Exotic Cars by the Decade - Las Vegas Edition

1970s: Bold Designs and Turbocharging

Bold designs and new technologies marked the supercars of the 1970s. Designers and engineers went crazy with wedged designs and technology like turbocharging. Lamborghini Countach from 1974 is the best example of a new design path. With its iconic wedge shape, scissor doors and sharp angles it became the poster car for a generation (I even had one hand painted on my bedroom wall). On the other hand Porsche introduced its 911 Turbo in 1975. It was one of the first production cars fitted with a turbo. Performance and driving experience were extraordinary, therefore many inexperienced drivers ended up crashing the 911 turbos and named it Widowmaker.

1980s: High-Tech and High Performance

In the 1980s we witnessed great technological advancements. Exotic car makers were focusing on high performance. This era is mostly marked by two supercars, known to every remotely called car lover. First one is the iconic Ferrari F40 from 1987. It is known as the first production car capable of breaking the magic 200 mph barrier. Car was built with lightweight materials, like kevlar and carbon fiber and propelled with a turbocharged V8. His rival was Porsche 959. Porsche was a technological marvel for the time, utilizing advanced 4 wheel drive systems. Porsche 959 was intended to be developed as a group B rally car but it turned out to be one of the most amazing road cars on the planet.

1990s: Speed and Sophistication

With the introduction of McLaren F1 boundaries were pushed even further in the 1990s. New standards of performance were set. McLaren was capable of speeds over 240 mph and the next production car to break the record came much later in time. For the first time in the production car we have witnessed the use of carbon fiber to build a complete monocoque chassis. In 1995 Ferrari introduced the F50. With an amazing V12 engine and minimalist design it was actually an F1 car for the road.

2000s: Engineering Excellence

With the launch of The Bugatti Veyron 2005 the possibilities in car production were set on the new levels. Veyron set new standards for speed, luxury, and also price  With the help of Its quad-turbocharged W16 engine, the car produced over 1,000 horsepower and it became the first production car to exceed 250 mph (beating Mclaren F1).

2010s: The Era of Hypercars

In the 2010s the performance levels reached new heights. The Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 Spyder formed the “holy trinity” of hybrid hypercars. Each of these cars utilized hybrid technology to deliver over 900 horsepower, setting new standards for performance and innovation.

The Bugatti Chiron, introduced in 2016, continued Bugatti’s legacy of creating ultra-fast cars. With its 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine producing 1,479 horsepower, the Chiron could reach speeds of up to 261 mph, making it one of the fastest cars in the world.

2020s: Electric Revolution

The 2020s are witnessing a revolution in the exotic car world with the rise of electric vehicles. The Rimac C_Two, slated for production in 2021 (now on the market under name Nevera), promises to be one of the most powerful electric hypercars ever made. With 1,914 horsepower and a top speed of 258 mph, it showcases the potential of electric technology in delivering blistering performance.

Tesla has also made significant improvement with the new Roadster, expected to hit the market soon. Tesla claims it will be the fastest production car ever made, with a 0-60 mph time of under 2 seconds and a top speed of over 250 mph.