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[edit] Racing homologation specials

Some manufacturers have occasionally built limited editions of a few models in order to obtain a minimum production requirement for motor racing.

• Alfa Romeo produced a Turbodelta version of the Alfetta for FIA Group 4.
• Audi developed the Sport Quattro model for the Group B class in the World Rally Championship.
• BMW created a limited run of the BMW M3 Sport Evo with a 2.5 L engine for the Group A rules in the European Touring Car Championship.
• Citroën created the limited-production BX 4TC for Group B rallying.
• Fiat created a coupé version of the Fiat 131 powered by a 2.0 L DOHC engine for FIA Group 4.
• Ford is widely considered to be an expert on homologation specials, starting with the Escort RS1600 Mk.I powered by a 1601 cc Ford BDA engine, small enough so it could be enlarged to 2.0 L in Groups 2 and 4 and retain low weight. In the 1980s, Ford was one of the makers that created a Group B-specific car, in this case the RS200. Later, both Ford Sierra Cosworth (the Mk.I RS500 and the Mk.II RS 4x4) were produced so the company could be competitive in FIA Group A touring car racing and world rallying. Likewise, the same happened to the Escort Cosworth, which had nothing to do with the Escort at all.
• Lancia also had some expertise in this department. Both the Lancia Stratos and 037 Rally were created to win rallies in FIA Group 4. The Italian make would also create the Delta S4 for Group B, and, to replace this outlawed class, the Delta Integrale.
• Dodge, in the 1960's was having areodynamic problems with the NASCAR version of the Dodge Charger in competition against rivals Ford and Chevy. In 1969, Chrysler eingineers created the Dodge Daytona, which used a sloped nose and extra-tall spoiler to cut through the air to 200 mph. NASCAR officials outlawed it and it's companion, the Plymouth Superbird in 1971, after ruling them unfair. 1303 street versions were made.
• Mercedes-Benz came up with the AMG Evolution II version of the 190 E to have a 2.5 L car that could go up against the BMW M3. The low-production Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR was developed specifically to race in the FIA GT Championship even though the 25 road cars were delivered only after the 1998 season when the series was discontinued due to lack of remaining competitors
• MG Rover started early, in its BMC days, with the powerful Cooper versions of the Mini. Later, in an attempt at returning to world rallying, the PRV-powered MG Metro 6R4 would appear... and flop.
• Mitsubishi is no stranger to the world of homologation specials. Starting with the Starion 4WD, moving on to the Galant VR-4, and finally, the first six incarnations of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution were created, sales success nonwithstanding, to keep Mitsubishi going on in the WRC.
• Nissan succumbed as well to the attraction of the WRC, with the 4WD turbocharged Sunny GTi-R. The first two generations of the Skyline GT-R were also homologated to create an unbeatable car in Group A touring cars. And finally, Tom Walkinshaw Racing once developed the prototype-like R390 in the permissive GT1 regulations in the FIA, racing even though the car never actually achieved the required production minimums.
• Opel has created a variety of versions, including the Cosworth-powered versions of the Ascona 400 and Manta 400 for world rallying, the limited-edition Omega Evo.500 for the DTM, and the Astra OPC, for FIA Group N 2000 rules.
• Peugeot was another one to run in Group B, with the successful 205 T16 which would later be converted to Dakar-spec. More recently, in order to obey minimum length regulations for the WRC, the French automaker created the awkward 206 GT with enlarged bumpers.
• Porsche's history with homologation specials begins with the 934, a special version of the 911 Turbo for Group 4 racing, followed by the Group B 959. The 924 Carrera GT was developed with the IMSA Championship in mind. More recently, the German company came up with the 911 GT1 (closer to the 962 than to the road-going 911), and the stripped-down 996 GT3-RS, both for FIA GT.
• Renault's most famous endeavor in the homologation specials is the 5 Maxi Turbo, a mid-engined 160 hp beast created for FIA Group 4. In the early 1990s, Renault produced a limited edition of the Clio Williams, with a 2.0 L engine, for the then new Formula 2 category in the WRC.
• Subaru has assumed the position of Mitsubishi's main competitor in the Group N rallying arena, with the WRX and WRX STi versions of the Impreza.
• Toyota concentrated its efforts on the World Rallying Championships, with three GT-4 generations of the Toyota Celica.
• Volkswagen is best known for a special version of the Golf G60, called G60 Rallye, with 4WD and engine capacity reduced to 1763 cc (to fit within the 3000 cc weight limit, while most other Group A cars had to run in the 3500 cc class).