crowd.
It’s not all show and no go, though. Thanks to a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 202bhp and 280Nm of torque, it can do 0-60mph in a mere 6.6 seconds before hitting a top speed of 143mph.
Audi RS5
The Audi RS5 can be a wonderfully stealthy machine, seeming little more than a regular diesel A5 before blasting away even the most serious competition at a traffic light. Add a splash of green though, and there’s no mistaking it as the performance beast it truly is.
It boasts a 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 engine that outputs 444bhp and 600Nm of torque, capable of taking it from 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds before reaching a limited 155mph top speed.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Porsche decided to launch its latest 911 GT3 RS in a bright green hue, and we have to say they made a solid choice. It fits the menacing, race car-esque appearance which is already enough to stand out.
It’s got race car guts too, featuring a 4.0-litre straight-six engine developing 514bhp and 470Nm of torque. The result is 0-60mph in 3 seconds flat and a top speed of 194mph.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
Is a Lamborghini really a Lamborghini if it’s not green? Probably, but we’d still argue it’s one of the best colour choices when going for anything from the Italian stable — displayed here well on the Huracan Performante.
Matching the loud look is a monstrous 5.2-litre V10 engine, which not only belches out a viscous roar, but an equally bonkers 631bhp and 600Nm of torque. 0-60mph comes in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 201mph is possible.
Jaguar F-Type Project 7
So, you may not be able to buy a Project 7 now, but it embodies how good the F-Type can look in a great shade of green.
Just 250 production versions were made, featuring a unique D-Type classic race car-inspired rear hump, a large rear wing and more power than any Jaguar before it — with 567bhp from its V8 engine.
Skoda Octavia vRS
We’re big fans of green Skodas here, and there are non better in the colour than the Octavia vRS.
The performance hatch gives off a menacing vibe in thanks to the bold hue and black styling cues, paired with red highlighting at the rear. Both petrol and diesel options are on offer in the trim, and both are an absolute riot to drive — green or not.
Ford Mustang Bullitt
Few film cars are more iconic than the green Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 film Bullitt — and to celebrate that film’s 50th anniversary, the American firm has released a limited-edition version of the current muscle car.
Finished in the same dark green as the original film car, it gets a 5.0-litre V8 engine producing 458bhp and 526Nm of torque — 14bhp more than the standard beast. A few will be coming to the UK, but no word yet when and for how much.
BMW i8
The BMW i8 isn’t just literally green, it’s also green in terms of emissions. It has a three-cylinder engine paired to an electric motor, which makes it one of the eco-friendliest options on the market.
That doesn’t make it slow, though. The powertrain is good for 369bhp and 570Nm of torque, accelerating it from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph.
Dodge Challenger Hellcat
The Dodge Challenger Hellcat is one of the most menacing cars produced today, and a loud shade of green only helps its image.
It’s powered by a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine developing a ridiculous 697bhp. We sadly can’t buy a Hellcat in the UK without going through the process of privately importing one, however, that engine will feature in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk that is destined for our shores in 2018.
Aston Martin Vantage
The new Aston Martin Vantage has finally arrived, 13 years after the previous generation was introduced.
The British firm launched the car in a vibrant lime green colour and we think they made the right choice. It’s powered by an AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, as found in the AMG GT, here producing 503bhp and a monstrous 685Nm of torque. 0-60mph comes in 3.4 seconds with a 195mph Vmax.
