The Best Supercars You Can Actually Buy (2024)

With most performance vehicles — including rally cars, street-legal track racers, sport sedans, and more — speed is the name of the game. But when high top speeds meet high torque ratings, top-tier design, and luxury accoutrements, so-called “performance vehicles” enter into a new stratosphere, where few marques dare to tread and fewer still succeed in their endeavours. We’re talking, of course, about supercars.

Though ill-defined, supercars mark a kind of barrier between vehicles that are, for lack of a better term, pedestrian and those that have just a bit more oomph across the board. They’re the kinds of rides you wouldn’t be surprised to see on the posters we all tacked up on our walls. And, if you’re lucky (and wealthy) enough, at least one of them could be in your garage. In fact, we’ve gone ahead and wrangled together the absolute best supercars you can buy right now in the following guide.

Lotus Emira V6 Supercharged

Rather than relying on state-of-the-art technology or ultra-advanced electric or hybrid drivetrains, the Lotus Emira V6 Supercharged leans into Colin Chapman’s famous mantra to “simplify and add lightness” — resulting in a sub 3,200-pound roadster with respectable top-speed and acceleration times and legitimately world-class handling. Sporting a super sleek exterior design with an ultra-slippery drag coefficient, the Emira V6 Supercharged utilizes Toyota’s proven 2GR-FE engine, which sees the 3.5-liter V6 fitted with an Edelbrock 1740 supercharger that allows it to put down an even 400hp and almost 310ft-lbs of torque. While it’s by no means the fastest car on this list, in true Lotus fashion, the Emira manages to deliver a world-class true driver’s car experience, where cornering and raw behind-the-wheel enjoyment has been favored over outright straight line speed.

Engine: Supercharged 3.5L V6
Power: 400HP & 309.7FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,175LBs
0-60MPH: 4.3 Seconds
Top Speed: 180MPH
MSRP: $105,400

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ Convertible

Representing the first-ever hybrid ‘Vette, the all-new Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is an eighth-generation mid-engined supercar offering both incredible value and phenomenal performance capabilities. The range-topping, drop-top version of the E-Ray seen here packs a 495-hp 6.2-liter LT2 V8 that’s been paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 120-kW (160-hp) permanent magnetic drive motor that put down a collective 655hp and 595ft-lbs of torque. When coupled with its 3,856-pound curb weight, this hybrid supercar’s LT2-based powertrain affords the thing the ability to clock 10.5-second quarter mile runs, reach a top speed of just over 180mph, and fire off 0-60mph runs in a hypercar-esque 2.5 seconds. This model is also made right here in America — more specifically at Chevy’s Bowling Green Assembly facility in Kentucky.

Engine: 6.2L Hybrid V8
Power: 655HP & 595FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,856LBs
0-60MPH: 2.5 Seconds
Top Speed: 183MPH
MSRP: $122,850

Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé

If Japan has the Godzilla GT-R NISMO, Germany has the Mercedes-AMG GT. Truly, from tip to tail, this is a piece of automotive artwork that’s just begging to be put through its paces on the open road. Furthermore, it comes with literal generations of heritage and technology that help give it performance figures that include a maximum horsepower of 576 and a top speed that’s been electronically limited to a still-very-respectable 195.7mph. These performance capabilities come courtesy of a hand-built, AMG-tuned 4.0-liter V8 that’s been gifted a set of turbochargers. And while even the base model is exceptional inside, outside, and under the hood, customers can also upgrade to the ultra-high-end Black edition that kicks every inch of this already-exceptional speed demon into high gear. Although, if you do hope to upgrade to the carbon-fiber-covered, Nurburgring record breaker, you’ll have to practically triple the price of entry.

Engine: Twin-Turbo 4.0L V8
Power: 576.6HP & 590FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 4,343LBs
0-60MPH: 3.2 Seconds
Top Speed: 195.7MPH
MSRP: $150,000 (Approx)

Maserati MC20

Marking the Modena marque’s first all-new supercar design in a decade and a half, the Maserati MC20 is a cutting-edge supercar with an all-new powertrain design that benefits from a host of F1-derived technology and systems. Constructed around a monocoque frame weighing just 220lbs, the car features the Trident firm’s new “Nettuno” engine; a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that’s good for over 620hp and 535ft-lbs of torque — all of which is sent to the car’s rear wheels. In typical Maserati fashion, the MC20 sports a stunning set of quintessentially-Italian bodywork, with a classic grille design that flows into a sleek body adorned in aero elements and intake scoops. This model is also offered in several special edition variants including the 730-HP Track-Only MCXtrema spec, and the blacked-out MC20 Notte.

Engine: Twin-Turbo 3.0L V6
Power: 621HP & 538.4FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,306LBs
0-60MPH: 2.9 Seconds
Top Speed: 202MPH
MSRP: $212,000

Nissan GT-R NISMO

If one were to take the mighty the Japanese automaker’s GT-R and treat it to a spare-no-expense series of upgrades, the result would almost certainly look a lot like the Nissan GT-R NISMO. Good for 0-60mph runs in under 3 seconds, the range-topping NISMO-spec GT-R is powered by a 600-hp NISMO-tuned 3.8-liter V6 engine with a dual-clutch transmission, paddle shifters, rev-matching, a titanium exhaust, and a high-performance 1.5-way mechanical rear limited-slip differential. Utilizing a hybrid unibody structure, the vehicle sports a sleek exterior design that sports vented front fenders, side air vents, and a NISMO-specific aero kit with carbon fiber side sills, front and rear fascias, trunk lid, and rear spoiler. Phenomenal, track-ready handling is afforded via the car’s NISMO suspension package and Nissan’s Advanced Total Traction Engineering System.

Engine: Twin-Turbo 3.8L V6
Power: 600HP & 481FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,865LBs
0-60MPH: 2.9 Seconds
Top Speed: 196+ MPH
MSRP: $220,990

Audi R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro

First debuting in 2007, the Audi R8 has stood as one of the most venerable supercars for more than a decade and a half. And while the Four Rings is sadly phasing out this mid-engined marvel of engineering, it’s giving customers one last chance to add an R8 to their stable with a final year model run of special R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro models. Sharing its engine and chassis platform with the Lamborghini Huracán, this R8 variant is powered by a mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine cranking out over 600hp — all of which is sent to the vehicle’s full-time quattro AWD system. Riding on special 20” five-spoke Dynamic Design wheels, this model also hugely benefits from other advanced features including a seven-speed S tronic transmission, a mechanical limited slip differential, carbon-ceramic discs, and a sport-tuned suspension package with coil over-equipped double-wishbone units front and rear.

Engine: 5.2L V10
Power: 602HP & 413FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,913LBs
0-60MPH: 3 Seconds
Top Speed: 205MPH
MSRP: $225,695

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

For some people, there’s only one marque on this list of supercars that matters at all: Porsche. The German automaker has solidified its spot amongst the most respected and sought-after vehicles ever made and, if the brand’s current trajectory is to be believed, they’re only going to further cement themselves in the annals of history as one of the top-5 most significant car manufacturers ever to exist. That’s only proven more so by the Porsche 911 GT3 RS supercar you see before you today. A top-of-the-line, spare-no-expense 911-based road-legal race car, the 911 GT3 RS is a bonafide track weapon that features a full GT3-spec aero kit and a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine that spins at up to 9,000rpm and puts down up to 518hp and 342ft-lbs of torque — figures that allow it to reach a top speed of 184mph and clock 0-60mph runs in 3 seconds flat.

Engine: 4.0L Flat-Six
Power: 518HP & 342FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,268LBs
0-60MPH: 3 Seconds
Top Speed: 184MPH
MSRP: $241,300

McLaren 750S Coupe

Offering a power-to-weight ratio over 579hp-per-ton — making it the lightest and most powerful production car the famed marque has ever made — the McLaren 750S Coupe is the absolute epitome of a modern-day supercar, with sleek looks, world-class handling, and out-of-this-world performance capabilities. Utilizing a second-generation carbon fiber “Monocage” body structure, the new 750S Coupe features a double-wishbone suspension setup with adaptive dampers and third-gen Proactive Chassis Control, plus an active aero kit, and CCM-R carbon-ceramic brakes with six-piston forged monobloc calipers. At the heart of the supercar is a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine making 740hp and 590ft-lbs of torque — allowing for a 2.8-second 0-60mph time and a more than 200-mph top speed.

Engine: Twin-Turbo 4.0L V8
Power: 740HP & 590FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,062LBs
0-60MPH: 2.8 Seconds
Top Speed: 206MPH
MSRP: $329,500

Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate

The Aston Martin DBS is nothing short of legendary. As the famed British marque gets ready to phase-out this elite GT car, its opted to give it one final sendoff in the form of the Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate — the fastest and most powerful production model DBS ever. Limited to just 499 units globally — 300 of which are coupes and 199 of which are drop tops — the 770 Ultimate-spec DBS is kicked along by a massive 5.2-liter V12 engine making over 750hp and affording the luxury grand-tourer a 0-60mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 211mph. This model isn’t merely engineered for straight-line speed, and also offers some great cornering abilities thanks to an advanced independent double wishbone suspension design up front, a multi-link unit out back — both of which benefit from the use of Skyhook Technology and adaptive dampers.

Engine: 5.2L V12
Power: 759HP & 663.8FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 4,067.5LBs
0-60MPH: 3.4 Seconds
Top Speed: 211MPH
MSRP: $387,600

Ferrari SF90 Stradale

While there are plenty of purists ready to decry Ferrari’s hybrid supercar, the SF90 Stradale, there’s no ignoring the fact that it also happens to be the fastest Prancing Horse ever put into production. Furthermore, its 4.0-liter engine also represents the marque’s most powerful V8 yet —and that’s before you even factor-in the trio of electric motors that further bolsters its power. If you can look past its plug-in hybrid powertrain, you’ll be granted access to a 0-60 mph time of just 2.5 seconds, a 211 mph top speed, and 986 horsepower combined. And you can have all that without sacrificing any style or comfort, as that’s all manages without deleting its comfortable, technology-laden interior. The Ferrari SF90 Stradale isn’t just another supercar; it’s an automotive revelation and a very unique look into the future of one of the most impactful marques ever to exist.

Engine: Twin-Turbo Hybrid 4.0L V8
Power: 986HP & 590FT-LBs
Curb Weight: 3,593LBs
0-60MPH: 2.5 Seconds
Top Speed: 211MPH
MSRP: $528,765

What Exactly Is A Supercar?

As mentioned, the concept of a supercar is somewhat ill-defined — and there have been plenty of arguments about what checks out and what doesn’t. While we’re not going to pretend like we have a hard-and-fast definition, we did want to outline our own criteria for what pops into our minds when we think of the term supercar and present it in this handy, dandy primer. Keep in mind, as is the case with the larger category, we’re not putting a pin in any specific measure; we’re just trying to give you a better idea as to what we think puts the “super” in supercar. In short, these models slot in-between regular sportscars and ultra-exotic hypercars. In a bid to further define this segment, we’ve broken it down into the following three metrics, of which each car on our list meets at least two.

Price: Technically speaking, the price of a given vehicle is usually reflexive of its overall suite of features, including the R&D required to develop it and its integrated technologies. That being said, supercars tend to trend toward the much higher end of the budgetary spectrum, typically in the hundreds of thousands. Rarely are there vehicles that qualify while being under a $100k baseline, but it does happen from time to time, as you will actually see on our list. It’s also worth noting that, as squares are actually rectangles, hypercars are actually supercars — just even more high-end — so they still adhere to this guideline.

Performance: Perhaps more than either of the other two metrics, performance is paramount to differentiating a supercar from a run-of-the-mill daily driver. Again, there’s no definitive line we can draw in the sand, but supercars almost without exception lean toward pulse-pounding, adrenaline-pumping performance figures — often with horsepower figures in the range of several hundred (up to the thousands), 0-60 times of under five seconds, and maximum speeds that can even exceed 200 mph. While not all supercars necessarily have to boast such jaw-dropping figures, it’s a high mountain to climb without them.

Style: This is probably the most esoteric and hard-to-pin-down of the metrics, but it’s no less an important one. You see, along with their often absorbent price tags and potentially overwhelming performance figures, supercars have to have a certain refinement to their style. Any grease monkey can drop an ultra-powerful engine into a junkyard project car, but the curves, lines, and angles of a supercar are more akin to fine art — to put them in the same class is like saying that a scribble on a napkin belongs in the same gallery as a Van Gogh. That extends to the interiors, as well; supercars are as comfortable inside as they are beautiful on the outside — thanks to designs penned by some of the most legendary names in the auto industry.

What Factors Should I Consider When Looking At Supercars?

As vehicles that are markedly more rare, powerful, and unique vehicles than your mass-produced commuter car, it can admittedly be a little tricky knowing just exactly what one should look for when shopping — especially for the uninitiated. So, with this in mind, we’ve broken down the top-ten most pivotal aspects to consider when buying a new supercar.

Engine: As the heart of the vehicle, a supercar’s engine should always be closely considered when shopping. More specifically, you’ll want to pay attention to the engine’s size, layout, number of cylinders, and whether it features any type of hybrid drive motors/system, or forced induction system like a supercharger or turbochargers.

Powertrain Placement: Unlike your average sportscar, supercars don’t aways feature an engine that’s located up front, under the hood, and are very often equipped with rear or mid-mounted powertrains that allow for a better, more even overall weight distribution.

Transmission: Supercars often feature more exotic, performance-focused transmissions compared to regular sports cars. This includes everything from ordinary automatic units, to manual gearboxes, to sequential transmission, to semi-auto units controlled via tiptronic or paddle-shifter setups. When reviewing this area, you’ll want to review transmission type, along with number of gears.

Weight: A major part of what gives supercars their world-class performance capabilities is their potent engines and lack of weight — the latter of which is typically achieved through the use of lightweight, advanced chassis designs, featherweight aerospace grade constructions, and lightweight bodywork that’s often crafted from modern composites like carbon fiber.

Power & Performance Capabilities: How a car actually drives and performs is obviously of monumental importance when buying any car. When reviewing this area, you’ll want to look at curb weight, horsepower and torque output, 0-60mph time, and top speed. And while reading reviews and checking out lap times can afford some sense of how a car handles, we always recommend simply test-driving any vehicle that you’re considering buying, as this is the only real way to get a complete sense of how it drives, handles, and performs.

Chassis: Modern supercars tend to be constructed around ultra-advanced, lightweight frames that often utilize cutting-edge materials and construction techniques, such as monocoque frames and carbon fiber tubs. Because this area hugely impacts a supercar’s weight, performance, and handling — as well as its price — this is undoubtedly an element that you’ll want to consider when shopping.

Running Gear: Supercars usually offer incredible handling and cornering capabilities thanks to the use of state-of-the-art frames that come paired with equally-cutting-edge suspensions that are often race-derived and active/electronically-controlled. Because this area plays such a major role in a supercar’s performance, you’ll no doubt want to review the running gear and components that the vehicle comes loaded with, including suspension and braking hardware.

Cabin & Interior: The interiors of supercars can pretty wildly vary from model to model, as some are super plush and luxurious while others are markedly more spartan, being more in line with gutted race vehicles than your average luxury sports car. As such, you’ll want to review a supercar’s cabin, paying close attention to the seating, trim and dash elements, instrumentation, infotainment displays, audio systems, and other onboard tech and bells and whistles.

Bodywork & Aero: It isn’t only the performance of supercars that makes them so special and sought-after, but also the distinctive, sleek, and aerodynamic bodywork that adorns these elite vehicles. When examine a supercar’s bodywork, you’ll want to review the suite of bodywork’s construction, and whether or not it’s equipped with any aero elements such as front splitters, side skirts, rear diffusers, and rear wings — as well as whether or not it features any active aero elements. Obviously, the appearance of the bodywork should also be taken into account, though this mainly boils down to personal and aesthetic taste.

Price & Cost Of Ownership: As mentioned above, supercars almost always cost at least six figures. Unsurprisingly, these exotic vehicles aren’t cheap to maintain, insure, or operate, and often require speciality insurance and specially-trained, high-end mechanics. Because these costs can quickly add up, you’ll definitely want to consider both the price of any supercar, along with its owning and operating costs.