The Top 10 Most Expensive Sports Cars
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
The once and future king of the supercars (at least in most statistical categories) has curb-stomped all comers (so far) with its 1,200hp quad-turbo W16 (up 200 ponies from the “normal” Veyron) and 268 mph top speed (an improvement of 15 mph). It’s also tops in terms of MSRP, at a cool $2.4 million. But how often is the best of something not the most expensive?
Ferrari 599 GTO
The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is already one of the grandest grand tourers on the market. But what if you added about 50 hp, subtract about 220 lb., and fit it with scores of trick parts from the 599XX track toy? Well, you’d have the 599 GTO, the third car from the Prancing Horse ever to wear that legendary suffix. The 599 GTO is able to lap the company’s private test track one second quicker than the Enzo, and with production limited to just 599, you’re unlikely to see another one outside of a concours or gathering. Unfortunately, all have already been sold, but if you want one on the used market, be ready to bring at least $400,000 to the table.
Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4
Lamborghini seems to change V12 flagships less frequently than Neptune completes a lap around the sun, but there’s a good reason each of the company’s biggest and baddest bulls have such long shelf lives: Topping yourself is hard. But Lamborghini engineers (who have counted more than a few Audi transplants among their ranks for the last dozen-or-so years) have managed to do that with the Aventador LP700-4. The 6.5L V12 is only the second such design in company history, and it serves up 691hp to drive this scissor-door screamer to around 220 mph. But as the old saying goes, “Speed costs money; how fast do you want to go?” In the case of the Aventador, be ready to fork over $387,000.
Pagani Huayra
If you can look past the tongue-busting name (which is shared with an Argentine wind and a famous Argentine race car from the 1960s), you’ll find a lot to like about the Pagani Huayra, successor to the mighty Zonda. The AMG-supplied twin-turbo 6.0L V12 belts out 700hp, while the gullwing doors are guaranteed to seize the attention of onlookers and passengers alike. Just sign on the dotted line for a cool $1.2 million.
Aston Martin One-77
For better or worse, Aston Martin seems to be releasing a new variant or trim level of one of its models every month. Sure, it must be helping their bottom line, but it puts a sizable dent in the exclusivity of their products. We’re guessing they won’t have that problem with the One-77, a front-engined exotic that, as the name suggests, is limited to just 77 units. The 7.3L bent-dozen generates 750hp, making it the most powerful naturally-aspirated production car engine in history, while the $1.5 million-plus pricetag makes it by far the costliest model in Aston’s current product portfolio.
Porsche 918 Spyder
Pining for a supercar that won’t get you dirty looks on the streets of Berkeley but can’t stomach the range anxiety that’s included with every Tesla Roadster? Has Porsche got a deal for you! For a mere $845,000, you can become the owner of its upcoming plug-in hybrid halo car, the 918 Spyder. With a 4.0L V8 and a pair of electric motors on board yielding a total of 718hp, you can bet this open-air roadster will be a green monster. And if you can’t wait for production to begin 25 months(!) from now and aren’t that concerned about your carbon footprint, you can buy an exclusive 918 edition 911 Turbo S coupe or cabriolet (for an extra $160,700 or $172,100, respectively) to keep you entertained in the meantime.
SSC Tuatara
Shelby Supercars’ UltimateAero briefly held the title of world’s fastest production car before Bugatti snatched it back with the Veyron Super Sport. Now the American supercar company wants to retake the title with the UltimateAero’s recently named successor, the Tuatara. And with its slick Jason Castriota-penned lines and 1,350hp twin-turbo V8, we wouldn’t bet against the Tuatara doing it for them. No prices have been announced, but the last estimate we saw was near-as-makes-no-difference $1 million. But hey, that’s still less than half the tab for a Veyron Super Sport!
Lexus LFA
When most people think of Lexus, they probably picture a trophy-wife-skippered RX400h or an ES350 driven by a real estate agent who thinks it (and he) is the shiz. Leave it to the LFA to nuke the fridge housing such perceptions by way of its wild styling and atmo 4.8L V10 that makes 550hp and sounds like a banshee having an orgasm. All this and more can be yours for $375,000. And if you want an even harder-edged LFA (and have an extra $70,000 lying around) you can pop for the Nürburgring Package.
Koenigsegg Agera R
As a land that is associated by many with hot women and hot meatballs, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that Sweden is also home to a company that makes hot supercars. That company is Koenigsegg, and its latest and baddest creation is the Agera R. Its 5.0L twin-turbo V8 produces 1,115hp running on E85, and the lightweight, rear-drive layout stands in sharp contrast to the Veyron’s rather chubby, AWD physique. But the Agera R still commands Bugatti-grade moolah, as in about $2 million.
Hennessey Venom GT
The Lotus Exige is a hoot-and-a-half to drive, but what would happen if you stretched the wheelbase, widened the track, and dropped in a twin-turbo’d GM LS series V8? John Hennessey, one of this country’s most prolific tuners, asked that same question. The answer is the Hennessey Venom GT, a 1,200hp, 2,700 lb. Anglo-Texan rocket sled bent on flattening your face and spurring the invention of new curse words. But with an admission price of $895,000, getting the behind the wheel of one is a religious experience few souls will ever have. Such is life in the HOLY-F*CK-THIS-IS-FAST lane.
