There's a very obvious part of the new car market for dyed-in-the-wool petrolheads to go in search of meaningful driver entertainment: the sports car segment.

And even as so many other segments undergo such rapid change, this one still deals in big power, lightweight engineering, high-revving combustion engines and outstanding handling dynamism.

A genre that's almost as old as the car itself, sports cars were first developed to bring some of the speed and excitement of early motorsport machines to the everyday driver on the road.

Over the decades, these cars have matured into more talented all-rounders, abandoning their direct links to racing but retaining the same remit to place the driver squarely at the centre of the action but also give him or her a product to be used ever more widely.

Of course, the passage of time has meant that the definition of the sports car has been stretched in all directions, with everything from hot hatchbacks to scalpel-sharp track cars being grouped under the banner.

However, for this list, we're going to limit those that qualify to the sort of full-sized and sophisticated machines that deliver deep-chested acceleration and uplifting handling but are as home on the road as the track.

And while having more than two seats isn't a disqualification from consideration, we're keenest on those that place more of an emphasis on performance than practicality.

Their grown-up status is cemented by pricing that falls between about £60,000 and £150,000, so we're short of supercar territory here - although in some cases with a little more breathing space that in others.

However, that's not to say there isn't room for variety, which is why front, rear and mid-engined contenders make the cut here. The same goes for engine layout and cylinder count (the more the merrier in the latter's case).

So read on as we run the rule over the best sports cars still on sale in 2024.

Best sports cars