Best supercars on sale 2024
These are the cars at the absolute pinnacle of performance, driving thrills and head-turning style, the best supercars on sale…
The best supercars provoke a sense of pure excitement in just about everyone from young children to the most mature petrolheads. And that’s without even getting behind the wheel. The supercar’s striking appearance and sensational performance make the prospect of ownership a dream for so many people, but the equally grand prices make the supercar club a highly exclusive one.
If you are one of the fortunate — and wealthy — few, though, you’ll have a wide range of tempting options when choosing the best supercar to buy for your hard-earned cash. Whether you want a stripped-out, hardcore driver’s car or an extravaganza of technology, luxury and attention-grabbing looks, there’s a supercar for you. As the world aims to go greener, there’s also an increasing number of hybrid and electric supercar models that almost redefine the laws of physics with their fearsome acceleration.
Our list of the best supercars on sale contains a real mix of exotics, not just in terms of engine configurations but also the differing levels of luxury, wildly contrasting looks and the variety of manufacturers responsible for them.
Top 10 best supercars
These are the best supercars to buy right now, according to our team of expert road-testers who have had the pleasure of driving them on roads and racetracks around the world.
10. Ferrari SF90
Many enthusiasts were somewhat alarmed when Ferrari announced that it was working on its first plug-in hybrid supercar. There was a sense of dread that the raw power and intoxicating sound of good old-fashioned high displacement internal combustion would be muted. The view was that a small engine working in tandem with electric motors could never produce the levels of emotion that a Ferrari should. Once the Ferrari SF90 made its debut, however, these doubts were quickly extinguished.
It might not be a V12 but the 4.0-litre V8 engine is still far from small. In the SF90 it is accompanied by three electric motors to produce a combined 978bhp and 800Nm of torque. As you’d expect, this makes for absolutely ferocious performance. 0-62mph is dealt with in a mere 2.5 seconds, and the SF90 Stradale will then charge on to 211mph — not bad for any supercar, let alone a PHEV.
Of course, Ferrari being Ferrari, an even more powerful version of the SF90 wasn’t too far behind. The hardcore SF90 Stradale XX features more aggressive aerodynamics, along with tweaks to areas including the suspension, gearbox and brakes. The result is one of Ferrari’s very best track cars to date, which also happens to be road legal.
9. Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS is now one of the older models in the British brand’s line-up, but it still packs a serious punch. At the front resides a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, which it originally shared with the now-retired DB11, and this brawny engine 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.
8. Chevrolet Corvette C8
With a shift to a mid-engine layout for the latest ‘C8’ generation, the Chevrolet Corvette has evolved into a genuine American alternative to the European supercar elite. The 475bhp offered up by its naturally-aspirated V8 might seem a little sedate compared to some of the cars here, but the Corvette still has more than enough performance to trouble plenty of the competition. The snappy dual-clutch automatic gearbox helps it achieve a 3.5-second 0-62mph time, while the top speed is 184mph.
If you like the sound of things so far, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Corvette is no longer a piece of ‘forbidden fruit’ for us in the UK. The C8 is officially sold here, and in right-hand drive form.
7. Ferrari 812 GTS
The Ferrari 812 GTS 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 the 812 GTS tops out at 211mph. Changing gear is taken care of via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which has shorter gearing and faster shifts than its predecessor.
It’s not just the performance that impresses, the chassis and aerodynamics are also a huge improvement over the 812’s predecessor. A rear-wheel-drive steering system, third-generation electronic differential, torque variable electronic power steering and Ferrari’s Slide Slip Control all contribute towards this drop-top’s sheer capability.
6. McLaren Artura
The Artura — McLaren’s first full-production plug-in hybrid — got off to a shaky start in life. The launch was delayed significantly, and many publications — Auto Express included — experienced technical issues when they were finally able to drive the car.
Today, though, McLaren appears to have ironed out the bugs, so we can now concentrate on what an exceptional supercar the Artura is. It uses an unconventional wide-angle twin-turbo V6 backed up by an electric motor and a 7.4kWh battery, giving up to 19 miles of electric-only running and — more importantly for a car like this — 671bhp and 720Nm of torque.
Simply put, it’s breathtakingly fast. The Artura will hit 62mph from a standstill in three seconds dead — two-tenths faster than the seminal McLaren F1. The top speed is 205mph and although the engine is perhaps lacking a little character, there’s no doubting its potency.
Meanwhile, McLaren has strived to keep the car feeling as ‘analogue’ as possible. There’s no regenerative braking system, so the brake pedal still feels very natural, and the power steering is one of the few remaining hydraulic set-ups out there, providing amazing feedback. Finally, it’s light for a PHEV, tipping the scales at a very reasonable 1,498kg.
5. Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica
There simply has to be a Lamborghini in a list like this, and the Italian brand has just the thing. It’s the Huracan Tecnica, which is broadly the same under the skin as the extreme STO, but without the wild array of aerodynamic pieces and with slightly softer suspension. So, it’s easier to live with and — slightly— more subtle to look at.
But don’t be fooled by the marginally toned-down appearance, it’s still a seriously potent car. Power is unchanged at 631bhp, giving a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 201mph, delivered by a brilliant-sounding V10 that revs to 8,700rpm.
Its savage straight-line performance goes well with the firm chassis and rear-wheel steering system, which increases agility at lower speeds and stability when the car’s going faster. Lamborghini really has saved the best until last with the Huracan.
4. McLaren 750S
The McLaren 750S sits in the middle of the brand’s current supercar line-up, and it reflects this by providing a supreme all-round driving experience. At the heart is a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged V8 producing 740bhp and 800Nm of torque, so there’s certainly plenty of power.
That’s not all, though, as McLaren has taken an almost clinical approach to the engineering behind the 750S. Forged lightweight pistons, a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis and even multi-layer gaskets are just some of the features that have been implemented to ensure maximum performance and reduce the car’s kerb weight.
All of this effort means the 750S handles and performs with razor-sharp precision. There’s just one problem, though, as it looks almost identical to the older 720S which it replaced.
3. Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Not everyone considers the Porsche 911 to be a fully-fledged supercar, but there's a strong argument for the iconic German sports car being thusly described in GT3 RS form. Porsche upped the ante considerably for the 992-generation version, focusing on mechanical grip and downforce since there's only so much more power it can extract from the GT3's naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six under current emissions regulations.
And so, while 518bhp is quite modest as far as modern supercars go, the 911 GT3 RS is able to get round a track mind-bendingly quickly. On the aero front, there are two underbody flaps, massive side skirts and an active rear wing of epic proportions. The latter includes a DRS — drag reduction system — so it doesn't hold the car back too much on the straights.
With the DRS switched off, you’re looking at a whopping 860kg of downforce. This is backed up by sophisticated suspension set-up which can be remotely adjusted from the cabin for bump and rebound. This is one of the closest things you can buy to a racing car for the road.
2. Maserati MC20
The MC20 marked Maserati’s long-awaited return to the supercar market – its last model was the MC12 which arrived in 2004. The MC20 certainly has an appropriate sense of occasion, and 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.
1. Ferrari 296 GTB
Just like the SF90, the Ferrari 296 GTB is further proof that plug-in hybrids don’t have to be boring — or sensible. The 296 GTB packs a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with a 7.45kWh battery and an electric motor. These work together to produce a staggering 819bhp, although Ferrari is still yet to reveal the official combined torque figure.
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 up to 16 purely-electric miles 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.
Top 10 best supercars
- Ferrari 296 GTB
- Maserati MC20
- Porsche 911 GT3 RS
- McLaren 750S
- Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica
- McLaren Artura
- Ferrari 812 GTS
- Chevrolet Corvette C8
- Aston Martin DBS
- Ferrari SF90
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