We debate whether cars like the Porsche Taycan or BMW i8 meet the definition of what we call supercars, but the fine line drawn in the sand doesn’t exclude American car models. A completely different class than the well-loved American muscle cars, supercars produced in the US, for some reason, aren’t as coveted as their European counterparts like Ferrari and Lamborghini. They may not hold the same prestige, but American supercars deserve your attention, too.

American supercars are underrated

American supercar fanatics know there is something to having a powerful car that stands out from the crowd but was made here on US soil. Even popular options like the Ford GT and Dodge Viper made from homegrown companies don’t quite have the same luster as many European options. Perhaps it is the badging that makes people turn a blind eye — after all, a Ford emblem isn’t quite as cool as a McLaren emblem.

The underdog

Compared to the extensive and long history of brands like BMW and Porsche, American car manufacturers are much newer. With less history for everything from racing to actual manufacturing, US car companies are just a little bit behind. That hasn’t stopped companies like SSC from trying to compete against the world’s biggest competitors in the supercar market, like making a world record attempt for the world’s fastest car, a spot currently held by Bugatti.

Plenty of potential

While there is still a lot of controversy on whether the SSC Tuatara is really capable of a 331mph top speed, even if it is anywhere close to that it just goes to show that American supercars are just as capable. For the standard modern-day supercar, it isn’t unrealistic to expect a top speed over 200mph, and the Tuatara undoubtedly does at least that. It isn’t alone in having an impressive top speed, where the new Ford GT does up to 216mph.

It shouldn’t surprise you if you see American supercars growing in popularity over the next decade. While they haven’t always been the coolest option out there, and they may not have the racing heritage that some other brands like McLaren do, American supercars deserve your attention, too.