Best supercars 2024
Welcome to the world of supercars, where price, fuel economy, practicality and boot space are of little importance. It's all about the 0-62mph time, top speed, extravagant styling and thunderous soundtrack.
A supercar must be bold enough to turn heads on a high street, fast enough to win a round of Top Trumps, and generate more ‘likes’ on Instagram than a Premier League footballer or a Kardashian.
We're at a crossroads in the history of the supercar, with V10 and V12 engines making way for hybrid and electric powertrains in the quest for efficiency.
Whether you're window-shopping, daydreaming or genuinely in the market for a supercar, here are some of our favourites right now. We've included one supercar per manufacturer.
Best supercars
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Ferrari 296 GTB
You could quite easily populate most of this list with amazing Ferraris, but this is at the top of our list. If you were concerned that the electrification of cars would somehow dampen the fun, then have a go in this – it’s a plug-in hybrid but it’s tremendous to drive, using the electric motor to add to the experience rather than take away. Unlike many supercars, it’s engaging to drive whatever speed you’re doing, meaning you don’t have to take it to a track to enjoy it. And of course, it’s a Ferrari, which immediately makes it special.
Aston Martin DBS
Do we expect you to look at the Aston Martin DBS? No, we expect you to drive. You might remember the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera from the James Bond film No Time to Die, but the ‘Superleggera’ part of the name was killed off in 2022. A bit like Daniel Craig’s Bond, then? Available as a coupe or Volante convertible, the DBS is powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 producing 715PS. The delivery of power is both arresting and addictive; stick with it and you’ll hit a top speed of 211mph.
Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica
The Revuelto might be the most outrageous Lamborghini you can buy, but the Huracan Tecnica remains our favourite. Sure, the Huracan has been on sale since 2014 and will be gone in a couple of years, but there's something very appealing about a Lamborghini with a screaming 5.2-litre V10 engine producing 640PS at a heady 8000rpm. A 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds and top speed of 201mph might tick the Top Trumps boxes, but for us it's all about the howling soundtrack of the V10. Supercars like this are on borrowed time, so enjoy them while you still can.
McLaren Artura
The Artura is the first of a new breed of McLaren hybrid supercars, with power sourced from a 3.0-litre V6. If that doesn't sound too exciting, we'll point out that McLaren has added two turbochargers, an electric motor and plug-in hybrid capabilities, to deliver 680PS, a 0-62mph time of 3.0 seconds, top speed of 205mph and 19 miles of electric range. This truly is a next-generation supercar.
Porsche 911 Turbo S
Some supercars are highly strung, difficult to live with and demanding. The Porsche 911 Turbo S is none of the above, yet it remains ferociously fast and extremely capable. Its 3.7-litre flat-six engine produces a massive 650PS and is paired with an eight-speed twin-clutch PDK transmission. The figures are outrageously fast: 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 205mph. Yet this is a supercar you can live with on a daily basis – go easy and it’s almost docile. Even the styling is stealthy and understated, which is partly why we rate it so highly.
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Audi R8 Coupe
It’s been on sale for a while, so it would be easy to overlook the Audi R8, even after a subtle facelift. This is another supercar you could live with every day, but don’t think for a minute that it lacks excitement. On the contrary, its 620PS 5.2-litre V10 is a howling masterpiece of an engine – and a welcome tonic to the modern obsession with downsized turbocharged disappointments. The R8 will hit 62mph in 3.1 seconds, yet it has the same badge as the hatchback your neighbour drives to work. Be quick, because at the time of writing the R8 is about to be axed.
Maserati MC20
Maserati hasn’t had a supercar for quite a while, but when it does make them, they tend to be rather good. The MC20 is proof – with sinewy, sensual curves and 515PS from a twin-turbo, 3.0-litre V6, it’s sensationally fast in a straight line but also nimble, poised and agile through corners. It won’t bite your head off though – where some supercars take a long time to explore and understand, you can jump in the Maserati and have fun immediately. Just watch out for speed bumps though, because it sits very low to the ground.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Yes, you can order a new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in the UK. Yes, it’s right-hand drive. And yes, you should be interested. This mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive American supercar is powered by a 6.7-litre V8 producing 482PS. Moving the engine behind the seats is big news for the legendary Corvette, as Chevrolet attempts to steal sales from its European rivals. All versions sold here come with the Z51 Performance Package, which includes Brembo brakes, a performance exhaust and an electronic limited-slip differential. Prices range from £93,000 to £101,000, with both coupe and convertible versions available.
Ford Mustang Mach 1
No, we haven’t taken leave of our senses – we’re aware that the Ford Mustang isn’t a supercar in the truest sense of the word. It’s just that it offers the entertainment and theatre of a Ferrari or McLaren, not to mention the performance of a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. The Mach 1 is the most hardcore Mustang you can buy in the UK, with a tighter chassis and a bespoke aerodynamic package. With 460PS on tap, it will hit 62mph in 4.4 seconds in the manual version or 4.8 seconds if you choose the automatic. Not bad for a super car costing around £60,000.
Porsche Taycan
Although we said we'd select just one supercar per manufacturer, we're going to make an exception for Porsche. That's because the Taycan is one of the first of a new breed of electric supercars – and a good one at that. It's phenomenally good to drive, has a wonderful interior and is practical enough to use as your daily car. Even the entry-level model can hit 62mph in 5.4 seconds with launch control and offers up to 276 miles of range. The curiously named Turbo S can complete the zero to sprint time in 2.8 seconds, yet can travel up to 291 miles when fully charged.
What was the first supercar?
The Lamborghini Miura was arguably the first example of what we commonly refer to as a supercar. Unveiled at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, the Miura featured a transverse V12 engine mounted inside one of the most beautiful bodies ever made in metal. Was it the first supercar? Perhaps, but we should also tip our hats to the Mercedes 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ of 1954, which ticked many of the supercar boxes.
When does a supercar become a hypercar?
This is a good question, because while all hypercars are supercars, only a select few supercars can claim the title of hypercar. To qualify, we think a car must push the boundaries of design and engineering. Vehicles such as the Bugatti Chiron, McLaren Senna and Aston Martin Valkyrie are all unequivocally hypercars.
Is the Porsche 911 a supercar?
Yes and no, because while the ‘entry-level’ 911 Carrera is undoubtedly brilliant, it cannot claim to be a supercar. Instead, it’s a formidable sports car powered by a six-cylinder engine producing 385PS. Things change at the top end of the range, where the Turbo, Turbo S and GT3 models elevate the 911 firmly into supercar territory. These versions offer the performance to rival any Italian stallion – and come with suitably extravagant price tags, too.
At what age do tyres need replaced?
