Today marks the national holiday of our friends across the pond, and in its time, the United States of America have made some iconic cars.
However, not many of the great cars the USA makes come to these shores, as many of the American brand’s we get access to here in the UK have factories in mainland Europe.
So what are the best American-made cars we get here?
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Although not officially on sale in the UK, the Corvette ZR1 is one of the most exciting cars to come out of the US for some time, and if you ask a Chevrolet dealer very nicely, you could get one imported without too much hassle. The latest version of the Corvette is the fastest one yet, and with it you get a brand new 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine that chucks out 755bhp helping it get to 60mph in 2.85 seconds and on to a top speed of 212mph. That’s pretty impressive for a Chevy, and it looks mental also – so what’s not to like?
Ford Mustang
The Mustang is one of the most recognisable cars ever, and in its latest generation it comes with plenty of tech and a choice of either a 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol or the full-blooded 5.0-litre V8. With a stiffened body helping performance, power-assisted steering and four driving modes, as well as launch control, this car is built for going fast where appropriate. It also looks great and drives well, making it a worthy option in the sports car market.
Tesla Model S
The electric car manufacturer has been around for a few years now, and is gaining popularity and publicity every day. The Model S was its first proper production model – following the Tesla Roadster from 2008 – and offers a practical package alongside an electric powertrain. Currently available with the P100D and 100D power units, the Model S saloon is capable of 0-60mph in 2.2 seconds and a top speed of 155mph – while being able to go over 300 miles on a single charge. It looks great too, making the Model S one of the most desirable electric cars on sale.
Dodge Challenger Hellcat
Despite being on sale since 1970, the Dodge Challenger is only in its third generation. Following a break between 1983 and 2008, the iconic model name returned in the form of a throwback muscle car that had the essence of the original model. The Hellcat is the most extreme version of the current Challenger on sale – and with good reason. The Hellcat has a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 under the bonnet producing 697bhp and capable of launching the car from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds. It looks like a brute and sounds like one too – a proper throwback.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
The fourth generation Jeep Grand Cherokee is quite an imposing model anyway, so when the American brand decided to stick the same 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine from the Dodge Hellcat under the bonnet, the model was only going to get more ruthless. The Trackhawk SUV comes with plenty of kit to improve not only its straight line speed, but its cornering performance too, meaning that the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is a serious package. The large SUV can sprint to 60mph in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 180mph – making it the fastest SUV in the world.
Honda NSX
Although its officially called an Acura NSX in the US, the Honda NSX is a futuristic sports car that captures the imagination. The petrol-hybrid sports car comes with a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 and a nine-speed automatic transmission, which combine to get you from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 191mph. With all the steering, braking and acceleration controlled wirelessly, the NSX really is an innovative vehicle that set the trend for all sports cars after it.
Tesla Model X
The all-electric SUV is the largest model offered by Tesla and is available with so many seating configurations, it is difficult to find a situation when this car isn’t practical. With no combustion engine in sight, Tesla took advantage by giving the Model X loads of interior space and the option to fit up to seven seats, while also being able to go 350 miles on a single charge. With the top-end P100D, it can also get from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 155mph – pretty impressive for an electric SUV.
