Who hasn't turned around when faced with a magnificent supercar? Who hasn't imagined themselves behind the wheel of one of these racing cars? Performance, design, technology, and exceptional design are all concentrated in these dream cars!
Supercars inspire considerable public fascination, embodying luxury, glamour, success, and remarkable technological prowess. They occupy a prominent place in popular culture. They regularly appear in films, video games, and social media, where they inspire admiration and desire.
Some passionate teenagers, aged 15 to 17, have dedicated Instagram accounts to these cars. They wait hours to immortalize these cars, like stars, on the streets of the capital, and share their photos in the hope of garnering "likes."
And the drivers love it! Some meet up every week to cruise the streets of Paris in their vehicles, each more powerful than the last, to the delight of all enthusiasts.
These cars are true legends. Their appeal is such that some entrepreneurs have turned them into a business! This is the case of the company Drive Me, which offers a 20-minute tour of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Paris (Eiffel Tower, Élysée Palace, Place de la Concorde, Musée des Invalides, etc.) in a Lamborghini Huracan Syder or a Ferrari California Turbo. For a brief moment, you become a hero, rich, powerful, and successful at everything.
Others, collectors, don't hesitate to invest considerable sums. Prices are soaring and reaching pharaonic amounts: more than 10 million euros for the 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti; more than 3 million for the 2007 Maserati MC12 Versione Corsa; or the 2016 Ferrari LaFerrari, which fetched 3,95 million at the last RM Sotheby's auction in Paris in January 2024.
Between investment and dream
An investment? Certainly! But it's also a dream we want to treat ourselves to.
As we enter the all-electric era, the green era, the No Car era, the craze for supercars remains strong.
It's true that in the automotive world, they represent the pinnacle of performance, design, and technology. These vehicles, often produced in limited quantities, offer an unrivaled combination of speed, power, and aesthetics.
The origins of supercars date back to the 1960s, with the production of vehicles that pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible at the time. The Lamborghini Miura, launched in 1966, is often considered the world's first supercar, thanks to its mid-rear engine layout and exceptional performance: 350 hp and a top speed of 280 km/h. Extraordinary for the time!
Since then, the supercar industry has continued to evolve. The 80s and 90s saw the arrival of iconic models such as the Ferrari F40 and McLaren F1, which set new standards in terms of speed and technology. At the beginning of the 21st century, the introduction of supercars like the Bugatti Veyron ushered in an era where speeds of over 400 km/h became possible.
Additionally, these exceptional cars play a key role in the development of new automotive technologies. Many of their innovations, particularly in energy efficiency, lightweight materials, and safety systems, find their way into vehicles that are more accessible to the general public.
Power and performance
What sets them apart from other cars is a concentration of several technical and aesthetic characteristics:
First and foremost, the engine's power. Typically equipped with V8, V10, or V12 engines, they offer extreme performance, with power outputs often exceeding 500 horsepower and acceleration times of just a few seconds.
The Bugatti Bolide is one of the fastest in the world, with a power output of 1850 horsepower! It can reach 500 km/h and go from 2,2 to 0 km/h in 100 seconds.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie has 1155 horsepower and can reach a top speed of 402 km/h.
They also owe their ability to reach such speeds to their design, which is optimized to reduce air resistance and improve stability at high speeds. This allows designers to give free rein to their imagination and create sleek, flowing lines that accentuate the car's aerodynamics.
This is the case of the Lamborghini Revuelto, which combines classic Lamborghini proportions with strong, sculpted lines.
In addition, the extensive use of lightweight and strong materials, such as carbon fiber and aluminum, helps reduce weight and improve performance. At Porsche, on the occasion of the 60e To celebrate the 911's anniversary, engineers equipped the 911 S/T with forged magnesium wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes. The front fenders, like the hood, were made from lightweight materials to create a lighter 911.
Technologies
Supercars also incorporate cutting-edge technologies, such as active suspension systems, dual-clutch transmissions, and driver assistance systems, to maximize performance and safety. They include high-end connectivity. They play a key role in the development of new automotive technologies, particularly in the use of new energies, such as hybrid or electric.
McLaren's new Artura Spider, the first ever hybrid convertible, is one such example. It is distinguished by its 6-litre V3 powertrain coupled with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 700 hp, making it the lightest convertible supercar in its class, with a power-to-weight ratio of 480 hp/tonne.
Just like the Rimac Nevera, fully electric, which can reach 412 km/h with an acceleration of 1,81 s.
They illustrate this evolution towards alternative energy sources, while others are exploring hydrogen. Curiously, this gas inspires softness and curves for manufacturers, unlike more angular electric cars. This is what Uedelhoven and Felix Godard Design, with their study of the style of the Machina.
Exclusivity and customization
Beyond their technical prowess, supercars represent a dream of exclusivity. They are often produced in limited editions, which reinforces their unique and desirable character. As a result, prices are skyrocketing...and so are lead times.
The Alfa Romeo #33 Stradale was built in just 33 units, all of which sold. Inspired by the Tipo 33, once a big name in world motorsport, Alfa Romeo designed this new model – already iconic in the 60s – with the aim of creating an authentic work of art in motion. “A few sensual and powerful lines, capable of arousing desire and strong emotions,” according to Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, the brand’s design director.
And it's this exclusivity that customers are looking for. Dreams, beauty, adventure. Owning a personalized car and being part of the very privileged club of owners of exceptional cars, both in its exterior design and in its interior, which combines the meticulous work of upholsterers, cabinetmakers, sheet metal workers, and painters...
Each manufacturer can offer customization and provide the customer with colors or options that are not usually offered.
The latter, in order to drive a unique model, can even call on renowned bodybuilders to further personalize their car.
This is the case of Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, whose design director Matteo Gentile unveiled for one of his Saudi clients theArese RH95 Vento D'Oro, based on a Ferrari.
All white, it reflects speed in particular with its golden bands in real 24 carat gold, affixed to the hood, the entire rear fairing, the side skirts and the rear diffuser. The interior also takes up this "decor"! Vent d'or lives up to its name!
"With supercars, you can design extremely creative models!" Indeed, after working at Seat, then Bugatti and Lamborghini, Matteo confirms that designing supercars generates more freedom in design and production than a production car, which is more constrained in industrialization. In his eyes, the supercar represents "glamour, luxury and exclusivity." A world that draws him into his passion and multiplies his creativity, whose priority is the human being.
Because man will always want to appropriate the exceptional, the future of supercars is assured and thanks to new technologies, an exciting new chapter in the history of supercars is opening, promising even more spectacular advances in speed, efficiency, respect for the environment and design! The road to the future is open…
Corinne Bedrossian
LI 12
Legends:
1- 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti. Photo credit: C. Riniotis
2- 2007 Maserati MC12 Versione Corsa. Photo credit: C. Riniotis
3- The Bugatti Bolide, one of the fastest supercars in the world. Photo credit: Bugatti
4-Aston Martin: The Aston Martin Valkyrie reaches 402 km/h. Photo credit: Aston Martin
5-Lamborghini: Lamborghini Revuelto. Photo credit: Lamborghini
6- Porsche 911 S/T made from lightweight materials. Photo credit: Porsche
7- McLaren Artura Spider, the first ever hybrid convertible. Photo credit: McLaren
8- Rimac Nevera open with its butterfly doors. Photo credit: Rimac
9- Style study of the Machina by FGD and Uedelhoven. Photo credit: FGD
10- Alfa Romeo #33 Stradale, produced in 33 units. Photo credit: Alfa Romeo
11: Arese RH95 Vento D'Oro customized for Saudi Arabia. Photo credit: Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera
12- Mercedes AMG GT43 coupe 2-liter AMG turbo engine with 421 hp. Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz
