Supercars never really go out of fashion. Even at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, some prestigious brands saw record sales as the wealthy continued to spend their money on four-wheeled dream machines. And as the climate crisis gathers pace, these same carmakers are repositioning themselves to become more environmentally-friendly, with bold pledges to produce more electric vehicles (EVs).
Some supercar brands like Lamborghini have said they will electrify their entire range of models. While Tesla is not normally associated with supercars, it has produced a super-fast electric-powered sports car to rival its gas-guzzling rivals. Its Roadster, to be launched in 2023, promises to be the world’s fastest car and will likely spawn others.
Here is a selection of some of the best cars to look out for next year.
Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider
British carmaker Aston Martin has said that 50 per cent of its line-up will be all-electric by 2030. Until then, fans can enjoy petrol-based supercars like the stunning Aston Martin Valkyrie. If this car wasn’t beautiful enough, Aston Martin is unleashing a topless Spider version as well. Be warned though that this is a limited edition with only 85 units in production. Aesthetics aside, this hypercar’s structure is also pretty impressive. Unlike most convertibles, the Valkyrie’s carbon-fibre structure required no additional reinforcements when designers removed its roof. This green — the colour, not its environmental credentials — beast packs a massive, naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine.
Tesla Roadster
One of the most exciting car companies on the planet right now is Tesla and its charismatic, and often controversial, founder Elon Musk. Whatever you might think about the man, Tesla continues to push the boundaries when it comes to electric cars. The second-generation Tesla Roadster’s eagerly awaited launch was pushed back due to the pandemic and is expected to finally go ahead in 2023. The company is boasting that this will be the fastest car in the world with a 0 to 100km/h sprint time of just 1.9 seconds. Powered by a 200kWh battery pack and three electric motors, the Roadster is said to be capable of reaching a top speed of over 400km/h. While there has been plenty of hype around this ground-breaking car, the proof will be in the pudding.
Hennessey Venom F5
Speed is the name of the game with the Hennessey Venom F5 and we don’t just mean its top speed. All 24 units of the hypercar from Texas-based Hennessey Special Vehicles have been sold. In case you’re wondering, the F5 in its name refers to the highest rating on the Fujita scale for tornadoes, which is fairly apt. For this beast was the fastest car on the planet at one stage, a coveted title that changes hands fairly regularly. The elegant looking model features a huge 6.6-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine which will give you a scary 1,817 of horsepower. Hennessey is still tweaking the Venom F5 and hopes to hit top speeds in excess of 482km/h and grab the title of world’s fastest production car.
Bugatti Bolide
It may not arrive until 2024, but the Bugatti Bolide makes our list for two reasons. Firstly, this hypercar looks amazing. Secondly, the French carmaker recently opened its first ever showroom in Singapore. Bugatti makes some of the most dramatic-looking, awe-inspiring cars, setting a high bar for designers when coming up with new concepts. But the Bolide looks like it will be another iconic car for the brand, which already boasts the Veyron and Chiron in its impressive portfolio. The track-focused Bolide houses Bugatti’s gargantuan quad-turbo W16 engine and has a healthy array of air ducts and aerodynamic features. The Bolide is limited to just 40 units and is expected to have a price tag of €4 million ($6.2 million).
Koenigsegg Jesko
Swedish supercar Koenigsegg always turns heads and we wish they would make more cars. For now, we can feast our eyes on the muscled-up Koenigsegg Jesko. This orange beast has a redesigned 5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which can produce a hefty 1,280hp of raw power. As is typical of hypercar brands, production is limited and demand is high. The Jesko will have a production run of 125 units, with the first cars expected to be delivered in early 2022. There are two variants — one with high downforce and one with low drag. Jesko is the name of founder and CEO, Christian von Koenigsegg’s father. A fitting tribute indeed.
Rimac Nevera
You may have never heard of Rimac because it’s only been around for about a decade and hails from Croatia. But it makes incredible cars and recently partnered with Bugatti. It’s a match made in hypercar heaven, as both companies have enviable reputations for building some of the best-looking cars on the planet. Rimac has been doing pretty well on its own and its all-electric Nevera easily makes it onto our 2022 wish list. The Nevera has been travelling the globe as part of a world tour and is currently on display at Expo 2020 in Dubai. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but it is helping to save the planet — well, sort of.
Pagani Huayra Roadster
Pagani has been making beautiful supercars for years and hopefully a new partnership in Singapore will boost the brand’s presence here. The Italian carmaker has signed a deal with Eurokars Supersports, which will see a new Pagani Singapore Brand Experience and Service Centre open in 2022. However, getting one of its hypercars will be much trickier as Pagani only makes about 50 cars a year and they are highly sought after. Its main model is the popular Huayra, which was one of the first cars in the world to have active aerodynamics. The Huayra is slowly being phased out so enjoy it while you can. Its latest edition, the Huayra R, is a track-only car hiding a 6-litre, V12 engine under the bonnet.