The world of exotic cars has changed dramatically over the last decade. It was only in 2009 when the Bugatti Veyron was launched at $1 million making headlines all over the world, being one of the first cars priced at the million mark. But today you have multiple options if you are in the market for a million dollar plus car. From the 2000+ HP electric hypercars from Rimac and Pininfarina to the engineering marvels from Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Pagani all priced deep in multiple 7-figures. But if you are looking for the crème de la crème, the most expensive cars in the world, this list is for you.
1. Rose Noire Droptail – AED 117.7 Million ($32 Million)
The La Rose Noire Droptail (French for “The Black Rose”), a bespoke 2-seat roadster by Rolls Royce, is a symbol of opulence and intricate craftsmanship. The Droptail is the third car launched under Rolls Royce’s Coachbuild program. Inspired by the Black Baccara rose, renowned for its intense, velvet-like appearance, it holds the current title of the world’s most expensive car. Limited to just four units, each Droptail is uniquely named and specified. The La Rose Noire is the first delivered Droptail and took over four years to complete.
The abstract motif on the curved panels and doors was the most complex parquetry ever done by Rolls Royce. The parquetry features 1603 pieces of black sycamore veneer, punctuated by asymmetrical red segments, resembling falling rose petals. The process demanded intense concentration, limiting the craftspeople to one-hour sessions for no more than five hours a day. The exterior boasts a bespoke colour named ‘True Love,’ designed to mimic the petals changing colour under different lighting conditions. The colour took over 150 iterations to get it just right. The finishing touch is a removable Audemars Piguet timepiece, specially created for this project, showcasing the commitment to luxury and attention to detail in every aspect of La Rose Noire Droptail.
2. Rolls Royce Boatail – AED 103 Million ($28 Million)
The Rolls-Royce Boatail is a grand tourer hand-built by Rolls-Royce for three of their closest clients, stands among the most expensive cars in the world and is the second car from Rolls Royce’s Coachbuild program. The Boatail drew inspiration from 1920s and 1930s yachts. Its nautical design pays homage to graceful J-class yachts and a meticulously restored 1932 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail from the owners’ collection.
The Boatail’s deck features open-pore Caleidolegno veneer and soft blue lacquer reminiscent of wooden hull forms and is skillfully book-matched and symmetrical. Its deck unfolds in a butterfly shape, revealing a hosting suite with a parasol and rotating cocktail tables. The car also comes with a complete set of Christofle tableware and a double refrigerator for the owner’s favourite champagne.
Adding to its extravagance, the Boatail showcases 2 two-sided timepieces, crafted in a three-year partnership between Rolls-Royce and Bovet 1822. These watches, with a tiny sculpture of the car in the dial, can be worn or placed within the fascia as car clocks. The car’s exquisite details extend to a Montblanc pen housed in a handcrafted case inside the glove box and guilloché decorative work on the instrument panel dials.
3. Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta – AED 68 Million ($18.5 Million)
Built as a tribute to the legendary Pagani Zonda, the Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta is more than a car. It is a manifestation of renaissance and science concepts that have always been integral to Pagani’s design philosophy. Tailor-made for Horacio Pagani himself, this bespoke work of art infuses modern technology with exquisite handcraftsmanship into the Zonda project, marking the end of its 18-year-long production.
The Zonda HP Barchetta features a 12-cylinder AMG engine, delivering 760hp with a distinctive sound. As part of the Uno-di-Uno division, only three were built, one reserved for Pagani, while the others found fortunate buyers (sadly out of which one was crashed). Notably, it held the title of the most expensive car in the world until the release of the Rolls Royce Boattail. With a 6-speed manual transmission, the Zonda HP Barchetta offers an engaging and exhilarating driving experience, marking its place as a unique and coveted collector’s car.
4. Bugatti La Voiture Noire – AED 59 Million ($16 Million)
The Bugatti La Voiture Noire (French for “The Black Car”), is a unique one-off hypercar paying tribute to Jean Bugatti’s long-lost Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic. With only four of the latter ever made, three were sold, and one, an all-black version, was retained by Jean Bugatti. The car disappeared during World War II, and the whereabouts of the car have been a mystery for over 80 years. The La Voiture Noire blends speed, luxury, and automotive haute couture, paying homage to Jean’s lost Type 57 SC Atlantic.
Crafted with a single-piece carbon fibre body, it boasts the Chiron’s renowned W16 engine with six tailpipes. The interior, inspired by the original Atlantic, features Havana Brown grain leather, polished aluminium accents, and a rosewood drive mode selector. With a price tag close to AED 59 million ($16 million), the La Voiture Noire is not only one of the most expensive cars in the world but also one of the most desired and exclusive cars to ever come out of Molsheim.
5. Rolls-Royce Sweptail – AED 47.2 Million ($12.8 Million)
The Rolls-Royce Sweptail marked the beginning of the Rolls Royce Coachbuild program. It is a bespoke, one-of-one, 2-seat grand touring coupe, born from a special client’s passion for early 20th-century cars and classic/modern yachts. Based on the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the Sweptail was hand-built to perfection and took four years to complete. Inspired by coachbuilding of the 1920s and 1930s, Rolls-Royce refined and crafted the Sweptail with a sleek tapering, gracefully falling waist-rail, flowing roofline, and a distinctive swept tail.
An uninterrupted glass roof bathes the interior in natural light. The minimalist switchgear allows premium materials like polished Macassar Ebony and open-pore Paldao to take center stage in the cabin, creating visual contrasts with the Moccasin and Dark Spice leathers. It made its first debut at the prestigious Concorso d’Éleganza Villa d’Este in 2017, where the Sweptail claimed the then title of the world’s most expensive car.
6. Bugatti Centodieci – AED 33 Million ($9 Million)
The Bugatti Centodieci (Italian for “110”), is a beautiful super-limited hypercar, paying homage to the iconic Bugatti EB 110, and celebrating the brand’s 110th birthday. First shown in 2019, at “The Quail,” the Centodieci is 20 kg lighter and more powerful than the Chiron. Limited to only ten units priced at AED 33 million ($9 million) a pop, it stood proud as one of the most expensive cars in the world.
Drawing design inspiration from the EB110, the Centodieci boasts five diamond-shaped air intakes and a wedge-shaped profile, accentuated by a horse-shoe radiator grille below the headlamps. The rear showcases eight taillights, quad exhaust pipes, a large diffuser, and a fixed overhanging rear wing, contributing to its aggressive appearance. Uniquely, the W16 engine is placed beneath an EB110-style glass sheet drawing similarities to the original car. The Centodieci is already trading at prices AED 15-18 million ($4-5 million) above its original asking price.
7. Mercedes-Maybach Exelero – AED 29.5 Million ($8 Million)
As far as hype for concept cars goes, the Mercedes-Maybach Exelero is one of the few concept cars that is still searched and talked about even to this day. Even though it made its debut in 2005, the car has consistently made it on the top 10 list of most expensive cars in the world for the last 19 years straight.
Commissioned by Fulda, a Goodyear subsidiary, the Exelero is a bespoke, one-of-one, fully functional concept car made to test the performance of their “Carat Exelero” tires. The car’s design was a modern interpretation of the Maybach SW 38 combined with the Maybach 57 platform. Fulda demanded a car that could hit 350 km/h to test the durability of their tyres. To achieve this the Exelero was fitted with a twin-turbo V12 boasting 690 HP and 752 ft-lbs. of torque.
It has been featured on the famous German show Cobra 11 and in Billionaire rapper Jay Z’s music video of “Lost One”. Earlier the car was bought by famous rapper and record exec ‘Birdman’. The car now rests in the collection of a private German collector.
8. Pagani Codalunga – AED 27.3 Million ($7.4 Million)
Back in 2018, two Pagani collectors came with a request to Horacio Pagani asking him to make a longtail version of the Pagani Huayra, inspired by Le Mans race cars from the 60s. Born from this collaboration was the Pagani Codalunga (Italian for ‘long tail’). Only five tailor-made units were produced, each already sold out before launching to the public.
This exclusive hypercar was a creation of the “Pagani Grandi Complicazioni”, a special division for one-off Pagani projects. Developed over two years in close partnership with clients, the Pagani Codalunga is an embodiment of simplicity, drawing inspiration from the aerodynamic lines of 1960s Le Mans racers. Weighing just 1,280 kg, the car was not only light but also achieved remarkable aerodynamic efficiency through its extended length and active aerodynamics. The exposed titanium exhaust system, with its white ceramic coating added to its vintage racing style.
The exterior hues blend with the cockpit, with aged suede leather and exposed carbon fiber finishes. The neutral and semi-matte paints evoke a sense of nostalgia, emphasizing the handcrafted elements reminiscent of classic car-building techniques. This bespoke creation is a testament to Pagani’s commitment to merging art and science in automotive perfection. The AED 27 million ($7.4 million) starting price tag comfortably puts it on our most expensive cars in the world list.
9. Huayra Imola Roadster – AED 22 Million+ ($6 Million+)
The Pagani Imola Roadster recently emerged as a limited-edition, track-focused variant of the Huayra Roadster. A project from the Pagani Grandi Complicazioni and a sibling to the Huayra Imola Coupe, only 8 Imola roadsters are planned. The name “Imola” comes from the famed Imola circuit in Bologna, Italy where Pagani does most of its vehicle testing. Powered by the famous 6.0-litre Mercedes-AMG V-12 engine, it puts out 838 horsepower, 118 more than the ‘standard’ Huayra and 11 more than its coupe counterpart. The 7-speed sequential transmission contributes to its lightweight profile, with a mere 1260 kg of dry weight.
Crafted with aerodynamic precision, influenced by insights from the Pagani Huayra R (a track-only model), the Imola Roadster generates over 600 kg of downforce at 280 km/h. The pricing of the Imola Roadster has been kept a secret but since the Imola coupe was priced around AED 19.8 million ($5.4 million) and roadsters usually fetch a premium over coupes, it is safe to assume a selling price exceeding AED 22 Million ($6 Million).
10. Bugatti Divo – AED 21.3 Million ($5.8 Million)
The Bugatti Divo was built as a tribute to French racing driver Albert Divo, famous for his Targa Florio victories in a Bugatti during the 1920s. Limited to a production of just 40 units, the Divo stands out with a distinct aerodynamic profile, fine-tuned for the track with an upgraded suspension, and a significant weight reduction. The Divo is a Bugatti designed for extreme track performance.
Its symmetrical cabin layout boasts an asymmetrical colour scheme, separating the driver from the passenger. Sold at approximately AED 21.3 million ($5.8 million), the Divo, lighter and more dynamic than the Chiron, has become one of the world’s most sought-after and expensive cars, fetching nearly double its original value on the market. According to Exclusive Car Registry one-fourth of all Divos are currently in Dubai.
These automotive marvels, with their astronomical price tags, are symbols of affluence, engineering prowess and an uncompromising pursuit of perfection on four wheels. These may be the most expensive cars in the world, but they won’t be remembered just for their price tags but for what they represent – a legacy of exclusivity, a canvas for personal expression, and a chapter in the narrative of automotive history.
