When it comes to high-end hypercars, a few specific companies come to mind: Bugatti, Ferrari, Koenigsegg, and Pagani, among others. These manufacturers have cemented themselves as the top dogs in the supercar and hypercar space, extending to their wealthiest clientele the fastest, rarest, prettiest, and in this case, most expensive cars on the planet. They’re not mere touring cars, riding on race-ready underpinnings and packing powerful engines that enable unimaginable rates of acceleration. They come wrapped in achingly gorgeous, low-slung styling that makes them rolling works of art as much as automobiles. They’re also expensive like museum-grade artwork, with staggering sticker prices that are only within the reach of the wealthiest royals, tycoons, and oligarchs. These rolling art pieces encapsulate the priorities of the one per cent, and in that universe, flamboyance and swagger take precedence over practicality and efficiency. Here are some of these truly mind-boggling machines:
1. McLaren Speedtail ($2.25 million) The Speedtail is the successor to the famed McLaren F1 in the automaker’s appropriately named Ultimate Series. Its focus is on speed, and while details are slim, the futuristic-looking hypercar is set to deliver the goods with 1,036 horsepower coming from a hybrid powertrain. The top speed is expected to be more than 250 mph.
2. Pininfarina Battista ($2.5 million) In 2019, Pininfarina surprised everyone with the announcement of a high-end hypercar dubbed "Battista," named after the company’s founder. It is claimed to have 1,827 fully electric horsepower (1,362 kilowatts) and a 0-60 mile-per-hour time of under 2.0 seconds. Although we haven’t seen any full production versions yet, the company promises a limited run of 150 examples for $2.5 million each.
3. Ferrari F60 America ($2.5 million) The supercar is mechanically identical to the F12, but the Berlinetta isn’t exactly a Fiat Panda, to begin with. Its 6.2-litre V12 churns out 740 glorious hp, enough to propel the car to 60 mph in only 3.1 seconds. The ultra-rare flag-waver hearkens back to Ferrari’s bespoke past, as the company built several region-specific sports cars in the 1950s and 1960s.
4. Mercedes-AMG Project One ($2.7 million) It’s so named because it’s as close to being a street-legal Formula One racer as it gets. Its exterior design elements are both elegant and purposeful, making it look like it's going fast even while standing still. Inside, there’s an F1-like rectangular steering wheel with integrated controls and a gear-select display, along with a pair of 10-inch high-resolution displays.
5. Koenigsegg Jesko ($3 million) Swedish auto manufacturer Koenigsegg dreamt up the Jesko as a suitable successor to its groundbreaking Agera RS. Its engine is an overwhelmingly powerful 1280-hp V-8; its nine-speed transmission is completely bespoke, built in-house by Koenigsegg. The Jesko Absolut reaches a top speed of 330mph (or 531kph); as of now, we’re still left to wonder about the breathtaking acceleration stats this powerful car must produce.
6. Pagani Huayra BC Roadster (3.5 million) Ultra-exotic automaker Horacio Pagani rips the top off the company’s rip-roaring Huayra and replaces it with a removable bonnet of carbon and glass to let the sunshine in while one races it to the horizon. Not only is the Huayra BC Roadster as quick as a racecar, but it also looks every bit the part with its low-slung carbon-titanium body punctuated with dynamic curves and creases, topped by a large wing-type spoiler at the rear.
7. Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport ($3.6 million) The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is a special edition Chiron with a focus on aerodynamics, weight reduction, and power distribution. It’s the same 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine underneath the skin but it’s now mated to a recalibrated automatic gearbox. While the peak output remains unchanged at 1,500 horsepower (1,103 kilowatts), the rpm redline has been set 200 rpm higher, up to 6,900 rpm.
8. Bugatti Divo: ($6 million) Only 40 Divos will be produced and sold. Its updates include a better suspension, a much lighter frame for increased speed, and a new dorsal fin. Inside, the Divo houses an 8.0L W-16 engine with four turbochargers. As a result, the Divo has 1500 horsepower, an acceleration of just over 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 2.4 seconds.
9. Rolls-Royce Sweptail ($13 million) One-off and hand-built, Rolls-Royce Sweptail used to wear the crown for the world's most expensive car. It was commissioned in 2013 by a super-yacht and aircraft specialist. A 6.75-litre V12 powertrain with 453 bhp under the bonnet, the exclusive Rolls is surely the crème de la crème of luxury.
10. Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta: ($17.6 million) Its frame is entirely formed of carbon fibre for an ultralight body and zippy, speedy feel; it’s blue-tinted, it has a minimized windshield, and it stands only some 21 inches tall (0.5 metres) at its tallest. Only three vehicles were ever made of this unique, specific version of the Zonda. When last sold, one of these vehicles went for $17.6M. Its acceleration is 0-60mph or 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds. The Zonda HP Barchetta can reach a top speed of 355kph or 220 mph.
