30: Lexus LC – Staggeringly pretty sports car with a compelling drive

Staggeringly pretty big coupe hides, under that dramatic skin, either cutting-edge hybrid tech, or an old-school non-turbo V8 engine that sounds like it’s fallen through a hole in time from the 1970s. Both make for an incredibly compelling GT experience, but it’s the looks of the LC that beguile you first.

While not everyone’s a fan of Lexus’s big-grille styling, it really works here and the LC’s slinky shape grabs almost as many admiring glances (maybe even more) as any Ferrari would do.

Inside, it’s even better, with a truly gorgeous cabin whose build quality verges on the artisanal, and is only let down by a lack of rear-seat space and a fiddly infotainment setup. 500h Hybrid model is fast, almost silent, and still manages to be fun to drive. 500 V8 (which isn’t technically available in Ireland but you could try asking nicely…) is noisy, quick, silly, and deeply satisfying.

Best model: LC500h Sport for €118,250