The Most Expensive Cars In The World

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Ferrari 575 M Maranello (about $215,000)

The "M" in the new 575 M Maranello stands for "modified," with an increased displacement of 5.75 liters, versus the 550 Maranello, which was, of course, 5.5 liters. The engine is still up front, still one of the prettiest sounding V-12s you will ever get to hear, but shifting can now be made via a Formula 1-style paddle unit that resides behind the steering wheel. Power is up to 515 horsepower, 0-60 times have dropped to four seconds and top speed is up to 202 miles per hour, if you're in a very big hurry.

But whenever and wherever you drive the new 575 M, it will be a bit more "intelligent" than the 550, thanks to an adaptive suspension that not only reacts to potholes but, based on the overall road conditions, will also raise or lower the ride height of the car so that suspension travel is optimized for either a sport or comfort setting. And by the way, having been in the 550, we can tell you that this was already a remarkably civilized car, given the amazing performance capabilities

The newest Ferrari 575 M also gets bigger brakes and tire-pressure monitors, so you can stop more easily should you be driving even faster. And in case you're driving too fast for the pressure in the tires, the car will warn you to back off and go get some air.

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Porsche GT2 $180,665

Until Porsche builds the Carrera GT (a late-2003 model with an open cockpit and a six-liter V-10 engine that will produce 558 horsepower), you'll have to make due with the GT2, for now the fastest street-legal Porsche on earth.

The GT2 is essentially a Porsche 911 Turbo with every gram of fat stripped out of it (220 pounds were deleted by cutting out items like the rear jump seats and the sunroof, and by using lighter materials like ceramic brake discs rather than metallic ones). The GT2 also gets 456 horsepower (the 911 Turbo produces 415 hp), thanks to increased turbo boost and larger intercoolers for the turbos.

Lighter and more powerful, the GT2 is now certainly faster, clocking nearly the same acceleration rate to 60 mph as the far more expensive Murciélago (0-62 mph--0-100 kilometers per hour--in about four seconds), and can achieve a top speed of 195 mph.

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Lamborghini Murciélago $273,000

The newest Lamborghini has gotten some criticism of late because it's not as gonzo as the first Countach was when it debuted. Funny thing is, a lot of those critics haven't even seen a Murciélago in person. When you do, your jaw drops and then closes again, and your mouth forms a grin. And you do not criticize. This may not be as groundbreaking a design as the first shark-like Lambo, but it's still one awesome-looking machine. And you know what, there's no mistaking it for anything else.
Speaking of the engine, the 580 horsepower V-12 (you hit that horsepower at a scorching 7,500 rpm) is said to deliver the Murciélago pilot to speeds in excess of 205 mph and from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kilometers per hour) in 3.8 seconds. But even at saner speeds (and acceleration rates), the Murciélago delivers most of its torque evenly, so you don't have to torch the engine at high rpms to derive plenty of pleasure.

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Bentley Azure Convertible Mulliner $376,485

If this car looks a lot like the Rolls Corniche Convertible, you're on to something. Both cars ride on the same wheelbase and have the same motor, although in the Bentley you get much more torque and horsepower.
The convertible is automatic, of course, as is the transmission. Still, like the Rolls, this is a somewhat old design, one likely to get significantly refreshed in the coming years, especially with the likes of the Arnage T showing how much more performance is possible.

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Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible $363,990

The Corniche Convertible may be the world's last completely anachronistic automobile. That is, it's a Rolls-Royce, a car in which anyone with any sense would want to be driven. And yet the Corniche has less backseat room than a C-Class Mercedes-Benz--and you could buy a dozen C-Classes for one Corniche Convertible.
Rolls-Royce is a company under new management, namely, BMW's. And that muddies the picture even further, since the Corniche shares an engine with Bentley, the 6.75-liter V-8. But even if Corniche cars are still made after 2002 (BMW is working on a replacement for the $229,990 Silver Seraph, set to debut in summer 2003), it isn't clear if BMW will continue to purchase them from Bentley.