2014 will be remembered as the
year the supercar went high-tech; the year in which hybrid technology, once the
butt of numerous jokes, came of age and found itself powering some of the most
desirable, prestigious and expensive new cars money could buy.
This
was, in other words, a watershed year, and the cars it produced will set trend
for supercars and hypercars for years to come.
But which of this year's supercars
are our favourites? Well, you're about to find out - so grab a cuppa and 5
minutes and see whether you agree with our top 10 picks!
10) Nissan GT-R
At
number 10, it's the Nissan GT-R. "But the Nissan GT-R's been around since
the time of Isambard Kingdom Brunel," I hear you cry. Well, yes and no,
because while this 2014 version might be pretty similar on the surface to its
predecessor, under the skin it's a very different animal, with a host of
changes have dropped the 0-62mph time to a stonking 2.9 seconds.
9) Ferrari California T
In 9th place, the Ferrari
California T. While the California was never loved by the purists, it's become
one of Ferrari's most successful models - and this heavy revamp, complete with
the addition of a turbocharged engine, has turned it into a true supercar.
Indeed, if it weren't for the glut of utterly excellent new models that are
just that smidge more exciting to drive, it'd rank far higher here.
8) Lamborghini Huracan
At number 8, it's another Italian.
Well, what supercar roundup would be complete without them? This time, it's a
Lamborghini - the Huracan, to be precise, which with 602bhp and four-wheel
drive has proven itself an adept successor to the Gallardo.
7) Mercedes-AMG GT
From
Germany this year came the replacement for the loud, proud Mercedes-Benz SLS
AMG - the new Mercedes-AMG GT. And we were pleased to find out that it's louder
and prouder than its predecessor, not to mention a good deal more precise to
drive, too
6) McLaren 650S
In 6th place, the remarkable
McLaren 650S. The looks, an amalgam of 12C tail and P1-esque nose, are a
perfect metaphor for the 650S's place in the McLaren range - part-way between
one and t'other, to be precise.
5) Koenigsegg One:1
And
in 5th, easily the most potent supercar to have been launched this year is the
Koenigsegg One:1. There's no hybrid trickery here; just a gurt big supercharged
V8, and with a faintly ridiculous 1,341bhp and 1,011lb ft of torque, it can
hurl you to 249mph from a standstill in just 20 seconds - and then stop again
in just 10. Big, but not all that clever, then - but who cares when it's this
obscenely quick? Not us, that's for sure.
4) the BMW i8
One of this year's most talked
about supercars is in 4th place - the BMW i8. OK, so it's a little outgunned in
this company, but it can still hit 62mph in 4.4 seconds, which is quick enough
for most people - and that it can achieve more than 130mpg through a
combination of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo and an electric motor is
nothing short of incredible.
3) Porsche 918 Spyder
In 3rd place, the first of the
true hybrid supercars. The Porsche 918 Spyder is an enthralling, exciting
hypercar that, were it not for Ferrari and McLaren, would have moved the game
on tenfold. Powered by a 4.6-litre V8 engine and not one, but two electric
motors, it's capable of a total of 881bhp - good for 0-60mph in just 2.5
seconds.
2) LaFerrari
In 2nd, it's that Ferrari with the
funny name. Yes, the LaFerrari is a deeply impressive bit of kit that proves
that even a company like Ferrari can be environmentally friendly. Well, sort
of. What's certain is that it loses none of its essential Ferrari-ness thanks
to the addition of the electric powertrain - with which, incidentally, it's
capable of producting 950bhp. Zoinks.
But our top supercar of 2014 -
does it come as any great surprise?
1) McLaren P1.
With a driving experience that's as visceral
as it is accessible, it looks like a UFO and garners about as much attention on
the High Street as if one had landed. It is, in our estimation, the top of the
class of 2014.
Have we got it right?
Tell us what you think in the comments below
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