Despite the economic crisis, 2010 has been a very active year for the automotive industry. And while most of the world expected to see more hybrids or small city cars, automakers wanted to prove once again that supercars were still the leaders of the automotive world. We’ve seen lots of world debuts this year, and while every single one of them is more than impressive, there were only three that topped our list for supercar of the year.
Getting to the final three was no easy task, but we managed to find our way here, where the final three went head to head for the top podium. Our nominees need no explanation: the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Bugatti Veyron Supersport, and the Koenigsegg Agera. All of them are as fast as the wind, have an impressive exterior design, and an even more impressive interior, and all of them made headlines during this past year.
Hit the jump to see supercar of the year.
Third Place: Ferrari 458 Italia.We know most may consider the Ferrari 458 Italia as one of the most impressive models launched this year, and we absolutely agree. However, it landed in our third place spot solely because of its initial fire problems. Sure it has a 4,499 cc V8 engine mated to a F1 dual-clutch gearbox that delivers a total of 570 HP at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 540 Nm at 6000 rpm. It can also make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in under 3.4 seconds while its top speed goes up to an impressive 201 mph. These are all great attributes for a supercar of the year, but for us, a supercar needs to be perfect straight from its initial launch. Despite this little problem we consider it perfect: an impressive exterior design, a high tech interior, and performance numbers that make just about any other car jealous. It also gets a long list of personalization options from Ferrari. Overall, this is a fantastic vehicle. Second Place: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super SportThis is a model that shortly after its launch became the fastest car in the world. With 1200 HP under the hood and a top speed of 267 mph, it is thedream car for any driver in the world. Why did it only get to second place? Well, because despite its impressive engine output, the Super Sport version didn’t bring anything new to the table when compared to a standard Veyron. We would have expected to see a few updates to the car’s exterior design, but for some reason, Bugatti decided against any additional updates. Too bad! First Place: Koenigsegg AgeraMany may not agree with us, but the supercar that has made the biggest impression on us for 2010 was the Koenigsegg Agera revealed earlier at the Geneva Motor Show. Before we get tons of ranting and raving from the naysayers, we would first like to say that any vehicle that can squeeze out 910hp from a V8 engine without needing to use a 16-cylinder like the Bugatti, deserves a top spot on our list. We know there’s a difference of almost 300 HP between the two models, but a V8-powered supercar that can go that fast for about $1 million ($1million+ less than the Veyron) is a darn good deal. Then, there’s top speed. The Koenigsegg Agera can hit 245 mph, and can obtain it without much effort. Looks are the final step to the top spot and the Agera is as elegant, aggressive, and sporty as supercars come. The clear winner in our book. These are our choices. We know some may not agree so we welcome any suggestions as to which cars should have made the list or which car should be given the top spot. We are all ears so let us know! |
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