Here’s every mid-engine supercar for 2020

Welcome to the Club, Corvette

Somehow, in the age of SUVs and climate change, at a time of electrification and autonomy, the mid-engine supercar, a device created for pure speed and performance, isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. Hard to believe. But we’re cool with it.

Lamborghini is credited with creating the genre back in the late 1960s with its Miura. More than 50 years later, General Motors has finally seen the light and, just as Zora wished so many years ago, it has created a production Corvette with the engine behind the driver. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, or the C8 as enthusiasts call it, will reach dealers soon packing a 492-horsepower V8 and a base price of just $60,000. Hard to believe. But we’re cool with it.

By our count there are 17 mid-engine internal combustion machines available for purchase in the United States in 2020. Here they are in alphabetical order. 

Scott Oldham, Contributing Writer

2020 Acura NSX

Base price: $159,495
Powertrain: 500-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, one 50-hp electric motor, two 36-hp electric motors. Total output: 573 hp. Nine-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive.

Until the C8 Corvette arrived, the Acura NSX was the only mid-engine car assembled in the United States. The second generation of Honda’s supercar is built in Ohio, and this time around it’s an all-wheel-drive hybrid. Like the original NSX, which debuted in 1991, there’s a high-revving V6 mounted behind its passenger compartment, only this one is wearing a couple of turbochargers and is paired with three electric motors and a battery pack. The NSX rips to 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds and can be driven on electric power for short stints. Unfortunately, it hasn’t caught on, as sales have been slow even by six-figure supercar standards.

2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

Base price: $68,745
Powertrain: 237-hp turbo 1.7-liter inline-four. Six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

It’s admittedly a stretch to call the 4C a supercar, but the open Italian two-seater sure looks like one and its turbocharged four-cylinder is mounted behind its passenger compartment. It also features a carbon-fiber monocoque-style chassis and Alfa says the car is handcrafted in Modena, Italy. That’s supercar stuff. Its 237 hp is a bit light for a supercar, but the 4C only weighs about 2,500 pounds and, according to Alfa, has a power-to-weight ratio of 10.4:1. Alfa even gave it manual steering to save pounds and says the sports car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 160 mph.

2020 Audi R8

Base price: $171,150
Powertrain: 562-hp 5.2-liter V10. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive.

Now in its second generation, the Audi R8 is quite familiar. It’s still offered as a coupe or convertible, it still shares most of its chassis and hardware with the entry level Lamborghini, and it’s still powered by a version of Lambo’s naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10. Buyers can choose between a 562-hp version or the Performance model packing 602 hp. The latter hits 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Unfortunately, the manual gearbox is long gone, and just like its Lamborghini Huracan cousin, the R8 gets a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Some dismiss the R8 as a cheaper, more comfortable and more conservative Huracan, which is exactly what it is, only we mean it as a compliment.

2020 BMW i8

Base price: $149,495 (2019 price)
Powertrain: 228-hp turbo 1.5-liter inline-three, 141-hp electric motor. Total output: 369 hp. Six-speed dual-clutch automatic for engine, two-speed automatic for electric motor. All-wheel drive.

This is the only plug-in hybrid on this list. Is it a supercar? Yes, no, maybe. It’s certainly exotic, with a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic body structure and Butterfly doors. And it’s expensive. And fast. Available as a coupe or Roadster, which costs $164,295, BMW says the coupe can hit 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and has a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph. The i8 Roadster is a bit heavier, so it hits 60 in 4.4 seconds. In eDrive mode, with its new, larger battery pack fully charged, its all-electric range is also up from 15 to 18 miles. The i8 has a total range of about 320 miles.

2020 Bugatti Chiron

Base price: $2,998,000
Powertrain: 1,500-hp quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive.

This isn’t just the most expensive car on this list – it’s the fastest and most powerful. The successor to the Veyron basically takes every drop of engineering know-how from the expansive VW Group and pours it into one high-powered masterpiece built in Bugatti’s home nation of France. Bugatti claims 1,180 lb-ft of torque, a 0-60 mph time of 2.3 seconds and a 261 mph top speed. Things get hotter with the Chiron Sport, which gets a firmer suspension for greater road holding, lighter wheels, a specifically tuned rear axle, red accents inside and out, the world’s first carbon fiber windshield wipers and a price increase of about $250,000. The company is also hawking the Chiron Sport 110 ANS Bugatti, which celebrates its 110th anniversary with matte paint, blue accents and special badges.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Base price: $59,995
Powertrain: 465-hp or 495-hp 6.2-liter V8. Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

This car could revolutionize the mid-engine supercar universe just as Acura’s original NSX did in the early 1990s. The eighth-generation Corvette is the first with the engine mounted behind its passenger compartment. Chevy flirted with this idea throughout much of the car’s history, which began in 1953, but refused to pull the trigger until now. The purists may be squawking, but Chevy says the C8 will hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, touch 194 mph and it’s the least expensive car on this list. It’s basically a Porsche Carrera GT for Boxster money.

2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo

Base price: $274,280
Powertrain: 710-hp twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

With cars like the 308, 355, Boxer, Testarossa, F40 and others, Ferrari is synonymous with the mid-engine design. However, the company currently only has one for sale. The F8 Tributo and F8 Spider replace the 488 Pista and Pista Spider for 2020. They’re powered by the same 710-hp twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 as the 488, but the F8 is lighter and Ferrari says it can sprint to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 211 mph. Although its look isn’t radically different, Ferrari says the car is more aerodynamic and its louvered plexiglass rear window is inspired by the F40.

2020 Ferrari SF90 Stradale

Base price: $600,000 (est.)
Powertrain: 769-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, three electric motors that generate 217 hp. Total output: 986 hp. Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive.

This hypercar doesn’t really exist yet, but when it does, it will be Ferrari’s first plug-in hybrid and its first mid-engine all-wheel-drive model. Like the BMW i8, it will be able to be driven solely on the juice from its 7.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with an EV range of 16 miles. But it’s also capable, according to Ferrari, of sprinting to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, 124 mph in 6.7 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 211 mph thanks to its 986 total horsepower. That output includes the 769 hp from its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, an engine that generates an incredible 192.7 hp per liter.

2020 Koenigsegg Regera

Base price: $2,300,000
Powertrain: 1,100-hp twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8, three electric motors generate 697 hp. Total output: 1,479 hp. Single-speed direct-drive automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

Engineered and built in Sweden, this hybrid is one of the most exclusive supercars in the world. It weighs about 3,500 lbs and packs 1,479 hp, however, unlike many of its rivals, it’s rear-wheel drive. Its chassis is carbon fiber with aluminum honeycomb, with its fuel tank and battery pack mounted in the center. Ride height is adjustable, and the Koenigsegg features ceramic disc brakes and center lock carbon fiber wheels, 19-inches in front and 20s in back. Its engine revs to 8,250 rpm and its body is pre-impregnated carbon fiber and kevlar. Its removable roof panel fits in its front storage compartment. It seats two, features carbon seats covered in leather and robotized soft-closing hoods and doors. Last year, Koenigsegg said a Regera set a world record by accelerating from 0 to 400 km/h (249 mph) and back to 0 in 31.49 seconds.

• Image Credit: Lamborghini

2020 Lamborghini Aventador

Base price: $421,321 (2019 pricing)
Powertrain: 740-hp or 770-hp 6.5-liter V12. Seven-speed automated manual. All-wheel drive.

With lineage dating back to the Miura and the Countach, the Aventador is currently the king of Lamborghini’s supercar stable. It comes in four flavors, the 740-hp S and S Roadster and the 770-hp SVJ and SVJ Roadster. Each is packing a massive naturally aspirated V12, all-wheel drive and yes, Lamborghini doors. Other technologies include a carbon fiber chassis, active suspension and rear-wheel steering. The SVJ models get Lambo’s active aerodynamics system, which debuted on the Huracan Performante and creates extra lateral downforce to improve grip. The company says the Aventador S can hit 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and reach 217 mph.

• Image Credit: Lamborghini

2020 Lamborghini Huracan Evo

Base price: $261,274
Powertrain: 631-hp 5.2L V10. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive.

For 2020, the entry level Lamborghini supercar takes the Evo name, gets a few styling upgrades and adopts the hotter V10 from last year’s Performante model. The engine makes 631 hp, which is 29 hp more than last year’s standard model. The new Huracan Evo is available as a fixed roof coupe or a convertible, and although you could get a rear-wheel-drive model last year, everything we’ve seen for 2020 indicates the Evo is all-wheel drive and fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Other upgrades include a new interior with a new infotainment system and an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Lamborghini says it Huracan Evo coupe can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds.

2020 Lotus Evora GT

Base price: $98,945
Powertrain: 416-hp supercharged 3.5-liter V6. Six-speed manual, six-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

This is Lotus’ only model for 2020. It replaces the Evora 400 and it has a new name, but the changes aren’t radical. Power still comes from a supercharged double overhead cam V6 supplied by Toyota. Yes, it’s the same basic V6 the company still uses in its minivan. The blower pumps it up to 416 hp, which Lotus says is enough to get the 3,100-lb rear-wheel-drive two-seater to 188 mph. A six-speed manual is available, making this one of just two cars on this list with three pedals. Thank you to Lotus for keeping the flame alive. The Evora GT also rides on 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels wrapped in ultra-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

2020 McLaren 570S

Base price: $195,000
Powertrain: 562-hp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

McLaren’s entry-level model is no slouch. Available as a coupe and convertible, which weighs just 101 lbs more, it features a carbon fiber monocoque chassis as well as the company’s spectacular twin-turbo V8 and dual-clutch transmission. It doesn’t pack as much horsepower as the new Ferrari F8, but its significantly less expensive than the Italian and both are rear wheel drive. The 570S coupe has been around since 2015 and the convertible since 2018, so it’s not exactly fresh meat, but the 570S still impresses with a 0-60-mph run of just 2.7 seconds.

2020 McLaren 600LT

Base price: $256,500
Powertrain: 592-hp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

McLaren’s 600LT is similar to the 570S, but 220 lbs lighter. It’s also more powerful and more track focused. Its twin-turbo V8 remains 3.8-liters, but it’s been cranked up to 592 hp, and its suspension and aerodynamics have been tuned to provide more grip and a more intense driving experience. At 155 mph, McLaren claims 220 pounds of downforce. Available as a coupe or convertible, the 600LT is similar to the brand’s discontinued 675LT and it’s just the third McLaren model to ever wear long tail bodywork (hence the LT) after the F1 GTR and 675LT. McLaren says it’ll do 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds.

2020 McLaren 720S

Base price: $297,100
Powertrain: 710-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

While the 570S and 610LT make up McLaren’s Sports Series models, the 720S coupe and Spider are a notch up in the brand’s Super Series. With a larger, 4.0-liter V8 and more than 700 hp, this is McLaren’s answer to the Ferrari F8 Tributo and the Lamborghini Huracan Evo. Like its other models, every McLaren 720s gets a carbon-fiber monocoque, a paddle-shifted seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. According to Car and Driver, the 720S coupe blasts from 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and 0-100 in just 5.3 seconds. Imagine if it was all-wheel drive.

2020 McLaren GT

Base price: $213,195
Powertrain: 612-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

This new model replaces the 570GT in the McLaren’s extensive and confusingly named lineup. According to the company, it’s a softer, gentler mid-engine supercar. It’s a true grand touring machine, like an Aston Martin DB11 or a Bentley Continental GT, just with two seats and its engine behind the passenger compartment. The McLaren GT is 6.1 inches longer than the 570GT and half an inch taller. It’s the most practical and luxurious McLaren ever, with a trunk over its engine that fits a couple of golf bags. McLaren will even offer a power decklid for the first time and a 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard. McLaren says it will hit 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and has top speed of 203 mph. If you’re wondering about McLaren’s other models not listed here, the final batch of $961,500 Senna models will probably be delivered before the end of 2019 and Speedtails may not arrive until mid-next year or so, so they’ll probably be classified as 2021 models.

2020 Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster

Base price: $60,250
Powertrain: Options of a 300-hp turbo 2.0-liter flat-four, a 350–365-hp turbo 2.5-liter flat-four, or a 414-hp 4.0-liter flat-six. Six-speed manual transmission, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rear-wheel drive.

At the moment Porsche doesn’t build a true mid-engine supercar or hypercar. Its 918 Spyder is long gone from showrooms and its replacement is still a long ways off. The brand’s only mid-engine machines are its two-seat 718 Boxster and Cayman, which are available in a several mutations, including the 414-hp Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder.  They’re powered by a 4.0-liter six-cylinder, while all the other Boxsters and Caymans get turbocharged fours, and Porsche says the GT4, which costs about $100,000, can hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and touch 188 mph. Porsche’s best-performing 911 is the $294,000 GT2 RS. It has 690 hp, does 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and can reach 211 mph.