Top 5 Exotic Cars of 2014
2014 has been something of a revolutionary year for exotic cars – 4 of the 5 cars of the year below feature some level of hybrid technology. Just a few years ago, who could even have imagined such a thing? Whether this year will be remembered as the year that car companies started taking climate change seriously, or just a year for great cars remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – this year won’t soon be forgotten.
Without any further ado or hullabaloo, let’s dig into the dizzying array of automotive exotica that is our Top 5 Cars of the Year.
#5 BMW i8
The BMW i8 for sale is an interesting car, and one that may seem, at first glance, somewhat out of place on our list. Sure, it has a sleek body, but a car with a 1.5L, three cylinder engine, matched with an electric motor, appearing on a list for exotic cars? Surely this is madness! No, strange naysayer, this is pure logic. You see, despite only featuring a small engine, the car can achieve some extremely high-performance figures, reaching 60mph in just 3.8 seconds. It’s clean living too, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 134.5 mpg. This performance, matched with the car’s progressive and forward-looking design, secure it a place on our list.
#4 McLaren P1
McLaren. A name synonymous with super fast, somehow road-legal supercars, a heritage encompassing everything from Formula 1 to the McLaren F1, the world’s fastest supercar for 12 long years. But the P1 is more than just a supercar – it’s got a little secret tucked away. The secret? An inhouse electric motor, which develops 176 horsepower on its lonesome, which, in conjunction with the 3.8L twin-turbo V8 under the hood, makes pure driving magic, getting to 60 in 2.7 seconds, and moving on to a top speed of 217 mph. Pure and meticulously designed, this car would make Bruce McLaren very proud, and that’s why it made our list.
#3 Rolls-Royce Wraith
The Spirit of Ecstasy that sits atop Rolls-Royces’ huge grilles has seen a lot of famous passengers over the years. From royalty, to political figures, to sportsman, owning a Rolls-Royce is pretty much the last word in luxury motoring. So what happens when the sun goes down, and the Spirit goes out for a wild evening? Well, the Rolls Royce Wraith for sale is a result of such an evening.
No hybrid technology in sight on this beast, instead, an obscenely large (6.6L) V12 engine is found in the engine bay, ready to unleash all sorts of mayhem on those who think that Rolls are only driven by old men and dignitaries. The two tonne monster features all the luxuries you could ever want, but will also take you to 60mph in just 4.4 seconds, before carrying its passengers to a top speed of 186 mph. If you ever looked at a presidential suite, and thought “if only this could drift”, this is as close as you’re ever going to get.
#2 Porsche 918 Spyder
Porsche’s 918 Spyder is an incredible machine. Featuring the pairing of a 4.6L V8 engine and not one, but two electric motors, this beast was always going to be capable of special deeds. However, the level of success that the car gains is somewhat incredible. It set a new record laptime for a production car on one of the toughest tracks in the world, the Nurburgring, completing the 12.8 mile Nordschleife circuit in under 7 minutes. Forward-looking, fast, furious, and record breaking – surely, you say, what can pip this to number 1?
#1 Ferrari LaFerrari.
The Ferrari LaFerrari is nothing short of spectacular. Ferrari is a name that seems like it will never die, and if they keep building cars like this far into the future, we need not worry about such things. The super-limited car is eye-catching in every way. From its body, looking like an updated version of the glorious Enzo, to its F1-influenced KERS hybrid technology, to its raw performance. The incredible V12 engine, the most powerful of its type ever built by Ferrari, uses its 6.2L of displacement well, pulling the car to a top speed of 218 mph, getting you to 60 in just 2.6 seconds.
The LaFerrari is absolutely everything that an exotic car can, and should be. Lightning fast, technologically advanced, beautiful, built with real passion, and as Italian as a cappucino or an Armani suit. It is an image of the future of the machines we love so much, and that’s why it is our car of the year.
