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Top 50: the last 50 years

An editorial ranking of the cars that shaped 1976–2026. We weighed significance, driving feel, engineering ambition, design clarity and lasting legacy — not just lap times or launch hype.

All1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. 1

    McLaren F1

    McLaren · 1992 · Hypercar

    Gordon Murray's centre-seat masterpiece; the benchmark for every hypercar since.

  2. 2

    Ferrari F40

    Ferrari · 1987 · Supercar

    Enzo's last car: raw, turbocharged and spartan.

  3. 3

    Porsche 959

    Porsche · 1986 · Supercar

    A technology demonstrator that previewed 30 years of supercars.

  4. 4

    Mazda MX-5 (NA)

    Mazda · 1989 · Sports car

    The affordable roadster that saved the genre.

  5. 5

    Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk1)

    Volkswagen · 1976 · Hot hatch

    The car that invented the hot hatch.

  6. 6

    BMW M3 (E30)

    BMW · 1986 · Sports saloon

    A homologation special that became the definitive driver's saloon.

  7. 7

    Audi Quattro

    Audi · 1980 · GT

    Brought four-wheel drive to performance cars.

  8. 8

    Honda NSX

    Honda · 1990 · Supercar

    The everyday supercar that embarrassed Ferrari.

  9. 9

    Tesla Model S

    Tesla · 2012 · Saloon

    The car that made EVs desirable.

  10. 10

    Porsche 911 (993)

    Porsche · 1993 · Sports car

    The last and loveliest air-cooled 911.

  11. 11

    Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32)

    Nissan · 1989 · Sports car

    'Godzilla' — the car that dominated touring cars.

  12. 12

    Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione

    Lancia · 1991 · Hot hatch

    Rally champion in road clothes.

  13. 13

    Toyota Supra (A80)

    Toyota · 1993 · Sports car

    The 2JZ legend of tuning culture.

  14. 14

    Lotus Elise (S1)

    Lotus · 1996 · Sports car

    Lightness as a philosophy.

  15. 15

    Porsche Carrera GT

    Porsche · 2004 · Supercar

    A screaming race-bred V10 and a manual gearbox.

  16. 16

    Bugatti Veyron 16.4

    Bugatti · 2005 · Hypercar

    1,000 horsepower and 253 mph — an engineering moonshot.

  17. 17

    Toyota Prius

    Toyota · 1997 · EV pioneer

    The first mass-produced hybrid.

  18. 18

    Tesla Roadster

    Tesla · 2008 · EV pioneer

    Proved electric could be fast.

  19. 19

    Porsche 918 Spyder

    Porsche · 2013 · Hypercar

    Plug-in hybrid hypercar that broke the 7-minute Nürburgring barrier.

  20. 20

    Lexus LFA

    Lexus · 2010 · Supercar

    The V10 with the greatest soundtrack ever made.

  21. 21

    Ferrari Enzo

    Ferrari · 2002 · Hypercar

    Formula 1 technology for the road.

  22. 22

    Peugeot 205 GTI

    Peugeot · 1984 · Hot hatch

    The hot hatch at its purest.

  23. 23

    Subaru Impreza Turbo

    Subaru · 1993 · Sports saloon

    Colin McRae's road car.

  24. 24

    Nissan GT-R (R35)

    Nissan · 2007 · Supercar

    Supercar pace for a fraction of the price.

  25. 25

    Honda S2000

    Honda · 1999 · Sports car

    A 9,000 rpm roadster for the masses.

  26. 26

    BMW M5 (E39)

    BMW · 1998 · Sports saloon

    The best super saloon ever made, by consensus.

  27. 27

    Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

    Ford · 1986 · Sports saloon

    A whale-tail homologation hero.

  28. 28

    Gordon Murray T.50

    Gordon Murray Automotive · 2022 · Hypercar

    The spiritual successor to the McLaren F1.

  29. 29

    Toyota GR Yaris

    Toyota · 2020 · Hot hatch

    A homologation special in the modern age.

  30. 30

    Ford GT

    Ford · 2004 · Supercar

    A GT40 tribute with supercharged muscle.

  31. 31

    Ferrari F355

    Ferrari · 1994 · Supercar

    Ferrari rediscovers its magic.

  32. 32

    Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI

    Mitsubishi · 1999 · Sports saloon

    Makinen's weapon.

  33. 33

    Honda Integra Type R (DC2)

    Honda · 1995 · Hot hatch

    The greatest front-drive car ever?

  34. 34

    Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16

    Mercedes-Benz · 1983 · Sports saloon

    Cosworth-headed Baby Benz.

  35. 35

    Mazda RX-7 (FD)

    Mazda · 1992 · Sports car

    The rotary's finest hour.

  36. 36

    Ferrari Testarossa

    Ferrari · 1984 · Supercar

    The 1980s in car form.

  37. 37

    McLaren P1

    McLaren · 2013 · Hypercar

    The F1's hybrid heir.

  38. 38

    Rimac Nevera

    Rimac · 2021 · Hypercar

    The electric hypercar that rewrote the record books.

  39. 39

    Porsche Taycan

    Porsche · 2019 · Saloon

    Proved an EV could drive like a Porsche.

  40. 40

    Tesla Model 3

    Tesla · 2017 · Saloon

    The EV for everyone.

  41. 41

    Alpine A110

    Alpine · 2017 · Sports car

    Lightness and joy, revived.

  42. 42

    Toyota GT86

    Toyota · 2012 · Sports car

    Affordable rear-drive fun.

  43. 43

    Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

    Hyundai · 2023 · Hot hatch

    The EV that made enthusiasts smile.

  44. 44

    Ferrari 458 Italia

    Ferrari · 2009 · Supercar

    The last great naturally aspirated mid-engine V8 Ferrari.

  45. 45

    Audi R8

    Audi · 2007 · Supercar

    The usable supercar.

  46. 46

    Porsche 911 GT3 (992)

    Porsche · 2021 · Sports car

    Motorsport tech, road legal.

  47. 47

    Honda Civic Type R (FK8)

    Honda · 2017 · Hot hatch

    Front-wheel-drive Nürburgring king.

  48. 48

    Ford Focus RS (Mk3)

    Ford · 2016 · Hot hatch

    The hot hatch with a Drift Mode.

  49. 49

    BMW i8

    BMW · 2014 · GT

    A concept car that made production.

  50. 50

    Nissan Leaf

    Nissan · 2010 · EV pioneer

    The first mass-market EV.