There is something particularly appealing about a car that does not shout about its performance abilities, the lack of garish paintwork, huge wings and massive alloys also broadens its appeal beyond the usual boy racer types.
In the US these cars are referred to as ‘sleepers’, unassuming on the outside but with plenty of performance under the bonnet, or hood as it may be. In the UK they are called ‘Q-Cars’, a term originating from the Q-Ships used to lure in unsuspecting German submarines.
These Q-Ships would be disguised as harmless merchant vessels with their armaments hidden behind false panels, ready to surprise any attackers. It is a little ironic then that most of today’s best Q-cars tend to originate from Germany.
The modern day automotive equivalent is not quite so dramatic but they too hide their true performance potential underneath plain styling, the only warning being their massive brake calipers and perhaps a few too many tail pipes protruding from behind a bland looking rear bumper.
Hyundai i30N
Despite Germany’s dominance of the subtle performance sector, there are alternatives around, like Hyundai’s i30N for one.
This is a proper little sports hatch with very little to warn you of the impending hiding you are about to get down that mountain pass.
The standard car gets 247bhp and the Performance trim ups this to 271bhp. That’s enough for a sub-6-second 0-60mph time.
Volkswagen Golf R
The VW Golf is a restrained and capable hatchback, refined over the decades to be the benchmark in its class, few people would assume that there is a model in the range that can give a bloody nose to some very quick sports cars.
The 227bhp GTI may be quick but the 306bhp R raises the performance game to an entirely new level, it races to 60mph in under 4.6-seconds with the DSG gearbox and takes corners like a thoroughbred too.
Audi S3
The S3 Saloon shares the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the Golf R and offers the same blistering pace, it however makes do without the obvious external performance bits that give the game away in the RS models.
It is also that much more luxurious inside than the Golf and you can also have it in a hatchback body style if you want.
BMW M140i
The M-performance range plugs the gap between the standard BMW models and the full-fat M-cars.
In M140i guise you get a 340bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six that matches the all-wheel-drive S3 to 60mph despite being hampered for traction off the line. Silver door mirror caps are about as ostentatious as the exterior styling gets. Perfect.
Jaguar XE S
The XE range is a viable alternative to the usual German mid-sized saloon and when equipped with the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine it provides some serious performance too.
0-60mph takes a mere 4.8-seconds, perhaps not enough to see off a 340i but the XE offers a more luxury-oriented interior and its looks are far more understated.
Kia Stinger GT S
A car that will keep pace with a BMW 340i and cost a lot less too is the Kia Stinger. This recent addition to the otherwise sober Kia range is a proper sporting saloon.
The 3.3-turbocharged engine makes 365bhp and will have you at 60mph in under 4.7-seconds. Despite having larger alloys and four tailpipes, no one will suspect that your Kia is just about to leave them for dead at the lights.
Audi S6 Avant
The Audi S6 Avant is powered by a twin-turbo 444bhp 4.0-litre V8 which gives it the kind of overtaking accelerative ability that will have supercar owners furiously searching for a lower gear in a bid to keep up.
While there is also a saloon on offer, Audi has become synonymous with fast estates and this one is the best mix of discrete performance in the range.
Mercedes-AMG E43 4MATIC
Mercedes’ AMG models generally tend to be loud and shouty, the E43 however slots in beneath the nutty E63 AMG which means it gets more demure exterior styling.
It may not be able to compete with the E63’s power figures either but with 395bhp on offer from its twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 you still get some serious performance and fuel economy will be way better too.
BMW M760Li xDrive
The second-fastest accelerating car in the BMW range (the new M5 is the fastest) is also its most luxurious.
The M760Li bears a few discrete V12 badges but apart from that looks just like any other 7-Series.
Thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, it can launch to 60mph in 3.7-seconds. The twin-turbo 610bhp 6.6-litre V12 helps too.
Porsche GT3 TP
The Porsche GT3 seems like the exact opposite of a Q-Car, and in standard big-winged body style it definitely is.
What turns it into a discrete performance weapon is when you tick the Touring Pack box on the options list. This adds a manual gearbox and removes the huge rear wing to be replaced by a small flush-fitting version as found in the standard Carrera models.
You still get the manic 500bhp 4.0-litre flat-six engine though as well as the usual GT3 trick of being able to lap faster around a track than cars costing twice its price.