Hypercars are the cream of the performance crop, being vastly superior to regular sports cars and a step above supercars. If you’re shopping in this segment, you’re likely looking for the most exotic, high-performance automotive machines ever made. Each one strives to be the fastest, most beautiful, and arguably the most expensive car in the world. This only serves to make them more exclusive and desirable, with many produced in small numbers and being exceedingly rare. Not many automakers dabble in this hyper-competitive market, but there are a few iconic hypercar brands vying for the top spot.

What Makes a Car a Hypercar?

Aside from just being super fast, there are other defining characteristics of hypercars. Here are some things that set them apart:

What To Consider When Searching For a New Hypercar

Not everyone can afford to go out and buy new hypercars, and even older ones still sell for millions - assuming any collector can be convinced to part with them. But, the price of a hypercar works in an unusual way. Rather than deterring buyers, it brings them in. Only the elite can hope to own one of the top hypercars, which is exactly how it was meant to be. However, don’t be fooled into thinking these vehicles are perfect. There are some downsides to even the best hypercars:

Pros

• Peerless performance
• Iconic engines - and nowadays, even electric power
• One-of-a-kind styling
• Supreme exclusivity from iconic brands
• The status that comes with owning one
• Hybrid-electric assistance means a boost in performance
• Cutting edge technology
• Thrilling handling
• Long-term investment as collector’s items

Cons

• Ludicrous price
• Limited availability
• Not many are suited for daily driving
• Will cost a fortune to maintain
• Fuel costs will be sky high

FAQs

What is the rarest hypercar?

In terms of production numbers, the Ferrari P4/5 is the rarest hypercar in existence, as it is truly one of a kind. However, it was not actually made by Ferrari, but rather Pininfarina. It is owned by James Glickenhaus. Other examples include the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, another one-off model with a price tag of $18.7 million.

Which country has the most supercars and hypercars?

If you want the best chance of seeing one of these exotic beauties, then you will want to visit Monaco. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, there are approximately 3,051 supercars sightings per 1,000 motorists, if Instagram is to be believed. Denmark and Switzerland are the runners-up.

What was the first hypercar?

First produced in 1963, and ending production in 1973, the Lamborghini Miura is considered the first hypercar, though the term was relatively undefined at the time.

Will all future sports- and hypercars be electrified?

While purists and enthusiasts prefer the sound of a gas engine from under the hood, it’s clear that electric power is the way of the future, not just for its environmental benefits but also for performance enhancement. Brands such as Lamborghini have openly discussed plans to electrify their entire range by 2024. Experts claim that by 2025, more than a third of hypercars will be electric. And if we’re looking at the sheer brilliance of the latest electric hypercars, the future is very bright.

What new hypercars are coming to the USA?

The much-anticipated Mercedes-AMG ONE was due in 2020/2021 but was delayed for fine-tuning of the F1-derived engine for road use - deliveries will be happening in mid-2022. Koenigsegg also debuted the Gemera and Jesko Absolut at the US auto show in August of 2021. From Aston Martin, deliveries of the Valkyrie are already underway, while the Valhalla is still being developed. Only 150 units of the Valkyrie and 500 Valhalla models are planned for production. The Gordon Murray T.50 has already been in testing for some time and is still under development. Deliveries for the Rimac Nevera also commenced in mid-2022.