Super Cars
Frankfurt Feature: Cars for the rich and famous
There was a definite green tinge to the air at Frankfurt, but it wasn’t all electric cars and low-CO2 hybrids. That would be boring. The appeal of motor shows lies in the chance not only to see the type of cars we’ll be taking our kids to school in at some point, but also to get up close and personal with the type of metal only Premiership footballers can afford – and a couple that even they won’t be able to get their hands on.
But if you weren’t able to get to Frankfurt, fret not, for here we take you through the stuff that would have been making you sick with envy on the stands.
CAR: Lamborghini Reventón Roadster
COST: £1,000,000
REAL COST: One wig per journey
The Lamborghini Reventón is based on the Murcielago but has an interior inspired by a fighter jet and a body apparently styled by Batman’s tailor. Only 15 copies of this drop-top edition will be made, and each will cost exactly €1.1m – or about £995,000 in proper money. A 670bhp V12 propels it to 62mph in 3.4 seconds. Want one? Call 1-800-what-credit-crunch. Only joking, they’re probably already all sold.
CAR: Brabus E V12 ‘one of ten’
COST: £450,000
REAL COST: Your dignity
In taking power so seriously, Brabus has become possibly the silliest niche carmaker ever. We mean that in a good way. Its Frankfurt offering, though, is frankly ridiculous: the Merc E Class-based V12 will demolish 100mph from standstill in 9.9 seconds and has a set of rear wheel spats to improve airflow for stability at its 217mph top speed. Well, that’s what Brabus says they’re for – we know they’re really inspired by the first-generation Honda Insight. Brabus loves a bit of green car action. Not.
CAR: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing
COST: £150,000 (approx)
REAL COST: A garage roof extension
You’d think that the joint efforts of Mercedes and McLaren would produce a car of epic goodness. Sadly the resulting SLR was a bit of a duffer, relatively speaking. This is Mercedes’ riposte – a supercar that pilfers its history by pillaging the gullwing doors of the legendary 300SL and adding them to a menacing body shrouding a 563bhp 6.2-litre V8. We’re promised it will handle too, which it will have to if it’s to hold a candle to the next car on this list…
CAR: Ferrari 458 Italia
COST: £150,000 (approx)
REAL COST: Irresistible coolness
The ‘basic’ Ferrari just happens to be shaping into the best one this time around. Ferrari chose Frankfurt to give the all-new 458 Italia its debut, showing a car whose heart-melting shape is clearly inspired by the Enzo – compared to which it’s the best value car this side of a Tata Nano. See, according to Schumacher (who helped develop it), the 458 Italia is quicker than the £1m invitation-only Enzo around Ferrari’s test track. £150k sounds dirt-cheap now, right.
CAR: Audi e-tron
COST: £N/A
REAL COST: An odd feeling of tranquillity
Wrapped in a shell resembling the R8 supercar is an all-electric drivetrain capable of knocking out 62mph in 4.8 seconds, and the battery won’t go flat until 150 miles are done with. Nice. Individual motors power each wheel, and although Audi won’t confirm production, there’s every chance something like this alternatively powered R8 clone will see limited production for well-heeled environmentalists. The e-tron is Audi’s Tesla, basically.
CAR: Aston Martin Rapide
COST: £150,000
REAL COST: Constant requests for lifts
Look familiar? Look again. The extra shut lines behind the front doors on this Aston tell you this is the British maker’s family hatchback. The Rapide is a bona-fide supercar (well, in terms of price anyway) rather than a very expensive hatch like the Porsche Panamera, and it’s built for people who basically can’t be bothered with the hassle of running an Aston and an SUV, as is the norm. Add two useable seats to the DB9’s basic shape and viola! A V12 runabout is born. Sales start early 2010.
CAR: Audi R8 Spyder
COST: £112,000
REAL COST: Your reputation as an affable person
Audi loves a good new model, and this one is one of the more predictable; Audi was always going to make a show-off’s version of the sublime R8. On this list its £110,000 makes it look cheap, but this is far from a lacklustre drop-top. Based on the V10 R8, the Spyder gets four-wheel drive and 525bhp, making it one of the fastest convertibles on the planet.
CAR: Rolls-Royce Ghost
COST: £200,000
REAL COST: ‘Poor man’s Roller’ jibes
Phantom too cumbersome for you? How about this then: the compact Roller? The Ghost is Rolls-Royce’s ‘driver’s car’ and will be knocked out at the astonishing rate of 1,000 per year. Like much on this list, it has a very powerful V12 under the bonnet and shows a cynical disdain for the environmental concerns of fellow motorists. Convertible and coupé versions will follow, plus, we hear, a stripped out ‘Cup’ version for track days. That’s not actually true.
CAR: Bentley Mulsanne
COST: £220,000
REAL COST: ‘Poor man’s Roller’ jibes
The Mulsanne has four fewer cylinders than the Rolls-Royce Phantom it will vie with for sales, but its mammoth 885lb.ft of torque means owners will feel more than adequately powered. We can’t be sure yet, but it’s a good bet the Bentley will emit less carbon dioxide per mile then, good for all kinds of ‘you dirty boy’ type name-calling directed towards Phantom owners at the gentleman’s club. In fact, put bio-ethanol in it, as is a possibility, and appearing in a rap video has never been cleaner.
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