10 Best 2 Door Sports Cars

Picking out 10 of the best 2 door sports cars can sometimes feel like an arbitrary exercise, simply because there are so many good, and fun, high performance automobiles on the market. This embarrassment of riches is such that we have to limit ourselves to 10 rather that stretch the definition of sports car to include more questionable models. Each of the vehicles on this list is guaranteed to offer thrills and excitement whether you are carving a canyon road or turning in a fast lap at your local road track, and they do it with a unique character that makes them truly intriguing sports car options. Let's take a quick look at 10 of the best 2 door sports cars currently available.

The 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the most advanced version of the iconic sports car ever built, with a highly-tuned chassis, a 455-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8, and a seven-speed manual transmission standing out as some of the coupe's highlights. Of particular interest to performance fans is the Z51 package, which, for a paltry sum, adds an electronically-controlled limited slip differential, more aggressive suspension, a closer-ratio transmission, a dry-sump oiling system, a diff cooler, and an aero package that together allow the car to hit 60 mph in less than four seconds.

The 2016 Subaru BRZ doesn't flash the horsepower of the Stingray, but it does deliver the same kind of track-ready driving experience thanks to the engineering efforts of both Subaru and Toyota, who collaborated to produce the lightweight sports car (and its twin, the Scion FR-S).  The Subaru BRZ boasts a low center of gravity enhanced by the placement of its flat-four 2.0-liter engine, which generates 200 horses and 151 lb-ft of torque, and its rear-wheel drive layout helps to generate the pure driving feedback that sports car fans crave. A six-speed manual transmission is the gearbox to go with when ordering the BRZ.

The 2016 Porsche Cayman, refreshed for this model year, is the German brand's entry-level coupe, but it might as well be the flagship if evaluated solely by its handling prowess. A mid-engine design ensures that the Porsche Cayman rotates with unbelievable skill, and for 2016, the Cayman will come with a new flat-four engine. Exact specs are still a secret, but rest assured that when the 2016 Cayman is revealed later this year, there will be an improvement in horsepower despite losing two cylinders.

The 2016 Nissan 370Z NISMO is the high performance version of what is already, in base form, a very focused sports car. Slick looks are a key part of the Nissan 370Z NISMO's package, with the addition of a special body kit to help distinguish the NISMO from other models. The NISMO also includes bigger brakes, a limited slip rear differential, forged rims, stiffer suspension tuning, and a six-speed manual transmission that automatically matches revs while downshifting. Under the hood, the 370Z Nismo boasts a 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 350 horsepower and 276 lb-ft of torque.

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS is a potent muscle car, and Chevy says the latest version, though yet to be released, is the most powerful SS yet. The Chevrolet Camaro SS features a 455-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 with 455 lb-ft of torque, and comes paired to a new eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Stopping power comes courtesy of standard Brembo brakes, and considerable use of aluminum in the body and wheels help maintain strength while reducing weight. Further boosting the Camaro SS’ street cred are track-ready features such as an engine cooler and a transmission cooler.

If you want a new Alfa Romeo in the United States, you’ll have to make a trip to your closest Maserati dealer, but at least the option is available. The 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C is a two-seat, mid-engine sports car that's available in coupe and convertible body styles. The 2016 4C is driven by a 1.7-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 237 horsepower and a healthy 258 lb-ft of torque, put to the rear wheels through a dual clutch transmission. Handling is great, thanks to the mid-engine design and the weight-saving use of carbon fiber throughout the 4C’s construction.

The 2016 Audi R8, redesigned for this model year, ushers in a new generation for Audi’s revered supercar. The 2016 R8 is based on the design of the mid-engine Lamborghini Huracan, Audi’s corporate sibling, and comes in two different trim levels, the V10 and the V10 Plus. Both feature a 5.2-liter V-10 engine on loan from the Lamborghini. The V10 model gets 540 horsepower, and the V10 Plus gets 610 horsepower. Aesthetically, the updates to the 2016 R8 are rather subtle — props to Audi for knowing when not to mess with a good thing — and represent a thoughtful evolution of the old car to the new.

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata might be new, but the roadster's pleasing combination of low-mass design and excellent handling balance remains intact. As one of the longest-running models on this list, the Miata meets the challenge of remaining true to its roots while still attracting new fans to the fold. For 2016, the Miata's only engine option is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. The horsepower actually represents a slight drop from the outgoing generation, but a bit more torque helps make up for the loss. This engine can come paired to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Few cars can connect two apexes as effectively as the 2016 Nissan GT-R. This 2 door sports car has been designed from the ground up to leverage technological sophistication in the pursuit of high performance dominance, and it's safe to say “mission accomplished” when evaluating the Nissan GT-R's eye-popping driving experience. The car features an advanced all-wheel drive system that provides enough grip to launch the car to 60 mph in roughly three seconds, a feat that requires the full 545 horsepower and 463 lb-ft of torque generated by the Nissan's twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-6 engine. A six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission handles the shifting duties for the GT-R. 

After a year-long hiatus on this side of the Atlantic, the 2016 Lotus Evora is back. The break was  necessary to bring the Evora up to federal standards for roadworthiness, but nothing else has changed. The 2016 Evora features a 3.5-liter V-6 engine sourced from Toyota, mounted just behind the driver. The base Evora yields 276 horsepower, and a supercharged version is available, which boosts output to 345 horsepower. Either option yields more than enough power to gracefully propel the lightweight, minimalist Evora.