2024: The Year of the Supercar
The Car Guide is kicking off its review of 2024 with a look back at seven—that’s right, seven!—new supercars and hypercars that made their debuts this year. Seriously, how fantastic and historic is that?
Feel free to visit our Facebook page and tell us which one’s your favourite. Tomorrow, we’ll also post a list of 10 new models that defined 2024. Don’t miss it!
- Also: All-New McLaren W1 Debuts as F1, P1 Successor With 1,258 Horsepower
- Also: Bugatti Goes Hybrid With All-New, V16-Powered Tourbillon
Bugatti Tourbillon
It makes perfect sense to start with Bugatti—now tied to Croatian maker Rimac—whose brand new Tourbillon replaces the Chiron (2016-2024) and its quad-turbo 8.0-litre W16 engine with a hybrid powertrain featuring a naturally aspirated V16 and three electric motors. Total output amounts to 1,775 horsepower, surpassing the Chiron Super Sport by just over 200 horsepower.
The Tourbillon weighs no more than 1,995 kg and it can reportedly sprint from 0-100 km/h in 2 seconds, 0-200 km/h in less than 5 seconds, 0-300 km/h in less than 10 seconds and 0-400 km/h in less than 25 seconds. Maximum velocity is electronically limited to 380 km/h, but a Speed Key unlocks the powertrain and allows a top speed of 445 km/h. The motors draw energy from a 24.8kWh battery that enables over 60 km of zero-emission range based on the WLTP standard.
By the way, the Tourbillon name refers to the intricate device designed to increase accuracy in mechanical watches. Behind the carbon fibre body and dihedral doors lies a mostly analogue and timeless interior crafted with elegance and precision in mind. The instrument cluster is mounted to the steering column and always visible by the driver. Rivalling the finest Swiss watches, it is protected by sapphire crystal, an extremely expensive material known for its scratch resistance. Oh, and a folding digital screen hides at the top of the centre stack.
With regard to styling, despite the obvious similarities with the outgoing Chiron, the company says that every component and body panel is unique to the Tourbillon. The horseshoe grille is narrower, the fenders are wider, the rear spine and diffuser are larger, and the car is approximately 25 mm lower. The rear end incorporates an active spoiler and the lighting signature even has the Bugatti name in it, which is pretty cool.
While production of the Chiron was limited to 500 units, Bugatti Rimac plans to build just 250 Tourbillons. Those will be offered to select customers who’ve previously purchased a Bugatti or a Rimac Nevera and sold for the equivalent of $5.5 million CAD, slightly undercutting the Bugatti Bolide.
Ferrari 12Cilindri and F80
Now, let’s move to Italy, more specifically in Maranello. The new 12Cilindri is the successor to the 812 Superfast and it keeps the naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 alive. Available in coupe and Spider (convertible) body styles, this latest Ferrari puts the engine in a mid-mounted layout and generates 819 horsepower. That’s without any form of electrification, by the way, as a modern tribute to GT cars of the 1950s and 1960s. And what about the huge, off-coloured bumper? A bold move by designers, for sure.
But make no mistake, the most significant debut at Ferrari this year was definitely the F80. Heir to the F40, Enzo and more recently the LaFerrari, this new halo model with radical styling is in every way designed to maximize performance, from the lightweight carbon-fibre chassis to the new active suspension using high-tech dampers from Ontario-based Multimatic, to the extreme aerodynamic solutions far beyond anything seen before in a road-legal car.
These solutions include a front triplane wing, S-Duct, flat underbody, rear diffuser and active rear wing (the angle of which can be adjusted up to 11 degrees) working in concert to generate a whopping 1,000 kg of downforce at 250 km/h. Elements are borrowed from aerospace, but there are nods to the F80’s hallowed progenitors, too.
The layout chosen for the F80 results in a narrower cabin with a driver-centric cockpit, yet still offers proper space and comfort for a passenger. It has a distinct single-seater feel, hence why Ferrari calls it a “1+” configuration. The only screen is in front of the steering wheel, while the centre console creates a clear separation between the occupants.
As far as performance goes, the 800V hybrid powertrain of the F80—derived from the 499P endurance race car, a two-time Le Mans winner—is built around a rear-mounted, 3.0-litre V6 with electric turbo technology—a first for the brand. Two electric motors drive the front axle, enabling torque vectoring, and a third one is nestled between the engine and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Together, they don’t sound anything like a V12, however.
The carbon ceramic CCM-R Plus brakes also come from motorsports, and that’s a good thing because the F80 generates a total of 1,184 horsepower. It sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 2.15 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 5.75 seconds, but needs only 28 metres to come to a full stop from 100 km/h. Top speed is electronically limited to 350 km/h.
The Ferrari F80’s 799 customers have been pre-selected already—and probably don’t have to ask about the price. The car is expected to arrive in North America in 2026.
Lamborghini Temerario
The Temerario gives the Italian automaker from Sant’Agata Bolognese a full hybrid lineup following the launch of the Revuelto and more recently the Urus SE. This new exotic sports car marks a significant departure from both the Huracàn and the Revuelto. Lamborghini’s design language has evolved to create a new hexagonal daytime running light signature incorporating an air tunnel. In the rear, the differences are equally striking, although we would have liked the end result to be even bolder.
The Temerario boasts revised aerodynamics and extra downforce, as well as a stiffer aluminum chassis. It's also more spacious than its predecessor and offers more cargo room—two attributes that supercar manufacturers rarely talk about. That being said, it’s pretty safe to assume you won’t be able to pack two weeks worth of luggage in there.
Electrification of Lamborghini’s newest star takes a page from the Revuelto, except that the naturally aspirated V12 is replaced by a twin-turbocharged V8 and combined output is lower. With the addition of three electric motors, the Temerario produces a total of 907 hp (remember, the top-performing V10 in the outgoing Huracàn delivered 631 hp) and manages to reach triple-digit speeds in 2.7 seconds while achieving a top velocity of 343 km/h.
The hybrid system makes use of a 3.8kWh high-voltage battery, but EV operation is still extremely limited. Unlike the Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid (1.9 kWh), the Temerario can be plugged into a domestic power outlet. A full charge takes 30 minutes, according to Lamborghini.
Following a growing trend across the auto industry, the company has eliminated a number of physical controls. The Temerario features three separate displays—a digital gauge cluster facing the driver, an infotainment touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard and another display in front of the passenger. Lamborghini Telemetry 2.0 is an onboard app designed for track use aimed at improving the driver’s confidence and performance. During track sessions, the course and information about the lap time and each sector can be viewed on the driver display.
Over 400 body colours and special liveries will be available through Lamborghini’s Ad Personam program, offering almost infinite customization possibilities—with a customer’s budget being the only limitation. One more thing: the Temerario will be available with the Alleggerita (lightweight) package, which saves 12.65 kg through body components alone and a total of over 25 kg when incorporating lightweight interior elements, carbon rims and titanium muffler.
McLaren W1
Our world tour of brand new supercars and hypercars that made their debuts in 2024 continues in the U.K., first with a stop at McLaren where the legendary F1 and P1 now have a worthy successor. An even better one, actually. The all-new W1 is a plug-in hybrid hypercar with unprecedented power in the history of McLaren’s road-going cars. Its twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 is paired with a radial-flux electric motor, resulting in a total of 1,258 horsepower and 988 lb-ft of torque. Just wow.
All that power is sent to the rear wheels only by way of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and electronically controlled differential. The W1 sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds—a tenth of a second faster than the 740-horsepower 750S—and 0-200 km/h in 5.8 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 350 km/h. The e-motor draws energy from a small 1.38kWh battery and is clearly designed to maximize performance, because pure EV range is around 2 km at best—just long enough to silently get out of the neighbourhood.
As you can imagine, the entire body is made of carbon fibre. The rear McLaren Active Long Tail wing can extend rearwards by up to 300 mm to assist in generating the 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs) of downforce. In the suspension department, McLaren Race Active Chassis Control III technology adjusts damping based on three modes—Comfort, Sport or Race.
As for the cabin, the two fixed seats are fully upholstered for optimal support and comfort and provide a driving position that is more reclined than usual. The pedals, steering wheel and primary controls all move for a more ergonomic driving position.
Similar to the P1, the new McLaren W1 will be built in extremely limited numbers—399 units to be exact. All of them are already spoken for, unsurprisingly. Pricing starts at £2 million, or approximately $3.5 million CAD.
Aston Martin Vanquish
Following the new Vantage, Aston Martin introduced the successor to the DBS and brought back a legendary nameplate in the process: Vanquish. Positioned above the DB12, the latter becomes the new flagship for Aston Martin. Accordingly, a fully re-engineered V12 is part of the mix, eschewing the trend of smaller-displacement and electrified powerplants. No all-wheel drive, either.
Compared with the DBS 770 Ultimate, output is increased from 759 hp to 824 hp and peak torque is now rated at 738 lb-ft instead of 664 lb-ft. Acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) is achieved in 3.2 seconds, while top speed is 344 km/h. The 2025 Vanquish also makes use of an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that’s mounted in the rear to help with the car’s near-perfect weight distribution (49-51). For the first time, the V12’s rear differential is electronically controlled.
All of the above is rolled up into a gorgeous package with carbon fibre body panels. The new Vanquish certainly boasts more presence and character than the Vantage and DB12 while integrating sophisticated touches like multi-element taillights that are invisible until illuminated. There’s a fixed glass roof up top, but customers can specify a carbon fibre roof that saves just over 10 kg (23 lb).
Moving inside, the environment is largely inspired by the DB12 and Vantage. Critically, Aston Martin designers have retained physical switches and buttons for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation. Meanwhile, the wide but low-mounted 10.25-inch touchscreen is integrated with the repositioned centre console and features full capacitive single- and multi-finger gesture control.
Deliveries of the 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish in North America are scheduled to begin very shortly. In Canada, pricing will start at $514,800 (MSRP). A Vanquish Volante convertible is expected to come at a later date.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Last but not least is an American supercar that many enthusiasts were waiting for: the Corvette ZR1. Blessed not with an electrified powertrain but rather a twin-turbocharged, 5.5-litre DOHC flat-plane crank LT7 V8, which happens to feature a larger combustion chamber and completely revised intake system, the new ZR1 cranks out an insane 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque. It’s the most powerful V8 ever produced in America from an auto manufacturer.
Chevrolet curiously did not reveal 0-60 mph or 0-100 km/h acceleration times, but it did achieve a quarter-mile run in less than 10 seconds and an American-best top speed of 375 km/h. In order to help the car fulfill its immense potential, engineers fitted a massive carbon fibre wing in the rear that contributes to over 1,200 lbs of downforce at top speed, which is unprecedented in Corvette history. It’s part of the optional, track-focused ZTK performance package, which also includes a stiffer suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires.
Otherwise, the standard, more road-focused configuration boasts a sleeker body with lower drag and a small spoiler with customer-adjustable short and tall wickers. It also includes a standard carbon fibre front splitter, rocker mouldings and front underwing with stall gurney deflectors. And of course, it’s impossible not to talk about the return of the iconic split rear window, which was last seen on the second-generation Corvette and quietly previewed on the Corvette Z06 GT3.R race car.
Naturally, customers will have a plethora of options to choose from. Shared with the 2025 Corvette lineup, new body colours such as Competition Yellow, Hysteria Purple and Sebring Orange headline updates, the latter brought back from the previous ZR1. Inside, a new Habanero interior is available, as is a Blue Stitch option. Production of the coupes and cabriolets will start in 2025 at the Bowling Green assembly plant in Kentucky. Pricing has yet to be announced.
