7. MG Metro 6R4
Amid the turbocharged onslaught of Group B, MG Rover—under Austin Rover’s wing—introduced the stubby, mid-engined Metro 6R4 in 1985. To field a 3.0 L naturally aspirated V6 in rally spec, MG created the Stradale road version: essentially the competition car with windows and bumpers. Its 3.0 L V6 produced about 250 hp in street tune, driving all four wheels via an advanced four-wheel‐drive setup. Weighing merely 2,300 lb, the 6R4 Stradale hit 60 mph in around 5 seconds.
Only 200 were built, leaving behind an intoxicating howl and frenetic handling. Though overshadowed by the turbocharged competition, the 6R4 proved that naturally aspirated power could still thrive in Group B’s high-octane melee—and its street legal version remains a raw, unfiltered driving experience.