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Every car fan appreciates a sports car with a decently powered engine. Whether it is a turbocharged 2.0L or a 6.0L V8, an authentic gearhead will find pleasure in driving about anything with a zing. With that said, there is a class of sports cars that simply are not made for everyone and are reserved only for the most ambitious performance junkies, which is why we refer to them as supercars. Often costing as much as a house in the suburbs, these cars are fitted with the latest technologies usually found in race cars.
Supercars are among the most exclusive and valuable items in the automotive scene. They're the kind of car you buy solely to show off. They're also the kind of cars you'll see celebrities, musicians, superstar athletes, celebrities, sheiks from the Middle-East, Chinese businessmen, and former crypto whales drive. There are, however, several things gearheads did not know about supercars, such as the fact that not all of them end up being a success.
9 1992 Bugatti EB110 SS
French automakers are known for their futuristic and truly mesmerizing concept cars. Unfortunately, over 95% of these insane cars never made it to production. On the brighter side of things, when a French supercar manufacturer releases a prototype, it usually ends up tearing up the tarmac a couple of months later. Back in the early '90s, Bugatti decided to flex its muscles.
The Bugatti EB110 Super Sport is obviously a monster. Equipped with a quad-turbocharged 3.5L V12 that develops 603 hp at 8,250 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm, the Super Sport trim was one of the most insane supercars of the '90s. Unfortunately, when Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher crashed his EB110 and blamed it on the faulty brakes, the EB110 started losing its appeal.
8 1993 Jaguar XJ220
British automaker Jaguar is one of the most respected car companies in the United Kingdom. Despite having gone through difficult times, the company has been able to maintain a remarkable lineup. Back in the '90s, the carmaker tried to come up with its very own supercar. Looking as if it came from the future, the Jaguar XJ220 could have been the first out of many Jaguar supercars.
The Jaguar XJ220 could have been among the greatest supercars of the 1990s if it was not for one major detail. When the XJ220 was first announced, Jaguar claimed that the supercar would be fitted with a powerful 6.2L V12. This would have eventually put the XJ220 in the same league as the Ferrari 512 TR and the Lamborghini Diablo VT. When the XJ220 was unveiled, the V12 had been replaced by a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6. The disappointment felt by potential buyers translated into poor sales.
7 1995 Ferrari F50
Italian carmakers tend to have a thing for incredible sports cars. It is unclear whether it runs in Italy's DNA or not, but the amount of insane cars coming from such a small country is astonishing. The most popular Italian supercar manufacturer, Ferrari, showed numerous times that the hefty price tag associated with its cars is completely justifiable.
Ferrari is not known for manufacturing lukewarm supercars. The F50 is far from being a snooze fest. The rear mid-engine wild stallion comes with a 4.7L V12 that pumps out 512 hp at 8,000 rpm and 347 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. For some mysterious reasons, the F50 never received the love that the F40 and F60 received. It is a tremendous supercar that never really got the love it deserves.
6 1998 Venturi 300 Atlantique
Gearheads often hear about supercars built by Ferrari, Bugatti, and Lamborghini. The occasional supercar made by Mercedes-Benz or Ford always makes headlines, but nothing in comparison to the most popular car brands. Hardcore supercar fans know that the most insane high-end track-ready sports cars tend to be produced by relatively unknown brands such as Venturi.
The Venturi 300 Atlantique is one of the coolest '90s supercars gearheads have never heard of. Preceded by the insane Venturi 400 GT, the 300 Atlantique is a Ferrari Modena look-alike that packs at best a twin-turbocharged 3.0L Renault V6 capable of developing 306 hp at 6,200 rpm and 291 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm. The 300 Atlantique failed to conquer the heart of gearheads and consequently did poorly.
5 2012 Lexus LFA
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First introduced to American motorists in 1989, Lexus has gone from being a newcomer in the luxury car market to becoming one of the pillars in its class. Mostly known for its amazing family-friendly sedans, Lexus did manufacture some terrific sports cars such as the SC400 and the IS F. However, nothing prepared the car community for the insane Lexus LFA.
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The Lexus LFA is the $400,000 supercar nobody talks about. Despite being fitted with a 4.8L V10 capable of churning out 553 hp at 8,700 rpm and 354 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm, the $400,000 price tag turned off more than one piston head with a chubby wallet. For the same price, it was possible to get a Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4. It is quite logical that supercar enthusiasts would go for more luxurious and powerful Italian supercars.
4 2014 Aston Martin Rapide S
With ever-changing customer needs and wants, carmakers must always come up with new ideas to retain their customer base. They must also work on acquiring new customers by offering products that were not previously available. Understanding that small families may also want to move around in supercars, Aston Martin came up with the Rapide S.
At first glance, the Aston Martin Rapide S is a cool super sedan. As a matter of fact, the Rapide S does not disappoint in the power department. The 5.9L V12 develops a cool 552 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Things get somewhat tricky when it comes to the family side of the equation. The back seats are not practical at all. It would be a nightmare to drive children or people of old age around. Needless to say, the public noticed and stayed away from the Rapide S.
3 2015 BMW i8
The Bavarian automaker is known for its insane M cars. Boasting some of the most robust and powerful mass-produced engines on the market, BMW's sports cars are exhilarating. Sensing that the industry was going through changes, BMW hopped on the hybrid and electric vehicle bandwagon. Its flagship vehicle, the i8, was BMW's attempt at a hybrid supercar.
When looking at the gorgeous BMW i8, it is easy to assume that the car embodies BMW's excellence. On paper, the BMW i8 is an engineering prowess. Its turbocharged 1.5L inline-three unit is combined with three electric motors. However, the combination produces only 357 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. With an MSRP of around $138,000, the i8 was simply too slow for the price.
2 2017 Acura NSX
Sixty years ago, no one would have believed that Japanese carmakers would one day produce serious sports cars. Honda went from manufacturing cheap and disposable vehicles to offering insane supercars like the Acura NSX. Since its introduction in 1991, the NSX has been Acura's crown jewel. It was the very first time a Japanese carmaker took on European sports cars.
The Acura NSX is among the fastest hybrids ever made. Equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 combined with three electric motors and a 1.3 kWh battery, the total power output reaches 573 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque. Despite going from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and costing far less than other supercars of the same caliber, the second generation NSX did not perform as well as the first edition.
1 2017 Dodge Viper
The number of mass-produced American supercars is low. The two main domestic supercars – the Ford GT and the Dodge Viper – prove that American car companies have a seat at the supercar table. Dodge's 31-year-old supercar has only improved over the years. The latest versions of the Viper are very sport-oriented and pack a lot of American-bred stallions.
The Dodge Viper is one of the most aggressive-looking American car ever made. The fifth generation includes the brutal ACR trim level. Thanks to revised aerodynamics and a plethora of parts made of carbon fiber, the Viper goes from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The 8.3L V10 pumps out 640 hp at 6,200 rpm and 600 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. However, compared to its European counterparts, the Viper feels cheap and unfinished.