A lot goes into creating a car, especially in the luxury high-performance segment. Because the automotive market is so competitive, particularly among top-tier competitors, manufacturers are constantly racing to innovate beyond what they’ve done before and release only the best of what they come up with. Each major automaker invests millions of dollars in R&D, high-quality materials, and the development of innovative features that enable their models to perform well. Each of these factors raises the vehicle’s final price.
While luxurious sports cars and hypercars provide the best driving experience, they come at a price, which can be as high as $18 million. Although most of us cannot imagine paying such exorbitant prices, we can still have fun exploring these high-performance vehicles. Here are the top 10 most expensive automobiles of all time.
Koenigsegg Jesko – $2.8 million
With the release of the Agera RS, Swedish hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg established its reputation. With a top speed of 278 miles per hour, this model held the title of the world’s fastest production car. It was succeeded by the Jesko, an even more remarkable hypercar designed in the same mold as its extremely successful predecessor.
The Jesko has a splayed tail, sinewy haunches, and cavernous gills, giving the impression that it is both swift and brave. This is a modern approach to car design, supported by an in-house designed and built 9-speed transmission. The Jesko is priced at $3 million. According to what we can tell, the capabilities of this vehicle are sufficient to justify the not-insignificant price. The Koenigsegg Jesko is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter engine that produces 1,280 horsepower and 1106 lb-ft of torque on regular gasoline. The output increases to 1,600 horsepower when running on E85.
Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio – $3 million
A concept of the Pininfarina Sergio was revealed to the public for the first time at the 2013 Geneva auto show, intended as a memorial to the firm’s former head and famed automobile designer Sergio Pininfarina, who died just one year prior (via TopGear). The car was built on the chassis of the Ferrari 458 Speciale, but the exterior was designed to appear retro in order to reflect the style created by Sergio Pininfarina in the 1960s and 1970s. This Ferrari Sergio is powered by a 4,497cc V8 engine that is naturally aspirated.
The car’s performance dynamics are exceptional. This insane Italian Barchetta has a 605 horsepower engine and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds (via Hot Cars). Only six Ferrari Pininfarinas were ever produced, and each one sold for a whopping $3.5 million.
Lamborghini Sian – $3.6 million
The Sián FKP 37 is the world’s first production supercar with a hybrid powertrain based on supercapacitors and a 12-cylinder engine. The combination of its powerful V12 engine and electric boost results in an engineering and technological marvel that is unrivaled in its class. Sián, which translates to “lightning” in Bolognese, is an appropriate name for the vehicle because it conveys its true nature, most notably its speed of more than 217 MPH.
The Lamborghini Sian was produced in a limited run of 63 vehicles, all of which were pre-sold with deliveries beginning in December 2020. According to CNET, this is the first production hybrid vehicle offered for sale by Lamborghini, and each vehicle is individually customized to reflect the owner’s preferences. When it was first listed for sale, the Sian was asking $3.6 million.
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ – $4 Million
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, is one of the world’s most expensive production cars, costing around $4 million (via Jalopnik). Bugatti proudly offers the Chiron Super Sport 300+ to commemorate the incredible record-breaking performance that first surpassed the magical 300-mile-per-hour barrier. This one-of-a-kind Chiron is based on the design and technology of the record-breaking vehicle.
The air curtains and air exits on the front wheel housings reduce downforce and resistance slightly. Changes to the rear end styling are also notable. As a result of the addition of the so-called Longtail, which extends the body by 25 cm, the aerodynamic stall is reduced by more than 40%. According to Slashbeats’ 2019 rundown, the new exhaust tailpipe arrangement and rear diffuser provide negative lift, significantly lowering drag.
The right combination of low drag and downforce improves performance and stability even at speeds in excess of 200 MPH. The W16 8.0-liter engine now has a power output of 1.176 kW/1.600 horsepower.
Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita – $4.8 million
Despite its original plan to produce three cars, Koenigsegg chose to make the CCXR Trevita even more unique by limiting production to only two units (via Top Speed). Trevita is a Swedish acronym that means “three whites,” a fitting moniker for a car built around such uniqueness and precision. According to Prestige Magazine, Koenigsegg developed a specially coated fiber solution for the Trevita program that transformed the fibers from black to a brilliant, silvery white. When the sun shines on the Trevita, the visible carbon fiber bodywork glistens as if it were studded with millions of tiny white diamonds. Prior to the Trevita, automobile designers could only use black carbon fibers in their designs.
This special edition of the now-retired CCXR has the same 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine as the original CCXR, but it can now produce an insane 1018 horsepower. It has a carbon-fiber rear wing, Inconel exhaust, carbon ceramic brakes with ABS, airbags, paddle-shift, Chrono instrument cluster, multimedia system, tire-monitoring system, and hydraulic lifting system. The fascinatingly rare CCXR Trevita became even more famous when legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather purchased one of the two ever-built Trevitas in 2010 for an insane $4.8 million, according to CarBuzz.
Pagani Huayra Imola – $5.4 Million
Pagani released the Imola, the most extreme iteration of the already renowned Huayra, in 2019. (via Motor Authority). The Pagani Huayra Imola, dubbed the Dragon, was a limited edition model that cost $5.4 million. Only five units of the Pagani Huayra Imola were ever produced, a testament to the vehicle’s exceptional precision and in-depth research.
This iteration of the Huayra platform was designed with superior fuel economy and performance in mind, with a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine producing 827 horsepower. The aerodynamics of the Imola are another major focus of its design. The company’s design incorporates active aero systems that monitor the environment and react quickly.
Hot Cars reports that the Imola’s winglets, suspension, and differential can all be adjusted electronically, as can many of the aircraft’s other components. Pagani outfits the road-legal vehicle with Brembo and Pirelli components to improve traction and stopping power, respectively.
Rolls-Royce Sweptail: Price $12.8 Million
The Rolls-Royce Sweptail costs around $13 million and was inspired by high-end yachts from the early twentieth century. According to Motor Authority, it was the most expensive car ever sold new until Buggati launched the La Voiture Noire for $18.7 million. The bespoke coupe is one of the most personalized two-seater cars in the world.
The Rolls-Royce Sweptail was introduced as a one-off model and is based on the Phantom’s current platform. In addition to its specs — a 6.75-liter V12 powered by an 8-speed automatic — what makes the car so expensive is its level of exquisiteness and attention to detail (via Top Speed). The Sweptail’s middle console housed a one-of-a-kind hand-built mechanism that, with the push of a button, ejected a bottle of the customer’s preferred vintage champagne, along with two crystal champagne glasses. The mechanical motion that articulates the bottle into the ideal position for the owner to pick it up occurs simultaneously with the opening of the chiller lid. Furthermore, two hidden pockets conceal attaché bags.
Bugatti La Voiture Noire – $18.7 million
The Bugatti La Voiture Noire is the world’s most expensive one-off automobile. Bugatti has been defined by three characteristics since its inception in 1909: a pioneering spirit, a quest for perfection, and a determination to constantly push the boundaries of what is possible. Bugatti is well-known for producing one-of-a-kind automobiles. There will only be one Noire, and we think you’ll find it very appealing.
Despite the fact that it was first announced in 2019, Bugatti estimated that the vehicle would take another two and a half years to complete. There is only one La Voiture Noire in the world, and if that isn’t enough to pique your interest, Bugatti has stated that the car was purchased by an anonymous customer for $18.7 million (after taxes). The vehicle is valued at approximately $12.4 million before taxes.
Rolls-Royce Boat Tail – $30 Million
Rolls-Royce is known for taking automotive luxury to new heights, but the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail breaks all records. It is regarded as the most expensive car ever produced by this or any other brand. When it was first shown to the public in 2021, calculations predicted a price tag of up to $28 million. The second and most recent Boat Tail, according to Forbes, surpassed the $30 million mark.
The Phantom II Boattail, which the brand produced in 1932, influenced the design of the car. Racing yachts from the early twentieth century influenced the Phantom II Boattail. The marine-style wood decking installed on the vehicle’s trunk is the most obvious reference to this. This decking has a butterfly-style opening mechanism that allows you to access the trunk-stored al fresco dining set (which includes stools and a parasol).
Special Mention – Ferrari 290 MM
According to Motor Trend, an ex-works 1956 Ferrari 290 MM with chassis number 0628 fetched more than $22 million at an auction in New York in 2018. According to RM Sotheby’s, it was the most expensive car ever sold in New York City and the most expensive car ever sold by the auction house in its entire history. The Ferrari rockets to the top of the list of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction, taking sixth place just after legends such as the Mercedes-Benz W196 and the Ferrari 250 GTO. When it first came out of the factory, the 290 MM was designed as a race car.
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What made it even more special was that many famous names from the 1950s racing community sat behind the wheel of this specific model. Phill Hill, Sir Stirling Moss, and Juan Manuel are among those on the list. The car still has its original paint, bodywork, engine, and transmission system, which is extremely rare for a car that is well over 60 years old.
