Appearances can be deceiving: here are three vehicles more powerful than they seem

We have surely often come across a series of vehicles that have pleasantly surprised us, whether as a driver, passenger or simply as a spectator. In such circumstances, we tend to assume beforehand that they are ordinary cars, whose philosophy is focused on the calm and comfort of their occupants. However, this type of vehicle usually hides under its bonnet an essential element, which is responsible for awakening its most radical and wild side.

Several companies share the idea that power and speed do not necessarily have to be directly linked to an aggressive styling. This type of car is the ideal candidate for customers who want to go unnoticed but, at the same time, enjoy the performance of a good chassis and a powerful engine. Today we bring you three cars that meet these characteristics, which are also known as “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.

BMW M140i

The compact from BMW has been a sales success since its launch in 2004. However, the coupé version of the 1 Series has always led the way among sporty variants, such as the BMW M2 or the 1M. Even so, the German brand has taken into account those buyers looking for a sporty and practical vehicle, so they created the M140i, the most radical version of the compact.

Inside this “souped-up” BMW 1 Series, we find a six-cylinder inline engine that develops 340 CV of power and delivers a maximum torque of 500 Nm. This allows the 0 to 100 km/h sprint to take place in 4.8 seconds. Without a doubt, it is one of the most radical models we can buy today and, at the same time, it comes with a manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive.

Volvo S90 R-Design T6

The Swedish luxury saloon has been leading the brand for years, and has a great reputation behind it. On this occasion, Volvo wanted to give the S90 a more sporty character, but without losing its traditional styling, which is characterised by elegance and refinement. The R-Design trim softens some exterior elements that convey more sportiness, but always avoiding drawing attention.

Under the bonnet of this fascinating saloon, we find a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which is capable of producing 320 CV of power. It has a top speed of 250 km/h and reaches 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. The S90 T6 stands out as one of the fastest saloons in its segment and, at the same time, offers a very high level of comfort and safety.

Mercedes Clase R 63 AMG

Mercedes presented the R-Class at a time of growth, since the brand sought to cover more segments and win over new potential customers. Without doubt, the perfect harmony between luxury and comfort made the R-Class one of the most acclaimed in its segment, mainly in the United States. However, the German brand was unable to hold back its desire and created a radical version of this model.

This is how the R 63 AMG was born, a true sports car disguised as an MPV. The engine powering it was a powerful naturally aspirated V8, capable of delivering 510 CV to the most radical R-Class. It had an acceleration of barely 5 seconds, and its exhaust emitted a pure, raspy sound, very characteristic of the sports cars of Mercedes.

Without doubt, within this group of “wolves in sheep’s clothing” we can find countless models, but we have considered these three to be some of the most eye-catching. Thanks to this type of vehicle, we can see that sporting performance does not have to be matched by a styling to match, and surely more than one person has tried to overtake these three cars and has been met with a curious and striking surprise.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackBMW Serie 15 versions · from 35,150 €