Some cars are designed simply to shuttle humans from point A to point B — these are not those cars. The average purchase price of a new car in the U.S. is around $39,000 — the least expensive car on this list is almost 10 times that figure. These vehicles are not typically daily drivers, although a few owners will drive them with some regularity — but let’s face it, those possessing the means to purchase one of these beauties likely have other options in their garages. So what do buyers get when paying more for a car than most folks pay for their first house? Extreme power, ultimate performance, lavish amenities and exclusivity — here’s a look at the cars (and SUVS) at the upper crust of automotive high society.
Roll-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase
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© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
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$349,000
It’s hard to think of anything Rolls-Royce as being “entry level” — almost a contradiction in terms — but the Ghost is likely what most folks buy when they’re ready for their first Rolls-Royce sedan. Rolls-Royce has long been the benchmark for luxury automobiles, and this still holds true for the Ghost. The hand-built sedan is swathed in five coats of paint that take seven days to apply, with an additional five hours of hand polishing. Inside, wood veneers match flawlessly, and the leather seats are hand stitched. The rear seating area assures absolute comfort — with the optional ‘Lounge seat’ configuration, the seats gently angle towards each other to create a more intimate setting, allowing passengers to communicate more easily.
Roll-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase
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© Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
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The Ghost EWB’s twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 engine provides more than adequate power and the intelligent air suspension delivers an impressively smooth, quiet ride. Acceleration is quite strong for such a large car — 60 mph can be attained from a standstill in a scant 4.7 seconds. The Ghost EWB’s Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data to allow the car to see beyond what the driver sees, adjusting performance and suspension based on upcoming road conditions such as winding turns or steep climbs.
Rolls-Royce Dawn
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© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
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$349,050
Dawn sets the bar for ultra-luxury 4-seat convertibles, joining the Rolls-Royce lineup a few years ago. Perhaps Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, the CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, describes the Dawn best: “Quite simply, it is the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built.” The new Dawn convertible top operates silently, and can be opened or closed in 22 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. Rolls-Royce engineers refer to the operation as a “silent ballet.” Many 4-seat convertibles accommodate just two people, given their limited rear-seat space. The Dawn makes no compromises — it carries four occupants in the utmost comfort.
Rolls-Royce Dawn
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© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
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Powered by Rolls-Royce’s twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 engine producing 563 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque at a low 1500 rpm, Dawn is Rolls-Royce’s most powerful full 4-seat drophead offered to date. Adding to the predictably smooth ride, the Dawn employs satellite-aided transmission technology that uses GPS data to see beyond what the driver can see on the road ahead, selecting the appropriate gear for the 8-speed ZF transmission based on location and driving style. Most Dawns will be individually ordered, and Rolls-Royce Bespoke allows owners to customize virtually every aspect of the car from paint, trim and wheels for the exterior to materials, patterns, textures and colors on the inside.
Ferrari 488 Pista Spider
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© Ferrari North America
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$350,000
The legendary Italian carmaker has taken the already-powerful 488 GTB and turned it into a race-ready machine. The new 488 Pista Spider — pista means track in Italian — features several enhancements to bolster performance on the racing circuit. The Pista Spider joins a long line of Ferraris that put the wind through a driver’s hair at a high rate of speed; in fact, this is the 50th drop-top model from Ferrari. The Pista gets aero improvements that include an S-Duct at the front, new diffusers and a new rear spoiler, resulting in a 25 percent increase in downforce compared to the standard 488 Spider.
Ferrari 488 Pista Spider
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© Ferrari Cars North America
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The 488 Pista Spider is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 engine producing 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, delivered to the rear wheels through a 7-speed F1 gearbox, which Ferrari says makes it the most powerful series production spider in the brand’s storied history. As expected, performance figures are impressive: 62 mph arrives in less than 3 seconds and 124 mph is eclipsed in 7.6 seconds, with a top speed of more than 210 mph. The interior of this fast Ferrari feels more race car than street machine, thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber and Alcantara for a purposeful and sporting feel.
Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge
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© Rolls-Royce
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$375,200
No other brand exemplifies luxury more than Rolls-Royce, and the Wraith embodies a unique offering from the legendary British marque. As a 2-door GT, the Wraith is the most likely of Rolls-Royce models to be enjoyed from behind the wheel, rather than from the rear seat. Adding to that enjoyment is the 624 horsepower produced by the Wraith’s twin-turbo V12 engine — enough power to move this substantial luxury car to 60 mph in a mere 4.3 seconds. As a Black Badge model, the Wraith gets a boost in torque as well as an upgraded 8-speed automatic transmission, with a redesigned air suspension providing a more agile driving experience. The Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament is finished in high-gloss black, all chrome surfaces are darkened, and new composite carbon fiber and alloy wheels adorn each Black Badge Wraith.
Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge
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© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
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Right from the start, the Wraith sets itself apart from any other GT on the road when opening the large rear-hinged coach doors. Once everyone is inside — ensconced in fine leather seats — the doors are closed with the push of a button. Similar to other Rolls-Royce models, and in a nod to its British roots, the Wraith has an umbrella conveniently hidden in the door frame. Rolls-Royce allows for a variety of interior treatments with multiple leather and wood trim combinations, as well as the unique Starlight Headliner. With 1,400 to 1,600 holes in the leather headliner, the ceiling gets lit with fiber optic threads that are hand trimmed at different angles to provide a twinkling effect, mimicking the night sky.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge
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© Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC
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$382,000
Rolls-Royce introduced the Black Badge series a few years ago, designed to give these elegant automobiles a bit of a dark side. Now the all-new Cullinan has been given Black Badge treatment. Distinctive BB details for Cullinan include the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy ornament on the hood, darkened to a high gloss black chrome; as well as iconic Rolls-Royce badges inverted to silver on black. Elements traditionally chrome on Rolls-Royce models are also darkened, including the grille surround, lower air inlets, side window trim, rear trim and exhaust outlets. The Black Badge Cullinan features all-new, exclusive, 22-inch forged alloy wheels that reflect the Black Badge theme. Rolls-Royce is also offering Black Badge Cullinan calipers finished in high-gloss red, adding a stark contrast to the new dark wheels.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge
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© AutoNXT
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The Cullinan Black Badge also has performance upgrades to reflect its exclusive aesthetic, including a more powerful 6.75-liter V12 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. Black Badge Cullinan features the Rolls-Royce Intuitive Throttle for a more aggressive transmission shift pattern, and the suspension and drive dynamic technologies are tuned for a more engaging experience. Drivers also have the ability to select a new Black Badge exhaust setting for a lower, deeper exhaust sound. Interior features for the Cullinan Black Badge include a new carbon fiber finish with repeating geometrical shapes in a three-dimensional effect. This Technical Fiber trim is finished with six coats of lacquer and cured for 72 hours before being hand-polished to a mirrorlike finish. The signature Starlight Headliner makes its Cullinan debut on the Black Badge variant.
Ferrari 812 GTS
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© Ferrari Cars North America
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$400,000 (est.)
Not long after Ferrari introduced 812 Superfast — the latest V12-powered sports car to emerge from the factory in Maranello — it introduced the open-top version, the 812 GTS. It has been 50 years since Ferrari last introduced an open-top car sporting a front-mounted V12 engine, so the all-new 812 GTS is certainly welcome. Billed as the most powerful production spider on the market, the 812 GTS boasts a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces a mind-boggling 789 horsepower at 8500 rpm. Torque is rated at 530 lb-ft — 80 percent of which is available at a low 3500 rpm. With a quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox, the front-engine 812 GTS sprints to 62 mph in less than 3 seconds and 124 mph in 8.3 seconds. With enough road, this latest V12 Ferrari will have a top speed somewhere north of 211 mph.
Ferrari 812 GTS
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© Ferrari Cars North America
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Designed by the Ferrari Styling Center, the 812 GTS presents an updated take on the classic front-engine V12 Ferrari. Full LED headlights are integrated into the design of the sculpted air intakes on the hood, and large wheel arches emphasize all that power under the sexy skin. The high-performance 812 GTS features a retractable hardtop that opens in 14 seconds at speeds up to 27 mph. The rear window can be raised to reduce air turbulence with the top open, or with the top closed it can be lowered to allow the sound of the big V12 to fill the cabin. The interior of the 812 GTS exudes a blend of sportiness and elegance, complete with tasteful leather and contrasting stitching.
Ford GT
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© Ford Motor Company
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$500,000 (est.)
Many brands have a halo car that sells in small numbers but attracts immense attention to the brand — for Ford that car is the new GT. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford’s 1966 victory at Le Mans, Ford introduced the extreme GT ultra-high-performance supercar as a showcase for the company’s application of racing technology, use of lightweight materials, aerodynamics and EcoBoost power. The mid-engine 2-seat coupe has the most powerful production EcoBoost engine ever: a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque, teamed with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Ford GT
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© Ford Motor Company
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The sleek body incorporates active aerodynamics such as a deployable rear spoiler, and the Ford GT employs lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes provide appropriate stopping power. Even before the Ford GT went into production late in 2016, Ford returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a GT race car based on the new Ford GT, winning the LMGTE Pro class 50 years after that first Ford GT win. Due to high demand for this American supercar, Ford accepted applications from interested buyers to determine who would be permitted to purchase this exquisite specimen of American muscle.
