A supercar – also known as an exotic car – is a loosely defined description of street-legal, high-performance sports cars. Since the 2000s or 2010s, the term hyper car has come into use for high-performance supercars

When you have the need for speed, there’s no better vehicle choice than a supercar? Of course, an authentic and genuine supercar model is probably beyond the budget of most drivers, but that doesn’t make them any less fascinating to automotive enthusiasts. Seeing as many supercars are so powerful and fast that they aren’t even street legal, how could you not be intrigued? Still, there are plenty of questions you’ll want to be answered. For starters, what is the fastest supercar of them all?

So what car brands design, create, and sell supercars? Well, there are plenty of famous names, as well as obscure companies, in the business. These include Bugatti, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, Lamborghini, Lotus, and even a few more everyday luxury and consumer brands, such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Honda NSX, and Nissan Z models. In the end, though, what makes a supercar a supercar comes down to power, speed, superb handling, and thrills when behind the wheel. So, let’s take a good look at the fastest and most ferocious supercar models on the roads and racetracks.

Bugatti is a high-performance car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Germany. In 1947 the company began to struggle financially due to the death of founder Ettore Bugatti. It wasn’t until 1987 that the company was reborn thanks to an Italian entrepreneur. The company continued to push the car’s capabilities into what we know today.

Born out of the Alfa Romeo race division, Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939. Nicknamed the Prancing Horse, the automaker is still known for its deep roots in racing. In fact, its stock symbol is RACE.

Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer based in Modena, Italy. Founded by three brothers in 1914, the company started out producing race cars but eventually withdrew from production in 1957. The brand’s first road car, the 3500 GT, came out that year.

McLaren Automotive is the division of the British manufacturer McLaren Group. Based in Woking, U.K., the automotive division produces luxury supercars. McLaren has a deep-rooted history in racing — founder Bruce McLaren joined the Formula 1 team in 1959. Four years later, he created Bruce McLaren Motor Racing, producing the company’s first race car, the M1A. After his tragic death, the company merged with Ron Dennis’ Project 4 Racing team.

Lamborghini is an Italian automobile brand founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963. Before making supercars, Ferruccio produced tractors. He owned a Ferrari, and after experiencing mechanical difficulties, he started his own sports car manufacturer. The first model produced was the 350 GT.

The company’s logo, a bull, is inspired by Ferruccio’s zodiac sign, Taurus. He eventually sold his interest, which Volkswagen purchased in the late 1990s. With cutting-edge designs and outstanding performance, the brand has carved a niche in the world of luxury sports cars.

Lotus Cars Limited is a British automotive manufacturer owned by the Geely multinational automotive company. With a headquarters in Norfolk, England, the company produces racing and sports cars noted for their lightweight builds, agile handling, and responsive power.

The Corvette is a high-performance sports car manufactured by Chevrolet. It has been in production for more than 60 years, with eight design generations. The first model was introduced in 1953. The car has been manufactured in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the past 30 years.

The Corvette is one of two sports cars in the automaker’s lineup. It is priced above the Chevrolet Camaro. The Corvette’s competitors include the Audi R8, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Porsche 911, and Toyota Supra.