When naming the greatest British automakers, it's impossible to leave Aston Martin and McLaren off the list. These two automakers have built some of the most iconic British cars of all time, which is why they're known and loved all over the world.
It can be a daunting task for any gearhead to choose between the two companies. On one hand, we have Aston Martin, which has been building beautiful, fast sports cars for almost a century. On the other hand, we have McLaren, which only started building road-going cars three decades ago but has already proven it has what it takes to make a world-class supercar. It's a tough one, but we think McLaren has the edge. Let's explore five fantastic Aston Martin cars versus five McLarens that are arguably better.
10 Awesome Aston Martin: DB5
The DB5 stunned gearheads when it debuted in the early '60s. This luxury grand tourer had a gorgeous design that's still loved to date. It also had the power to match, thanks to a 4.0-liter straight-six engine with 282 hp on tap.
The DB5 already had the elements of a great sports car, but what turned it into the icon it is today is its role in James Bond's 1964 film Goldfinger. To this day, the DB5 is widely regarded as one of the greatest movie cars.
9 McLaren We’d Rather Have: F1
After dominating motorsports for decades, McLaren felt it had enough expertise to take on the likes of Ferrari and Porsche in the production sports car market. So in the early '90s, McLaren asked F1 designer Gordon Murray to pen its first-ever production car, resulting in the legendary F1.
The F1 took the automotive world by storm. It had a fantastic design, 618 horses coming from a BMW-sourced 6.1-liter V12, and all sorts of F1-inspired technologies. With its top speed of 240.1 mph, the F1 clinched the production car speed record and held it for more than a decade. To this day, it's still the world's fastest naturally aspirated car.
8 Awesome Aston Martin: One-77
In 2007, Aston Martin head Dr. Ulrich Bez asked designer Marek Reichman to create a beautiful grand tourer that would show the company was still the king of design. The car needed to combine traditional Aston Martin design cues with radical design elements that would show gearheads what to expect in future Astons. The result was the One-77.
The One-77 was a huge hit at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, largely thanks to its design. It also comes with a huge 7.3-liter V12 cranking out 750 hp, making it one of the most powerful naturally aspirated cars ever.
7 McLaren We’d Rather Have: Senna
Ayrton Senna is a legendary Formula One driver who won multiple championships for McLaren in the early '90s. To honor his legacy, McLaren decided to build a limited-production track-focused supercar based on the 720S, resulting in the awe-inspiring Senna.
The Senna is powered by an uprated 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 blurting out 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. It also has several technologies to boost performance on the track, including a double-element diffuser, adjustable rear wing, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, and a Formula-One-inspired roof scoop.
6 Awesome Aston Martin: Vulcan
The Vulcan is a track-only supercar Aston Martin introduced at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The Vulcan's design takes inspiration from modern Astons like the Vantage and One-77, but is tweaked to look more menacing and aggressive. It also has a large rear wing you don't see in many road-going Astons.
Under the Vulcan's hood lives an absolute masterpiece of an engine - a monstrous 7.0-liter naturally aspirated V12 producing 820 horses and 575 lb-ft of torque.
5 McLaren We’d Rather Have: Speedtail
The Speedtail is just as extreme as the Vulcan above, but unlike the Vulcan, it's perfectly road legal. There are many reasons why the Speedtail is considered to be McLaren's best-ever car. For starters, the Speedtail's design is gorgeous, described as pure, streamlined elegance.
The Speedtail is also powerful, thanks to a modified M840T hybrid powertrain, generating 1,036 hp. Only 100 Speedtails exist, making it one of the rarest British cars.
4 Awesome Aston Martin: DB11
The DB11 is a superb grand tourer introduced in 2016 to replace the DB9. The DB11 is an important car in Aston Martin's history, as it's the first model in the company's 'second century' plan and also the first model launched since Aston Martin's partnership with Daimler AG.
The DB11's design is largely similar to its predecessor, but includes new features like new roof stakes separating the body from the roof. The most powerful DB11 comes with a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12, making it the first turbocharged Aston Martin.
3 McLaren We’d Rather Have: 720S
In 2017, McLaren announced it was starting a new 'Super Series' of high-performance supercars. Introduced in 2017, the 720S was the second all-new car in the series, replacing the 650S.
The 720S was a huge improvement over the 650S. It's built on a modified carbon monocoque chassis, which is lighter and stiffer than the 650S chassis. It also uses a better engine - a 4.0-liter twin-turbo M840T V8 producing 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque.
2 Awesome Aston Martin: Vantage
The 'Vantage' nameplate has been used on several Aston Martin models since the '70s. The latest Vantage, which debuted in 2018, is just as good as the others, if not better.
The Vantage uses a Mercedes-Benz powertrain and infotainment system. Its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 produces 503 ponies, giving it a 0-60 of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 195 mph.
1 McLaren We’d Rather Have: P1
2013 was a fantastic year for the auto industry, as we saw the ‘Hybrid Trinity’ of supercars. Ferrari built the amazing La Ferrari, Porsche built the 918 Spyder, and McLaren built the P1.
The P1 was the first production car McLaren built since the F1, and it turned out to be a huge hit. Its gorgeous design was perfectly complemented by a powerful hybrid drivetrain producing 903 hp.