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2011 Lotus Exige S 260 Final Edition Matte Black 2008 Lamborghini Reventon
Black sports cars have always had a particularly attractive and menacing appeal, but in the last two decades, manufacturers and enthusiasts alike have been taking the aesthetic to a whole new level, with matte black paint and wraps. The flat finish is one way to guarantee your all-black sports car stands out in a crowd, and, despite their scarcity, we’ve been able to track down ten of the coolest examples ever made. Ranging from more affordable models, such as the playful GR86 from Toyota, right through to some of the most expensive exotica available, this article proves that a matte black sports car works on a variety of levels.
All specs and stats have been obtained from the respective manufacturer’s site, unless specified otherwise.
Discussion What should I keep in mind if I want to paint my car a matte color effect?
Matte paint on a car looks very cool, but it’s also known to show blemishes much more easily and it requires much more care and maintenance than regular paint. You can forget about running your car through a regular car wash if you have matte paint, too – and if you’re planning on washing it yourself, you’ll need some special equipment and products to keep it in good nick. Is it really worth it?
10 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
6.3-liter V12 hybrid
Power output
950 horsepower
Torque output
664 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
2.5 seconds
Top speed
221 mph
Perhaps the most iconic hypercar from the 21st century, and one of the legendary ‘holy trinity’ of hypercars, the Ferrari LaFerrari needs little introduction. While a 950-horsepower, electrically-assisted V12 is sure to always attract attention, painting the car in Nero DS Opaco paint is one way to stand out in even the most exclusive of crowds. Only three LaFerrari models were ever finished in this color, which goes some way to explaining why this low-mileage example fetched almost $5 million at auction.
The interior of this LaFerrari is equally menacing, trimmed in black leather, and then finished with endless carbon fiber embellishments, ensuring this is one of the coolest black fast cars ever made.
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9 2011 Lotus Exige S 260 Final Edition Matte Black
Bring A Trailer
Wind the clock back a little over a decade, and Lotus was still building some of the most aggressive race cars for the road you could imagine. The Exige, which has since been discontinued, was its flagship racer, based upon the famous Elise, albeit with a hardtop, and sporting a handy supercharger, which winds the humble 1.8-liter up further. The result is a fierce 257 horsepower – more than enough in a sports car that weighs less than 2,000 lbs.
One of just 25, the Exige 260 S Final Editions were all finished in matte black, and so are easily distinguished from other examples.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
Supercharged 1.8-liter inline-4
Power output
257 horsepower
Torque output
174 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
~ 4 seconds
Top speed
152 mph
8 2024 BMW M8 Competition
BMW Individual Visualizer
Having been revised and restyled, the 2024 BMW M8 Competition coupe is one of the most competent and capable grand tourers available to buy new right now. Powering the beastly M-coupe along is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, which kicks out a supercar-slaying 617 horsepower, in addition to 553 lb-ft of torque.
It’s also one of the few cars in 2024 that are available in matte black from the factory, which means you needn’t pay for an aftermarket wrap or respray. For a stealthy look, the alloy wheels and kidney grilles can also be finished in a matching but glossy hue, leaving you with an all-black sports car.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
Twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8
Power output
617 horsepower
Torque output
553 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
3.2 seconds
Top speed
189 mph
7 2022 Toyota GR86
Black sports cars aren’t just for the wealthy, though, as one owner has proven, by wrapping his pride and joy in a moody matte black shade. The 2022 Toyota GR86 looks aggressive in any color, but in matte black, it looks more purposeful than ever.
Toyota’s GR86 provides drivers with 228 horsepower to play with, and is still available for under $30k, making it one of the best entry-level sports cars in 2024. The performance is not overwhelming, but neither is the weight, and those horses are all sent to the rear wheels, proving for an energetic and engaging drive.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
2.4-liter boxer-4
Power output
228 horsepower
Torque output
184 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
6.1 seconds
Top speed
140 mph
6 2008 Lamborghini Reventon
Lamborghini
Potentially, the Lamborghini Reventon is the supercar that really kick-started the whole matte black trend. Since the fighter jet-esque supercar was revealed, no end of matte black sports cars have been released. The angular lines of Lamborghini’s Reventon result in a supercar that still looks more aggressive than most performance cars released today, and with a mid-mounted 641-horsepower V12, this Lambo has the bite to match its bark.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
6.5-liter V12
Power output
641 horsepower
Torque output
487 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
3.3 seconds
Top speed
205 mph
5 2011 Ford Focus RS 500
Ford
As the name would suggest, only 500 examples of this hot Focus were ever produced, making it not only one of the coolest Ford hot hatchbacks ever built, but one of the rarest too. Thanks to a 45-horsepower boost, the RS 500 had more motivation on tap than the standard second-generation Focus RS, resulting in a blistering 5.4-second 0 to 60 mph time. All 500 examples of this hot hatch were finished from the factory with a matte black wrap, and today, they are seriously collectible.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
Turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5
Power output
345 horsepower
Torque output
339 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
5.4 seconds
Top speed
165 mph
4 2004 Ferrari Enzo
RM Sotheby’s
Just one Ferrari Enzo was ever assembled in the matte shade of Nero Opaco, and was originally delivered to a member of Brunei’s royal family. The car was rarely used and was kept largely hidden at one of the family’s London homes, although it was offered for sale back in late 2022, through a sealed auction.
Utilizing influence only available to a member of the Brunei royal family, this example was the first Ferrari hypercar ever delivered by the Factory in Matte Black.
Despite now being 20 years old, the Enzo can still hold its own against even some of the most potent super and hypercars of today. Thanks to a 651-horsepower V12 engine, the Enzo can dart from 0 to 60 mph in little over 3.1 seconds, and boasts a 218 mph top speed.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
6.0-liter V12
Power output
651 horsepower
Torque output
485 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
3.14 seconds
Top speed
218 mph
3 2014 McLaren P1 MSO
As it would appear is often the case with highly exclusive hypercars, just one McLaren P1 was finished in matte black. Thanks to the accompanying matte wheels, and the usual lashings of carbon fiber, this unique McLaren looks particularly imposing. The performance of McLaren’s P1 is well-known and well-documented. A total of 903 horsepower can be distributed via the driver’s right foot, and when planted firmly, that foot can send the P1 shooting from a standstill to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
Twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 hybrid
Power output
903 horsepower
Torque output
664 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
2.8 seconds
Top speed
217 mph
2 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda
Bringing things back down to earth, Mazda demonstrated its eagerness to join in on the matte black craze with its globally admired sports car – the humble MX-5 Miata. The third generation, dubbed the NC, doesn’t always get the same admiration as first-, second- and even fourth-generation models, although this special addition works hard to look just as cool as all other generations of the Miata.
Built to celebrate 20 years of the MX-5 Miata being available in France, this matte black Mazda is complemented with gloss black grilles and wheels, in addition to tinted windows. The result is effortlessly cool, and timelessly stylish.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
2.0-liter inline-4
Power output
170 horsepower
Torque output
140 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
6.4 seconds
Top speed
134 mph
1 2022 Ariel Atom 4
Ariel
Everything about this black sports car screams menacing, and so matte black is the perfect color to finish it off in. Having said that, there is hardly any bodywork, and so plenty of flashes of color from the mechanical components shine through against the satin shades.
A turbocharged Honda K20C unit provides propulsion, and with over 300 horsepower on tap, the Ariel is rarely found sitting still. Economy, capability, and versatility are three words omitted from the Ariel engineering team’s vocabulary, and the Atom 4 is all that much better for it.
Engine And Performance Specs
Engine
Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4
Power output
320 horsepower
Torque output
310 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
2.8 seconds
Top speed
162 mph