The European automobile space is right at the forefront when it comes to supercars. It is the home of powerhouses like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and McLaren. They have produced countless iconic models over the years and the last decade was no different when it comes to some of the most memorable cars that emerged from that period.
The 2010s represented a time that European automakers explored new ideas and refined existing technology to create masterpieces that created big ripples in the marketplace and, in many cases, propelled the companies to new highs in terms of sale and brand power.
With the dawn of the new decade, and along with it new automotive technologies and design directions, we've decided to compile the 10 greatest supercars Europe gave us in the past 10 years.
10 Ferrari 458 Speciale
The 458 Speciale is arguably one of the best modern supercars that emerged from the last decade. Under the hood lay a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8 engine that revved all the way to 9,000 rpm, producing 597 hp in the process.
The hardcore mid-engine Ferrari was about 90kg lighter than the 458 Italia and the gear-ratio had been reworked for an even quicker response. The best part of this was that Ferrari decided to make an open-top version – the 458 Speciale Aperta. It meant you could enjoy the banshee howl of the engine without reserve, together with everything else the car had to offer.
9 McLaren 720S
Sleek lines and striking design cues came together very nicely indeed in this supercar package. The McLaren 720S first launched in 2017 and instantly captivated the automobile world with its looks and stance. It is not just all about the beauty too, Caranddriver described the car as a streetcar with F1-like performance.
The car is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 710 hp and 568 pound-feet of torque, good enough for a top speed of 212 mph and an insane drag strip performance.
8 Audi R8
In the age of turbochargers and hybrid powertrains, the Audi R8 continues to soldier on with its naturally aspirated V10 powerplant – there are few complaints about that. The car was first introduced in 2006 and it was a pretty decent supercar but it was the upgrades of the last decade that really established the reputation of the R8 as a fully-fledged supercar albeit one which was still refined enough to be driven on busy streets.
The V10 engine has been tweaked and can produce more than 600 hp (in the V10 Plus models). The result is a car that sprints to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.
7 McLaren 675LT
The McLaren 675LT is one of the greatest McLaren cars ever made. The car was based on the 650S but is closer to the insane P1 in terms of performance. It was the company’s answer to the hardcore 458 Speciale and the results suggest they did not do badly at all.
It was built for the track but can still handle regular street driving with surprising ease. There is a reason the car has a perfect rating score of 10 by Top Gear.
6 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
The SLS AMG is gone now, replaced by the AMG GT series. However, memories of this German supercar from the last decade till abound. Who can forget those iconic doors, a nod to the 50s Mercedes 300SL Gullwing? The car was much more than just making a design statement though; it was also a very capable one.
That ridiculously long nose packed a massive 6.2-Liter V8 that produced 563 hp and could propel the car to 100 mph in 8 seconds. The base model SLS AMG eventually spurned other variants such as the SLS AMG GT and the hardcore SLS AMG Black Series.
5 Lamborghini Aventador
When it comes to their V12 flagships, Lamborghini usually takes it time. The Aventador that launched in 2011 was only the fifth time in about 50 years that the company had introduced a new V12 supercar.
The raging bull, with its naturally aspirated powerplant, was a resounding success and is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable supercars from the last decade. The original model has since led to the introduction of other variants like the Aventador SV and more recently, the Aventador SVJ. The eventual replacement will have very big shoes to fill indeed.
4 Porsche 911 Turbo
The Porsche 911 series cars form the backbone of the Porsche brand. It was first produced in 1963 and has shown no signs of slowing down, several generations later. The 911 Turbo sits near the apex of the model lineup and upgrades during the last decade qualify the car for this list.
The engine setup has been gradually tweaked to its current form in the 2020 model where it produces about 600 hp. Combine all that power with characteristic Porsche handling and driving experience and what you get is a clear winner.
3 Lamborghini Huracan
Any car that was going to replace the Lamborghini Gallardo had to be something really special. After all, the Gallardo is one of Lamborghini’s most successful models, selling over 14,000 units during a 10-year production run. Well, the Huracan has proven to be a very capable replacement.
It turned to be a darling of the car community and the newer variants like the Performante and the Huracan Evo will ensure it remains so for the foreseeable future. In October 2019, the Huracan broke the Gallardo production record after the 14,022nd unit rolled off the production line – and the Huracan only needed 5 years to do that!
2 Aston Martin Vanquish
The Aston Martin Vanquish is one supercar that’s able to deliver insane levels of performance with the driver cocooned in a very plush interior cabin space. The car is powered by a v12 engine that produces 565 bhp and 457 pound-feet of torque.
It will get the car to 60 mph in just over 3 seconds before maxing out at a top speed of 201 mph. Those are very impressive numbers for a car that still retains driver comfort as a top priority.
1 Ferrari F8 Tributo
In 2016, Ferrari ditched naturally aspirated powerplants for turbochargers in its new mid-engine supercar, the 488GTB. Then, it took all the lessons it had learned from that car, added a few tweaks, and debuted the F8 Tributo in 2019. The car packs a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that cranks out 710 hp and 568 pound-feet of torque.
Ferrari has also been able to eliminate turbo lag with this beauty, meaning you will feel the full punch as the car accelerates to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds before rocketing on to a 211 mph top speed.