The Thrilling World of Sports Cars: Top 50 Best of All Time

Table of Contents

Acura NSX (First Gen)

World’s First Production Aluminum Body
Mid Engine 3.0 and later 3.2 VTEC V6 with suspension tuned by Ayrton Senna
Built by Honda in a dedicated Japanese plant between 1989 and 2005

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

Formula1 inspired aerodynamics offer 397 lbs of downforce, the most for any street-legal Aston Martin
Twin turbo 5.2L V12 offers 715 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque
Carbon fiber body panels and titanium allow it to weigh in at only 3,732 lbs
0-100 mph in 6.4 seconds. When locked in 4th gear, 50-100 mph takes only 4.2 seconds. Top Speed: 211 mph

Audi R8 V10 Plus

Brilliant collaboration with Lamborghini that also yielded the Huracan Evo
5.2L V10 offers 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft to all wheels via dual-clutch transmission and quattro AWD
0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds, Top Speed: 205 mph

BMW M2 Competition

One of BMW’s last manual transmission cars
3.0L Straight Six has separate turbos for cylinders 1,2,3, and 4,5,6 to offer 405 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque
Same power with better fuel economy compared to M3 and M4

BMW M3 E46

An iconic design from Chris Bangle, credited for influencing a decade of future BMW models
First BMW to offer SMG single-clutch transmission with paddle shifters
Curb weight under 3,000 can be had with a few hours of work, easily the best handling 3-Series of all time

BMW M3 GTS Coupé E92

Street-legal race car featuring polycarbonate windows, no rear seats, and solid differential mounts
Limited to 135 cars, each one has camber adjustment plates and coil-over suspension
Ride height and corner weight are easily adjusted with included spanners
4.4-liter V8 offers 444 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. Last M3 coupe to be offered, succeeded by M4 in 2014

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BMW M4 GTS

Limited to 700 cars, each powered by a revised 3.0L straight six with twin turbos
Carbon fiber body panels and no rear seats make it 60 lbs lighter than standard M4
7:28 at the ‘Ring is as fast as the Carrera GT thanks to 493 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 (2014)

First factory-built 7-liter Camaro since 1969. Sharing the LS7 from the C6 Z06 to offer 505 horsepower and 481 lb-ft
No automatic transmission, six-speed manual only. Air Conditioning and radio were optional
305/30/19 Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tires at all corners, widest production front tire on a production car

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE (2018)

Most powerful production Camaro ever offered: 650 horsepower & 650 lb-ft of torque
6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission with Multimatic DSSV suspension
Supercharged 6.2L shared with C7 Corvette Z06 allowed it to lap the ‘Ring in 7:16.04, faster than 488 GTB

Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06

Naturally aspirated 7-liter V8 offers 505 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque
Magnesium roof panel welded on for extra strength. First Corvette to offer 6-piston front brake calipers
Easily achieves 30+ mpg on the highway

Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1

First Corvette to have carbon-ceramic brakes and supercharger from the factory, 638 HP & 604 lb-ft of torque
Polycarbonate hood window displays the supercharger while magnetic suspension keeps it glued to the road
Carbon fiber roof and front end are stronger and lighter than fiberglass used on lesser models

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06

First Z06 to be offered with targa roof or convertible bodies. Supercharged LT4 6.2-liter V8 offers 650 horsepower & lb-ft of torque
Seven-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission with standard magnetic ride control
Optional Z07 package adds aggressive aerodynamics and adjustable transparent rear spoiler

Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1

Last front-engine Corvette to be designed. Based on Z06 with all-new LT5 engine offering 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque
Improved cooling needs demanded 13 radiators, ZTK Performance Package offers 60% more downforce than Z06
First Corvette to feature direct and port fuel injection, and to have a supercharger protruding through a hole in the hood

Dodge Hellcat Redeye

Defined by a wide body and piercing red eyes from the intakes adjacent to the headlights. 6.2 HEMI offers 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft
Individual settings for steering, suspension, transmission, and launch control allow the driver to fine-tune the car to any situation
Power chiller briefly injects cold air from the AC into the supercharger while torque reserve holds boost for instant acceleration

Dodge Viper ACR 2010

Lighter, faster & meaner snake thanks to optional carpet, A/C, audio, and insulation
1,000 lbs of downforce at 150 mph with 600 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque from a naturally aspirated 8.4L V10
6th fastest production car to lap the ‘Ring in 2011

Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Timing chains replace the troublesome belts of the 360
Manual transmission replaced by F1 single-clutch sequential with paddle shifters
220 lbs lighter than the standard F430 thanks to aluminum floor pans and carbon fiber interior

Ferrari 458 Italia

First production Ferrari with a dual-clutch 7-speed transmission
Stronger and lighter chassis by Alcoa was the culmination of lessons learned on the 360 and F430
Last generation of naturally aspirated mid-engine V8 Ferraris
First Ferrari with pre-fill brakes, allowing the pads to hover over the rotors for instant pedal response

Ferrari 488 GTB

First production Berlinetta not designed by Pininfarina
Bold new design language by Ferrari Centro Stile has influenced their entire lineup
Twin-turbo 3.9L V8 is comprised of 488cc per cylinder and offers 661 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque

Ferrari 488 Pista

Extreme performance variant of the 488 series, their most powerful production V8
711 horsepower and 568 horsepower offered to Ferrari VIP clientele
200 lbs lighter than 488 GTB (3,042 lbs) with 20% more downforce

Ferrari 812 Superfast

Most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever produced: 789 horsepower & 530 lb-ft of torque
Active and passive aerodynamics along with rear-wheel steering allow it to feel and perform as a small coupe
A naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 and rear-wheel drive make it one of the top-ranked sports cars of all time

Ferrari SF90 Stradale

The SF90 Stradale showcases Ferrari’s expertise in hybrid technology, with a 4.0L V8 engine and three electric motors that together produce an astonishing 986 horsepower
Inside, the cockpit is modern and driver-centric, featuring a 16-inch digital display, touch-sensitive controls, and a steering wheel that incorporates most of the car’s functions
As Ferrari’s first sports car with plug-in hybrid architecture and all-wheel drive, the SF90 Stradale utilizes its electric front axle during low-speed maneuvers, enhancing agility and providing impressive torque vectoring

Ford GT (First Gen)

Never tell Bill Ford he can’t make our dreams come true. He wanted to show that Ford is still leading the world and he gathered a top-secret team of engineers
Each one is a hand-built supercar without compromise, with input from the original GT40 designer Carroll Shelby
Capable on the track and comfortable as a daily driver, it uses a mid-mounted, supercharged 5.4-liter V8

Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

First production American V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft. This allows it to rev to 9,000 rpm and sound like Formula1
It is 130 lbs lighter than the GT350 Track Pack thanks to losing rear seats, carpet, A/C, audio & spare tire kit
Carbon fiber wheels are standard and save 60 lbs of un-sprung weight

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Jaguar XE SV Project 8

Jaguar’s most powerful sedan ever made. Built to compete against M3, C63, and CTS-V
Only 300 cars were built, each one with 592 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque from a supercharged 5.0-liter V8
The carbon fiber body, race-tuned suspension, and All Wheel Drive make it the most desirable Jaguar in recent history

Lamborghini Aventador LP770-4 SVJ

The Super Veloce Jota is the ultimate Aventador. It uses a patented active aerodynamic system to decrease drag and improve downforce
Rear-wheel steering and AWD distribute 759 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque from a 6.5-liter V12
It set a new record for production cars at the ‘Ring, with a lap time of 6:44.97, making it one of the best sports cars in the world

Lamborghini Aventador SV

Limited edition of 600 cars devoid of luxury or insulation to save weight
110 lbs lighter than a normal Aventador, it also gained 50 horsepower for a total of 740
The first Lamborghini flagship to offer inboard magnetic suspension, the ride can instantly change from mild to wild

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

Engineers cut every ounce of excess weight to reach 2,954 lbs
Given 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, it was too much for many novice drivers, making them rare to find in perfect form
Without the nagging safety systems, this car will scare you and surprise you on every occasion

Lamborghini Huracan Performante

Extreme body and power upgrades make it an unprecedented special edition. The first Huracan with adjustable aero
Forged composites replaced carbon fiber to save 88 lbs compared to a normal Huracan
Chassis and suspension improvements from the Sesto Elemento were standard equipment
One of the world’s fastest-accelerating cars and one of the fastest around the ‘Ring

Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce

Limited to 186 examples, it was the first Lamborghini to reach 60 mph in 3 seconds flat
Carbon fiber inside and out dropped 220 lbs compared to a normal Murcielago, while offering 661 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque
Six cars were specially ordered with manual transmissions, making them the most desirable Lamborghinis since the Miura

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package

A technological Tour de Force, the LFA took a decade of development. Lexus built 500 LFAs in total, including 50 Nürburgring Editions
Yamaha was contracted to de-tune a Formula1 V10 to offer 563 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque
A lap time of 7:14.64 makes it the 5th fastest production car to lap the ‘Ring
Not only is it one of the best-looking sports cars, the LFA is one of the best-sounding sports cars

Lotus Elise

“Simplify, then add lightness” is the focus of all Lotus cars, and the Elise has been doing so since 1996
Building a track-tuned chassis around a turbocharged Toyota 1.8-liter makes for an incredible experience
With a curb weight of 2,055 lbs, it offers a power-to-weight ratio comparable to many supercars

McLaren 600LT

Based on the potent 570 Series, it shoots impressive flames from the exhaust tips
With 23% different parts than its predecessor, it is the ultimate example of their Sports Series
The manufacturer advertises 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, but most owners have reported much higher numbers from dyno tests

McLaren 720S

The McLaren 720S boasts a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine, producing a whopping 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque
McLaren’s signature dihedral doors with integrated air channels, directing air flow to the engine
The 720S is equipped with McLaren’s Proactive Chassis Control II system, enhancing driving dynamics and offering customizable driving modes

McLaren Senna

Following the F1 and P1, the Senna is the 3rd car in their Ultimate Series and an homage to Ayrton Senna
Loosely based on the 720S, it was the first McLaren to surpass the performance of the P1 and is undoubtedly one of the coolest sports cars ever
Engineers were told to optimize performance by all means possible. This includes Lexan doors, an active rear spoiler, and unprecedented power. A 4.0-liter V8 replaces the 3.8 and offers 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT-R Pro

Lessons learned in GT3 and GT4 racing led to a host of upgrades for the AMG GT-R
Unique coil-over suspension allows for individual spring pre-load and divorced controls for compression and rebound
The sway bars are also adjustable, the front is carbon fiber and the rear is steel. Every suspension mount is a ball-joint

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

Flared fenders, aggressive exhaust, and functional aerodynamics transformed the SL from retirement home to raging fury
Larger turbos and electronic wastegates offer instant boost. Carbon fiber replaced steel to save 551 lbs
The 6-liter V12 sent 661 horsepower and 738 lb-ft to the rear tires. It would have overpowered the chassis of the convertible, so a solid roof replaced the folding hardtop to hold the car together

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

The final example of the first supercar designed and built by AMG, it sent 622 horsepower and 468 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm
It used solid lifters and forged internals for a proper farewell to the big Mercedes-Benz naturally aspirated V8
Carbon fiber was used for the body, interior, and space frame to save 154 lbs. This final gullwing is lauded as the best sports car of all time

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Nissan GT R Nismo (2020)

Twelve years of innovation have led to the most potent Nissan ever offered, 81 lbs less than a standard GT-R while offering 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft to all wheels
For the 50th Anniversary of their GT cars, it received turbos from their GT3 race cars, enhanced aerodynamics, and carbon fiber body panels
GT3 suspension and more boost allow it to reach 62 mph in 2.48 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (991.2)

As the 911 Turbo has evolved into a supercar, the latest GTS offers 450 horsepower with a 6-speed manual
With 405 lb-ft of torque, it is a stylish daily driver that won’t break the bank. It also formed the basis for the Targa models if you need the wind in your hair
All the latest features and technology are onboard, making it the most practical Porsche in decades

Porsche 911 GT2 (997)

The final GT2 to offer a manual transmission, it sent 523 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels only
It integrated variable geometry turbos with an active intake manifold
Weighing 3,175 lbs, it was the fastest and most powerful production 911 to date. It was also their first car with launch control, reaching 60 mph in 3.6 seconds

Porsche 911 GT2 RS (991.2 Weissach)

The latest 911 GT2 RS arrived in 2018. With 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, it has set lap records around the world
With all fluids and a full tank, the Weissach edition weighs only 3,175 lbs. Carbon fiber wheels, body panels, and interior make no apologies about its purpose
No detail was left alone, as the tie-rods, sway bars, and seats are also carbon fiber. The first production car with a titanium roll cage became the fastest car to lap the ring, clocking 6:47.3 in 2017. It remains one of the fastest Porsches ever made

Porsche 911 GT3 (991.2)

Like its brother above, the GT3 was built for performance, albeit wrapped in a more subtle body
Unlike the twin-turbo 3.8-liter in the GT2 series, a new 4.0 arrived optimized for natural aspiration and less internal friction
A manual transmission channels 500 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels

Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2)

The state-of-the-art in naturally aspirated supercars. A detuned 4-liter from the RSR uses solid lifters and forged internals to offer 515 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque
Every suspension mount is a ball joint, as rubber bushings deflect under load. A Weissach edition offered helper springs at all corners, a carbon fiber interior, and forged magnesium wheels
Aerodynamics are based on the GT2 RS, with subtle improvements to increase downforce and lower drag

Porsche 911 Turbo (993)

As the last air-cooled Porsches, the 993 series represents the end of the classic Porsche 911 and one of the best coupes out there
The first production Porsche with twin turbos, it also arrived with the AWD system from the 959
Mezger designed a 3.6-liter capable of reaching 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and 100 mph in 9.5 seconds. Consistent low 12-second quarter-miles were unheard of in 1995

Porsche 911 Turbo S (991.2)

The 992 Porsche 911 Turbo S boasts a 3,745cc twin-turbocharged flat-6 engine that puts out 640 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful sports cars on the market
Equipped with an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive, the Turbo S can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 205 mph
The car features a range of performance-enhancing features, including active aerodynamics, rear-axle steering, and Porsche’s Active Suspension Management system

Porsche 918 Spyder

Porsche’s successor to the Carrera GT combined a 4.6-liter V8 with hybrid AWD
Capable of over 12 miles on battery power, invoking the V8 produces a combined output of 875 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of torque
Only 918 examples were made, with the Weissach Edition commanding incredible prices at auction
One-third of the “Hypercar Holy Trinity” with the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari

Porsche 930 Turbo

Built from 1975 to 1989, it introduced the world to turbocharged supercars
Known as the “Widowmaker,” significant turbo lag caused boost to erupt in an instant. Being able to adapt to twice the engine’s normal power is the true nature of a 930 owner
A few modern upgrades make the 930 capable of embarrassing modern supercars. Find a Flachbau from the factory and your collection will be complete

Porsche Carrera GT

The last analog supercar, Porsche decided to stuff a Formula1 V10 into a carbon fiber body
Designed for veteran racers to drive on the street, it proved to be challenging for even skilled drivers
It scared Walter Rohrl, Jay Leno, and Graham Rahal said: “It needs respect.” Know your limits and it will reward you with effortless performance

Porsche Cayman GT4

Imagine having a powerful flat-six right behind you. The Cayman GT4 is potent on the track and incredible on the street
The center of gravity is only a few millimeters behind your stomach, so the car moves around you, transferring almost no G-forces
Porsche’s Cayman GT4 is the best way to enter professional racing. It offers minimal maintenance and grip in any situation

Shelby 427 Cobra

The ultimate American supercar combines Shelby’s agile chassis with Ford’s raging 7-liter “Side Oiler” Big Block
In contrast to twitchy Europeans, the 427 Cobra offers a safety margin at the limit. The tires and suspension let you know when it’s time to back off
Modern replicas with aluminum small blocks increase performance and offer optimal weight distribution. The Shelby Cobra is one of the top-ranked sports cars of all time

This concludes the list of the top 50 best sports cars of all time according to duPont REGISTRY. Remember to check out the sports cars for sale on Ratingperson for an opportunity to own one of these incredible machines. Discover your dream car and unleash the thrill of driving a true sports car. Cheers to the exhilarating world of sports cars!