Supercars are a part of every motor show’s eye candy and the object of every sports fan’s dream wheels. Despite a continuing recession and economic crisis, the super car genre was alive and kicking in 2009. The likes of Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lexus and even Nissan provided us with a lot of exciting new metal and power to feast our eyes on. This year was particularly rewarding, due to the fact that many companies had already started production of super cars, which were planned before the recession.

Of the top supercars, the Lexus LFA currently tops our list as it redefines Lexus as a brand with the offering of an exquisitely elegant design. Without further ado, we present our picks for the top 10 super cars of 2009.

2010 Lexus LFA

The Lexus LFA made its public debut, at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, after an extraordinarily long development period. At the Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus officially presented to the international media, a pre-production prototype that was close to the final specifications. Only 500 of these babies are to see the light of the day, with only 20 cars produced per month at their Japan factory. The very light and rigid carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) cabin, combined with the double-wishbone suspension at the front and the rear multi link suspension, creates a very stable and controlled ride. The one-piece carbon-fiber chassis has a removable front and rear aluminum sub frames to support the driveline, fenders and bumpers. Detailed aerodynamic engineering has resulted in accurate vehicle response at all speeds, creating a unity between man and machine. The new V10 engine (1LR-GEU), delivers 552 bhp and flies from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, and enables the vehicle to hit a top speed of 201 mph (325 km/h). Designed from the beginning with the race car engineering concept, the Lexus LFA is a true performer and is set to become the pinnacle of the Lexus premium sports car series.

Price: $350,000

2010 Lamborghini Reventón Roadster

You just can’t say no when Lamborghini presents you with the 2010 Lamborghini Reventón Roadster, the ultimate driving machine among the lot of open top-two seaters. The 6.5 liter V12 generates an amazing 670 hp, catapulting the Roadster from 0 to 100 Km/h in just 3.4 seconds and to a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h). This V12 engine is a true masterpiece of Italian engineering, a Lamborghini icon and defines the true, fundamental character of the car. Its maximum torque of 660 Nm kicks in at a whirring 6000 rpm. The Lamborghini Reventón is one of the fastest and most exclusive cars in the world, with just about 10 units in production. The open-top Reventón is a sports car of menacing power, breathtaking fascination and uncompromising performance. For the exclusive edition, Lamborghini designers created the Reventón Grey in a new shade of matte grey to complete the razor sharp design of the car.

Price: $1,600,000

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have just added the crowning glory to their highly successful SLR model family with the launch of the new and uncompromisingly spectacular Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss. In spite of its 200 mph plus top speed, an all-carbon-fiber construction and a fabulous exhaust note, a true “super car” status, has always been just out of reach of the Mercedes SLR. Which makes this last hurrah all the more compelling. The SLR Stirling Moss accelerates its supercharged V8 engine from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds. There is no roof or windscreen to restrain the driver and passenger from enjoying the unadulterated excitement ofthe massive power of its acceleration thrust. The SLR Stirling Moss has a strictly limited availability of just 75 units, bearing their respective chassis numbers from 1 to 75. Equipped with an incredible 650 hp and a top speed of 219 mph (350 km/h), it is safe to say that on the cusp of its retirement, the SLR has at last found its niche.

Price: $1,050,000

2009 Bertone Mantide

The 2009 Bertone Mantide is an ultra-high performance, one-off prototype fabricated by the designers at Bertone, using a Corvette chassis and engine. The car’s exterior design and shape was slowly revealed through a series of YouTube videos known as ‘Project M’. Jason Castriota headed the design team responsible for the car’s distinctive exterior design that includes angular wheel wells, unique flying buttresses and a busy rear end. Stile Bertone has over 50 years long experience in creating one-off prototypes based on many of Chevy’s sporting automobiles. He has utilized the mechanics of the formidable 2009 Corvette ZR1 in the creation of the Mantide. The ZR1 is the undisputed “King of the Ring”, the best all-round performance car in the world, posting the fastest lap time for a production car at 7:26:4 seconds on the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife, Germany. Following this legacy, the Mantide aims to be the greatest street legal performance car in the world. We can expect even better performance than the ZR1, owing to significant weight reduction and highly advanced aerodynamics. Utilizing light-weight carbon fibre for fabrication, the total weight reduction is around 200 pounds. The result is a staggering 0 to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 219 mph (351 km/h). The Mantide delivers greater stability and speed, along with high efficiency and low fuel consumption.

Price: $1,950,000

Aston Martin One-77

The recession is squeezing the automobile industry in general, but the luxury car makers are suffering more than most. Now they have come up with the answer too: Forget the miserable rich and instead just concentrate on the select few people rich enough to see the global economic crisis as little more than just a mild inconvenience. Aston Martin has released the new One-77 aimed at those select individuals. Each car will be one of only 77 expected to be built, and hence the model name. Top speed was estimated to be 200 mph but actual tests in December 2009, broke the 220 mph barrier. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3.5 seconds. Focus on ‘High-tech’ is as vital as high performance in modern day super cars, and the One-77 has plenty of both, thanks to a 7.3 litre V12 engine with 700-plus horsepower and construction design inspired from cutting-edge DTM touring cars. The Aston Martin One-77 is a remarkably stunning work of art, both inside and out.

Price: $1,700,000

Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce

It should come as no surprise that this top 10 list features a couple of Lamborghini’s, the brand for which the word ‘super car’ was coined. At the Geneva Motor show, Lamborghini revealed one of its most outrageously hardcore cars: the Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce, one of the most impressive super sports car of all time. More powerful, faster and lighter than the Murciélago LP 640, thanks to the 100 kg (220 lbs) weight loss and the race-honed aero kit, it is hard to miss this machine due to the giant rear wing, aided by the rear diffuser and carbon splitter. Add to that a screaming 670 hp V12 and you have an authentic recipe for unreplicable fun. The car races from 0 to 62mph in an just 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of around 212 mph (342 km/h). It might cost you a small fortune to get your hands on this 350 unit limited edition series. Still, with its outstanding performance, exceptional high-speed stability and razor-sharp precision, the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is perhaps the ultimate performance car in Lamborghini’s Murciélago family.

Price: $450,000

Ferrari 458 Italia

A massive leap forward from the Prancing Horse’s previous mid-rear engined super cars, the new Ferrari 458 Italia model is a synthesis of creative flair, style, passion and cutting-edge technology, all characteristics for which the Italians are known. And, it is to reflect the conjoining of character with practice (or pragmatism) that Ferrari decided to add the name of their homeland to their latest super car. The 458 Italia is an entirely new car from every point of view: design, aerodynamics, engine, handling, ergonomics and instrumentation. The new 4499 cc V8 engine is the first mid-rear mounted, direct-injection engine from Ferrari. Equipped with a traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the V8 engine delivers an impressive 570 bhp at 9000 rpm. With a power output of 127 bhp/litre it sets a new benchmark not only for the entire Ferrari range, but also for the whole market segment. A maximum torque of 540 Nm is achieved at 6000 rpm, and about 80 percent of it is available from 3250 rpm onwards. However, the truly extraordinary feature of the 458 is the amount of torque available at low revolutions, while maintaining high levels of power. A dual-clutch 7-speed transmission is just one of the several key features the 458 introduces into the model range. The 458 Italia has a top speed in excess of 203 mph (325 km/h) and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds.

Price: $255,000

Mercedes Benz SLS AMG

The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG made its international debut at the 2009 International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The new super car from Mercedes-Benz and AMG represents an equal blend of top technology and consummate automotive fascination. The reincarnation of the legendary ‘Gullwing’ delivers a compelling mix of consistent lightweight design, purist styling, and superior driving dynamics. With its unrivalled high tech package consisting of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, dry-sump lubrication, aluminium space frame body with gullwing doors, a kerb weight of 1620 kilograms, and a sports suspension with aluminium double wishbones, the Gullwing guarantees driving dynamics of the highest order. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine develops a peak output of 571 bhp at 6800 rpm and a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. The SLS AMG accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and goes on to an electronically-limited top speed of 198 mph (317 km/h). The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has a fantastic fuel economy of 13.2L/100 km or 17.82 mpg.

Price: $250,000

McLaren MP4-12C

The McLaren MP4-12C is the first car from McLaren Automotive, the independent car company based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. The 12C was revealed as the first car in a range of high-performance super cars that will challenge the world’s best sports cars. Benefiting from twenty years of sports car fabrication, engineering and design expertise of the McLaren Group, the MP4-12C is a guaranteed smash hit. Predicted to re-write the rules of the sports car world, the McLaren MP4-12C is a high performance mid-engine two-seat model costing between $202,000 and $283,000. At its heart, the MP4-12C features a one-piece carbon fibre chassis structure, called the Carbon MonoCell. This is the first time a carbon-fibre-mono-cell structure was ever featured in a car. The 12C is powered by an original McLaren ‘M838T’ 3.8L V8 twin-turbo engine that produces around 600 bhp. It targets to achieve new benchmarks for performance and power in its sector. The 12C introduces new standards in, performance, handling, economy, safety and practicality in a highly competitive sector. The 12C is pure McLaren as it features no parts from any other manufacturer. It will be produced by McLaren Automotive in the UK and goes on sale in early 2011.

Price: $202,000 – $283,000

2009 Nissan GT-R SpecV

Are you surprised to see a car from Nissan in this top 10 list? The powerful GT-R has now acquired the one thing it needed to hold its head high in the super car league – a six-figure price tag. And, if you were thinking the traditional GT-R was extreme, the SpecV will prove you wrong. The Nissan GT-R SpecV runs on the standard twin-turbo 3799 cc V6 engine, delivering about 480 hp at 6400 rpm. Carbon fiber is used everywhere, from the interior panels and seats, to the aerodynamic addenda, with serious weight reduction results. Total weight decrease is about 60 kg over the standard GT-R. Other mechanical changes include carbon-ceramic brakes, a reworked suspension, and 20-inch NISMO wheels. Nissan even designed a titanium-coated exhaust as a part of the motorsport-influenced design. There is also a temporary over-boost function in the car to provide added performance when required.

Price: $163,000