Ah, the supercar. For many who simply don’t ‘get’ automobiles, the supercar is a type of merchandise that seems to be designed for no actual goal apart from to point out off. And whereas in giant that’s true, there’s a lot extra occurring than simply some vibrant colors, loud engines and doorways that open in curious methods.
On this run down of the highest 10 supercar producers we discover those that, via engineering or design, push the automotive business ahead in the identical approach as high fashion does in vogue. We’ve cut up up our listing into new and outdated world manufacturers, every having contributed some legacy that would properly be discovered within the automotive sitting in your drive proper now.
Previous World Supercar Manufacturers
Ferrari
Italian icon Ferrari is arguably probably the most well-known supercar producer of all of them. And for good motive. Whereas its 75-year historical past won’t be the longest, it is among the most auspicious. Earlier than Enzo Ferrari had his identify on the again of crimson supercars, he labored for Alfa Romeo as a racing driver and engineer, earlier than branching off to create his personal racing operation. This explains the early enterprise mannequin of Ferrari, as its street automotive division was arrange purely to fund Enzo’s racing ambitions.
This strategy nonetheless rings true as we speak, with the model’s motorsport involvement unfold all through the world in all method of various courses together with its flagship F1 staff. But this racing spirit and know-how has additionally led to 75 years of spectacular road-going supercars. Ones which may not have all the time been on the leading edge within the Fifties and Sixties, however actually outline up to date supercar improvement as we speak.
ferrari.com
Lamborghini
In comparison with Ferrari, Lamborghini has all the time had one thing of a extra cavalier spirit, and once you study of its formation you’ll perceive why. Ferruccio Lamborghini was a profitable businessman in Northern Italy, shopping for a Ferrari and subsequently complaining to Enzo himself about its poor drivability and efficiency. Mr Ferrari replied (and we’re paraphrasing right here), “should you assume you are able to do higher, make your personal sports activities automotive”. And so he did.
With out devoted ties to motorsport, Lamborghini’s merchandise have all the time been extra experimental and impressive, typically making its automobiles probably the most modern of their period. That is exemplified by the Miura and Countach, two groundbreaking supercars that have been designed and developed within the late Sixties and early Nineteen Seventies by Feruccio and his younger band of genius designers and engineers (considered one of which we’ll revisit later on this listing).
This air of risk-taking has made Lamborghini an icon in its personal proper, and whereas it is perhaps perceived as fairly exhibitionist within the twenty first century, all fashionable Lambos are constructed on the shoulders of true innovators.
lamborghini.com
Bugatti
The northern Italian feud above is perhaps the loudest story in supercar historical past, however French model Bugatti is way older, and rather more auspicious. Ettore Bugatti began his automotive firm to create merely the most effective automobiles on the earth.
Priced, constructed and powered far past the automobiles we consider as we speak as being the top, similar to Rolls-Royce or Bentley, Bugatti all the time went one step additional. Fashions just like the Sort 57S Atlantic or Royale have been hand constructed for the sum of not simply a median suburban home, however the price of an entire suburban road.
As we speak, Bugatti is owned by the VW Group, which below its tenure spawned the 1000hp Veyron within the late 2000s. Its up to date successors nonetheless discover their foundation on the Veyron, however because of a brand new possession stake taken by EV supercar maker Rimac (we’ll additionally come to them), the following technology Bugatti will look very totally different. But it would undoubtedly stay on the very peak of automotive design and engineering.
bugatti.com
Porsche
Porsche won’t be a standard supercar producer, however over time the German marque has frequently flexed its engineering muscle groups by creating among the easiest supercars ever conceived. The primary may arguably be referred to as the unique on a regular basis supercar – the 959 (1986).
Derived from the enduring 911, it might need used that mannequin as the bottom, however to it fitted an entire new physique mixed with futuristic tech which has since appeared on all types of fashionable automobiles, together with energetic all-wheel drive system, adjustable suspension and twin-turbocharged engines.
But past the 959, Porsche’s Carrera GT and more moderen 918 Spyder have put it on the map as a real supercar innovator. Each are mid-engined automobiles that didn’t simply use the accessible know-how of their design and engineering, however pushed future applied sciences into manufacturing like advanced carbonfibre constructions, carbon ceramic brakes and new performance-oriented hybrid techniques.
porsche.com
Mercedes-Benz
Whereas the three-pointed star may seem as a rule on posh SUVs and small hatchbacks, Merc’s supercar connection goes past simply being an occasional producer. In reality, it’s arguably the creator of the supercar as we all know it. The 1954 300SL Gullwing is often famous because the ‘unique’ supercar, and never simply on account of its spectacular flip of tempo and iconic gullwing doorways.
As we speak, Mercedes continues to push the supercar boundaries via its AMG division – having frequently had a two-seater, front-mid-engined supercar on the books for the reason that SLS in 2010 – whereas additionally co-creating the immense SLR with McLaren six years earlier than that.
AMG’s newest supercar is the long-awaited AMG One, a limited-run mannequin that doesn’t simply channel its F1 heritage right into a road-going auto, however actually matches a 2016-specification energy unit below its rear clamshell that’s been consistently refined and fettled to some extent it will probably run reliably on the street.
mercedes-amg.com
New World Supercar Manufacturers
McLaren
McLaren admittedly started its supercar journey earlier than the twenty first Century, breaking down all of the doorways of supercar design and efficiency with its F1. It was the brainchild of Gordon Murray, a famed Method 1 engineer that in his eyes created the proper supercar.
But McLaren Automotive as we all know it as we speak actually kicked off in 2011 with the launch of the MP4 12-C, a carbon chassis mid-engined supercar designed on to compete with rivals from Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Since then, McLaren has continued on that theme, creating all types of various fashions which have gone on to grow to be fashionable icons in their very own proper. Highlights embrace the P1 and Speedtail, however even its collection manufacturing fashions just like the 720S are actually groundbreaking supercars which have launched McLaren into the trendy supercar corridor of fame.
mclaren.com
Pagani
Certainly one of Lamborghini’s true improvements in its early years was the event of carbon fibre, a fabric that’s now commonplace in all high-end street and racing automotive designs. It was pushed by considered one of its workers, an Argentinian engineer referred to as Horatio Pagani, who didn’t simply work for Lamborghini, however dreamed of making his personal supercar. Sadly, his profession improvement path didn’t pan out as anticipated, main him to depart Lamborghini and arrange his personal (rival) firm.
That firm is named Pagani, and in 1999 he revealed a supercar that might go on to grow to be an instantaneous icon – the Zonda – adopted by the Huyara and most not too long ago the Utopia. But the Zonda was greater than only a small boutique supercar – Pagani’s detailing and construct high quality was second to none, securing a powertrain accomplice that might give the Zonda instantaneous credibility. That engine was an AMG V12 engine, a partnership that continues as we speak, albeit in a twin-turbocharged state.
pagani.com
Koenigsegg
On the identical time an ex-Lamborghini engineer was creating his imaginative and prescient of the perfect supercar in Italy, there was an identical course of occurring in Sweden from a person referred to as Christian von Koenigsegg. Throughout this golden age of latest supercar manufacturers, Koenigsegg didn’t simply have a difficult proximity to the same old supercar manufacturing facility location, however a difficult identify for us English audio system to wrap our heads round.
In fact, what spoke louder than phrases was the automotive, and Koenigsegg’s continued improvement of it into all kinds of latest fashions has made him a modern-day supercar superhero.
Koenigsegg isn’t simply identified for large energy figures and funky door hinges (actually cool on this case), however a relentless and relentless improvement of all types of fascinating know-how that’s utilized in all his fashions. A contemporary instance of which might be seen within the newest CC850R, which makes use of a really intelligent and completely distinctive transmission that offers the choice of each a full three-pedal guide or nine-speed computerized in a single automotive.
koenigsegg.com
Rimac
We talked about Rimac above as the brand new proprietor and accomplice of Bugatti, but it surely’s vital to determine that of all the trendy multi-thousand-horsepower supercars, it was Rimac that acquired there first. Like Koenigsegg, the origins of this firm begins from someplace atypical, on this case Croatia, the place founder Mate Rimac has turned his startup electrical supercar firm into a significant participant that will properly decide the place the modern-day supercar finally ends up.
He has constructed few buyer automobiles, but this has nonetheless been sufficient for Rimac to grow to be solely entrenched into the prevailing supercar business. OEM giants Porsche and Hyundai each have stakes within the firm, giving it the useful resource and time to actually give attention to and excellent its high-performance EV powertrain know-how.
In fact, the following Bugatti supercar will make use of this know-how, making Rimac not simply one other small-scale supercar maker, however liable for one of many, if not the, most vital names in supercars.
rimac-automobili.com
GMA
As with many fashionable supercar firms, actual success is pushed from the individual at its centre. And within the case of GMA, or Gordon Murray Automotive, it’s no totally different. As famous above, Gordon Murray is the daddy of the McLaren F1, but his personal operation has solely not too long ago edged nearer to actuality with its true successor, the T.50.
Developed with an identical set of key parts, from powertrain to chassis, the 2 may look comparable on paper, however the developments in know-how over the 30 years for the reason that F1’s debut makes them very totally different.
Nevertheless, GMA doesn’t start and finish with the T.50. Murray has now revealed the T.33: a barely cheaper, however purer expression of the supercar. It doesn’t have the T.50’s intelligent aero or three-seater format, however as an alternative focuses on engagement and probably the most intense consideration to element.
This has turned Murray into one thing of a supercar legend – one which has bought each single considered one of his multimillion-pound supercars years earlier than their projected supply date.
gordonmurrayautomotive.com
