Having started off with the Roller, we looked at some of the world’s other high-end motors, some of which we’d never even heard of.
Be truthful, could you really call to mind the top ten most expensive cars on the planet, according to CEOWorld Magazine?
1. Bugatti’s La Voiture Noire – USD19 million
2. Rolls-Royce Sweptails – USD13 million
3. Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita – USD4.8 million
4. Lamborghini Veneno Roadster – USD4.5 million
5. Mclaren P1 LM – USD3.6 million
6. Lykan Hypersport – USD3.4 million
7. Bugatti Veyron by Mansory Vivere – USD3.4 million
8. Aston Martin Valkryie – USD3.2 million
9. Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio – USD3 million
10. Pagani Huayra BC – USD2.8 million.
Number one on the list will elude you, even if you have USD19 million lying around in pocket change. Described by Bugatti’s Chairman Stephan Winkelmann as “a combination of speed, technology, luxury and aesthetics,” it’s actually a one-off, the ultimate limited edition.
Others, such as the McLaren, are household names, thanks to their racing heritage. The P1 LM is another uber limited-edition with just a handful built – but look out for motoring correspondent Dick’s close encounter with the McLaren GT in next month’s issue.
Still others have gained fame through their cinematic connections – name Bond ring a bell anyone? Though of course the super-spy drove the Aston Martin DB series long before he got his hands on the Valkyrie.
But, what of the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita – only two ever built – or the Pagani Huayra BC, a veritable commoner with production runs in double figures?
There’s no doubt that these supercars are a certain kind of luxury with their eyewatering price tags and racetrack-worthy performance figures. But they’re also rare and, pretty much, confined to the world of the super-wealthy collector who also happens to be a serious petrol-head – or, somewhat tragically, wants them as investment pieces.
For the mere mortals among us, luxury can take on another incarnation – perhaps best described as everyday opulence.
Vehicles like the Maserati Quattroporte; while not quite so sporty, it undoubtedly has a certain presence. For sheer elegance the Bentley Flying Spur and Continental both take some beating.
If you like your luxury with a touch of street cred, the Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet is the one for you. Sleek and spacious enough to perform as a family motor, just drop that hood and you’re the coolest dude on the corniche. An added bonus, it even comes with its own luggage set!
And, of course, no consideration of luxury cars would be complete without a mention of one of Bahrain’s favourites, the Porsche Panamera. It looks super sporty and drives like a dream, not to mention garnering lots of admiring looks at the traffic lights.
In all honesty, the biggest luxury any of us can ask from our vehicles is the promise of safety (boy racers excluded). And while the supercars might be the stars of the genre, their production runs are limited for a reason. Most of us actually prefer the performance and price tag of our everyday opulence models.
