Supercar

Supercar /soo-per-kar/ noun (countable)

A supercar is a type of very high-performance, exotic, and expensive sports car, defined by its dramatic styling, advanced construction, and capabilities far in excess of what is usable on a public road. This is the automotive equivalent of a fighter jet, a machine of such uncompromised performance and theatrical styling that its natural habitat is a bedroom wall poster. A supercar is absurdly, intimidatingly fast, a collection of motorsport-derived technologies and exotic materials wrapped in a body designed to stop traffic. It is a car defined by its excesses, from a stratospheric price tag to a top speed that can only be legally explored on a German autobahn or a runway.

The Full Story of the Supercar

The term "supercar" is a fluid one, an accolade bestowed by the public and press on a shifting cast of automotive heroes. What counts as a supercar keeps changing; the capabilities of a 1970s icon are now easily matched by a modern family saloon. The story began in earnest in 1966 with the Lamborghini Miura. Its breathtaking styling and thunderous V12 engine mounted transversely behind the driver set the template for everything that followed. It was a racing car let loose on the road.

For decades, Italy owned the supercar. The workshops of Modena and Sant'Agata produced a dynasty of flamboyant, outrageous machines from Ferrari and Lamborghini. Cars like the Countach and the Ferrari F40 were the stuff of fantasy, temperamental, difficult to drive, and utterly captivating. They were exercises in pure automotive drama.

Britain had no answer for years. Then in 1992, the McLaren Formula One team, then the most dominant force in motorsport, decided to build a road car. The McLaren F1 redefined everything. Designed by Gordon Murray with a fanatical obsession for light weight, it featured the first carbon fibre monocoque chassis on a road car, a unique central driving position that placed the driver in the middle like a fighter pilot, and an engine bay lined with gold foil for heat reflection. Powered by a magnificent, naturally aspirated BMW V12, it held the record for the world's fastest production car for over a decade.

The F1 was joined by the Jaguar XJ220, a famously troubled machine that also briefly held the speed record. At the more brutish end, small-volume makers like TVR and Noble produced raw, uncompromising cars with genuine top-tier capabilities and a healthy disdain for electronic driver aids.

Today, the supercar has evolved into the "hypercar," a new stratosphere of hybrid-powered, multi-million-pound machines. Britain remains competitive here. McLaren, now a fully-fledged series-production rival to Ferrari, produced the P1 hybrid hypercar, and continues to build some of the most dynamically capable supercars in the world.

For The Record

What was the first supercar? 

While some earlier cars had extraordinary pace for their time, most critics and historians agree that the 1966 Lamborghini Miura, with its mid-mounted V12 engine and breathtaking styling, was the first car to truly establish the supercar template.

What is the difference between a supercar and a hypercar?

A hypercar is the next level up. It describes the absolute pinnacle of automotive technology, typically a limited-production model with a seven-figure price tag and performance that makes a regular supercar look sluggish. The McLaren P1 is a hypercar; a McLaren 720S is a supercar.

Why is the McLaren F1 so special?

It was designed with a Formula One engineer's obsessive focus on light weight, aerodynamics, and packaging. Its central driving position, carbon fibre chassis, and naturally aspirated V12 created a pure and intense driving experience that has arguably never been surpassed.

Did Jaguar really build the XJ220?

Yes, but its development was famously troubled. The original 1988 concept car had a V12 engine and all-wheel drive. Due to development costs and a recession, the 1992 production car arrived with a twin-turbo V6 (derived from the Metro 6R4 rally car) and rear-wheel drive. Many wealthy customers who had placed deposits were not amused.

Are supercars practical to own?

Absolutely not. They are often too wide for city streets, too low for speed bumps, have terrible visibility, attract a huge amount of unwanted attention, and cost a fortune to buy, insure, and service. Owning one is an exercise in managing a series of expensive and glorious inconveniences.