20 Of The Hottest Italian Supercars

The Best Italian Supercars Ever

There's a reason that brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini are known for their luxurious, wicked fast cars. The Italians have been setting the standards for excellent sports cars for years, and have taken automotive innovations to new levels with their supercars. 

Out of all the supercars to come out of Italy, these are 20 of the most iconic.

Lamborghini Miura

Is any list of supercars complete without mention of a Lamborghini Miura? The Miura sped off production lines in 1966 and was the first car to feature a rear mid-engine two-seat layout.

It’s also considered by many to be the first supercar ever built.

Jörgens.mi, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Miura (cont’d)

At the time of its inception, the Miura was the fastest street-legal car on the road. Its V-12 engine could crank out 385 horsepower and hit a top speed of 171 mph. 

With such a perfect combination of power and style, the Miura set the standard for all the Lamborghinis that came after it.

Daniel Stocker, Flickr

De Tomaso Pantera

The Pantera was inspired by the Ford GT40 and was designed to be the street-legal version of that iconic racer. To that end, De Tomaso combined elegant Carrozzeria Ghia styling with a powerful Ford V-8 engine.

TTTNIS, Wikimedia Commons

De Tomaso Pantera (cont’d)

Depending on the trim, the Pantera could produce 330 to 350 horsepower and hit a top speed of 159 to 174 mph. The car enjoyed a 21-year production run and is one of the most beloved supercars of its time.

Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer

The Ferrari BB is often overlooked when it comes to supercars, but this hotrod is definitely one of Italy’s best. With beautiful Pininfarina styling and Ferrari’s new boxer V-12 engine, the power of this car matched its slick visual aesthetic.

Brett Weinstein), CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer (cont’d)

The BB could produce up to 360 horsepower and reach a top speed of 188 mph. For some, the Berlinetta Boxer wasn’t as powerful as its Lamborghini counterparts, but it still made for a thrilling drive.

LSDSL, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari Testarossa

The 1989 Testarossa followed up on the success of the Berlinetta Boxer. This supercar also featured Pininfarina styling, though it was far less curvaceous than the BB. 

The side strakes along the doors of the car were a particular point of contention among enthusiasts.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1991_Ferrari_Testarossa_4.9.jpg

Ferrari Testarossa (cont’d)

Despite the controversy of its styling, the Testarossa lived up to Ferrari’s reputation for speed and power. 

Beneath the hood, it was equipped with a flat-12 engine that cranked out 385 horsepower, went from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds, and had a top speed of 180 mph. Not bad for the times.

Alexandre Prevot, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari F40

Created to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the F40 was the company’s fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car on the market. It’s also the vehicle redefined supercars into the extreme speed demons we’re familiar with today.

Will ainsworth, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari F40 (cont’d)

The F40 sported a 2.9-liter twin turbo V-8 engine that produced a whopping 720 horsepower. It could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and hit a top speed of 229 mph, which was unheard of at the time of its release in 1987.

Alexandre Prévot , CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Diablo

In the 1990s, the Lamborghini Diablo was the supercar poster child. It still has the distinction of being Lamborghini’s first car to hit a top speed over 200 mph—it clocks out at 202 mph.

nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Diablo (cont’d)

The Diablo got all that speed from its powerful 5.7- liter V-12 engine that cranks out a whopping 485 horsepower. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 4 seconds and remains one of Lamborghini’s most recognizable cars.

Damian Morys, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari F50

When the Ferrari F50 was launched in 1995, it didn’t get the same fanfare as its predecessor, the F40. Most people took offense to the styling of the car, with its huge rear wing and extra wide fenders. 

They also weren’t that impressed with the performance of the car, despite it being as wickedly fast as the F40.

MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari F50 (cont’d)

The F50 featured a Formula One-inspired V-12 engine, and could hit a top speed of 202 mph. It was just as powerful as the F40, but that was its downfall—most consumers were looking for the F50 to crank things up a notch. 

Despite not making a big hit when it first came out, the F50 is now one of Ferrari’s most iconic cars. The company only made 349 of the hotrods and these days, they go more than $2 million.

Brett Weinstein (Nrbelex), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pagani Zonda

Debuting at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, the Zonda was Pagani’s first foray into the world of production cars. Safe to say they nailed it. The Zonda’s sleek looks and incredible performance have earned it a spot on any list of great Italian supercars.

Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pagani Zonda (cont’d)

To date, Pagani has only made 140 of these bad boys. The car is equipped with a 7.0-liter V-12 engine that can produce a mind-blowing 780 horsepower.

It can also hit a top speed of 233 mph, making it a strong competitor against more popular models from Lamborghini and Ferrari.

Andrew Basterfield, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Murcielago SV

When it comes to luxurious Italian sports cars, the Lamborghini Murcielago is among the most recognizable and beloved. When it debuted in 2001, some critics worried that its simple design, which was a move away from the extreme curves of the previous generation of supercars, would mean a less powerful car. 

The critics were wrong.

Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Murcielago SV (cont’d)

With a 6.5-liter V-12 engine, the Mucielago proved it could hold its own against competitors, and the final variation of the car, the Murcielago SuperVeloce, was one of the most powerful supercars of the time. 

It could crank out 670 horsepower, go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, and hit a top speed of 212 mph.

Christian Holmér , CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari Enzo

This speed demon was essentially a street-legal racecar. As well it should, since it was built with Formula One technology like a carbon-fiber body, silicon carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite disc brakes reinforced by carbon-fiber, and an F1 automated manual transmission. 

Add all that to its aerodynamic design, and you’ve got one heck of a supercar.

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari Enzo (cont’d)

The Enzo was the first Ferrari to sport the company’s outstanding Tipo F140 V-12 engine. It could produce 651 horsepower and hit a top speed of 221 mph. And with F1-inspired tech, this car had impeccable handling, making it one of the world’s top supercars at the time.

Herisson, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Gallardo

The Gallardo was named after a famous breed of fighting bull, and it lived up to that aggressive reputation. Throughout its ten-year production run, the Gallardo was Lamborghini’s best-selling car. And with the combination of a sleek design and wicked speed, it’s not hard to see why.

IFCAR, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Gallardo (cont’d)

The Gallardo is equipped with a powerful V-10 that cranks out 542 horsepower and can hit a top speed of 202 mph. The Gallardo was small for a supercar, but its beauty and performance quickly made it one of Lamborghini’s most iconic models.

kevinmcgill, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari F430

Unveiled at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, the F430 was the supercar Ferrari enthusiasts were waiting for. It’s 4.3-liter V-8 engine wasn’t quite as powerful as the Gallardo, only producing 438 horsepower, but the variable traction control and responsive paddle-shift transmission made for a super fun ride.

Xavigivax, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari F430 (cont’d)

The F430 was also pretty fast. The exterior design of the car was more aerodynamic than its predecessor, the 360, and it could go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and exceed a top speed of 196 mph.

SC918273, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Maserati MC12

The MC12 was built with racing in mind and started off as Maserati’s contender in the FIA GT Championship. In 2004, the company made 25 of these cars, but when FIA changed the minimum length of cars, Maserati made 25 more that were 150mm shorter than the first ones. 

The second design was approved, and they made 12 racing variants of the MC12.

Damian Morys, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Maserati MC12 (cont’d)

The MC12 is built on the chassis for the Ferrari Enzo, but the body of this car is longer and has lower drag. Equipped with an F140 V-12 engine, it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 205 mph.

Trubble, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari 458

When the 458 hit the market, people were instantly drawn to its bold, aerodynamic curves. And it had excellent performance to match its stunningly good looks.

ozz13x, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari 458 (cont’d)

Beneath the hood, the 458 sported a 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine. It was a speed demon on the streets, capable of producing 562 horsepower and hitting a top speed of 202 mph. At the time, it gave the Lamborghini Gallardo a run for its money, and the 458 is still one of the best Italian supercars ever made.

Axion23, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pagani Huayra

The Huayra was the successor to the acclaimed Zonda. In 2012, Top Gear magazine named it the Hypercar of the Year—looking at its specs, it’s easy to see why.

Axion23, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pagani Huayra (cont’d)

Named after an Indigenous wind god, the Huayra certainly lives up to its name. 

Its twin-turbo V-12 was specially designed for the car by Mercedes-AMG, and it cranks out a whopping 730 horsepower. The car can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and hit a mind-blowing top speed of 238 mph.

Ian Leech, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Aventador

The Aventador is another Lamborghini that’s named for a fighting bull, and its fierce performance and bold looks are deserving of its namesake. Lamborghini revamped their L539 V-12 engine, giving the Aventador 759 horsepower and an impressive top speed of 217 mph.

Damian Morys, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Aventador (cont’d)

When the Aventador was unveiled in 2011, critics praised the car’s torque, smooth power, output, and engine responsiveness. For many, it was Lamborghini’s best creation—it was also the best supercar at the time and won the title of Top Gear’s Supercar of the Year 2011.

Axion23, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Huracan

Stepping in to replace the Gallardo, the Huracan’s engine featured a new combination of direct fuel injection and multi-point fuel injection. This had never been done in a V-10 engine before, but it works to the Huracan’s advantage.

Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Lamborghini Huracan (cont’d)

The Huracan is the definition of speed, going from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and capable of hitting a top speed of 202 mph. The sleek design of the Huracan made it a hit with consumers—the car is also notorious for its roaring engine that announces its arrival.

Genshio, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari LaFerrari

Succeeding the Ferrari Enzo, the LaFerrari was meant to be definitive Ferrari supercar. By all accounts, it’s succeeded in that goal. The wicked looks of this car make it an instant favorite among enthusiasts, and its impeccable performance makes it one of the best supercars to ever come out of Italy.

Axion23, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari LaFerrari (cont’d)

Equipped with a 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V-12 engine, this hot rod can crank out 950 horsepower, go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, and hit a top speed of 218. 

While there have been glimpses of the prototype for the LaFerrari successor, the company has yet to unveil anything new. And it’s best they take their time—whatever comes next has big shoes to fill.

Ben, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Maserati MC20

Debuting in 2022, the MC20 is Maserati’s latest entry into the supercar arena, and it’s a good one. The MC20 features a specially designed 3.0-liter V-6 engine that produces 621 horsepower and a wicked top speed of 202 mph.

Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Maserati MC20 (cont’d)

The dramatic, aerodynamic design of the MC20 made this hotrod an instant draw with consumers. Many enthusiasts are also looking forward to the release of the all-electric MC20, which Maserati is still working on at their Modena plant.

zombieite, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari 296 GTB

Unveiled in 2022, the 296 GTB quickly earned its place among the best Italian supercars. This plug-in hybrid features and twin-turbocharged V-6 engine as well as an electric drive, allowing it to be used for short distances in urban zero-emission zones.

Y.Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari 296 GTB (cont’d)

Producing 819 horsepower, the 296 GTB can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 205 mph. It’s one of the fastest rear-wheel drive cars in the world, and its impeccable handling makes for an unforgettable drive. 

Ferrari has always been one of the best Italian automakers, but with the 296 GTB they’ve once again set the standard for excellent supercars.

Alexandre Prevot, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons