January is all about shedding weight. Too many mince pies, too little exercise. Need a diet that will last? Look no further than the car brands which are experts in slimming down the more portly versions of their models, for an everlasting lightweight version. Quicker, more nimble, more focused and more desirable… we’ll have what they’re having, please.
11 best cars for a diet
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McLaren 600LT
Proving that shedding the pounds increases the desirability quotient, longtail (LT) versions of McLarens sell out in roughly three months. The 600LT is probably the best of the bunch, with scintillating track performance. Weighs in at 1,247kg.
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Ferrari 488 Pista
Track-focused 488 GTB, and 90kg lighter. Lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, titanium conrods and carbon fibre intake plenums. Tops the scales at 1,280kg.
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Caterham Seven 270
The entry-level Caterham Seven is a joy, and most of that comes down to its weight of just 540kg. Beware then, your passenger selection – anyone not on a January detox is going to severely affect the power-to-weight ratio of this car.
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Lotus Evora GT430 Sport
As Colin Chapman (see above…) said: “Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.” The Evora GT430 Sport loses another 10kg over the GT430, taking it to 1,248kg
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Aston Martin Vantage AMR
Adopting the same design and engineering ethos as Aston Martin Racing, the AMR sub-brand of the road car division adds power and deducts weight through the use of more carbon-fibre, thin carbon seats and a titanium exhaust (optional) which alone saves 14kg.
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Lamborghini Huracan Performante
An impressive 40kg of mass has been stripped out of the Huracan to create the Performance version. There are chopped and forged carbon-fibre parts, titanium valves and a lighter exhaust system, leading to a mass of 1,590kg.
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Porsche GT2 RS
Opt for the Weissach Pack and you’ll lose another 30kg over the already dieting GT2 RS, taking the weight down to 1,470kg with the use of a carbon roof, carbon anti-roll bars front and rear, and magnesium wheels.
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Renault Megane RS Trophy
Weight-saving features include a raft of lightweight components and a Fuji Bridgestone wheel designed for the track which is 2kg lighter than the Jerez wheels fitted as standard, meaning an 8kg saving overall. The weight is a respectable 1,419kg without options.
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Abarth 695 Record
This feisty take on the Fiat 500 makes no apologies in its journey towards track-day car: everything bar two seats is ripped out to save weight, leaving it tipped the scales at 997kg, or a power-to-weight ratio of 188bhp-per-tonne. The Atkins Diet of the car world.
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BMW M4 Competition Package
Lighter wheels and lighter seats mean 70 per cent of M4 drivers go for this dynamically focused package. 1,595kg, with a shedload of torque and rear-wheel-drive.
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Bentley Continental Supersports
OK, this is still a heavy car (2,280kg), being based on a grand tourer as opposed to an already lightweight sports car. But Bentley has knocked 40kg off the bog-standard Continental GT, due to carbon-ceramic brakes (22kg saving alone), and a titanium exhaust. That means it’s 1.7 seconds quicker to 100mph than the previous version.
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