Supercars: Does the average car enthusiast still take interest in them?

Some might even argue that the supercars these days don’t look all that exciting. With the primary focus on going fast, cars are becoming more and more aerodynamic and again, the designs aren’t exciting enough like the supercars from back in the day.

This topic may ruffle some feathers among enthusiasts, but I think there will be some who would agree with this. Do you still get as excited as you used to get when reading or watching content about supercars?

I find myself going meh every time I read about a new supercar launch that makes over 1,000 horsepower from its hybrid engine or an electric car breaking the fastest accelerating production car record. IMO, it has become a rat race to make the fastest car or fastest accelerating EV and on some level, it seems like the soul is lost. Maybe it’s also the fact that there are just so many cars being launched that are fast. You’ll easily find 50+ cars that can do the 0-100 km/h dash in under 3 seconds. Back in the day, there were just a handful high high-performance cars that we would ogle at. We would collect posters and scale models of them. Electric cars have even cracked the 2-second mark and now that’s the new benchmark that everyone’s chasing.

Being an automobile engineer, I love reading about technology. And these days, I end up reading about the new engine technologies or systems more than I do about the supercars that implement them. And the latest Ferrari or Lamborghini being driven by a YouTuber in the Alps doesn’t seem as exciting as it once was. Cars themselves have become too dependent on electronic aids and that further distances the driver from the car. The less involving a car is to drive, the less interesting it will be. A bit off-topic, but recently even Max Verstappen voiced his concerns over the 2026 F1 regulations which would involve active aerodynamics that the driver can’t control. Ergo even F1 drivers want cars that feel more connected and things that they can fully control.

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Some might even argue that the supercars these days don’t look all that exciting. With the primary focus on going fast, cars are becoming more and more aerodynamic and again, the designs aren’t exciting enough like the supercars from back in the day. The point being that cars are becoming less and less interactive and if it’s just a technological race to have the fastest car, then that would kill the interest of a lot of people. The only cars that have excited me in recent times are the ones that Gordon Murray Automotive built. The T.50 and the T.33 are powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine have manual transmission and send power to the rear wheels only.

Do share what you think about the supercars these days. Do you still get excited about supercars? Or do you just find them to be boring?

Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:

Voted for no.

I would rather read a review of the 3rd-gen Hyundai Creta (just an example) which is important to the market, and accessible to me, rather than the new Ferrari FFFXXXXLLLeggera that is now faster by 0.1 seconds in the 0 – 100 run. I guess the review view counts (especially from India) also prove it. Take a look at which of our Official Reviews have the most views. It’s not the 1-crore cars.

Does it really make a difference if a car can do 0 – 100 in 2.3 seconds or 2.5? All supercars are good. All handle well. All brake well. All are obscenely expensive and available only to the 1% club.

If I see a supercar in person, I’ll of course drool over it. If I get to drive a supercar, obviously I will make the most of the drive. But Maruti launching a hybrid in the Grand Vitara, Tata’s facelift of the Safari and the Innova Hycross’ positioning Vs the Innova Crysta just interest me a lot more.

I don’t remember the last time I read a single article on supercars. Most of my reading is on 5 – 50 lakh rupee cars, I read a little bit on the 51 – 100 lakh segment, and almost zero on the 1+ crore machines.

Here’s what BHPian Dippy had to say on the matter:

The answer to the question here would be a mixed bag for me. A yes and a no. Yes because I still keep interest in every new Ferrari that breaks cover, even though they might not be smashingly beautiful as those of yore.

No because I now feel sad that even the super car is going the hybrid and electric way. Till date that’s not what the definition of a super car has been for more. For me it will always be the brash V12s and V8s, V10 etc. Not to mention how the introduction of crossovers that these car makers have started building. Practical yes and they have started bringing in volumes, but they dilute the complete essence that a super car marque stands for. eg. the Urus, DBX, Purosangue etc. (yes I still do wan to drive a Purosangue)

Coming to the cars, every model from now on gets hybrid tech. Even the big bad Lamborghini V12 was not spared. The Revuelto might be an insane car but it still doesn’t invoke a desire like say the Aventador, Murcielago and the likes. Ditto for Ferrari. Give me a 458 over a 296 GTB anyday. I don’t want my super car to be plugged into a charging point.

Earlier I used to watch lots of new super car reviews. But now i kind of give them the pass. I still have to watch a full video of the Revuelto. I stick to watching videos of older super cars, the ones I grew up with.

So to sum it up, yes the interest has dwindled in the recent past. Except for Ferrari as mentioned above with Porsche coming in a close second. I love Lambos too ( the Aventador is by far the most wicked car I have driven till date), but the number of variants they come out over a model’s production life somehow is a downer.

Here’s what BHPian CrazY_dRiVeR had to say on the matter:

Could also be because these machines become a very distant and disconnected dream as the years pass by!

Imagine the crores required to purchase and maintain a 3-sec (0 to 100kmph) car – 99.9% of the enthusiast community may not be able to get there in this life. And these prices are only ever increasing!

Good thread and I totally can relate to it. For someone who used to watch every single video I could find on these high performance machines – I’m now struggling to remember when was the last time I watched one (been a few months atleast).

PS: Whereas a 3-second motorcycle can be had for less than the price of a top end Creta!

Here’s what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Gone are the V10s and V12s. V8s have also become a rare commodity. The exclusivity factor of these cars is no longer what it was. So many of these cars share components internally. Also, it’s just not the same when the likes of Lamborghini, Audi, Porsche and Bugatti are all owned by the same company.

Also, supercar level performance is no longer the monopoly of a select few. EVs have democratised performance like anything. 4.xx second for 0-100 is like nothing nowadays. ‘Budget’ Volvos are doing it for fun

Here’s what BHPian greenhorn had to say on the matter:

Even in the 90’s the poster on my bedroom was a Lambo diablo. None of the 90’s cars evoked the raw admiration (except maybe the Jaguar xj220) the diablo could.
Anyone who says they’re priced too much really doesn’t get the concept of a fantasy garage

What turns me of most of them, is that most are engineered rather than styled, because of the immense aero requirements, and most of their road tests end up with reviewers talking about too many driver aids and an anaesthetized driving experience.

Having grown up looking at some sexy Italian wedges back in the day, I really cannot relate to the newer crop of super cars, but then this is something that spans a lot of other objects of desire of this age, where I feel the world’s tastes have moved on from my own

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

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