Introduction: The Power Race in the World of Supercars
In the world of automotive engineering, supercars and hypercars have always stood apart. While regular cars are designed for comfort, family use, and everyday driving, hypercars exist to showcase performance, speed records, and engineering brilliance.
Over the past few decades, the race for more power has escalated to the point where today a street-legal car can produce up to 2,000 horsepower.
But the real question is: Do we actually need that much power? Or has hypercar development simply become a numbers game, where figures matter more than the real-world driving experience?
To explore this, Top Gear hosted its latest “Boss Chat” with three of the biggest names in the performance car industry:
- Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti-Rimac
- Christian von Koenigsegg, founder of Koenigsegg
- Rob Dickinson, head of Singer
Their insights reveal that the future of hypercars isn’t just about adding more horsepower – it’s about balance, control, emotion, and technology.
Mate Rimac: “2,000 Horsepower Feels Like Teleportation”
Mate Rimac, the man behind the all-electric Rimac Nevera, currently one of the most powerful hypercars in the world, has a clear perspective. With nearly 2,000 horsepower on tap, the Nevera redefines what’s possible for a production car.
Rimac explains:
“People say it’s too much – that the car is heavy, difficult to manage, and unnecessary. But to me, it feels like teleportation. If you want to overtake a car at 100-200 km/h, it happens in three seconds. It’s just a mind-blowing experience.”
Still, Rimac isn’t purely obsessed with headline numbers. He admits that lightweight, nimble cars offer a different kind of thrill:
“I love small, light, fun cars as well. So my answer is: I want both. Extreme power on one hand, and simple joy on the other.”
This shows that Rimac’s vision for the future isn’t about chasing infinite horsepower. Instead, it’s about creating balanced electric hypercars that combine raw speed with everyday usability and driver engagement.
Rob Dickinson: “Noise, Smell and Emotion Still Matter”
Rob Dickinson, founder of Singer Vehicle Design, brings a very different perspective. Singer is famous for its reimagined classic Porsche 911s, which focus on lightweight design, analog feel, and emotional driving.
Reflecting on his experience driving the Rimac Nevera, Dickinson admits:
“It’s amazing. Absolutely thrilling. But I believe driving is not just about speed. The sound, the smell, the analog connection – those things carry emotion.”
Dickinson himself owns an electric Porsche Macan and enjoys it. Yet he emphasizes that electric cars, while efficient, lack some of the sensory drama of gasoline engines:
“We’ve manipulated the Porsche 911 many times. It’s about engineering and vision. I’m a fan of EVs, but at the same time, I love something that makes noise and has a bit of smell.”
For brands like Singer, the future might lie in blending the clean efficiency of electrification with the raw emotion of classic motoring – giving enthusiasts the best of both worlds.
Christian von Koenigsegg: “The Nevera Feels Correctly Powered”
Christian von Koenigsegg, whose company has built some of the world’s most extreme hypercars, had a balanced take after experiencing the Rimac Nevera.
“My first reaction was that it feels correctly powered. Not too much, not too little. On a small track, you can use all of the power in a very controlled way. It doesn’t feel scary.”
But later, when he drove the Singer DLS – a lightweight sports car with only 500 horsepower, a quarter of the Nevera’s output – he was equally impressed.
“I have a Mazda MX-5 that I drive to work. It has very little power, but it feels like a comfortable slipper. Did I miss more than 500 horsepower in the Singer? Absolutely not.”
For Koenigsegg, the essence of a car isn’t about raw numbers. Instead, it’s about:
- Control – how safely and effectively the car can deploy its power
- Engineering feel – chassis, suspension, steering feedback
- Emotion – the experience a car gives beyond acceleration figures
In his words, whether a car has 100 horsepower or 3,000, what matters most is how balanced and exciting it feels to drive.
The Technical Side: It’s Not Just About Power
Thanks to advances in tire technology, cooling systems, transmissions, and battery management, hypercars today can safely put down enormous power figures that would have been unmanageable 20 years ago.
Still, horsepower means different things to different drivers:
- For enthusiasts, more power equals more excitement.
- For daily drivers, lightweight and responsive cars are often more enjoyable.
- For engineers, the challenge isn’t raw power – it’s designing control, safety, and experience.
This balance of usable performance and emotional connection is shaping the way manufacturers approach the next generation of hypercars.
Future Trends in Hypercars
Looking ahead, the hypercar industry seems poised to move in three main directions:
1. All-Electric Hypercars
Cars like the Rimac Nevera prove that electric hypercars can deliver unprecedented performance, with 2,000+ horsepower likely to become the norm in the coming decade.
2. Lightweight Analog Cars
Brands like Singer – and even everyday sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 – show there will always be a place for driver-focused, lightweight vehicles. They may not top the horsepower charts, but they deliver pure joy.
3. Hybrid Experiences
The most exciting path may lie in combining both worlds: electrification for instant torque and classic combustion for sound and emotion. This hybrid balance could define the “emotional hypercars” of the future.
Conclusion: Power or Emotion – What Really Matters?
From this conversation, it’s clear that the leaders of Bugatti-Rimac, Koenigsegg, and Singer all agree on one thing: a great car isn’t defined by horsepower alone.
- Rimac sees extreme power as teleportation – thrilling in its own right.
- Dickinson believes emotion lies in sound, smell, and analog driving feel.
- Koenigsegg argues that balance and control are the real keys to a perfect driving experience.
So, are supercars becoming too powerful? Maybe. But as long as manufacturers can balance performance with safety, control, and emotion, the future of hypercars looks not just fast – but deeply exciting.
