Unique American models that you will not buy in Europe - an overview of rare gems
Most people buy cars from the USA that have their counterparts in Europe, but simply buying them overseas is cheaper. However, there is a group of people who are looking for cars that are in vain to look for on Polish roads. Although American classics come to mind first, in this case we will focus on much newer constructions. Here are interesting American cars that have never officially made it to Europe.
Although American car brands are largely available in Europe, they are most often bought at auctions in the United States. This, of course, is due to much lower prices, better engines and richer equipment. Interestingly, not only Americans have in their portfolio rare cars that we will not find in European showrooms. That is why we take under the microscope well-known car brands and their cars that are not available on the European automotive market.
Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock
Dodge from USA is a frequent sight on European and Polish roads. The importer of this brand of cars on our continent is the company AECEurope. However, there is one interesting variant of Challenger that you will not find on the European market, and we are talking about the SRT Super Stock version. The car has rear-axle drive and a V8 HEMI engine with a compressor. Such a mixture gives a power of 807 hp, and the maximum torque is a dizzying 959 Nm. In addition to the powerful engine, the car has a Launch Control system configured for races at 1/4 mile, as well as an adaptive suspension with Drag Mode. The Line Lock system locks the front wheels to warm up the rear wheels for the best start.
Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06
Chevrolet withdrew the Corvette model from Europe in 2020. Despite its iconic status, the cars did not receive much interest, and for this the manufacturer had to adapt them to meet the requirements of European exhaust emission standards. The Corvette C8 Z06 is characterized primarily by the fact that for the first time in history the engine was placed centrally.
A 5.5V8 naturally aspirated engine with 670 hp works here. The maximum torque is 623 Nm. A sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes less than 3 seconds. Those interested can order the Z07 package. Under this name hides, among others, a set of carbon fiber elements, which reduces the weight of the car by as much as 205 kg. In addition, it has an adaptive suspension Magnetic Ride Control, which is recommended if you want to use this car on a daily basis.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Cadillac is a brand that produces luxury cars, but is rarely associated with cars with a sporty character. As a rule, many ridiculously claim that these are cars for retirees. Meanwhile, the CT5-V Blackwing is a complete denial of these words. It is based on the General Motors AlphaGM platform. It offers a combination of rear axle drive and manual transmission. If we add to this a 6.2 V8 engine with a compressor, which has 668 hp, we get a truly thundering mixture. The declared maximum speed of the car is about 322 km/h. The car also has one feature in common with the Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06, and it is the Magnetic Ride Control suspension.
Toyota GR Corolla
Toyota Gazoo Racing is a Japanese brand owned by the Toyota concern. In Europe, it is known primarily for its variation on the Yaris model. The Toyota GR Corolla is also available in the US. Gazoo Racing builds sports cars to participate in various racing series. The GR Corolla debuted in 2022 and there is no indication that it will hit European showrooms.
Under the hood, a three-cylinder 1.6 turbo engine with a capacity of 300 hp works, which is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The weight of the car is only 1470 kg. Although the car could be successfully sold in Europe, it is only available in Japan and the USA.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Although the name Wagoneer reminds us of the Jeep model, which has characteristic wooden panels on the doors, the Grand Wagoneer is from a completely different fairy tale. The car is built on the Ram 1500 platform. Thanks to this, its interior is large enough that there are 3 rows of seats inside. The car debuted in 2021 and became popular in the European aftermarket, although its appearance is a bit controversial.
Initially, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer initially had a 5.7 V8 HEMI engine, and from 2023 it was replaced by a 3.0 V6 Hurricane Twin-Turbo with 510 hp. The car has a 4WD drive with the Quadra-Trac II system. Although the car is huge and weighs almost 3 tons, the sprint to a hundred takes only about 5.5 seconds.
Volkswagen Jetta GLI
In our review, there was also a place for European car brands. Volkswagen Jetta disappeared from Europe a few years ago, but is still popular in the USA. The version with the designation GLI is a car for drivers with a sporty flair. It has a 2.0 TSI engine with 228 hp and a maximum torque of 350 Nm. It can be ordered with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The unit is also offered in Europe, which means readily available spare parts. The car has sports seats, a multimedia system with an 8" screen and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a suspension lowered by 15 mm and a Digital Cockpit Pro system.
Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback 55 quattro
The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback in variant 55 is a nod to the American market. This version is more powerful than those offered on the European market and boasts 335 hp, while the most powerful version sold in Europe has 295 hp. The car also has a larger battery capacity. The range of the EPA is approximately 475 km. The equipment includes three-zone climate control, sports suspension, Virtual Cockpit Plus system, MMI system with 11.6" screen and heated seats. The car is powerful and richly equipped, because that is exactly what American customers expect. There should also be no problems with the availability of spare parts and body parts.
Ford F-150 Raptor R
In 2024, 645,121 Ford F-150s were sold in various variations, which means that a new car with this stamp left the showroom every 49 seconds. Some argue that if the F-150 became a separate brand, it could absorb Ford. The car is offered in many body versions and trim variants, but the most electrifying is the F-150 Raprtor R.
What makes it so special? First of all, the fact that the engine from the Shelby GT500 Mustang went under the hood, namely 5.2 V8 Predator with a compressor, which has a power of 700 hp. The maximum torque is 868 Nm. The car is geared towards off-road driving. It has, among others, wheels with a diameter of 37 inches! Fox Live Valve suspension adjusts its work depending on the selected mode. Acceleration from 0 to a hundred is about 4 s.
GMC Hummer EV
If you want a ridiculously large car that will allow you to stand out from the crowd and at the same time live in harmony with the natural environment, then the electric Hummer is the car for you. The car comes in an SUV version and as a pick-up. It has a lot of interesting solutions. There are, among others, 3 electric motors, AWD drive and Crab Walk driving mode, which allows you to stably change the track in bumpy terrain or mud, since the car has both steering axles. In the SUV version, the battery has a capacity of 200 kWh and a range of approx. 480 km (EPA). Also on board are leather seats with heating and ventilation, as well as the Super Cruise system, which allows semi-autonomous driving.
Rivian R1T and R1S
If we were to point out any niche car brands that only operate in America, Rivian would definitely be on the list. In the range of the company there are two models - R1T and R1S. This is an electric pick-up and an electric SUV. How do they stand out from the competition? In both cases, each wheel has a separate electric motor. The total power of the four engines is 835 hp. An interesting feature is the use of adaptive suspension with the ability to increase the ground clearance up to 36 cm. The list of equipment includes, among others, autopilot Driver+ and vegan leather seats.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Dodge Durango is not at all a rare sight on Polish roads due to the fact that Poles import power cars from the USA. The Durango SRT Hellcat was the most powerful mass-produced SUV in the world at the time of its launch in 2021. It is based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 platform. A 6.2 V8 HEMI engine with a compressor was installed under the hood. The driver has at his disposal a power of 710 hp. The car weighs about 2.5 tons, but accelerates to a hundred in about 3.5 s. Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is also quite practical, as it has 3 rows of seats and can accommodate 7 people.
Chevrolet Silverado ZR2
The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 is part of the trend for the production of pick-up cars in ridiculous configurations that often have a sporty jam. At the same time, it is slightly more subdued than its competitors, which are the Ford F-150 Raptor and the Ram 1500 TRX. The 6.2 V8 engine generates a maximum power of 420 hp. One of the most important features of the car is the Multimatic DSSV suspension. Its design is designed to prevent knocking when driving off-road. For this, it has a 4WD drive with differential lock and moves on wheels with a diameter of 33 inches.
Acura TLX Tipo S
Acura is a Honda brand that has not been particularly well received in Europe, but it was not designed for the European market either. The TLX Type S is based on the Honda Accord. This is a sporty luxury sedan with four-wheel drive. It is powered by a 3.0 V6 turbo engine with 355 hp. This is the most powerful Type S variant in the history of the brand. The car has interesting equipment, and the list includes, among others, adaptive suspension, leather seats made of Ultrasuede material and the advanced ELS Studio 3D audio system.
Genesis GV80 Coupe
Although luxury SUVs, which have a coupe in their name in their name, are popular in Europe, however, it is in vain to look for new copies of the GV80 Coupe model and the official dealerships of the Genesis brand itself. However, they can be imported from the secondary market in the USA. The GV80 Coupe is a luxury SUV with a sloping body line and a majestic front. The company only offers it in the US and South Korea. The car is based on Hyundai's M3 platform.
In the most powerful version, it is sold with a 3.5 V6 engine with two turbochargers. This set provides 409 hp and acceleration to a hundred in approx. 5.5 seconds. As befits a premium brand, you can count on rich equipment in the form of, for example, Napa leather upholstery, a multimedia system with a 27" OLED screen and adaptive suspension.
summary
As you can see, rare cars from the USA are not only American classics. On the local market you will also find quite a few newer constructions that have never been offered in Europe. This even applies to car brands that originate from our continent. However, remember that such cars must be imported as used and already registered in the United States. In the case of new cars, a European approval certificate would be required, which, among others, the above models have never obtained.
If you are interested Importing a car from the USA, it is worth betting on something unusual. If you do not want to make a purchase yourself, you can use the services of Bryki from America. We will guide you through the entire process - from the moment of searching for a car to its registration in Poland.
