TRAFFIC junctions present the best opportunities to eye your neighbours in the next lane.
You’ll see the occasional Grand Tourer with dashing, ultra-streamlined silhouettes, not to mention some difference in height with varying ground clearances.
Chances are, engines rev before the light even turns green, as if the loudest one wins this imaginary competition.
Don’t get us wrong, we love flashy — but sleeper cars are all the more intriguing with the high-performance engines they house beneath relatively unassuming exteriors.
From the Range Rover SV to the Audi RS7, here are the best sleeper cars in 2019 you don’t want to be sleeping on.
01: Range Rover SVAutobiography
Save for its quad exhaust pipes, the SVAutobiography looks just like the rest of its stablemates.
Within the long-wheelbase iteration is the same supercharged 5.0-litre V8 that powers Jaguar’s F-Type R. Acceleration to 100kph is achieved in just under 5.3 seconds, putting it comfortably within the Maserati Quattroporte territory.
On the outside, the SUV sports a similar design language popular amongst the urban dwellers.
Flowing lines are met with hand-finished touches by the marque’s Special Vehicle Operations, and the luxurious finish of its interior makes for a cushy ride even at high speeds.
02: Volkswagen golf r
The trusty Volkswagen Golf is one of the most understated and underrated hatchbacks ever.
We’re particularly smitten with the R variant of the Golf family, because it seamlessly blends the lines between performance and practicality. Not only is it the most powerful, it’s also the fastest.
Thanks to its starting performance and DSG dual clutch transmission, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds.
Cornering is also handled impeccably with its all-wheel-drive and driving assistance systems — impressive stuff for a hot hatch.
03: BMW M5
The M5 stands in a class of its own in the BMW family.
Don’t be fooled by its elegant exterior — it sports a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 with 600hp and 750Nm, launching the car from zero to 100kph in just 2.8 seconds, before maxing out at 207kph.
The driving experience is also greatly enhanced by lively steering, conquering corners superbly with just enough grip.
Like all true Bimmers, the M5’s Comfort mode tames the beast whenever you like, sedating the track-hungry monster to a quiet cruiser.
Last but not least, BMW never disappoints with tech — with a Heads-Up Display amongst its multifunctional instrument cluster, making for intuitive driving assistance.
04: Mercedes-AMG E63 S
Here’s a Mercedes E63 S that can match a 0-100kph timing of 3.4 seconds, while giving you a relaxing massage.
The four-seater sedan has been upgraded with the AMG Performance steering wheel, AMG sports seats with optimised lateral support and embossed AMG crest on the front head restraints, becoming the super saloon it’s famously known for.
While more aesthetically aggressive than its E-class counterparts, the performance-focused car still isn’t a flashy offering.
A twin-turbo V8 within provides 603hp and a spine-tingling 850Nm of torque, all sent through a nine-speed automatic transmission to the all-wheel drive.
We think the fun part comes when you hit the Race mode, though it’s best to be on a track for that.
05: Audi Rs7
While the RS7 sports slightly more athletic features compared to the tamer A7 counterpart, Audi still walks the fine line here — this is a car that is both discreet and deadly.
Save for the subtle badging throughout the car, this four-door sedan packs a real punch under the hood, where 605hp and 700Nm of torque is capable of a 0-100kph time in less than four seconds.
This article was first published on Lifestyle Asia.