Aston Martin Valhalla

 

The Aston Martin Valhalla is a race car for the road that follows the same formula as the more extreme Valkyrie, but in a more usable package for everyday driving. It was created in collaboration with Red Bull Racing, all-new for 2026, and powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG paired to three electric motors (two front, one rear) producing a combined 1,064 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels. Aston Martin claims that the Valhalla can launch from zero to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and accomplish a top speed of 217 mph. Key exterior features of the Valhalla consist of an oversized Aston Martin signature grille, butterfly doors, a roof-mounted air intake, movable front and rear wings for optimal aerodynamics, and two sets of exhausts: one at the rear decklid and the other at the rear diffuser. In order for its rear wing to deploy, the Valhalla needs to be in race mode and in motion. Its central tub is composed of carbon fiber, and Formula 1-style pushrod front and multi-link rear suspensions with adaptive dampers and carbon ceramic brakes are standard. Also available in the Valhalla is an EV mode that provides up to six miles of range on pure electricity. Inside, the Valhalla features an extensive use of carbon fiber and leather trim, a Formula 1-inspired squared-off steering wheel that houses physical infotainment controls, and two separate digital displays in front of and to the right of the steering wheel, both of which hold important vehicle information. Like some serious purpose-built supercars, a trunk or luggage compartment of any kind has been excluded from the Aston Martin Valhalla. 

Aston Martin plans to build 999 total units of the Valhalla, with each example priced starting at $1,051,700. A Spider version of the Valhalla is in the works and should make its debut soon. Pictured here is the first Aston Martin Valhalla I have ever seen in person, which occurred in Carmel during Monterey Car Week this year. It was parked outside of the Cypress Inn and brought to the Monterey area for Car Week courtesy of Greenwich, Connecticut-based exotic car dealership Miller Motorcars. This particular example and a handful of other ultra-rare and unique exotic supercars were part of Miller Motorcars' showcase at Carmel's Cypress Inn during this year's Monterey Car Week, and while it technically constitutes a pure spotting scenario, this gathering of exotics felt like a mini car show when I was there. Overall, the Valhalla is one of the coolest, most insane, and most impressive Aston Martins ever created, and it was certainly one of my top spotting highlights from the one day I attended Monterey Car Week festivities this year. Enjoy and stay tuned for more unique exotic supercars I spotted in Carmel during Monterey Car Week coming up in the next several posts.

Vehicle Specifications Sources: Car and Driver, Classic.com, Carscoops 

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Ferrari F80

 

The F80 is Ferrari's latest halo car. It is all-new for 2026 as the successor to the LaFerrari and powered by a Formula 1/endurance racing-derived 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 paired to three electric motors producing a combined 1,184 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox sends power to all four wheels, with two electric motors driving the front wheels and one electric motor driving the rear wheels. The launch from zero to 60 mph in the F80 occurs in around two seconds, while its top speed is rated at 217 mph. Active aerodynamics and a 48-volt active suspension are also standard on the F80. While nearly every element of the newest Ferrari halo car is fully functional and helps to boost performance, one of its main purely stylistic elements is the black visor at the front end, which is a nod to past Ferrari endurance racing vehicles. Inside, the F80's cabin is very driver-oriented, featuring a bright-colored and adjustable driver's seat, a black and not-so-adjustable passenger seat, a digital gauge cluster that is controlled through the steering wheel buttons and displays nearly everything inside the car, and a smaller, secondary display on the center console just for climate controls. 

Ferrari plans to build only 799 units of the F80, making this the second-largest allocation for an ultimate Prancing Horse behind the F40. Pricing for the F80 starts at $3.735 million. Pictured here are first two two F80 examples that I have seen in person, both of which are in two different shades of green and appeared at the Miller Motorcars mini showcase at the Cypress Inn in Carmel during Monterey Car Week this year. Like with some other rare and unique exotics that appeared there that evening, large crowds formed around both F80 examples when they arrived. It may not be my favorite supercar or Ferrari halo car, but I have become more of a fan of the F80 in recent months, and I was certainly excited to see two different examples of it up close for the first time during Monterey Car Week in August. Enjoy and stay tuned for more unique exotic supercars I spotted in Carmel during Monterey Car Week coming up in the next several posts.

Vehicle Specifications Sources: Car and Driver, Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale 

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Czinger 21C V-Max

 

The Czinger 21C is one of the most insane and revolutionary cars of recent years and all time. It debuted and entered production in 2021 and is motivated by a mid-mounted 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 paired to two electric motors at the front wheels generating a combined 1,250 horsepower and 691 pound-feet of torque. Power in the 21C, short for 21st Century, is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission, and its V8 revs up to 11,000 rpm. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds and can accomplish a top speed of 253 mph. The 21C is available in two configurations: High-Downforce and V-Max. Pictured here is the V-Max version of the 21C, which loses the massive rear wing found on the 21C High-Downforce to reduce drag for maximum top speed. The 21C V-Max also adds seven inches of length due to its extended rear bodywork along with an exhaust mounted above the rear bumper and pointing up compared to the 21C High-Downforce. 

The most revolutionary aspects of the Czinger 21C involve its design process and vehicle component assembly. More specifically, Czinger used artificial intelligence-based applications with inputs from engineers to design the 21C and assembled the 21C's vehicle components using custom 3D printers, all of which are completed in-house. When viewing the 21C's AI-generated chassis, there are several components that resemble bones from a human skeleton, and they look extremely fascinating. Other automakers and even government agencies have signed contracts with Czinger's parent company Divergent to implement this exact AI-focused technology in new and future vehicles and complex projects. Unlike most road cars, the Czinger 21C's interior is a central, narrow cockpit where the passenger seat is directly behind the driver seat. This rather unique interior layout is intended for optimal aerodynamics and center of gravity. Other key features of the Czinger 21C include a carbon fiber tub, large and elongated butterfly doors, a panoramic glass sunroof, a single digital display that houses the gauge cluster, infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay, and a small trunk under the engine cover. 

Only 80 total units of the Czinger 21C will be built by the Southern California-based boutique supercar manufacturer, with each example carrying a starting price of $2.35 million. In addition, Czinger introduced a drop-top Spyder version of the 21C at the Quail during Monterey Car Week this year. As for the 21C V-Max pictured here, I spotted it in Carmel along with several other exotics at the Cypress Inn following the Ferrari Concours show during Monterey Car Week. When this Czinger 21C made its appearance at the Miller Motorcars showcase in front of the Cypress Inn in Carmel, nearly everyone on that particular block of Downtown Carmel gathered around it to take a closer look. 

This is the first 21C V-Max that I have seen up close, but certainly not the first Czinger 21C in general that I have seen in person. For those who are wondering, the first Czinger 21C that I saw in person was at the last Exotics on Broadway show that I attended in Seaside two years ago, and it was a High-Downforce example provided by Czinger. The 21C V-Max featured here that was in Monterey for Car Week this year was manufacturer-owned as well. Alongside the Lotec Sirius, Ferrari Enzo, and Bugatti Mistral from previous posts, the Czinger 21C V-Max was undoubtedly one of the absolute coolest and most extraordinary cars I saw in the Monterey area during Car Week this year. Overall, after hearing and viewing more about it within the past few years, the Czinger 21C is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite cars and one of the coolest and most impressive cars on the planet due to its otherworldly styling, unbelievable performance, and state-of-the-art engineering. Enjoy and stay tuned for more unique exotic supercars I spotted in Carmel during Monterey Car Week coming up in the next several posts.

Vehicle Specifications Sources: Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Robb Report, Doug DeMuro via YouTube 

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Bugatti Mistral

 

The Mistral is the latest droptop hypercar from Bugatti and the end of the line for Bugatti’s famed W16 engine. It was first revealed in 2022, and its W16 engine is a 8.0-liter quad-turbo unit with 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels. The launch from zero to 60 mph in the Mistral occurs in 2.3 seconds, and its top speed is rated at 261 mph. In fact, during a high-speed test run in Germany two years ago, the Mistral hit 282 mph, making it the fastest open-top car in the world. Basically all of the Mistral's performance figures and internal components are shared with the Chiron. However, the Mistral and Chiron feature completely different bodywork and exterior designs. Besides the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine, both the Mistral and Chiron share a carbon-fiber structure assembled by Dallara in Italy and a practically identical timeless, minimalist, and ultra-premium interior layout. While it is designed to be topless, Bugatti supplied the Mistral with a clip-in fabric roof for emergencies such as inclement weather, and the vehicle can only travel at speeds up to 100 mph when the fabric roof is in place. A wind deflector located behind the seats has also been added to the Mistral since it is an open-air roadster. 

Only 99 examples of the Bugatti Mistral were produced from 2024 until the middle of this year. All 99 units of the Mistral were spoken for as soon as it was announced, and each example carried a starting price of around $5 million. Replacing the Chiron and Mistral in the Bugatti portfolio is the Tourbillon, which is motivated by a V16 mated to three electric motors and primed to be even faster. 

Pictured here is the first Bugatti Mistral that I have ever seen in person, which I found parked with several other supercars outside of the Cypress Inn in Carmel during Monterey Car Week last month. This Mistral and some other supercars parked by the Cypress Inn during Car Week were provided by Greenwich, Connecticut-based exotic car dealership Miller Motorcars as part of their showcase display at that particular hotel. This qualifies as more of a top spotting moment despite the Miller Motorcars showcase display having more of a car show feel to it. Not only was the Mistral one of the coolest and most impressive cars at the Miller Motorcars showcase display, it was certainly one of the top vehicles I was most thrilled to see up close throughout the one day I traveled to the Monterey area for Car Week this year. Overall, the Bugatti Mistral is an absolutely stunning and amazing topless hypercar, and it currently represents the pinnacle for convertibles and roadsters in terms of performance and opulence. Enjoy and stay tuned for more unique exotic supercars I spotted in Carmel during Monterey Car Week coming up in the next several posts. 

Vehicle Specifications Sources: Road and Track, Robb Report, DuPont Registry 

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