We like to think that we live in a global market, where consumers have the power to buy things so long as they have sufficient funds. However, this isn't always true in the car world. Because of the US's draconian policies on safety and emissions, there are many cars that aren't sold here. This problem isn't as pronounced as it was a few decades ago, but there are still plenty of cool new cars that don't make it to the US because they would simply be too expensive. Here are the five best cars from 2017 that we wish were coming to the US.
The first car comes from Australia and was the last of the large, RWD sedans produced by GM. The HSV GTSR W1 is basically a special edition of the Holden Commodore, which we got as the Chevy SS. Unlike the SS, which came with a 415-hp LS3 V8, the GTSR W1 came with a 635-hp supercharged LS9 V8 from a Corvette ZR1. Even though Australia won't be getting any more awesome cars like this either, we wish that GM would have given us the LS9-powered sedan that we always wanted. The only way that we can get something similar is on the aftermarket, which is a bit disappointing.
The HSV was the last of an era for GM of Australia, but our next car is the first of a new era for the British sports car maker TVR. This year, TVR revealed its first new car in over a decade, the Griffith. Not only does this car look uniquely like a TVR, it keeps the classic hardcore sports car formula. The Griffith is powered by a 5.0-liter Cosworth V8 with 485 hp and power goes out to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. This is the type of sports car that is starting to become extinct, and we hope that the Griffith makes it to the US.
Another car segment that is becoming extinct is the small, tossable hot hatchback. Hot hatchbacks are getting bigger and more powerful and losing touch with their classic nature. In the US, the Fiesta ST was one of the last pure hot hatch experiences, but it will be gone after 2018. There is a new Fiesta ST in Europe, but this model won't make it stateside. The Fiat 500 Abarth will now be the last tiny hot hatchback that Americans can buy, which makes us a bit sad.
Keeping with the theme of the dying breed of small hot hatchbacks, our next choice is the Volkswagen Polo GTI. The Golf GTI is a fantastic hot hatch, but there are moments when we wish the Volkswagen would sell us a smaller, more nimble version of the car. In Europe, VW builds the Polo, which sits below the Golf in the lineup. There is even a Polo GTI version, which comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 197 hp. We think that the new Polo looks fantastic, but it is unlikely to ever be sold in the US.
The final car on our list is one that we think would be a great reintroduction for the Renault brand in the US. Alfa Romeo made the mistake of entering the US with the 4C, a car that has almost nothing in common with the brand's other models. While the Alpine A110 doesn't have anything to do with other Renault models, it is meant to be the first of a new sub-brand for the French automaker. The Alpine A110 is similar to the 4C, but the car is more usable and has a nicer interior, like a Porsche Cayman. We'd love to see the Renault-Nissan alliance find some way to sell this in the US, like selling it through Nissan dealers.