Sports cars offer some of the best driving experiences of any vehicle. They are fast, agile, and loaded with power, and there is plenty of choice on the market.
Deciding which is the best sports car, however, isn’t easy. There are so many that narrowing it down can be tricky, but we think we have done that.
Our comprehensive list features 13 of the most exceptional high-performance sports cars currently on the market. We delve into what sets these cars apart and makes them stand out in their class.
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 might not look like the most dramatic of sports cars, but it provides one of the best driving experiences in the world.
Honda produced the S2000 from 1999 to 2009, and it became an instant classic. There were two generations, the AP1 and AP2, with the Honda F20C and F22C1 inline-four engines under the hood. The S2000 produced up to 239 hp, and the six-speed manual transmission performs even better as the revs get higher and higher. Rumors persist that a new S2000 will appear someday, something sports car fans crave yearly.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Despite their tricky financial situation over the last few years, Aston Martin still knows how to produce an exceptional sports car. The DBS Superleggera is one of their finest, with some of the most significant horsepower and speed numbers of any Aston Martin.
Under the Hood of the DBS Superleggera, you will find a twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 engine, making 715 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque. That adds up to a top speed of 211 mph, putting the Superleggera firmly into supercar territory. However, the Superleggera isn’t just a speed demon, as it is a blast in the corners and easy to hook up, even with stability control.
2018-2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
The Porsche 911 GT2 RS might not have the most exotic or wildest engine under the hood, but what it does have is more than enough. Powering the 911 GT2 RS is a mighty turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six engine, producing 700 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Porsche to a top speed of 211 mph.
While the power goes through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it is silky smooth, with seamless gear changes quicker than any human can do. The GT2 RS’s lightness also means it can accelerate fast, reaching 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, and it can destroy the 1/4 mile in just over 10 seconds at around 140 mph.
BMW M8 Competition
It might be a stretch to call the BMW M8 Competition a sports car, as it is a GT car. However, its speed and power figures firmly put it into sports car territory and in the mix with supercars.
Under the hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, providing 625 hp. With the added M Driver’s Pack, the M8 Competition will propel you to 190 mph, making it one of the fastest grand tourers in the world. Yet BMW hasn’t skimped out on the luxury of the M8 either. With a lavish interior and superb infotainment system, the M8 is perfectly comfortable for those longer drives.
Aspark Owl
The Aspark Owl is still unknown, but the Japanese engineering firm is claiming impressive figures for its sports car. Like the Rimac Nevera, it has four electric motors under the hood, and a 62 kWh battery pack provides 280 miles of range.
Aspark says that the Owl has 1,984 hp and 1,475 lb-ft of torque from those electric motors, and the company is planning a production run of 50 vehicles, costing €2.5 million each. Aiding its speed and range is that it is light, and Aspark claims that the top speed of the Owl is 248.5 mph with a 0-60 mph time of just 1.69 seconds. Tests have shown that the Owl can go over 200 mph, and deliveries should occur in 2024.
Hennessey Venom GT
Hennessey introduced the Venom GT, its first production car, in 2011. The American tuning company based it on the Lotus Exige and extensively modified the British sports car. The company produced 13 examples of the Venom GT, each with a 7.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood. Specifically, the Venom has the GM LS7 V8 under the hood.
That engine produced 1,244 hp and 1,155 lb-ft of torque. The top speed of the Venom GT is 270 mph, with 0-60 mph speed being just 2.7 seconds. The Venom GT was costly, with each example of the sports car costing $1.2 million.
BMW M2 Coupé
In an era when BMW’s styling has been repeatedly questioned, the current BMW M2 Coupe is a fantastic-looking car. It is also a perfect blend of power, space, and usability and won’t cost you a small fortune. Under the hood is a slightly detuned version of the turbocharged straight-six from the BMW M4.
That provides 435 hp for the M2 Coupe, which goes to the rear wheels while the driver handles it through a six-speed manual transmission. The M2 is, in some ways, a baby M car that is simpler than its bigger siblings while offering plenty of space for those inside. It also isn’t over the top, setting you back around $88,000.
Lotus Emira
Lotus no longer produces an internal combustion car after the last Emira leaves its factory. But what a way for it to bow out. Under the hood is a supercharged 3.5-liter Toyota V6 engine, and in fairness, a more powerful V6 or even a V8 under the hood would work with the Emira.
But you still get 400 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque from the Toyota V6, and those who want something a bit less punch can get the Emira with a 2.0-liter AMG turbocharged inline-four. This engine produces 360 hp. As you would expect from a Lotus, the Emira handles brilliantly in the corners, retaining the handling greatness that the Hethel-based company has become famous for.
Alpine A110 R
Sports cars don’t have to be about power, and the Alpine A110 R is the perfect example. The R is a slightly pricier version of the standard A110, with a one-turbocharged 1.8-liter Renault four-cylinder under the hood. It might lack some of its rivals’ grunt at 296 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque, but that doesn’t matter.
The A110 R costs $108,000, which, while expensive, is worth it for the driving experience the Alpine provides. It is exceptional in the corners, with its posied steering and lightness elevating it to all-time great status. Yet even when you throw the A110 R around, it remains comfortable and predictable, making it an absolute joy.
Chevrolet C8 Corvette
The C8 Corvette is arguably the best iteration of Chevrolet’s sports car yet. It is the first Corvette to opt for the mid-engine layout, transforming the sports car’s handling and seriously worrying the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche in Europe.
No matter which version of the C8 you have, be it the Z06, the Stingray, or the E-Ray, you will have plenty of power. The 6.2-liter V8 in the Stingray produces up to 495 hp, the Z06 goes beyond it, and the E-Ray with 670 hp from the 5.5-liter V8 under the hood. This new, massive V8 beat the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series’ M159 engine to become the most powerful naturally-aspirated production V8 in history.
Lexus LC 500
We might lament the passing of the Lexus LFA, but Toyota’s luxury division still knows how to produce a brilliant performance car. The LC 500 is bigger and heavier than some of the machines on this list, but when you have an excellent, throaty V8 under the hood, it doesn’t matter.
The LC 500’s V8 is among the most likable on the market. It is a 5.0-liter, high-revving V8 derived from the engine found in the RC F and the GS F. The LC 500 produces 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, and hybrid options are now available with the LC 500H. This time, you have a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid under the hood, producing 295 hp.
Jaguar F-Type
Jaguar can be a bit hit-and-miss thanks to its quality control and odd reliability issues. But when it gets it right, it is hard to beat. The Jaguar F-Type has always provided one of the best-looking and most enjoyable sports car experiences over the last ten years.
The pinnacle of the range is the exceptional F-Type R. Under the hood sits a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 575 hp, which is a giant leap over the P450 version of the F-Type that produces 444 hp. You get a lot of bang for your buck with the F-Type and F-Type R, and while other sports cars might be more lavish now and refined, you still can’t go wrong with a V8-powered Jaguar.
Audi R8 V10 Performance RWD
Saying goodbye to the exceptional Audi R8 is one of the hardest things we will ever do. First entering production in 2006, the R8 in all its forms has provided one of the best driving experiences money can buy. There were few iterations better than the R8 V10 Performance RWD.
Under the hood is a dramatic 5.2-liter V10 engine, producing a ridiculous 570 hp and propelling the R8 to a top speed of 203.8 mph. The R8 was such an anomaly in the Audi lineup, famous more recently for its fast sedans and laid-back grand tourers. The combination of a large V10 and spaceframe chassis was one to savor, and we will miss it dearly.
