5 Greatest Mercedes-Benz Sports Cars (And 5 Audi Alternatives)
Mercedes-Benz has been around for almost a century and the iconic automaker has crafted some of the most legendary sports cars in the annals of automotive history. Although it’s not entirely crystalline as Mercedes-Benz, the roots of Audi date back to the early 20th century, and they have also succeeded in creating several emblematic sports cars. Over the years, both of these companies have taken part and won in a multitude of Motorsports including sports car racing and rallying.
These incredible racing legacies have also contributed to both Mercedes-Benz and Audi creating one-of-a-kind high-performance sports cars at various junctures in their long history. Today we will focus on pointing out the greatest of those mean machines which include both classic speedsters and ultra–futuristic supercars. The list might not include all the most iconic cars as we are selecting the best Mercedes and Audi sports cars based on their performance, agility, speed, and technological advancements.
1 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG ONE
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG ONE is a Formula 1 car that dons street-legal skin. This swanky carbon fiber beauty is the first hybrid supercar from the brand, and it has been designed giving the utmost emphasis to aerodynamics that it even has a rooftop air intake and vertical shark fin. Powering this monstrosity is a modified 1.6-liter turbocharged 90-degree V6 engine from the Mercedes-AMG F1 W06 Formula One car allied with four electric motors outputting a whopping combined output of 1,050 horsepower.
2 2023 Audi R8 GT
The Audi R8 is one of the brand’s most exalted sports cars, and 2023 marks the end of production for this sweet-sounding feral. As an honorary act of bidding farewell to this venerated supercar, Audi is producing a limited edition variant of the car named the 2023 Audi R8 GT. Limited to 333 units worldwide, this screaming varmint is powered by a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 that outputs 602 horses and enables it to charge to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds.
3 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
The Black Series badge is the top-most rank given to Mercedes sports cars and the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series is one of the most legendary machines to bear that moniker. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG itself is truly special as it was the first car designed and built from scratch by AMG and the Black Series takes it up a notch. This Mercedes masterpiece with gullwing doors has a gracefully euphonious 622-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine under its hood which was the most powerful naturally aspirated engine when it came out.
4 2015 Audi R8 Competition
The 2015 Audi R8 Competition can be considered the spiritual predecessor to the now most-powerful 2023 Audi R8 GT as it was the final sendoff given to the first-gen R8. With only, 60 examples produced for the U.S., this dulcet screamer has some noteworthy bits over the regular R8 of the time. The 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 powering this carbon-fiber-festooned varmint churns out 570 horses and revs to 8,800 rpm while spitting a booming soundtrack through the specially tuned sport exhaust.
5 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition
Honoring Stirling Moss for his 1955 victory in the 1,000-mile Mille Miglia motor race, Mercedes-Benz created the 2007 SLR McLaren 722 Edition. He emerged triumphant driving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR which served as the inspiration for the SLR McLaren itself. Only 150 units of the 722 Edition were produced, and it sports a hand-built 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine which cranks out a titanesque 641 horsepower enabling it to achieve 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds.
6 2013-2017 Audi RS5 Coupe
The Audi RS 5 is the high-performance version of the brand’s compact luxury A5 sedan that has been around for a decade now in the American market. However, the current, second-generation, turbocharged, V6-powered RS5 isn’t the greatest of its kind. Unlike it, the first-gen RS5 has a serenading naturally aspirated V8 under its hood, producing an increased 450 horsepower. The first-generation RS5 has a distinct character and delivers an exceptionally enjoyable driving experience, the spirit of which was lost somewhere after its redesign.
7 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series is the direct descendant and royal successor of the SLS AMG Black Series, which is totally worthy of adorning its crown. Before the arrival of the Mercedes-AMG One, this Black Series monster with a 720-horsepower 4.0-liter turbo V8 was the most powerful and capable Mercedes ever created. A track-tuned suspension setup, extensive usage of carbon fiber, extreme active aero components, and a unique set of tires contribute to sticking this speed demon to the tarmac and rocketing it to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
8 2019-2022 Audi TT RS
The Audi TT is getting axed after the 2023 model year and this would result in the retirement of the TT RS too. The Audi TT RS can be recognized as a baby R8, and it does deliver a phenomenally fun driving experience in a mini supercar package. Although the latest generation TT RS was launched in 2018, it was the next year it got its winsomely enraging demeanor after a minor facelift. Power comes from a 394-horsepower 2.5–liter turbocharged inline-5 engine and this remarkable sports car is undoubtedly an icon.
9 1999-2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR AMG
Primarily designed as a full-fledged racecar intended to compete in the FIA GT Championship series in 1997, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is a homologation special built in very limited numbers. This supercar is an engineering marvel conceived in just 128 days featuring a carbon fiber tub and powered by a stupendous 622-hp 6.9-liter naturally aspirated V12. Another highlight is the 6-speed sequential manual transmission with a carbon fiber clutch that transmits power to the rear wheels enabling the CLK GTR to charge to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
10 1985-1986 Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2
The Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 is the updated version of the Sport Quattro S1 both of which are rare homologation cars built for Group B rallying. The life force of the Sport Quattro S1 E2 is a high-revving 493-hp 2.1-liter turbocharged inline-5 mated to a 6-speed stick shift. Further, the turbo of the car features a recirculating air system that allows for sustaining higher revs consistently, thus reducing turbo lag and enabling the angry rally car to hit 60 mph in around three seconds. This Group B legend is undoubtedly one of the most iconic Audi sports cars ever.
