The automotive world is hyped up by the latest sports cars, from hybrid to electric, with summer being an ideal time to check out the new performance cars that everyone is talking about.
Plenty of luxury sports cars are trending online, so we’ve narrowed it down to our top five, taking into account aesthetic appeal and performance, two factors that matter most to motorists. It comes as no surprise that performance is the top ranking reason why true petrolheads buy a new car, with 85% saying it’s very important.
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People love a quality interior, of course, with plenty of tech and comfort, especially when going on road trips. However, appearance matters immensely, something psychologists liken to a peacock effect.
Why do drivers love sports cars?
Plenty of enthusiasts believe driving the latest sports car makes them seem “more appealing” than if they were sitting behind the wheel of a “sensible” standard vehicle, according to a poll of 1,000 owners published by the BBC.
Psychologists suggest motorists who drive expensive, showy cars are like “peacocks who display their tail feathers”. However, luxury sports car owners tend to disagree, on the grounds there’s nothing like the thrill of seeing a wide open road ahead on a sunny day and setting off on a journey, regardless of whether anyone’s watching them or not!
For some collectors, an expensive performance car is seen as an investment, with luxury vehicles often being used as collateral for a loan if their owner needs to raise money at short notice.
Regardless of why they’re so popular, we’re looking at why our top five sports cars are trending online, both in the news and on social media…
1. McLaren W1 – The Hybrid Hypercar
The £2 million McLaren W1 is a limited edition hybrid sports car unveiled in October 2024 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the manufacturer’s first F1 World Championship victory. Successor to the McLaren P1, production is due to start this year and will be limited to 399 cars.
Featuring a new McLaren High-Performance Hybrid Powertrain, it has an MHP-8 engine, F1-derived battery technology, a lighter E-module and sharp-shifting, fast, eight-speed dual clutch transmission, including an integrated E-Differential.
This has created the fastest-accelerating road-legal McLaren in history, which can reach 200km/hour in a staggering 5.8 seconds. The latest V8 engine has port and direct injection, generating the maximum amount of horsepower possible. An integrated aero-system creates the most ambitious aerodynamic design ever on a McLaren road car, with the new Active Long Tail delivering exceptional performance.
2. Ferrari F80 – A New Era for Ferrari
With a £3 million price tag, the Ferrari F80 is a hybrid sports car manufactured to celebrate the company’s 80th anniversary. A successor to the La Ferrari, this Type F250 sports car is inspired by the F40 released to commemorate the marque’s 40th anniversary. It features design elements inspired by the Ferrari Daytona SP3 and the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, including the distinctive black band across the bonnet.
The Ferrari F80 horsepower is an impressive 1,200 hp, thanks to its hybrid powertrain, 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged Tipo F163 V6 petrol engine and three electric motors. With a top speed of 217mph, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.75 seconds. As a road-legal Ferrari, it achieved the fastest lap time at Fiorano Circuit in Italy against other performance cars.
After going on display at the Ferrari factory in Maranello following its launch on 17th October 2024, the F80 is set to go into production this year, but the price tag may deter all but the most wealthy customers.
3. Lamborghini Temerario – The Hybrid Revolution
The Lamborghini Temerario is the first super sports car in the brand’s history to have a V8 twin-turbo engine combined with three electric motors, providing maximum power of 920 CV. The second car in the manufacturer’s High Performance Electrified Vehicle range, it retails at the relatively modest price of between £260,035 and £297,235, compared with some of the more expensive new sports cars. It offers exceptional performance and comfort, with stunning new design concepts in terms of style and customisation options.
The power is certainly impressive, with the electrified turbo engine giving its all up to 10,000rpm, a dramatic increase in the power segment compared with its HPEV predecessor. The manufacturer said the guideline for the design was “character”, with the engine being “as close as possible to a race engine”. It doesn’t disappoint in terms of the sound, roaring a little like a motorcycle, in a good way, according to Lamborghini.
4. Tesla Roadster – The Return of an Icon
The second generation of the iconic Tesla Roadster – a long awaited electric sports car – is expected to go into production in 2025. Already renowned for its incredibly fast acceleration, it will go from 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds. With a top speed of around 248mph, its range is expected to be more than 621 miles on a single charge as a result of advanced battery technology.
The all-wheel drive supercar delivers high torque and grip to ensure rapid acceleration, with its aerodynamic design optimised for speed. When announcing the second generation of the iconic car, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said it would have SpaceX Package features, including ten small rocket thrusters for greater acceleration and speed, but they haven’t been added due to practical difficulties in the design.
Only 1,000 units of the new Tesla Roadster will be released at first, but the company hasn’t ruled out further models being produced. The first series of the Roadster was released in 2011 and Musk teased it could return to production in 2014. However, despite an early prototype being revealed at a Tesla roadshow in 2017, production of the two-door coupe was postponed until 2025.
5. Bugatti Bolide – Track-Only Excellence
The Bugatti Bolida, a track only supercar which sells for £3.5 million, is extremely rare, with only 40 models having been produced to date. The first deliveries were made to customers in 2024 and will continue throughout 2025. The sports car has a weight-to-power-ratio of 0.91 kg/kW, giving it a top speed of 311mph and acceleration from 0-60mph in just 2.2 seconds.
The last car ever to be made by the manufacturer with the powerful 8-litre, four-turbocharger, W16 engine, the Bugatti Bolide horsepower is 1,578hp. The car’s height of just 39.2 inches matches the famous Le Mans racing car, the Bugatti Type 57C, on which much of it has been modelled. It also has elements of the Le Mans Prototype 1 race car, the ‘Bugatti Vision’ Gran Turismo concept car.
The main reason for the Bolide’s lightweight of 1,450kg is due to its monocoque design, with the chassis being integral with the body. All components are constructed from titanium and the majority of the body panels are made from carbon fibre.
