The best German cars ever made

Slide of Germany is one of the most prolific car-building nations in the world. This in turn gives it a brilliant back catalogue of all types of car. Here, we choose the best Germany has to offer from the present and past, arranged in alphabetical order: Slide of Alpina B3 There has been an Alpina B3 for every generation of BMW 3 Series, with the tuning firm adding more than a sprinkle of extra performance. It all started with the B3 2.7 based on the E30 3 Series and since then these bespoke models have offered a subtle, fast alternative BMW’s own M3 models. Where Alpina has often found favour with buyers has been its ability to upgrade the 3 Series where BMW has not. Anyone who disappointed by the lack of an M3 Touring would soon find Alpina only too happy to build them a B3 Touring. Slide of Audi Quattro This is the car that Audi has based its entire modern brand on. It created not just the name but the legend of the Quattro all-wheel drive system thanks to the company’s desire to go rallying. The original idea for the four-wheel drive layout came from a military truck, but it was quickly refined to become a world-beater on stage and road. The Quattro 20v survived in production until 1991, long after it was supposed to have been phased out, but demand from UK buyers saw it carry on. It’s also considered the best of the bunch to drive. Slide of Audi R8 Like the original TT, Audi took a concept car and turned it into a production reality with the R8. Its genesis was the Le Mans concept and the road car looked little changed. Its dramatic style put Audi right into contention with the Porsche 911 for title of most practical supercar as the first 4.2-litre V8 was and is very easy to live with and handling that flatters even very average drivers. The R8 V10 shares its engine with the Lamborghini Gallardo and Huracan. Audi also briefly offered the R8 e-tron all-electric version in 2015, but fewer than 100 were produced. Slide of Audi TT It did not matter that the first Audi TT was based on the humble Mk4 Volkswagen Golf platform -  here was a car that outdid rivals from BMW, Mercedes and Porsche in the style stakes. Waiting lists were long for the first TT coupe, which went on sale in late 1998. Even a recall for an optional rear spoiler to be added, which solved a potential high speed instability concern, could not dampen buyers’ enthusiasm. Four-wheel drive was standard on the 225bhp models and an option with the 180bhp version. A 3.2-litre V6 arrived in 2003, but a 225 Coupe is the one to have as the first TT becomes collectible. Slide of Bitter SC Erich Bitter started his company in 1969 to offer bespoke cars based on Opel platforms and running gear. The firm really hit its stride with the handsome SC, offered in saloon, coupe and convertible forms. Initially, the 180bhp Opel 3.0-litre engine was a bit underwhelming, but a tuned 3.5-litre unit with 210bhp solved this and delivered 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds and 140mph. Sales of the SC went on at a trickle between 1979 and 1989, with 458 made in total and some even had a Ferguson four-wheel drive system fitted. Slide of BMW 2002 The 1502 and 1602 introduced the world to small BMW saloons, but it was the 2002 that set the template for those that followed, notably the 3 Series. With 100bhp, the 2.0-litre engine of the 2002 gave it a top speed of more than 100mph when most rivals struggled the nudge 90mph. Then BMW introduced the 2002tii with 130bhp, fuel injection and 120mph. That was then topped by the rare Turbo, offering a heady 170bhp and tail-happy handling. Slide of BMW E30 M3 Not just one of the best cars from Germany, BMW’s first M3 helped to define the 1980s as a decade. It came with blistered wheelarches, low stance and was a bespoke model with a completely different rear window angle to the standard 3 Series two-door model. Originally BMW planned 5000 cars to qualify for the European Touring Car Championship, but demand dictated a final tally of 17,184 E30 M3s. The Sport Evolution was the ultimate E30 M3, complete with a 238bhp 2.5-litre engine and only 600 built. Slide of BMW 5 Series BMW’s stalwart 5 Series made its debut in 1972 with the four-cylinder versions of the E12 generation, followed a year later by the six-pot models. However, it’s the fourth generation E39 that is the definitive 5 Series. Unbeaten in almost every magazine comparison test, the E39 offered something for every middle manager form the entry-point 520i to the supreme M5. A sales hit for BMW, up to 250,000 E39s were made in a year and sales totalled almost 1.5 million. Slide of Borgward Isabella The Borgward Isabella could be considered Germany’s answer to the Lancia Aurelia as it was pretty, cleverly engineered and good to drive. The saloon Isabella, named after company founder Carl Borgward’s wife, arrived in 1954with a 1.5-litre engine featur