Top 5 Supercar Manufacturers of Today - AllCarIndex
It is remarkable to remember that the first production car – one where several examples were created – was the Benz of 1887. This model laid the basis for all cars that followed in having an internal combustion engine (ICE). Although we are admittedly reaching the end of the ICE era – electric and hybrid cars seem to be the future – they desire for greater power and speed in cars is still evident.
Ever since that first car people have raced vehicles against one another. The 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday' mantra can still be seen in Formula 1 racing, in World Endurance Racing, as well as in rallying and domestic and international saloon car series.
A business such as Stil Swangn Auto Paint & Collision relies upon people bringing their cherished cars to them for repairs and other work, and such businesses have also been around for as long as the car has existed. In this article we are going to talk about one particular genre of road-going vehicle: the supercar. We will have a close look at five of the most revered supercar makers of the moment, but first, let's think about what defines a supercar?
What is a Supercar?
The simple answer here is this: a supercar is a very fast, powerful, exotic and exclusive type of car. It is also likely to be expensive. Supercars are the desire of many a young boy – and girls who may also be 'petrolheads' – who have a picture of their favorite Porsche or Ferrari on their bedroom wall! A supercar is designed to be seen and to be driven, and owning one is a sign of wealth and status. The supercar is a step above a mere sports car. Who are the top supercar manufacturers? Let's begin with the firm that arguably created the first supercar.
Lamborghini
The story goes that Ferruccio Lamborghini – a successful and wealthy manufacturer of tractors and agricultural machinery in Italy – bought a Ferrari. So displeased with the standard of quality was he that he founded his own sports car brand under his family name to compete with the famous Maranello brand. The first product was the Lamborghini 350GT, a beautiful 'Grand Touring' car that was highly praised by the motoring press.
However, Lamborghini didn't 'invent' the supercar genre until it unveiled the quite spectacular Miura in 1966. A revolutionary design featuring a transverse mounted V12 engine in the middle of the chassis, it was branded 'supercar' in the press. Today, Lamborghini is owned by the VW Group and its current models include the sensational Huracan and Aventador, as well as the Urus SUV.
Ferrari
It's safe to say there is no motoring brand more famous or revered than Ferrari. Since Enzo Ferrari founded the company that bears his name in 1947 his cars have been raced. Ferrari remains the only Formula One team to have competed in every season of the World Championship since 1950. They initially focused on Grand Touring cars but had to react to the launch of the rival Lamborghini Miura and build a car for the supercar sector. The result was the very pretty and supremely capable Ferrari 365BB.
Today Ferrari offers a range of ICE and hybrid cars that continue to be admired. The 488GTB and 812 Superfast are perhaps their most revered models. Ferrari has refrained from going for outright speed, which is something that cannot be said for our next candidate.
Bugatti
The Bugatti brand – now owned by VW – has its roots in the early days of motor racing. Yet where supercars are concerned, it is the modern version of the brand that we are interested in. Think Bugatti, and car buffs immediately think of the remarkable Veyron. However, there was another model before that – the EB110 – that was not successful but is now highly desirable.
Yet the Veyron and the successor the Chiron are considered to have moved beyond supercar status and into a class now regarded as 'hypercars.' Famously, the Veyron has a V16 engine which pushes out 1000bhp and can reach 267mph (431 km/h.) The Chiron takes things to another level with 1500bhp yet is limited to a top speed of 261mph as there is currently no tire in existence that could handle the speed the car is capable of reaching! Sadly, it's likely nobody reading this could ever afford either model.
McLaren
The McLaren brand came to life as an offshoot of the famous and successful Grand Prix racing team. That the first car it made remains a legend in motoring circles says a lot about the brand. The McLaren F1 was conceived by Gordon Murray, the F1 team's designer, as a no-compromise supercar.
Remarkably pretty, it stunned the world with its then record 241mph (386km/h) top speed, this in 1998!
The current McLaren range is regarded as among the greatest driver's cars in the world today. Perhaps the most desirable is the McLaren Senna, named after the late, great Brazilian world champion, with its limited 211mph (340km/h top speed and remarkable looks.
Koenigsegg
Choosing the final supercar manufacturer is difficult. We could have included British marque Aston Martin, for example, or small-scale manufacturer Pagani. But we decided that Swedish maker Koenigsegg deserved a mention. Also a small-scale manufacturer, Koenigsegg focuses on exclusive and very fast cars that offer no compromise in design or performance.
This tiny manufacturer has become highly respected in luxury high-end car circles, especially for its quite amazing models such as the latest Gemera, which can reach 62mph (100km/h) in a quite remarkable 1.9seconds from a standstill!
Supercars are fascinating to anyone who is interested in cars. This breed and its hypercar sister category represent perhaps the ultimate incarnation of the road-going car. It remains to be seen just how much faster cars can be made to go, and as we mentioned in the Bugatti section, we have already reached the physical limits of tires.
Thanks for reading, and we look forward to the next generation of amazing supercars from some of the greatest names in motoring history.