13 Underrated Supercars That Deservce More Attention

Calling a supercar underrated when they almost all produce vast amounts of power might sound weird. However, some supercars tend to fly under the radar for various reasons, including how well they sell and their reception.

Occasionally, the companies responsible for these supercars face financial hurdles, which can temporarily overshadow the brilliance of the vehicle itself. However, it’s the resilience and determination of these companies that truly shines through. A prime example is the Bugatti EB110, where the company’s financial struggles may have dimmed the spotlight on this exceptional supercar but never extinguished it.

This list will examine 13 of the planet’s most underrated supercars and explain why they deserve more attention in 2024. Sometimes, the best cars are the underrated ones.

Bugatti EB110

The Bugatti EB110 is a perfect place to start, and the menacing-looking supercar was the only one produced by the Romano Artiolo incarnation of Bugatti. Under the hood, the EB110 packed a massive 3.5-liter Bugatti V12 with quad-turbocharging, producing 553 hp, which rose to 603 hp in the Super Sport version.

The EB110 is a stunning-looking supercar, and rare too, with 139 produced. Even rarer are the Super Sport versions, Bugatti producing 30 of those, and German company Dauer Racing GmbH also produced five EB110 SS Lightweights. Bugatti ran into financial difficulties after the launch of the EB110, thanks to Artioli’s over-ambitious buy of Lotus Cars, and the company went bankrupt in 1995.

Second-Generation Honda NSX

Calling a modern supercar like the second-generation Honda NSX underrated might sound strange. But the modern NSX never reached the heights of the original when it was in production, thanks to its high asking price and the lack of a real family connection to the original NSX.

Yet that hides the fact the new NSX is a fantastic supercar. Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged JNC1 V6 hybrid powertrain, producing 573 hp in the base NXS, which has plenty of power to create a fast yet comfortable driving experience. For the final edition, the Type S Honda increased the power output to 602 hp.

Ferrari 360

What makes the Ferrari 360 so underrated is that it is actually very affordable for a Ferrari. Yet under the hood, the performance is worth a higher price, thanks to the 3.6-liter Tipo F131 V8 engine with 395 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. This engine is in both the Modena and the Spider versions of the 360.

With their value, a look at Classic.com shows a wide range of sales prices, the lowest of which is currently $38,371. The highest is $313,000, but that is a general exception, with the average cost around $104,006. Compared to more modern supercars, this makes the Ferrari 360 quite a bargain, and you still get more than enough power to suit your supercar needs.

Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR

There was a time when the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR was still an unknown supercar despite its dominance of FIA GT1 racing. The CLK GTR is starting to get the recognition it deserves. The Mercedes supercar is a racecar at its core, but the German manufacturer produced 26 road-going versions to comply with homologation rules.

Under the hood is a monster 6.9-liter V12 engine with 600 hp and 572 lb-ft of torque, propelling the CLK GTR to a top speed of 214 mph. Yet if you want more power, there is also the CLK GTR Super Sport with 711 hp. Thanks to their rarity and growing recognition, CLK GTRs can sell for up to $9 million.

Vector W8 Twin Turbo

While it might have its faults, there is something quite special about the wild and crazy Vector W8 Twin Turbo. The wedge-shaped design isn’t dissimilar to the Lamborghini Countach or later versions of the Lotus Esprit, and under the hood was a mighty twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V8.

The Rodeck V8 was good enough for 625 hp and 649 lb-ft of torque, which were significant numbers in the early 1990s when the W8 was first introduced. The 0-60 mph time was just over four seconds, and the top speed was a mind-bending 218 mph. It didn’t succeed commercially, but the Vector W8 was an absolute monster.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Despite its gorgeous design and incredible soundtrack, the Mercedes McLaren SLR seems misunderstood. Yet the combination of an automotive giant and Formula 1 powerhouse worked well, with the SLR McLaren one of the finest supercars of the 21st century.

The SLR McLaren combined GT comfort with supercar performance thanks to the 5.4-liter supercharged V8 producing 617 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. The sound, as Top Gear showed when Jeremy Clarkson drove it in one of their famous races, is out of this world, yet for whatever reason, the SLR McLaren sometimes flies under the radar.

Jaguar XJ220

The Jaguar XJ220 gets a bad rep because the V6 engine under the hood should have been a large V12. However, rising costs meant the British manufacturer had to opt for the smaller powertrain, but turbocharging did boost the power output, and the XJ220 could still top 200 mph.

The concept of the XJ220 had a 6.2-liter Jaguar V12 producing 500 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter JRV-V6 produced more power with 542 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The XJ220 was also no slouch, able to reach a top speed of 212 mph with a 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds. The XJ220 is now extremely valuable, selling for over $500,000.

Ferrari 348TB

Some Ferraris don’t get the attention they deserve, such as the Ferrari 348TB. When it launched, the 348 had a lukewarm reception primarily because rivals of the era could produce more power and go faster. Yet, as time has passed, the 348 has started to receive more and more attention.

The styling of the 348, in particular, has become increasingly appealing, with its sleek, smooth shape and generally excellent proportions. Under the hood is one of the best-sounding V8s to ever grace a Ferrari, with the 3.4-liter engine producing 296 hp. That power goes through a transverse manual transmission, with its roots traced back to the Ferrari 312T F1 car’s transmission.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C6

With the new C8 Corvette proving so popular, it’s easy to overlook previous generations of the Corvette. The C6 Corvette, in particular, was one of the best, and the best got better when Chevrolet launched the C6 Z06 with its massive 7.0-liter V8 under the hood.

This roaring LS7 powertrain was good for 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. At the time, the 7.0-liter LS7 was the largest-displacement small-block V8 engine ever produced. The C6 Z06 had even the mightiest Ferraris and Lamborghinis worried, and the magnesium and aluminum construction meant the C6 Z06 was also very light, which you might not expect from a very American supercar.

Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

Saleen is a name that has drifted into history over the years, but this unknown manufacturer, most famous for its tuned Mustangs, could produce a stunning supercar. The S7 Twin Turbo is the finest, with a 7.0-liter twin-turbocharged Ford V8 producing a staggering 750 hp.

This was enough to launch the supercar to a top speed of 248 mph, a couple of miles per hour short of the fabled Bugatti Veytron. The S7 was also dramatic thanks to its long, slender shape, and it didn’t look too dissimilar to European supercars such as the Jaguar XJ220.

Noble M400

Noble has made a name for itself by producing low-volume, handcrafted, yet simply extraordinary supercars that rival the best of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. The M600 is the pinnacle, but the gorgeous and refreshingly simple M400 is equally impressive.

Unlike many modern supercars, the M400 uses a V6 engine under the hood. Specifically, this is a 425-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. However, the M400 weighs just 2,300 lbs, which means that the 425 hp V6 is more than enough to make the M400 feel like a rocket ship. The 0-60 mph time is an impressive 3.2 seconds, and in the corners, the M400 comes alive and is as good if not better than a contemporary Porsche 911.

TVR Typhon

TCR’s reputation of being slightly unsafe and very radical in its thinking has overshadowed some of its best-performance vehicles. For many fans of TVR, the pinnacle is the Typhoon, a 200 mph rocket ship that showcased just how good the British manufacturer could be. 

TVR produced the Typhoon from 2000 to 2006, the fastest car to produced by TVR. It is also one of the rarest, as the manufacturer only produced three Typhoons, all currently residing in England. Under the hood was a 4.0-liter or 4.2-liter TVR Speed Six inline-six, with power up to 585 hp in supercharged form. The cost of developing and producing the Typjoon was very high, so TVR halted production after completing just three cars.

Ascari KZ1

Ascari is a name more often associated with the Italian F1 legend Alberto Ascari. However, the name was also used for the Ascari KZ1 supercar, which its makers hoped would take on the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo. It might not have captured the public’s eyes, with 50 produced, but that hides what a classy, powerful, and comfortable car the KZ1 was.

Under the hood was a 4.9-liter BMW S62 V8 engine producing 500 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Enough to propel the KZ1 to a top speed of 201 mph. Each KZ1 took around 340 hours to build, handcrafted by 30 highly skilled artisans, and each one is thus different from the next. It is a sleek, classy, well-rounded supercar that deserves more attention than ever.