Although “supercar” may have its origins in the early twentieth century (the 1936 Duesenberg is considered by some auto historians to be the first), the term first came into use in the 1950s. Early participants in the supercar segment included the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette C1 and the 1954 Mercedes 300SL.

In the mid-1980, the “supercar” segment really took off with the introduction of two high-performance cars from Italy and Germany. In 1986, Porsche announced the 959, and in the following year, Ferrari released the F40. Most enthusiasts consider these two to be the first supercars.

Today, the “supercar” designation is sometimes used interchangeably with an exotic car, but there is no clear definition, and its use is entirely subjective.

Joseph Moss of International Banker wrote, “There is no official definition of the word, but we may say that the supercar is a race car-inspired street machine with a dramatically more powerful engine compared to the sports car, and with enough luxurious features to make driving on the road possible.”

Autocar addresses the emotional impact, “defining whether a car is a supercar comes down, as it always did, to blind prejudice. A supercar isn’t about stats; it’s about a mindset. Does it make you go a bit tingly? Yes? It’s probably a supercar.”

Among the numerous cars in the supercar class, many of them are equipped with mid-engines. While all these cars display exception performance characteristics, we believe the 2020 McLaren 720S is the best in its class, and these are reasons why.

Essential Qualities Of A Supercar

Via: Autocar
McLaren 720S Spider and 600LT Spider Global Test Drive - Arizona - Jan-Feb 2019 Copyright Free Ref: _MD_0142 1.jpg

For this analysis, a supercar should have performance and aesthetic design characteristics superior to the run-of-the-mill sports car. The supercars reviewed had an MSRP of more than $100,000 but less than $1,000,000. While there are a few mid-engined sportscars under the $100,000 price (the Corvette C8 is an example) that arguably could be considered supercars, they are not included here. Also, those cars that sell for more than $1,000,000 generally fall into the hypercar class and are also excluded.

Unbridled Horsepower

Supercars can be distinguished from sports cars by their level of power, sufficient to strike fear in the hearts of most drivers. A typical supercar boasts more than 500 horsepower and a high level of torque that ranges from low speeds through speeds not legal on most roads. The sheer power is overwhelming for most drivers at first but clearly separates the class from the lower-performing sports car category.

As a result, many road-legal supercars drive as though they belong only on the racetrack. The McLaren 720S is one exception with features that make it a viable daily driver.

Unparalleled Handling

While the pure power of a supercar can be mind-blowing, handling is perhaps a better performance gauge (high-output muscle cars have exceptional acceleration in a straight line but fall a bit short when negotiating a corner).

When approaching a turn at high speed in a supercar, the confidence that the vehicle can be pushed to limit without losing traction or breaking off the apex even once is irreplaceable. Such performance only comes from countless engineering hours dedicated to developing the perfectly balanced suspension.

Impact of Technology on Supercars

Changes in technology are having a significant impact on all vehicle categories. These include self-driving modes, advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, collision warning, and much more.

However, the advancements in powertrains are having the most significant impact on supercars. Supercar makers have exploited green technology for power gains. The powertrains are no longer limited to the internal combustion engine, but they include the hybrids, plugin-hybrids, and pure electric platforms. The BMW i8 and the latest hybrid Honda NSX are two examples.

Limited Production

The Economic Times defines the basic principle of Supply and Demand: “Definition: Law of supply states that other factors remaining constant, price, and quantity supplied of a good are directly related to each other. In other words, when the price paid by buyers for a product rises, then suppliers increase the supply of that product in the market.”

By contrast, when the supply is kept low, the price remains high or goes even higher. The limited production of supercars contributes to their high prices.

The Exotic Style

While the supercar is designed more for performance, its appearance is an essential factor in its classification. The sleek, flowing curves, exceptional aerodynamics, and throaty attention-getting exhaust notes draw the observer’s attention from near or far. Supercars are indeed works of art.

RELATED: Ferrari Vs Lamborghini: Who Really Has The Faster Supercars?

Top Mid-Engined Supercars of 2020

Top supercars in the class
Via: Auto Express

The mid-engined supercar category is full of high-performance cars with all the essential qualities of a supercar that compete well against the McLaren 720S. These are the best in the 2020 class:

Acura NSX

500-horsepower twin-turbo 3.5L V6, one 50-hp electric motor, two 36-hp electric motors. combined output: 573 horsepower, 9-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel-drive, $159,495

Audi R8

562-horsepower 5.2L V10, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive, $171,150.

BMW i8

228-horsepower turbo 1.5L inline-three, 141-hp electric motor, combined output of 369 hp, six-speed dual-clutch engine automatic, two-speed electric motor automatic, all-wheel drive, $149,495 (2019 price).

Ferrari F8 Tributo

710-horsepower twin-turbo 3.9L V8, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive, $274,280.

Ferrari SF90 Stradale

769-horsepower twin-turbo 4.0L V8, three electric motors produce 217 hp, combined output of 986 hp, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive, $600,000 (estimated).

Lamborghini Aventador

740-horsepower (770-hp) 6.5-liter V12, seven-speed automated manual, all-wheel drive, $421,321 (2019 pricing).

Lamborghini Huracan Evo 

631-horsepower 5.2L V10, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive, $261,274.

McLaren 570S

562-horsepower twin-turbo 3.8L V8, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive, $195,000.

McLaren 600LT

592-horsepower twin-turbo 3.8L V8,seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive, $256,500.

McLaren GT

612-horsepower twin-turbo 4.0L V8, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive, $213,195.

RELATED: 10 Insane Off-Roading Supercars

The 2020 McLaren 720S is the Best of the Best

2020 McLaren 720s doors open
Via: Supercars Gallery

McLaren offers the 720s in coupe and convertible versions, both powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V-8 that generates 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. A paddle-shifted seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission delivers all that power to the rear wheels.

Although the McLaren lacks the manual transmission of classic sports cars, its absence is no compromise. The paddle-shifting dual-clutch version will outperform any traditional 3-pedal clutch method and provide just as much entertainment.

Car and Driver tests showed the 720S coupe accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.7 seconds and reached 100 mph in a blistering 5.3 seconds. The car magazine also tested the 720S on challenging California mountain roads. Test drivers claimed “[the McLaren’s] advanced suspension was able to smooth out imperfections and the steering system was a communicative companion. The whole experience was further evidence that McLaren has unrivaled chassis tuning.”

The McLaren 720S has been compared to a Formula 1 race car, made distinctive by the dihedral doors and a skull-like expression that transitions into a slippery convex bodywork.

Both the coupe and the convertible body styles feature world-class steering, exceptional ride dexterity, and unparalleled stopping power. Innumerable custom options are available, making each 720S unique, providing the owner with the ultimate racecar driver experience.

RELATED: 2020 McLaren GT Review: A Supercar You Can Drive Every Day

The 2020 McLaren 720s is worth the Price

Silver 2020 McLaren 720s
Via: Ars Technica

The McLaren 720S has a starting price of $301,500, placing it closer to the less expensive supercars in the category, between the Lamborghini Huracan Evo at $261,274 and the Ferrari SF90 Stradale at an estimated $600,000.

Car and Driver Magazine says the supercar features “spellbinding appearance, F1-like performance for the street, and a Spider's open-air cockpit [that is} both mesmerizing to look at and hypnotizing to drive.

With performance characteristics equal to or better than its competitors, the McLaren 720S is the best mid-engined supercar in its class and well worth the price.

Sources: autoblog.com, caranddriver.com, marshallgoldmanoh.com, autocar.co.uk

NEXT: Here Are 10 Of The Fastest Hybrid Hypercars Ever Made