The automotive industry has grown quite significantly during the last decades, both in terms of quality and performances, and in terms of pricing as well. There’s a plethora of expensive supercars and limousines on the roads today, but very few of them are able to join the ranks of this top 10 that we’ve conceived.
To be precise, our list with the 10 Most Expensive Cars in the World of 2012 doesn’t include any vehicle worth 6 digit figures, as you will find out as we carry on. These cars were bought for millions but we’re sure that they’re worth every single penny if we would ask the lucky owners who got to buy any of these cars.
10. Hennessey Venom GT
Starting from the least expensive, our 10th rank has been filled by a Hennessey Venom GT worth $1 million. This 1,200 HP U.S.-sourced piece of engineering perfection is the first car built by Hennessey Performance. The brand is renowned for the twin-turbo Dodge Vipers it manufactures and a lot more projects, but, by conceiving and building the Venom GT, they have really pulled it off.
Far from being an original car, the Venom GT sports a Lotus Elise Platform chassis. The engine is a 6.2-liter V8 coming from GM. Worth mentioning, the car reaches 60 mph from a standstill in just 2.5 seconds.
9. Pagani Huayra
Number 9 on our list is the famous Pagani Huayra, a monster of a car powered by a 700 HP Mercedes-Benz twin-turbo V12 engine. Extremely sleek, with round shapes and modern design, the Huayra is the second type of supercar manufactured by Pagani. Being able to reach a top speed of 230 mph (370 km/h) and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, this Italian supercar costs a massive $1.3 million.
8. Maybach Landaulet
The 8th spot has been filled by our first German car on this list, the Maybach Landaulet. Worth a respectable $1.4 million, it can be easily entitled one of the bargains of the 21st century. This price is backed up by facts though, as this Maybach features huge load of luxurious stuff and a twin-turbo V12 engine delivering 543 HP.
It is quite rare though and will definitely become an icon in the near future, with a value to match. It’s quite original as well, featuring a color-coded cabin and convertible rear alongside divided driver and passenger spots.
7. Aston Martin One-77
It’s time a British name joined our ranks, on the 7th spot, and it’s an Aston Martin. It’s the Aston Martin One-77 in fact, worth $1.4 million. Boasting with a full carbon-chassis, the One-77 sports a 7.3-liter V12 engine with the awesome output, of 750 HP, which allows it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds. Furthermore, the car boasts a pushrod suspension mechanism used in Formula 1 industry. Unfortunately, guys, this massively superb car has only been produced in 77 units.
6. Lamborghini Reventon
Italian engineering is filling the 6th spot, more specifically the Lamborghini Reventon worth $1.6 million. Equipped with a 6.5-liter V12 engine which allows it to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in 2.9 seconds, this mid-engine supercar has debuted in 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
5. Koenigsegg Agera R.
Sweden has also been presented with a spot on our list, more specifically with the Koenigsegg Agera R. It occupies the 5th place, being worth an astonishing $1,711,000. Under the bonnet we can find a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 which produces a huge 1,115 HP if running on ethanol. Considering that the regular Agera costs around $1.5 million, if we do the maths, we can easily conclude that the R badge is way too expensive. Acceleration – 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.
4. Zenvo ST1
The 4th most expensive car in the world is the Danish Zenvo ST1. Worth an abominable $1.8 million, this V8 turbocharged piece of flawless machinery measures 7 liters in engine capacity and delivers 1,250 HP. It takes this monster just 2.9 seconds to reach the 60 mph milestone. If you feel like purchasing it, you’ll also be presented with a $50,000 timepiece as gift.
3. Ferrari 599XX
We’re entering the top 3 with a name ready to start earthquakes – the Ferrari 599XX. This Italian beast is based on a regular Ferrari 599 which was converted into a 700 HP Ferrari 599XX. Interesting enough, the machine uses absolutely no supercharger or turbo systems, besides being able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. Number 3 on our list, the Ferrari 599XX is worth $2 million.
2. Bugatti Veyron SuperSport
The 2nd most expensive car of today is the stalwart, ultra fast Bugatti Veyron SuperSport. Previous holder of the fastest production car in the world speed record, it is definitely the fastest on our list. It represents the way the engineers behind Volkswagen think, it showcases their efficiency and their ability to innovate. Worth a humongous $2.6 million, the car is powered by a quad turbo 8-liter W16 engine which delivers a mind-boggling 1,200 HP.
The Bugatti Veyron Supersport is able to reach the 60 mph mark in just 2.4 seconds. And there’s the top speed, which serves as a reminder of how a handful of human minds can combine luxury with ultra high performance – the Veyron Supersport reaches a top speed of 267.81 mph (around 431 km/h).
1. Maybach Exelero
And it all comes to this – by far the most expensive car in the world is the Maybach Exelero. Number 1 on our list, this $8 million colossus is a true epitome of luxury, extravagance and peak performance. Powered by a V12 twin turbo engine, the Exelero sprints from naught to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.
It was commissioned by Fulda, a tire company, as a chopped-down 2-seater coupé. It was tested at the Nardo high-speed oval test track, where it reached the maximum speed of 218.38 mph (351.5 km/h) which is quite a massive lot for a car that weighs no less than 2.6 tonnes. Speaking of its intriguing design, it is worth mentioning that these looks are the result of a competition among the students at the Pforzheim Polytechnic Department of Transport Design.
The author of the initial idea, the 24 year old Fredrik Burchhard had collaborated with the specialists at Maybach at their centre in Sindelfingen. In terms of performance, the work started with a 550 HP V12 which was upgraded to a 5.9 liter engine delivering 700 HP and 738 lb-ft of peak torque. The model measures 5890 mm in length, 2140 mm in width and 1390 mm in height and was purchased with a full-spec interior, with neoprene, aluminum, carbon fiber finishes and leather, by rapper Bryan “Birdman” Williams for $8 million.
