This is not the domain of America's best-selling car,
the Toyota Camry. Other high-volume cars like the Honda Accord and
Honda Civic or Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Elantra, or even the BMW
3-Series for that matter, won't be priced in this neighbourhood until a
few decades of inflation have had their way. No, this is where
ultra-premium badges come to play. Fighting above their weight class are
a few simpletons from the luxury crowd: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and.... pfft,
Porsche. For the most part, automakers represented in the group below
are avid promoters of largesse and excess; hedonism and epicureanism;
indulgence and opulence.
Two specific cars have been left off this list of the Top 10 Most Expensive Sedans In The World for obvious reasons. The Maybach Landaulet, with its estimated MSRP of $1,380,000, won't be purchased by any sane self-respecting person. It's that ugly. Meanwhile, the Bugatti Galibier 16C, although gorgeous and terribly expensive (likely $1,470,000) is a mite too far from the Marketplace to be included with this bunch of current or near-Future automobiles.
Don't
forget about the 5-door capability of two cars in the group below.
Perhaps you won't walk in to the country club proclaiming the majesty of
your new hatchback, but it's a unique trait nonetheless, one that makes
it hard to include the two vehicles in this sedan/saloon list. All
prices are in U.S. dollars. Scroll all the way down for the Gallery slideshow.
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She
ain't pretty. But on dynamic talent alone, few if any of the other
contenders could stay with the Porsche on a racetrack or even a country
road. The Panamera's auto start-stop function must be selected each time
you set our for a drive but will shut the engine off automatically when
you're stopped at traffic lights and then it'll restart the powerplant
just as quickly to save fuel.
#9 - MASERATI QUATTROPORTE GT S: $133,700
Competing
for the crown of best-looking car in the world, the Quattroporte has no
trouble making the majority of expensive sedans look like poorly drawn
boats. Quattroporte owners are also able to point out the origins of
their car's engine: Ferrari's factory.
#8 - BMW 760Li: $137,000
With
its vastly improved exterior design, the biggest BMW is ready to rein
in some Mercedes conquest sales. Though Rolls-Royce won't be keen to
declare it, BMW sales consultants will readily claim the 7-Series/Ghost
connection. 20% of their parts are shared.
#7 - ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE: $199,950
As
the supermodel of the sedan world, Aston Martin's Rapide shares plenty
with its brethren. From the grille to the overall proportions, the
Rapide is undeniably Aston in every way. Even its doors swing up 12
degrees to provide easier ingress while at the same time avoiding scuffs
on the curb.
#6 - MERCEDES-BENZ S65 AMG: $201,150
Not
that the regular S-Class variants are weak-kneed or technologically
lacking, but AMG's alternative to the S400 Hybrid, S550, and S600 adds
more expensive metal and software than you can shake a stick at. Plus,
there's 738 lb-ft of torque. Reeesult.
#5 - BENTLEY CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR SPEED: $202,500
The
most expensive edition of the Flying Spur, Bentley's 4-door Speed
requires extra horsepower to carry around plenty of weight and plenty of
Breitling timing gear. Flying Spurs are also alone in this ten-strong
group, powering forward without a V-shaped engine. Continentals all use a
twin-turbocharged W-12.
#4 - ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST: $245,000 (est.)
Restrained
styling has resulted in a more attractive Rolls-Royce this time around.
The Phantom has presence, but the Ghost seems more... appropriate.
What's more, this smaller, "cheaper" Ghost is more powerful than its big
brother.
#3 - BENTLEY MULSANNE: $295,000 (est.)
Unveiled
in Pebble Beach to rave reviews, the biggest, baddest Bentley
resurrects the Mulsanne name after a two-decade hiatus. Each Mulsanne
will take approximately nine weeks to build from start-to-finish. Apart
from the press cars, it's highly unlikely that any two Mulsannes will be
same, not with 114 paint colours and 24 leather hides to choose from.
#2 - MAYBACH 57/62: $366,000-$506,500
Certainly
the least desirable and least attractive model on this list, the
Maybach family (including the more expensive Landaulet and Zeppelin) has
not been a roaring success for Daimler AG. That's not to say the cars
themselves won't roar. Indeed, only excessive sound-deadining material
hushes the twin-turbo V12.
#1 - ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM: $408,000
Reeking
of old money and permeated with modern technology, the Phantom is the
image-conscious vehicle choice for the extraordinarily wealthy. Even the
mega-rich friends of the extraordinarily wealthy are impressed by the
gigantic Rolls. Touches include the tucked-away umbrella in the side
panel and the Phantom's power reserve meter which takes the place of a
traditional tachometer.
Source: http://www.goodcarbadcar.net
