The 10 best supercars on sale today offer performance, thrills and outstanding style.
Shared by Vasilis (Vas) Comblas
One way to show the world you’re doing quite well for yourself is to have a supercar parked on the driveway. A truly great supercar, however, is one that you’ll not only want to show off to your instagram followers, but also feel the irresistible urge to drive. The best supercars are synonymous with impressively high price tags, but while they may not be cheap, these cars can offer exceptional performance, breath-taking looks, a luxury finish and ability to thrill whatever the journey.
Some brands, such as Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren and Lamborghini, have been exclusively dedicated to the production of high-performance supercars and have done so throughout their history. Other supercars come from more unlikely sources, such as the likes of the Ford with its GT or the Audi’s remarkable R8. These are blue blood supercars that just so happen to sit in the price lists among much more affordable everyday offerings.
Whoever makes them, all supercars have fearsome price tags and typically cost a fortune to run. High costs for fuel, insurance and servicing need to be taken into account, as do eye-watering depreciation figures if you choose poorly. Of course many buyers around the world are more than willing to make the trade-off for the supercar’s scintillating performance and capacity to get the adrenaline flowing: it’s not unusual for a supercar to top 200mph these days, and 0-62mph times of under three seconds are becoming commonplace.
Experiencing that level of acceleration is a thrill that never fades for a supercar’s owner, but the enjoyment that supercars create for those who can’t afford them is plain to see, too. That’s because we can all enjoy their outlandish and beautiful bodywork and spine-tingling exhaust notes on the occasions they drive past. In fact, there’s not much that stirs the soul of a petrolhead more than seeing and hearing a Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren rocketing past.
Our top 10 best supercars features models that really do tick all of the boxes - they are powerful, packed with tech, stunning to look at and, importantly, still great to live with day-to-day. We think the car that manages this best is the superb Ferrari 296 GTB. However, Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren are also storied names in the supercar world, and their cars play a major part in this list…
Top 10 best supercars 2022
1) Ferrari 296 GTB
2) McLaren 765LT
3) Porsche 911 GT3
4) Ferrari F8 Tributo
5) Lamborghini Huracan Evo
6) Ferrari 812 GTS
8) Maserati MC20
9) Audi R8
10) Ford GT
11) Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
1) Ferrari 296 GTB
The Ferrari 296 GTB is proof that plug-in hybrids don’t have to be boring, and the electric technology in this car bodes well for Ferrari’s upcoming fully electric car due to arrive in 2025. The 296 GTB packs a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine (a first for the brand, because it doesn’t recognise the Sixties Dino as a real Ferrari) paired with a 7.45kWh battery and electric motor, which combine to produce a staggering 819bhp.
The transition between electric and petrol power in the 296 GTB is seamless, thanks to Ferrari’s clutch-based setup which allows the V6 to get to work smoothly. And once the combustion engine kicks in, its howling exhaust note sounds great. You’ll also get a range of roughly 16 miles from the electric motor when you don’t want to attract as much attention. Better still, the Ferrari handles with incredible poise and precision, making it a car you’ll always want to take the long way home in.
2) McLaren 765LT
The McLaren 765LT sits between the 720S and the Senna in the brand’s line-up, but in reality it offers most of the Senna’s performance at around 40 per cent of the price. Featuring a 756bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that’s strapped into a car that weighs less than a Ford Focus, the 765LT serves-up astonishing performance.
It has a 0-62mph time of 2.7 seconds, while 0-124mph takes just seven seconds - that’s less time than many hot hatches take to get to 62mph. Around a track, the 765LT delivers staggering grip and has outrageously powerful brakes, while its sophisticated stability control systems means it doesn’t feel intimidating. Happily, none of the 150-litre front boot space is sacrificed in the 765LT compared to the ‘normal’ 720S on which it’s based, but access to space behind the carbon-fibre racing seats is trickier given the lighter polycarbonate rear screen on the 765LT. That said, if you’re buying a driver’s car like this, then luggage space isn’t likely to be a top priority.
3) Porsche 911 GT3
It’s not every day that a new Porsche 911 GT3 hits the road, but 2021 saw just such an occasion as the German marque launched its 503bhp track-ready monster.
Powered by a rear-mounted 4.0-litre flat-six engine, the GT3 will hit 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds en route to a top speed of 198mph. It’s not the absolute fastest 911 - that’s the GT2 RS with the Weissach package - but it’s deeply impressive on road and track.
While the GT2 RS will lighten your bank account by over £200,000, the GT3 is a comparative bargain at £128,000. It’s good value compared to its main rivals, too, but prices will remain high as demand will undoubtedly be higher than supply.
Superb damping means that the ride is brilliant, and it provides a stable platform that allows you the driver to exploit the huge performance provided by the engine. No wonder it lapped the Nurburgring in under seven minutes (a whole 17 seconds quicker than the previous GT3).
4) Ferrari F8 Tributo
Anyone who was concerned about the turbocharged F8 Tributo not being much of a step on from its 488 predecessor can rest easy. No, it doesn’t sound as magnificent as a naturally aspirated 458 Italia at full steam, but it still sounds more than good enough for a Ferrari. And in all other aspects the F8 Tributo is utterly sensational to drive, on road or track, and in the simplest of terms is also insanely fast. The best just got better, thanks to a lot of goodness from the hardcore 488 Pista.
So well balanced is this car on the way into, in the middle of, and especially on the way out of corners that the intimidation factor has been all but eradicated, despite the fact that it feels massively more potent than the car it replaced.
That’s one heck of a combination of talents to install under just one roof. Bottom line, the F8 Tributo might be turbocharged and mightn’t sound as spine tingling as before, but in all other aspects it represents yet another giant leap forwards for Ferrari.
5) Lamborghini Huracan Evo
It’s impossible to ignore a Lamborghini in a list of top ten supercars. The Huracan Evo uses the same engine as the one used in the Huracan Performante and adds a whole host of tech that you’d normally expect from arch-rival McLaren. This includes the Lamborghini Dynamic Vehicle Integration (LDVI) system, which works alongside the Evo’s all-wheel steering and torque-vectoring systems, to deliver even sharper responses and greater agility.
This isn’t a car that’s designed for the everyday, but the ride is surprisingly composed and the Huracan Evo does come with an 8.4-inch infotainment system that’s leagues ahead of McLaren’s set-up. Yet for many it’s the spine-tingling cry and ferocious performance of the Lamborghini’s naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 that makes this such a special machine.
6) Ferrari 812 (Superfast and GTS)
The 812 GTS spyder drops the eponymous Superfast name, and adds an open-roof experience for drivers wanting a blisteringly quick, front engined, rear wheel drive supercar. Not only that, but the 812 is more comfortable, more luxurious and more civilised than the old F12. The 6.5-litre V12 engine produces 789bhp and will charge forward until it tops out at 211mph. Changing gear is taken care of with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which has shorter gearing and faster shifts than its predecessor.
However, despite the performance updates, it’s the chassis and aerodynamic packages that have undergone the greatest changes. There is also a new rear-wheel-drive steering system, third generation electronic differential, torque variable electronic power steering, and handily, Ferrari’s Slide Slip Control as first seen on the 458 Speciale.
To add to the overhaul, the kerbweight has been reduced by 60kg. However, the 812 is not intended to be a lightweight track car, as proven by the tyres which come with the car – Pirelli P-Zeros. So while the Superfast is still a supercar, it has definitely been designed for the road.
7) Maserati MC20
The MC20 marks Italian car-maker Maserati’s return to the supercar market – the first since the MC12 of the early 2000s. Maserati’s supercar certainly has a sense of occasion, while its jaw-dropping design never fails to attract attention. Its beauty is more than skin deep, though, because it drives even better than it looks.
While the MC20’s engine note isn’t hugely dramatic, the performance it delivers is. Maserati’s supercar uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 621bhp to propel it from 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds. It’s also precise, delicate and agile to drive, despite its suspension also offering a surprisingly forgiving ride in the softest of its three settings. The interior is also balanced enough that it delivers the road-going racer experience while still providing a decent level of comfort.
8) Audi R8 V10 quattro
The latest version of the Audi R8 looks a lot like the last one at first glance, but there’s a myriad of new tech, and performance is better than ever.
The most obvious difference if you’re planning to buy Audi’s ‘everyday’ supercar is the current lack of a V8 option. Nowadays you’ve got a choice between the 533bhp or 602bhp versions of the noisy V10 that is shared with the Lamborghini Huracan.
There’s no manual option, but the twin-clutch automated gearbox offers super quick shifts when you’ve got the hammer down (and utterly seamless ones when you don’t). The quattro 4x4 system is updated too, and offers incredible levels of grip and balance with a torque split system that can send 100 per cent to the front or rear on demand.
With super-sharp steering to boot, we reckon the R8 is nimbler on the limit than the Lambo, as well as being more conducive to lurid tail slides if that’s your kind of thing. It’s quick too, with 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds for the hotter V10 Plus.
With a terrific high-quality interior featuring a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit display, and a supple, comfortable ride, only the poor luggage capacity prevents the R8 from being a flawless all-rounder.
9) Ford GT
The Ford GT is essentially a road legal version of the brand’s hard-core Le Mans racer, and it’s every bit as exciting to drive as you’d expect. It certainly looks more impressive than your average Ford, with striking features like large buttresses over the rear wings that not only add a sense of drama, but have an important aerodynamic role - they direct air around the cabin and towards the huge rear spoiler, providing an enormous amount of downforce that helps the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine put all of its 635bhp on the tarmac.
One of the problems with the Ford GT, however, is that it’s a racing car first and foremost, so it's unrefined even by supercar standards. The interior could be a little claustrophobic for taller occupants, plus you’ll struggle to even get a small bag into the tiny 11.3-litre boot. That said, as a track machine it does a brilliant job, and is worthy of our top ten list.
10) Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
At the heart of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera lies a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, the same one utilized by the DB11. It provides a fitting soundtrack for Aston’s super-GT, as well as incredible performance.
715bhp and 900Nm of torque are the headline figures, resulting in a 0-62 figure of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 211mph: not bad for a car designed to take on continents rather than racetracks.
That’s not to say the DBS suffers while cornering: in fact, fast corners are where it comes alive. 180kg of downforce provides stability at speed, and on smooth asphalt at least, the DBS feels compliant.
This is good news for those inclined to drive long distances, but be warned: you might find yourself driving past your destination just to enjoy a few more miles behind the wheel.
by: Steve Sutcliffe
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