Top 10 Autocar galleries of 2017

Luckily, we’ve compiled the fastest cars in the world, where even the slowest car on the list is 205mph. The fastest? You’ll have to take a look for yourself.

8. Car sub-brands: the biggest hits & misses

The number of car maker ‘sub-brands’ are growing rapidly, and becoming an important part of manufacturer sales. One example is Mercedes' performance sub-brand AMG which has sold more than 100,000 models this year. They'll be even more to hear about in 2018; Seat's hot Cupra sub-brand is due to be announced imminently. 

Take a look through the automotive sub-brands which have made the biggest splash, or were the biggest flop. 

7. The cars that changed the world

It takes something special for a car to change the world; it doesn’t happen often, and sometimes, a car’s significance isn’t realised until years after its production. We’ve got 39 world-altering cars throughout history for your enjoyment.

We also went as far as to crown the greatest world-altering car of all time, thanks to a public vote from our readers. 

6. The cars that got totally forgotten

Ever heard of the Bricklin SV-1? The De Tomaso Longchamps? The Swallow Doretti? No? We're not surprised. Most of these cars have long been consigned to oblivion. We've revisited them here in our gallery of the cars that have been totally forgotten. 

Bonus points if you’ve heard of all of them, especially given the gallery is divided into American, European and British cars. 

5. The greatest concept cars ever created

Concept cars give carmakers' license to demonstrate their most outlandish and/or beautiful designs. Often, concept cars don't make production, but instead demonstrate the design direction of a brand. We’ve compiled our favourites in a gallery of the greatest yet made.

The concepts date from 1933 with the Volvo Venus Bilo, to 2016 with the DS E-Tense.

4. The best cars from dead car companies

Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and it’s rife in this gallery, which celebrates the finest hours of car companies which are no more. 

Warning: contains seriously retro images, many of which can only be viewed through rose-tinted spectacles.

3. Groundbreakers: the cars that did it first

It’s nice to get there first, especially in the car industry. You probably already know that the first car was the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, but could you tell someone what the first car with a diesel engine was? The answer is the Mercedes 260D - you can have that one on us. 

For the rest, you’ll have to take a scroll through the gallery. 

2. The meanings behind car makers' emblems

Find out where all your favourite car makers’ emblems originate from, from the simple to the utterly ridiculous. 

Example: Alfa is an acronym for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, while Romeo is the surname of the businessman who bought the company in 1915. Of the badge, the red cross on the left is the symbol of Milan, while on the right is a crowned viper swallowing a Moorish man – the insignia of the House of Visconti, which historically ruled the city. Hence Alfa Romeo.

1. Revealed: the world's most beautiful cars