We are in the midst of a super sports car renaissance. Never before has there been so a diverse and exotic mix of offerings accessible within this bloated segment of the performance car market, each car with its own unique set of attributes and mechanical nuances.
From brutal hooligans to more forward-thinking mid-engined hybrids, the list of 10 cars below has something for everyone. There's a car for everyone in this class, but the ones listed below are our favorites.
Ferrari Roma
The Ferrari Roma is a new, more inexpensive Ferrari that looks and feels like an older model. The V8-powered, front-engined, two-plus-two-seater coupe shares its base with the Portofino but has aesthetics and handling appeal far beyond that convertible's reach. It's most like Maranello's popular 550 Maranello of the late 1990s in spirit, if not in every way: a compact, temptingly attainable, daily-useable sporting GT (which, by the way, also ranks highly in our super GT top ten) with the performance, excitement factor, and handling vivacity of a proper Ferrari, but with a cabin and character you could really put miles on.
The Roma's 3.9-litre turbo V8 engine produces over 600 horsepower and a top speed of just over 200mph; however, this is the modern Prancing Horse in more relaxed form, and it's the car's surprisingly comfortable and sophisticated-feeling interior that really stands out, which is easy to berth, well equipped with the latest technological mod cons, and tempting to simply spend time in.
Aston Martin DB11 V8
The Aston Martin DB11 V8 is the Vantage's bigger sibling. The V8 is the base model, and it is the one that most qualifies the car to be considered a true driver's car. And, given that it ranks in the top half of this list, you can assume that it meets the criteria fairly well.
With tyre sound and some rustling of air moving over the base of the A-pillar, it isn't the most elegant car in its class. The cabin atmosphere is old-school opulent, with plenty of brogued leather if you want it. The car's interior isn't nearly as technologically sophisticated as it could be, and not all of its components have the same tangibly solid feel - but it still impresses.
If you're in a DB11 V8, the AMG-sourced engine in the front sets the tone for what this car is capable of dynamically. It's quite intuitive to maneuver and has a beautiful sense of balance in its handling.
Audi R8
The technical connection between the Audi R8 and the company's motorsport ambitions is obvious. The car is a visceral, one-of-a-kind ode to performance and power, noise and revs, grip and traction. It's a blast to drive, albeit it's not nearly as well-rounded, communicative, or entertaining as the best supercars.
When we first drove the new R8, we saw that it had lost some of the character of the previous model, in favor of a more computerized form. With the launch of the R8 RWD - which, predictably, does away with the front-drive axle - a large portion of that character has been restored. The handling on this new series-production model may lack some of the talkativity of the Porsche 911 Turbo S, but underneath the aggressive look is an enjoyable and approachable - if not completely immersive - super sports car.
V10 Performance RWD (562bhp) and V10 Performance (612bhp) versions of the car are now available, with closed-roof coupe or open-top Spyder bodies.
Porsche 911 turbo S
Porsche's ruthlessly fast, incomparably usable four-wheel-drive performance icon returns for the '992' generation, and is once again one among the world's fastest point-to-point cars. Four-wheel drive and a new 641bhp twin-turbocharged engine combine to provide a 2.6-second 0-62mph time and a peak speed comfortably north of 200mph. You can also expect a first-class cabin with palpable luxury allure, as well as a level of under-the-radar subtlety absent from some of the more extrovert cars on this list, as with other Porsche 911s in the current range.
And that's a big part of the appeal of the Turbo S, which also comes in a cheaper, slightly less predatory 'Turbo'-badged version. Despite its frenetic speed, it doesn't scream wherever it travels, and its ability to consume long distances and a lot of luggage makes it a genuine option to GT-oriented rivals like the Aston Martin DB11.
Naturally, it'll give you a rush like few others on a back road. The driver has options thanks to intuitive steering and a touch of rear-biased weight distribution, though the Porsche isn't nearly as dynamic or engaging as some of the other cars on this list.
Mercedes-AMG GT-R Pro
The GT is an even more perplexing addition to the sports car world than the Mercedes-Benz SLS was, with the spaceframe underbody structure of a supercar, an engine from a muscle saloon, suspension tuned for maximum attack on the track, and yet the practicality and luxury feel of an elegant coupé, or roadster.
In 2017, Affalterbach debuted the more hardcore '-R' version of the car, as its ambitions to break into the GT-car market of nearby Porsche developed. The first version increased power to 577bhp, which is still the case. The extra track-focused GT-R Pro version that arrived in 2019 had some chassis and suspension adjustments as well as aerodynamic improvements, but the car's powertrain remained mostly unchanged.
When compared to rivals in this table, the GT-R is a bulldog; the kind of car that will pound a bump into submission rather than breathe over it, and that may seem fantastically over-powered when the electronic aids are turned off. It's entertaining primarily because it's so straightforward and unreconstructed, yet driving it successfully necessitates a great deal of precision, ability, and devotion on the part of the driver.
Nissan GT-R Nismo
The Nissan GT-R has been around for more than a decade, but it is still one of the fastest and most capable super sports cars money can buy. This is built upon in the hardcore Nismo version.
For even more agility, there's a more aggressive aero kit that includes a large rear wing, increased torsional rigidity, and modified springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars. Nissan claims that these changes make the GT-R Nismo even more fun to drive at high speeds, which can only be a good thing. Its steering is remarkably incisive and accurate, and the fact that it prefers to transfer power backwards to bring its rear end into play confirms Nissan's improvements have worked as intended.
Of course, it's still lightning fast in a straight line. Its 3.8-liter V6 engine delivers 592bhp and 481lb ft of torque, thanks to twin turbos used from Nissan's GT-R GT3 race car. Nissan doesn't provide an official 0-60mph time, but it's a safe bet that it'll be less than 3.0 seconds.
The GT-R Nismo may be getting on in years, but it's still as ruthlessly effective as ever.
Corvette C8
The Corvette has gone mid-engined in its newest edition. Yes, that's a significant development - but not one that anyone should be concerned about, as it turns out. The C8 provides a 475bhp naturally aspirated V8, an unusual and dramatic cockpit, and really well-honed mid-engined characteristics for roughly £75,000 in the UK. It's not as precise or feelsome as the now-discontinued McLaren 570S, and it lacks the poise and accuracy of an Audi R8 or Porsche 911 Turbo, but there's meat on the bone here for those who enjoy the process of driving, as well as a level of polish that many won't expect.
To be honest, I'm not sure you can call yourself a true car lover if you don't like how this car sounds and how passionate and genuine its character is. And if you can't appreciate how much better a sports car the Corvette has become – whether it's the kind of sports car you prefer or the departure from the sporting norm it once was — we'd say you're not giving it a fair chance. That's all there is to it.
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