Again, their price varies greatly depending on the car. For instance, McLaren F1 costs anywhere from $1 million to $1,250,000 but the Bentley Continental GT costs (depending on options) between $150,000-$170,000. The final factor of an ultra luxury car is their design. In order to be considered ultra luxury, a car really needs to stand out from all the rest. They should be better looking and performing than any other car out there. These three qualifications are what make an ultra luxury car so great and set apart from other cars.
Aston Martin Vanquish S
The Aston Martin Vanquish S is somewhat difficult to place because it includes characteristics descriptive of both sports cars and touring cars. Although probably more under the sports car category, the Vanquish S lacks none of the refinement of a touring car with its Alcantara and full grain leather interior. Under the hood, this car is all muscle. Its V12 pumps out 520hp at 7,000rpm, the most horsepower of any Aston Martin to date. Also, it changes gears, via paddle shifters on the steering column, in the blink of an eye, 250 milliseconds. Despite the Vanquish S’s brawn, it still has finer touches like the leather and certainly fits the image of either a sports car or a touring car.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 4.8 sec.
Top speed: over 200 mp/h
Engine
Type: V12; front engine, rear-wheel drive
Power: 520hp at 7,000 rpm
Displacement: 5935 cc
Price
Base: (from) $347,263(£177,100; €268,862)
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
This car is an utter beast. It rockets from 0-60 in 2.6 seconds, quicker than any other production car in history, and has over 1000 horsepower! It was the world’s fastest production car until the SSC Ultimate Aero came along and beat its record by 2 mp/h. At first, Bugattis were made by Ettore Bugatti in Molsheim, France, until the start of World War II. The Volkswagen Company bought rights to build Bugattis in 1998 and formed Bugatti Automobiles SAS in 2000. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 was first produced in 2005. This car’s W-16 with its four turbochargers blasts to over 250 mp/h in 55 sec.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 2.5 sec.
Top speed: 253 mp/h (407 km/h) electronically limited
Quarter mile: 10.2 sec. ending at 142.9 mp/h (229 km/h)
Engine
Type: W-16, sixteen cylinders, Quad- turbochargers
Power: 1001 hp at 6,000 rpm
Displacement: 7,993 cc
Price
Base: $1,440,800 (£757 359; € 1,127,210)
Enzo Ferrari
Perhaps the most recognized symbol in the whole ultra luxury car industry is the prancing horse of Ferrari, with the Enzo Ferrari being one of the most famous and coveted cars from Ferrari. Named after the founder of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari, this vehicle was first revealed at an auto show in Paris in 2002. Because only 400 Enzos have been built thus far, they are very rare and sought after by all. At first, only 349 Enzos were planned to be built; but because of so many requests for the Enzo, Ferrari announced that another 50 would be made. The final one was auctioned and the money donated to the survivors of the 2004 tsunami. This car definitely has the power and the image to demand the respect it deserves by means of its V-12 that pumps out 660 horsepower! Although not as high on refinement, the Enzo Ferrari is without doubt a potent force.
One thing that is very often confused about the Enzo Ferrari is its name. Because the car was named after the founder of Ferrari (Enzo Ferrari), the technical name is the Ferrari Enzo Ferrari. Therefore, it is incorrect to call the car the Ferrari Enzo for the same reason that the Mosler MT900 would not be called the Mosler 900. However, the name can be abbreviated to Enzo Ferrari for everyday usage. As the final authority, the Ferrari website calls the car the Enzo Ferrari, not the Ferrari Enzo.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 3.65 sec.
Top speed: above 217 mp/h (349 km/h)
Engine
Type: V-12
Power: 660 hp at 7,800 rpm
Displacement: 6,000 cc
Price
Base: $643,330 (£327,510; €497,426)
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Ferrari is known for making striking cars. The 599 GTB Fiorano is no exception. This car has a sleek, flowing body combined with one of Ferrari’s most powerful engines ever, making for one of the most coveted Ferraris to date. One look at the 599 tells you that it is designed for speed. In fact, the 599 is Ferrari’s “most powerful V12-engined production car of all time”, (according to the Ferrari Media Site). But the danger with speed is not enough downforce holding the car to the road. The 599 manages to have more than enough downforce, without using huge wings or spoilers. While the exterior has the word FAST written all over it, the interior is refined and perfectly compensates for the bold effusion of power contained under the hood. Overall, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano may not be the most powerful car on the earth, but it is certainly one of the greatest (if not the greatest) to emerge from the Ferrari factory and this will always give it a place in the hearts of ultra luxury car enthusiasts everywhere.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-62 mp/h (0-100 km/h) in 3.7 sec.
Top speed: 205 mp/h (330 km/h)
Engine
Type: V12
Power: 620 hp at 7,600 rpm
Displacement: 5,999 cc
Price
Base: $278,345 (£137,029; €201,716)
Gumpert Apollo
When Roland Gumpert split from Audi to make his own ultra luxury cars, he started with a near impossible premise: to create a vehicle that was at home on the road or track and for it to have an unbeatable price. All this and more is accomplished in the Gumpert Apollo. Since its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006, the Apollo has taken the ultra luxury car world by storm because of its raw performance coupled with a touch of refinement in the body and interior. The engine boasts 650 horsepower in the normal version. As if that was not enough, the Apollo sport bumps the horsepower up to 800 (a 700 hp engine is also available). Because it is only about $318,000, the Gumpert Apollo costs significantly less than many comparable ultra luxury cars and is as great as any other!
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 3 sec.
Top speed: 360 km/h (224 mp/h)
Engine
Type: Twin turbocharged Audi V8
Power: 650(at 6,500 rpm)-800 hp
Displacement: 4,163 cc
Price
Base: $318,000 (£162,000; € 239,000)
Jaguar XK &XKR
Jaguar is well known for their luxury cars, but what about their ultra luxury cars? The Jaguar XK and the more powerful XKR are Jaguar’s launch into the ultra luxury market. Both the XK and the XKR come either as a coupe or convertible. The XK was originally produced in 1997 and has been revised for the 2007 year. The largest difference between the XK and the XKR is the engine. While the XK has 300 horsepower, the XKR has 420 horsepower from the same V8 as the XK but with the addition of a supercharger. Both vehicles are computer limited to 155 mp/h (250 km/h), but they may be capable of more than that. To aid in safety, the new XK is equipped with a sensor that will raise the hood of the car, slightly, if a pedestrian is struck, decreasing potential harm to the person. With the XK and the XKR, Jaguar has undoubtedly secured itself a place among the great ultra luxury car makers.
All specs. and prices are based on the coupe version of both cars.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 6.2 sec. (XK); 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 5.1 sec. (XKR)
Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mp/h)
Engine
Type: supercharged V8
Power: 300 hp (XK); 420 hp (XKR)
Displacement: 4196 cc (both)
Price
Base: $75,500 (£39,100; €57,200) (XK); $86,500 (£44,760; €65,500) (XKR)
Koenigsegg CCX
Definitely deserving of the title ultra luxury car, the Koenigsegg CCX is the newest vehicle to be developed by the Koenigsegg Company. This Sweden based company was founded by Christian von Koenigsegg to create the perfect sports car. All that and more is embodied in the CCX. It flawlessly combines flat-out speed with agility and a luxurious interior. With a predecessor like the Koenigsegg CCR (formerly the fastest production car), the CCX has very large shoes to fill; but it is definitely as good as and better than the CCR.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 3.2 sec.
Top speed: over 395 km/h (over 245 mp/h)
Quarter mile: 9.9 sec. ending at 235km/h (146 mp/h)
Engine
Type: Koenigsegg V8 cast aluminum, 4 valves per cylinder; Twin Rotex centrifugal superchargers
Power: 806 hp at 6,900 rpm
Displacement: 4,700 cc
Price
Base price: $812,000 (€578,000 or £395,000)
Lamborghini Murciélago
As with a few ultra luxury cars, the Lamborghini Murciélago is, to some extent, hard to define as only a sports car or only a touring car. The Murciélago has the perfect balance of elegance and muscle. Two different versions of the Murciélago were produced: the Murciélago roadster and the Murciélago LP640. The first to be made was the roadster for 2005, and the LP640 followed the next year. Named after a legendary bull that endured being slashed with a sword 24 times in a bullfight, the Murciélago, specifically the LP640, is the most powerful vehicle from Lamborghini thus far with 640 hp!
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 3.4 sec.
Top speed: 340 km/h (211 mp/h)
Engine
Type: V-12
Power: 640 hp at 8,000 rpm
Displacement: 6496 cc
Price
LP640 base: $350,000 (£177,123; €270,325)
Roadster base: $273,000 (£138,156; € 210,842)
McLaren F1
The first true ultra luxury sports car is none other than the McLaren F1. Formerly the world’s fastest production car, the McLaren F1 held that title for about a decade until 2005 when first the Koenigsegg CCR then the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 broke its top speed record of roughly 240 mph. Although it was beaten, the McLaren F1 is extremely popular among ultra luxury car lovers for its raw performance and beauty. One reason that the McLaren F1 is so coveted is because only 72 street-legal versions were ever made! Despite its mammoth price of over $1,000,000, the McLaren F1 is and always will be one of the most desirable ultra luxury cars ever.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 3.4 sec.
Top speed: 386 km/h (240 mp/h)
Quarter mile: 11.1 sec. at 125 mp/h
Engine
Type: V-12
Power: 627 hp at 7,400 rpm
Displacement: 6064 cc
Price
Base: $1,000,000 (£512,505; € 768,995)
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
We can all think of cars that make us say, “Wow!” The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is definitely one of those cars. Everything about it screams speed and power, both of which the SLR McLaren is gifted with. All different versions of the SLR McLaren are anything but ordinary because although they all have automatic transmissions, they still have a top speed of over 200 mp/h and a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds (for the standard SLR McLaren) or less. There are four versions of this car currently in production: they are the standard SLR McLaren, the SLR 722 Edition, and the SLR McLaren Roadster. The first two are coupes, while the Roadster is a convertible. The last one is extremely new and is designed solely for track use. It is called the SLR 722 GT. The design of the SLR McLaren says that it has terrific speed and power, but what about the interior? This too is a step above and beyond many comparable cars. The interior can contain anything from leather, aluminum, or carbon-fiber, and the seat cushions are even exchangeable to give the driver the utmost level of comfort and fit possible. By far, the SLR McLaren is the best example of what Mercedes-Benz can do when they create an ultra luxury sports car. This is an amazing car, and certainly one that has everything, inside and out, that it takes to be one of the world’s greatest cars.
All specs. are based on the standard SLR McLaren.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-60 mp/h (0-100 km/h) in 3.8 sec.
Top speed: 207.5 mp/h (334km/h)
Engine
Type: supercharged V-8
Power: 617 horsepower at 6,500 rpm
Displacement: 5,439cc
Price
Base: $450,000 (£219,285; €307,000)
Mosler MT900
The Mosler MT900 is, like the Saleen S7, an American ultra luxury car and a strong rival of the S7. In this exclusive group, the Mosler MT900 has undoubtedly earned its place among the greatest cars ever. There are three other versions of the MT900: the MT900R, MT900S, and the MT900S Photon. The Mosler MT900R is a race car, and the other two are street cars. The M comes from Warren Mosler, the T from Rod Trenne, the car’s designer, and the 900 from the car’s optimal weight of 900 kilograms (1984 pounds). The first MT900s was produced in 2001, and they continue to be beautiful and powerful ultra luxury cars even today.
Performance
Acceleration (Early version)/ (Photon): 0-60 mp/h in 3.5 sec. /60 mp/h in 3.12 sec.
Top speed (both): over 180 mp/h (289 km/h)
Quarter mile (Early version)/ (Photon): 12 sec at 118 mph /11 sec at 126 mph
Engine
Type: V8
Power: 435 hp
Displacement: 5,700 cc
Price
Base: $189,000 (€143,658; £ 96,928)
Pagani Zonda
The Pagani Zonda is a sports car of sports cars. It perfectly unites fluid aerodynamics to a powerful engine. This, coupled with a very limited number made, makes the Zonda one of the most sought after ultra luxury cars yet. The Zonda was first unveiled in 1999 at the Geneva Auto Show and is still being made today. From 2004-2007, a new Zonda has been revealed annually at the same event in Geneva. Currently, there are six different versions of the Zonda, but not all of them are street-legal. A major difference among the models is that two of them are convertibles while the others are coupes. One thing that sets the Zonda apart from other ultra luxury cars is its price. The racing models cost well over $1,000,000 (£503,000; €740,000) while the street versions cost around $650,000 (£330,000; €480,000). The Zonda definitely has the muscle to match its price. Its engine is a Mercedes-Benz AMG V12 generating 602 horsepower! Although this may not be the most impressive figure ever, the Zonda is still able to go more than 200 mp/h. The Pagani Zonda is an absolutely amazing car, both inside and out, and it is guaranteed to continue being one of the most wanted and beautiful ultra luxury cars!
All specs. are based on the Zonda F.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-62 mp/h (0-100 km/h) in 3.6 sec.
Top speed: 215 mp/h (345 km/h)
Engine
Type: Mercedes-Benz AMG V12
Power: 602 hp at 6,150 rpm
Displacement: 7,291 cc
Price
Base: $650,000 (£330,000; €480,000)
Porsche Carrera GT
If you are looking for an ultra luxury car that embodies “form and function”, look no further than the Porsche Carrera GT. When Porsche decided to make an ultra luxury car, they didn’t just make another car: they made a car that would be legendary for its speed and style. The Porsche Carrera GT started its life as a concept car, unveiled at the Louvre in 2000; but it was not actually produced until late 2003. To get an idea of what the Porsche Carrera GT drives like, imagine swinging a knife through the air. That is what the Porsche Carrera GT does: its sleek body slices right through the air. This ability is a result of an extremely powerful V10 that would be normally used in one of Porsche’s race cars. With a top speed of 205mp/h (330 km/h) and 605 hp, the Porsche Carrera GT may not be the fastest or most powerful car on the earth today, but it certainly ranks up there with some of the other legends of the ultra luxury car industry. Coupled with that engine is a luxurious interior, such as is rare in the sports cars world. One thing that really stands out on the interior is the shifter which is mounted right next to the steering wheel. If it were possible to sum the Porsche Carrera GT up in one word, that word would be fluid. As a result, there are very few straight lines on the Porsche Carrera GT. Every detail inside and out flows gently into the next, giving the eye the impression of motion even when there is none. The Porsche Carrera GT is definitive of all that makes an ultra luxury car: speed, style, and quality; and it is guaranteed to always be in the very highest echelon of the ultra luxury car world.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-62 mp/h (0-100 km/h) in 3.9 sec.
Top speed: 205mp/h (330 km/h)
Engine
Type: V10
Power: 605 hp at 8,000 rpm
Displacement: 5,733 cc
Price
Base: $440,000 (£213,620; €318,428)
Saleen S7
The Saleen S7 Twin Turbo is an American ultra luxury car that is easily capable of competing with the Bugatti Veyron 16.4! With 750 horsepower and a 0 to 60 time of 2.8 seconds, the Saleen S7 is undeniably a force to be reckoned with. The Saleen S7 was first made public in 2000 at the Laguna Seca Raceway, but a street version was not released until 2003. Saleen Inc. was started by Steve Saleen in 1983, and its first car was manufactured the following year. Saleen currently offers the S7, S281 coupe or convertible, S331 Sport Truck, and the Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-60 in 2.8 sec.
Top speed: 248 mp/h (399 km/h)
Quarter mile: 10.5 sec at 145 mp/h
Engine
Type: Twin turbocharged V8
Power: 750 hp at 6,300 rpm
Displacement: 7,000 cc
Price
Base: $580,000 (£293,807, €447,474)
SSC Ultimate Aero TT
The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has been beaten! The car that did it is the SSC Ultimate Aero TT. Although it may have seemed near impossible, there is a second production car that travels at speeds in excess of 250 mp/h. In fact, on one of the two runs that are required by Guinness World Records for a record to be valid, the Aero hit 257 mp/h, but on its second run, it only went 254 mp/h. Computer tests claim that the Aero could hit 273 mp/h, though. The Aero is made by SSC which stands for Shelby Super Cars. The company’s founder Jerod Shelby (of no relation to the Carroll Shelby of Ford Mustang lore) set out with the purpose of dethroning the Veyron. The future is certainly bright for the Ultimate Aero TT because they were forced to make their speed-record attempt on a highway in Washington. They hope to later make another attempt on a track similar to what the McLaren F1 and the Bugatti Veyron had. Only the future can tell whether or not the SSC Ultimate Aero TT will push its record even farther ahead and possibly hit its 273 mp/h mark. In the meantime, it is still one of the world’s greatest ultra luxury cars.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-60 mp/h (0-100 km/h) in 2.78 sec.
Top speed: (unofficial) 257mp/h (413 km/h) / (official) 256 mp/h (411km/h)
Engine
Type: Twin-turbocharged V8
Power: 1183hp at 6,950 rpm
Displacement: 6,345 cc
Price
Base: $600,000 (£295,440; €423,780)
Spyker C12 Zagato
This ultra luxury car from Spyker is extremely new, only being released on March 6, 2007. Even though it is so new, the C12 Zagato is one of the most promising cars from Spyker. It was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show. A mere twenty four are currently planned for production, and those will only be for previous Spyker owners. The small production numbers and the limited availability are sure to make the C12 Zagato an exceptionally coveted ultra luxury car. It is powered by a Volkswagen W12 producing 500 horsepower! The C12 Zagato has several F1 details such as its nose and air scoops. The Spyker C12 Zagato is an absolutely amazing ultra luxury car, especially being so new, and it is sure to be popular once production begins in early 2008.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mp/h) in 3.8 sec.
Top speed: 310 km/h (193 mph)
Engine
Type: W12
Power: 500 hp
Displacement: 5998 cc
Price
Base: $649,600 (£336,750; €495,000)
