Top 10 Best Luxury and Exotic Cars That We Drove in 2024
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Doesn't it make sense that something has to be the worse for something else to be the better? It's tempting to view the auto industry as a whole through the lens of Newton’s Third Law. The ultra-luxury, performance and luxury segments resist classifications.
Tampa Auto Gallery Sales and Leasing reviews focuses on this niche within the niche. It reviews and drives vehicles that cost $100,000 or more. This is a segment of the auto industry where large automakers and boutique brand compete to create the best machines for today while creating a lasting legacy. To create future classics.
There is no clear "worst amongst these rare and expensive cars, despite their high price tags and storied manufacturers. This year's Top 10 honors the machines that most successfully achieve the maker's vision, those cars that bring that vision to life.
Disclaimer: Some vehicles may not appear on this list, despite their release in 2024. We only rank cars that we have reviewed. Therefore, vehicles not yet available for driving are not included in this list.
10. McLaren 750S
The McLaren 765LT looks familiar, and that's all you need to know. The 750S is a mid-range performance car that sits between the discontinued 720S, the 765LT and the frantic 720S. It features shorter gearing and a modest boost in power, as well as retuned components for the suspension.
The 750S takes the 720S as its base and refines it. It closes the book on this period of McLaren history before batteries were commonplace. The 720S was the base for the 750S, but it is not a mere copy. It has a powerful power output, telepathic handling, and the best handling in any supercar.
9. The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore
Trident's GranCabrio is an ambitious project. The GranCabrio Folgore takes the GT formula, which defines many of the best marque cars, and reinvents it using electric power. Maserati uncharacteristically presented the all-electric Folgore alongside the V6 powered Trofeo earlier this summer.
The Folgore was the most impressive, and not only because of its 751 horsepower. The electric GT not only rides smoother, but is also quieter. It still handles exceptionally well considering its size. This is what a large, luxurious GT should look like. The coupe is also better looking.
8. McLaren Artura Spider
McLaren Artura Spider shows how a car can be transformed by thoughtful updates. The updates include a 19-hp increase in power, quicker shifts, and suspension reworked for driver involvement. However, it is how they all come together that matters.
The Artura Coupe is a great car, but the new updates for the Spider as well as the refreshed Coupe reinforce this. McLaren implemented some of these updates to correct issues in earlier cars, and restore confidence in this model. We road-tripped a McLaren from Los Angeles up to Monterey earlier this year. Its size, comfort and refinement on long distances only enhanced what was already an impressive supercar.
7. The Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin Vantage is the vehicle that has probably made the biggest comeback on this list. The British automaker has made enough changes to this sports car, even though it is not completely new. The facelift gives it an aggressive, yet relevant aesthetic. Its interior has also been upgraded to a world-class standard.
Vantage's V8 can produce 656 horsepower, but how it handles this newfound power is what matters. The suspension does more than just neutralize unruly behavior. It encourages you instead to push your limits. You can blast out of corners a little quicker, dial down traction control and try a slide. It has evolved into a driver's vehicle.
6. The Ferrari 296GTS
It's no surprise that the GTS ranked as well. The addition of the folding hardtop expands the appeal of the GTB. So, you don't only get to enjoy its 818-hp power. Its exhaust note is distinctive and you can experience hypercar performance anywhere.
This GTS is more usable than the Assetto Fiorano equipped car that won last season. It has a leather-trimmed interior, less aggressive seating, and a much more comfortable ride. It is both usable and thrilling to drive, thanks to its plug-in hybrid engine.
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5. Bentley Continental GT Speed
The British automaker has replaced the iconic W12 with a plug in hybrid powertrain which is superior to it on nearly all metrics. The GT Speed now has an electric-only driving mode, which is ideal for ultra-low emission zones. But more importantly, the GT Speed 's power output increases to 771 hp. This is 121 hp more compared to the discontinued W12.
The GT's handling has also been significantly improved. The GT's weight distribution is optimized with its twin-turbo engine being lighter at the front and the battery pack at the back. This allows it to handle winding roads better.
The cabin has been improved to increase its customizability, adding new darkened trim. A restyled outside incorporates elements of Bentley's limited editions that have been sold for many years.
4. The Ferrari Purosangue
The Ferrari Purosangue is a super-SUV that bends and breaks all expectations. It does not use a turbocharged engine to achieve low-end torque. It opts instead for a naturally-aspirated V12. It also does not adopt the proportions that are traditionally associated with this type. Instead, it opts for a naturally aspirated V12.
The purosangue drives unlike any other Super SUV. You should treat it like a Ferrari. It's important to rev the car to the redline in order to maximize the 715 horsepower it produces. This figure peaks at 7,750 rpm.
The Purosangue cabin is both beautiful and well-appointed. Its rear-hinged door creates a feeling of occasion even before you step inside. This Prancing Horse isn't interested in following trends, so it can wear its own unique aesthetic. It's more than just another super-SUV. It's the definition of its segment.
3. The Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II/Cullinan Series II
With this pick, we're breaking the rules a little bit because the Cullinan Series II and the Ghost Series II have taken a similar approach to recent updates. Rolls-Royce kept the mechanicals unchanged in both cases. The twin-turbocharged engines were carried over unmodified.
The British automaker instead focused on giving its customers more customization options by expanding its option list and encouraging its Bespoke division to take on more ambitious projects.
It should not be a secret that these two machines are the most luxurious on earth, as they combine so many mechanical components, and ride on modified versions of Architecture of Luxury platforms. They were built to the highest standards of any brand. They are the most refined cars available, barring a Phantom. As the Spectre demonstrates though, batteries will be needed to continue evolving.
2. The Lamborghini Revuel
The Lamborghini revuelto offers a look into the future as well as a large V12 Lambo. It is now a hybrid plug-in, with three electric motors, and a battery pack tucked between the seats. This was done in response to stricter regulations. Lamborghini, however, saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of the new technology.
The Italian automaker responded by building a new 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12. The engine, which can rev up to 9,500 rpm and produces one of most intoxicating exhaust sounds of any road vehicle, is housed by what may be one of best internal combustion engines made.
The new dual-clutch auto is paired with its vastly improved carbon frame, a new suspension, torque vectoring by electric motors and a newly designed dual-clutch. It's not just a Lamborghini with 1,015 horsepower, but also one that can handle a twisting road with confidence and agility without compromising the thrills.
The Revuelto's design is dominated by sharp angles. It resembles a jet fighter and a cyberpunk aesthetic. It is a magnet that attracts people everywhere it goes.
1. The Pagani Utopia
The Pagani Utopia is a car that fulfills vision. It's not, however, the vision of an enormous conglomerate, or even a huge team. The Utopia is the result of the involvement and direct influence of the man who's last name is adorning this car.
The Utopia's expressive design and extreme proportions are as impressive on a technical level, but what makes it unique transcends its physical appearance. The Utopia centers you in one moment. It makes you forget everything else when you are driving it. The cabin fills with wooshing turbocharger sounds as you press the accelerator pedal and the twin-turbocharged V12 starts to sing its deep growl.
Cabins are best described as works of functional art. Each component is designed and constructed with meticulous precision, allowing you to always find something new as you drive. The Utopia is unique in its design and feel, from the leatherwork and extensive use of aluminum to carbon fiber.
The Utopia's driving experience is fantastic, even if you ignore its beautiful design. The Utopia feels light and agile thanks to its carbon-fiber construction. It also has a high output of 852-hp and excellent mechanical grip. The Utopia is a car that succeeds at creating a sense. It's a feeling that each moment behind the wheel of an Utopia is special and nothing else matters. It is Tampa Auto Gallery Sales and Leasing’s Car of The Year 2024.