Most Expensive Cars In The World: Top 10 List 2010-2011

World's Most Expensive Cars




What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you have the money and the opportunity, you will definitely spend a small fraction of it to place a few of these supercars in your garage. Here are the 10 most expensive production cars on the market.



1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.

2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars.

4. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most known supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

5. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 5th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

6. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 6th most expensive car is actually the fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to top the most expensive car in a speed race. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

7. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000. The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 3rd for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.
 

8. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568. Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 4th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. Good luck with that!

9. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster $495,000. A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 206 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It is a luxurious convertible with a really powerful engine, which results in outstanding performances and style.

10. Porsche Carrera GT $440,000. A supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 205 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The Porsche Carrera GT applies the absolute calibers of a true racing car to offer an unprecedented driving feeling on the road.

http://www.thesupercars.org/top-cars/most-expensive-cars-in-the-world-top-10-list-2007-2008/

First Drive: Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG

AMG puts a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 into the sensuous CLS 'four-door coupé' and creates a very desirable all-rounder.







First Drive
San Diego, USA
Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG




Massive power, fantastic looks and a menacing soundtrack, the new AMG CLS 63 has it all. More efficiency too - as if you care...



In the Metal

Fussier in detail than its predecessor, this second generation CLS's styling is a bit more divisive, but we're fans of its more assertive look. In AMG guise that's upped a notch, with subtle flaring of the wheel arches covering a wider track and 19-inch alloy wheels, 'V8 biturbo' badging positioned on a scalloped section on the front wing, a deeper front bumper with larger air intakes, quad tailpipes and a boot lip spoiler around the back. Opt for the Performance Pack and you can add some carbon fibre detailing to that, with the boot lip spoiler and wing mirror covers gaining the black weave, while the brake callipers gain some red paint.

The interior features a smattering of AMG badging and more sculpted sports seats, but the key difference is around the central transmission tunnel. There's now an automatic gear selector residing there, it moving from a stalk on the steering column to its rightful place between the front seats. Alongside it there are buttons and dials to change everything from the damper settings and gearshift speed to the intervention of the ESP system. Performance Pack cars also gain an Alcantara sectioned steering wheel, which not only features a flattened bottom, but a slight flattening at the top too.

What you get for your Money

Spend your £80,605 and you get a fairly 'standard' CLS AMG 63. It's unlikely you could ever be disappointed with 525bhp and 516lb.ft of torque, but the £6,495 Performance Pack delivers an extra 32bhp and 74lb.ft. Against the clock that equates to 0.1 seconds faster to 62mph, with the standard car reaching the benchmark in 4.4 seconds and the Performance Pack car in 4.3 seconds.



You can keep adding, too, with the 155mph speed limiter replacing Driver's Pack upping the maximum to 186mph - and including a day at the AMG Driving Academy - for £2,790; AMG Ride Control Performance suspension costs £1,495; a limited slip differential a further £2,450; and AMG ceramic composite brakes another £9,300. The Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG can easily break into £100,000 territory.



Driving it

That may sound expensive, but drop the window a fraction and the CLS 63 AMG sounds like it's worth every penny. The twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 loses nothing sonically to its forced induction, with a deep, low rumble layered with a rich mechanical melody that's as musical as it is menacing. If anything it's too quiet, with the majority of the drama reserved for those outside. The isolation of sound in the cabin is impressive, though slightly disappointing when you can only just hear the popping from the exhausts when downshifting at speed.

The sound is backed up with searing performance. There's little or no slack in the engine's response, with masses of mid-range torque meaning huge pace whenever you want it. The seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT transmission for the most part is smooth and quick, though it's sometimes slow to react to input at the paddles. We'd like a more mechanical feel to them in place of the current arcade-game feedback. Tactility is offered via the steering though, with its weighting nicely judged and its response pleasingly linear and quick. There's feel there too, the CLS - and SLS - demonstrating that AMG has found its steering mojo.



Combine the engine's shocking pace and the quick, informative steering with a chassis that's beautifully balanced and the CLS 63 AMG is crushingly capable almost regardless of the type of road. At speed it feels hugely stable, while in challenging bends its composure is very impressive indeed. The ride is taut, but it's not at the expense of control - or even comfort in the suspension's most extreme settings. The result is a consummate all-rounder, though if you're planning on using the performance regularly you might want to invest in the greater fade resistance of the optional composite brakes. The ESP system flatters rather than frustrates, with the CLS AMG feeling far more agile than anything its size has any right to.



Worth Noting



Being a range-topping model with a Mercedes-Benz badge on it there's safety kit aplenty. The latest driver drowsiness monitoring Attention Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keep Assist come as standard. With the CLS AMG you'll be wide awake, unlikely to be overtaken and certain to stray over the odd white line when taking the fastest line through bends so usefully you can switch most of the systems off... In all, it's a safer car than before and more economical too, with the new CLS 63 AMG consuming 32 percent less fuel than its predecessor.



Summary



The Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is a supremely capable all-rounder that's both consummate grand tourer and exciting sports car. All wrapped up in a glorious-looking and practical four-door shell. It's not cheap, but then neither are its rivals - of which there are few. This or a Porsche Panamera Turbo? On looks alone the AMG aces it, and while ultimately the Porsche might prove fractionally quicker, it's the AMG driver who'd be having more fun.
 
2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG specifications:


Price: £80,605 for standard car.




Performance, emissions & economy


Top speed (mph): 155

0-62 mph (seconds): 4.4

Combined mpg: 28.5

CO2 (g/km): 231









Dimensions & weights



Length (mm): 4996

Height (mm): 1406

Width (mm): 1881

Wheelbase (mm): 2874

Front track (mm): 1625

Rear track (mm): 1604

Cargo volume (litres): 520

Gross weight (kg): 2415

Kerb weight (kg): 1870

Fuel tank capacity (litres): 66


Engine & transmission




Engine: Biturbo V8 petrol engine mounted longitudinally in front.



Cubic capacity (cc): 5461

Compression ratio: 10.00:1

Bore x stroke (mm): 98.00 x 90.50

Valve gear: Four valves per cylinder (32v).

Max. power (bhp): 518 at 5250 rpm

Max. torque (lb.ft): 516 at 1750 rpm



Transmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT seven-speed sports transmission. Rear-wheel drive.

First Drive: 2011 Audi A6

First Drive
Sicily, Italy
2011 Audi A6

Yet another new Audi is about to hit UK showrooms. This time, it's the A6 executive saloon - lighter and more economical than its forebear, with enough gizmos to make Inspector Gadget jealous.



In the Metal



The sober lines of the outgoing Audi A6 have been reworked in favour of a hard-edged look. The headlamps - now very much up-to-date with the rest of the Audi range - are narrow and jagged, but the big trapezoid grille is still there. The tail lights have also been slimmed down, as has the whole profile of the car. It's altogether much cleaner than its predecessor.

Much of the interior is reminiscent of the Audi A8's cabin - as far as we can tell the dials and are exactly the same. That's no bad thing, because the quality is of the highest order. Smooth, thick leather complements the soft and seemingly indestructible plastics, offset by subtle but tasteful wood or aluminium - depending on the trim level. It's not the most individual cabin, but it's certainly classy.

What you get for your Money



UK cars start at £30,145 and the first deliveries are due in April. As for spec levels, there's a choice of two (SE and S-Line), but the sky's the limit for additional equipment. All cars come with leather trim, alloy wheels, satnav, Bluetooth, cruise control, all-round parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, stop-start and split folding rear seats. Hardly mean.

Tick the S-line box and you'll add 18-inch alloys, sports suspension, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, plush Valcona leather and interior and exterior styling tweaks.

Most of the digital toys are controlled by the Multimedia Interface (MMI) system. The standard 6.5-inch screen will be familiar to anyone who has sat in a modern Audi (even the A1 supermini is available with MMI as an option), but a rather cool eight-inch flat screen version is on offer. Mounted adjacent to the steering wheel in the centre of the dash, it slides and folds away horizontally when the ignition is switched off - or if you just want it out of the way.



Driving it



We spent most of our time in the flagship 3.0-litre TFSI V6 model with 296bhp. Suffice to say, it's most rapid, with a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph. The blown lump is hardly short of punch from the off - peak torque of 325lb.ft comes on song between 2,900- and 4,500rpm - but it's also suitably urgent beyond 5,000rpm - definitely the speed freak's choice. It boasts a credible 34.5mpg and 190g/km, too.



The 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine with 201bhp (a 242bhp version is also available) is more lethargic, but proved relaxed, easier to live with and had almost as much urge from lower down the rev range. We didn't manage to sample it this time around, but the 2.0 TDI engine has the lowest running costs of the range. Figures of 57.7mpg and 129g/km are thoroughly impressive for a saloon of the A6's size - and it can still hit 62mph in 8.7 seconds from rest. Eco-conscious types should look out for the forthcoming hybrid version, too.

As for the ride, it's very composed (more so on the SE models) and irons out rough surfaces exceptionally well. Grip reserves are plentiful, especially with the quattro models, but the steering, though direct, lacks any real feedback. There's no doubt that the Audi A6 errs on the side of comfort - a fact backed up by its exceptionally refined and quiet cabin (the quietest in its class, according to its maker), in which you can hear only a light buffeting of wind at speed.



Worth Noting



We've already mentioned the very long options list, but it's worth bearing in mind the raft of gadgets offered in the Audi A6. Tick the box marked 'Mobile Telephone Preparation High' and you'll be able to plot your route on a PC/Mac before travelling and instruct the satnav to follow it. You'll also be regularly updated with news and weather information and the navigation display will appear very realistic thanks to Google Earth imagery. You can even hook up an iPad or smartphone to the internet on the move.



On the safety front, there's a thermal imaging camera that highlights 'warm-blooded' objects on the road, which warns the driver and works in conjunction with the pre-safe system to slow the car and prepare for a shunt. A colour head-up display lists the vitals in front of the driver, while massaging seats, a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and TV reception are also on offer.



Summary



As we expected, the new A6 is every inch an Audi. It shares much in common with other large cars in the company's stable like the A8, the A5 and the A7 Sportback. Spurred by its continuous success on the forecourts (1.1 million sales worldwide in 2010, almost 100,000 of which were in the UK) Audi obviously knows when it's on to a good thing.



Such similarities hamper the A6's individuality as a model in its own right, but other than that we're not criticising. The quality of the interior is easily a contender for the best in its class (if not the best) and the ride and refinement are excellent. If you're into your gadgets then it's certainly for you - even standard models come with a generous amount of equipment. Equally impressive economy, emissions and performance figures only work further in the A6's favour.



Driving thrill seekers should look elsewhere. Anyone with a company car allowance to burn who values comfort, refinement, gadgets and a fine build has a ready-made car in the new Audi A6.



Jack Carfrae. Photography by Max Earey. - 27 Jan 2011

New 225mph British supercar

British supercar maker Noble has revealed its next production car - the M600.




With a price tag of £200,000, the Noble M600 is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 engine, supplied by Yamaha.

That V8 engine means the M600 is certainly not short of punch, as it develops 650bhp and 602lb.ft of pulling power.

Noble claims that the M600 will hit 60mph in only 3.5 seconds and reach an estimated top speed of 225mph. Even the 0-100mph sprint takes just 8.9 seconds.

The mighty performance is largely down to the car's lack of weight. The bodywork is made from ultra light carbon fibre and, as a result, the M600 weighs less than 1200kg.

In an effort to make the M600 useable, Noble has added what it calls an 'Adaptive Performance Control' package. This allows the driver to select three different settings: Road, Track and Race, which limit the engine's power to 450-, 550- and the full 650bhp respectively.



The suspension settings also change with the power output. They become firmer for better control with more power, and a little softer and more forgiving with the lower power settings, to better suit road driving.

Noble promises that the M600 will have the best build quality of any of its cars so far. It will certainly need it, as its rivals include established supercars like the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Ferrari 458. Both the Ferrari and Porsche cost less money, too.



At the time of writing (January 31) Noble had received 50 small, refundable deposits from potential customers.

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/31012011/36/new-225mph-british-supercar-0.html

'Anti Sleep Pilot' Warns Drowsy Drivers When to Pull Over

It won't be able to help the U.S. drivers who are taking long trips this holiday season, but a new in-car device available in Denmark prevents drivers from dozing off by testing their awareness and monitoring their vehicle's movements. The Anti Sleep Pilot sits on the dash, and monitors the car's speed and direction, while intermittently asking the driver to tap its surface in order to combat fatigue. Before hitting the road, the driver completes a short fatigue test, so that the device knows how often to turn itself on. If the device thinks you're just too tired to keep driving, it starts beeping and flashing until you pull over and rest for a while -- or smash it to pieces.

The Anti Sleep Pilot costs 1,499 kr ($270) in Denmark, and it'll probably run in the same price range when it eventually lands on our shores. Until then, find yourself a trustworthy co-pilot, and stock up on truck stop coffee and caffeine pills. Maybe they aren't the healthiest alternatives, but at least they'll help you get where you're going -- jittery, twitching and on edge.

by Caleb Johnson on November 24, 2010 at 03:45 PM


http://www.switched.com/2010/11/24/anti-sleep-pilot-warns-drowsy-drivers-when-to-pull-over/