With electrification and hybridization grabbing today's headlines, the automotive landscape is seismically shifting as we roll more profoundly into the 21st Century. Automakers are also making gigantic leaps through advances in autonomous driving, app-driven features, and ubiquitous ride platforms. In the last two decades, the industry has witnessed apex supercar models that boast a potent mix of innovative designs, immersive luxury, ingenious engineering, unmatched quality, and revolutionary technology through these advancements.
Although some of these engineering marvels might be the last of their ilk, these supercars are memorable and have undoubtedly inspired the younger demographic to become motoring enthusiasts. They have topped most gearheads' wishlists, graced uncountable wallpapers, and dominated the roads with an unmistakable presence. As we transition toward a new era of supercars, we took a look at the automotive journey and compiled a list of the greatest supercars of the 21st Century.
10 Maserati MC12
The two-seater mid-engine coupe-spyder MC12 (meaning 'Maserati Corse, 12-Cylinder) produced between 2004 and 2005 represents Maserati's most extreme performance form. Interestingly, Maserati built the MC12 Stradale version to homologate the model for international GT racing. Of the 62 examples produced, 12 units were the GT1 MCC race car versions, which ran a highly successful campaign, collecting 14 FIA GT series titles and 19 wins overall.
The MC12's technology relied on the Ferrari Enzo for inspiration, but Maserati engineers and designers made substantial modifications to the chassis, engine, and aerodynamics. An Enzo 6.0-liter V-12 powers the MC12 to a peak of 630hp at 7,500 rpm, making it the fastest Maserati road car ever made with an astounding 205mph top speed.
9 Lamborghini Huracán Performante
The Huracán Performante, produced between 2017 and 2019, reworked Lamborghini's concept of super sports cars by taking performance to new levels. Equipped with a 640hp 5.2-liter V10, LP6104-sourced all-wheel-drive transmission, and special Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, the Huracan Performante set a new world record for performance at the Nürburgring by clocking 6:52.01. Top speed is rated at over 201mph, while 0-60mph arrives at 2.9 seconds.
The secret ingredient was the innovative Aerodynamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA), an active aerodynamic system developed and patented by Lamborghini. The system involved the extensive use of patented Forged Composites, a complex yet shapeable form of carbon fiber material that allowed for the Huracan Performante's remarkable beauty, extraordinary airflow modification, and shaving almost 88lbs in weight reduction.
8 Aston Martin One-77
The first indication of the AM One-77's true potential was winning the Design Award for Concept and Prototypes at Lake Como's 2009 Concorso d'Eleganza Ville d'Este. Limited to just 77 examples, the rare and outstanding AM One-77 reinterpreted traditional and contemporary elements of an Aston Martin while staying true to its GT heritage.
Tucked behind the front axle is the One-77's main event, a monstrous, bespoke Cosworth 7.2-liter V-12 rated at 730hp and 553lb-ft of torque. Upon introduction, the One-77 boasted the most powerful naturally aspirated engine globally, achieving over 220mph top speed and sprinting from 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds. Today, this exceptional supercar is still the fastest production car from Aston Martin's production lines.
7 Pagani Huayra Roadster BC
Pagani first introduced the Huayra in 2011 to succeed the game-changing Zonda. Several Huayra iterations have debuted since then, but the 2020 Huayra Roadster BC is arguably one of the craziest and most notable. Pagani unveiled exclusive composite technologies based on carbon-titanium and carbon fiber to offer a 20% increase in flexional rigidity and 12% torsional rigidity, not to mention significant weight reduction.
The Huayra Roadster BC boasts a bespoke 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 developed by Mercedes-AMG, paired to a seven-speed Xtrac automated manual single-clutch transmission to deliver 791hp at 5,900 rpm and 774lb-ft of torque from 2,000 to 5,600 rpm. And with a surprising dry weight of 2,756lbs, this supercar is undoubtedly one of the lightest V12 cars on the market, capable of reaching an estimated 230mph.
6 Porsche 918 Spyder
The 918 Spyder joined Porsche's exclusive pantheon of supercars in 2013, standing on a pedestal as one of the most cutting-edge tech-forward vehicles from Stuttgart's finest. The landmark hypercar was the first to introduce hybrid drive technology, targeting the use of two electric motors and a combustion engine to exploit the specific benefits of each power unit.
The result? The Porsche 918 Spyder achieved a lap time of 6:57 at the Nürburgring, becoming the first modern Porsche to beat the seven-minute mark. The hybrid drive involves a 608hp 4.6-liter V-8 engine and two combined electric motors that offer an extra 286hp, allowing the 918 Spyder to achieve a 214mph top speed and hit 0-60mph in 2.2 seconds.
5 McLaren P1
After hybrid technology had made its mark in the World Endurance Championship, it became the overarching performance principle for McLaren when the P1 supercar arrived in 2013. Like the iconic F1 road car, the P1 utilized a mid-engine rear-wheel-drive layout with a similar MonoCage concept that McLaren rigorously tested in the coldest and hottest climates.
The P1 hybrid powertrain consists of a 727hp 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 and an electric motor good for 177hp, a potent mix that propels it to an impressive 217mph top speed. Besides adding power, the electric motor also doubled as a turbo-lag solution by delivering electric torque to compensate for the turbo gaps. Unlike its competition at the time, the McLaren P1 allowed for a fully electric mode, with approximately 30 miles of range.
4 Ferrari LaFerrari
Company president Luca Di Montezemolo described the LaFerrari as the maximum expression of what defines Ferrari, considering it boasted the most extreme performance of any Prancing Horse production car in 2013. Ferrari achieved the objective of increasing aerodynamic efficiency, lowering the center of gravity as far as possible, and delivering ideal weight distribution.
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Ferrari claimed that the LaFerrari's chassis had 22% more beam stiffness, 27% more torsional rigidity, and 20% lighter than the one in the Enzo. The LaFerrari was the first Ferrari production model to feature the F1-derived HY-KERS system. This hybrid solution highlights the supercar, combining the most potent incarnation of the classic naturally-aspirated Ferrari V12 with 789hp and an electric motor producing over 148hp. The top speed is rated at 218mph, while 0-60mph takes just 2.4 seconds.
3 Koenigsegg Regera
Swedish automaker Koenigsegg has made an indelible mark in the hypercar segment through its remarkable lineup of incredibly fast cars with surprising levels of practicality, creature comforts, and revolutionary technology. The Regera is undoubtedly one of the most interesting Koenigsegg models, boasting one of the most exotic hybrid powertrains to grace the auto world.
The Regera combines a potent twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter rear-mounted V-8 with three electric motors and cutting-edge battery power that constitute the ground-breaking Koenigsegg Direct Drive technology. The revolutionary technology discards the traditional gearbox, relying on one electric motor attached to the front of the crankshaft to power the battery and the rear motors attached to each rear wheel. The system delivers a 1,500hp output, enough for the Regera to achieve a 249mph top speed.
2 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+
Bugatti has been setting high benchmarks and redefining the hypercar space since the legendary Veyron, but none has done it better in recent years than the peerless Chiron Super Sport 300+. In 2009, a pre-production Bugatti Chiron Super Sport reached an unofficial record speed of 304.773mph at the Ehra-Lessien test track, becoming the first car to break the 300mph barrier.
Bugatti unveiled the carbon fiber-bodied Chiron Super Sport 300+, limited to 30 examples, to celebrate the record-breaking car and Bugatti's 110 years in Molsheim. The Chiron Super Sport 300+ currently wears the crown for the fastest Bugatti hyper sports car, boasting a quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engineering masterpiece with a monstrous output of 1,600hp.
1 Rimac Nevera
The Nevera name was first given to a quick, sudden, and mighty Mediterranean storm, but the Rimac electric hypercar that inherited the name lived up to the reputation. The Nevera's structure houses a 6,960-cell, 120kWh nickel/manganese/lithium battery that powers four permanent magnet motors on each wheel to achieve a mind-boggling 1.4 megawatts of output.
The sophisticated powertrain delivers 1,914hp and 1,741lb-ft of torque, managed by an innovative Rimac All-Wheel Torque Vectoring system to provide efficiency, agility, stability, and safety. Rimac claims a top speed of 256mph and a 1.85-second 0-60 time, while battery range stands at 340 miles using the WLTP testing standard. Interestingly, the Nevera achieves 186mph in 9.3 seconds, faster than an F1 car despite the 4,740lb weight.