Lamborghini Centenario

 

The Centenario is a special limited-edition Lamborghini created to commemorate Lamborghini founder Ferruccio Lamborghini's 100th birthday. Based on the Aventador, the Centenario was unveiled in 2016 for the 2017 model year and is powered by the Aventador's naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 upgraded to 759 horsepower. Torque figures remain the same as the Aventador at 509 pound-feet, along with their 0-100km/h (62 mph) time of 2.8 seconds and 217 mph top speed. Along with it being a special tribute vehicle, the Centenario is a heavily restyled, more exclusive Aventador that hinted at what the Aventador's successor could look like at the time it was new. The Centenario's design is primarily characterized by its aggressive front fascia, large side vents, extendable rear spoiler, and massive rear diffuser with six vertical fins and a three-pipe central exhaust system. Other upgrades included with the Centenario over most Aventador models are a rear-wheel steering system and an improved infotainment system with a 10.1-inch screen featuring Apple CarPlay, Wi-Fi connectivity, a performance data recorder, and other modern tech.

Production for the Centenario was limited to 40 total units, divided evenly between 20 coupes and 20 roadsters. It is currently valued at around $2-3 million on the resale market. This year's Exotics on Broadway marked my third time seeing a Centenario in person and the first time in about six years doing so. The other Centenario examples that I've seen up close were a roadster when that specific version debuted at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2016 and a coupe in bare carbon fiber with red accents that happened to be on display at my local Audi/Porsche dealer soon after. In addition, this light blue Centenario was the coolest and rarest Lamborghini on display at this year's Exotics on Broadway in Monterey just over two months ago. Overall, the Lamborghini Centenario is an amazing and worthy special tribute supercar. It may be a restyled Aventador, but the Centenario's striking design, extremely limited production numbers, and excellent performance make it stand out more than most Lamborghinis in the best way possible.

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Aston Martin One-77

 

Here we have another incredible and ultra-rare Aston Martin in the form of the One-77. The One-77 made its official debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show for the 2009 model year and is powered by a 7.3-liter V12 with 750 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque paired to either a six-speed manual, five-speed automatic, or six-speed automated manual gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in around 3.5 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 220 mph. At the time it was released, the One-77's V12 was the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine and the fastest Aston Martin ever made. The One-77 utilizes a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, an aluminum body, and an adjustable pushrod suspension mated with dynamic stability control. Its interior is typical of Aston Martins of this era, which are premium and simplistic.

As indicated by its name, Aston Martin's production run of the One-77 was limited to 77 total units, with its production run ending in 2012. The One-77 is currently valued at roughly $2-2.5 million on the resale market. In addition, it has won a handful of best design awards at prestigious car shows and by various automotive publications. Like the Valkyrie in the previous post, this year's Exotics on Broadway in Monterey that I attended two months ago marked the first time I ever saw a One-77 up close. This moment was 10+ years in the making, and I was in complete awe seeing the One-77 in person for the first time. Overall, the Aston Martin One-77 is incredibly stunning and one of the coolest and most impressive Aston Martins of all time. It may be more than ten years old, but despite its age, the One-77 is one of those cars that could pass as a new car today with its amazing and beautiful modern design and great performance figures.

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Aston Martin Valkyrie

 

The Valkyrie is Aston Martin's first-ever hypercar. Although Aston Martin is best known for luxury grand touring coupes and convertibles, the British automaker joined the hypercar trend and produced one of its own for the 2022 model year in partnership with Red Bull Racing. Powering the Valkyrie is a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 mated to an electric motor producing a combined 1139 horsepower and 682 pound-feet of torque, sending power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in around 2.5 seconds and can reach a top speed electronically limited to 220 mph. The Valkyrie contains a body composed entirely of carbon fiber and features no rear window and rear-view cameras instead of mirrors for optimized aerodynamics. Its cockpit is practically race car-like, with not a lot of space and a seating position similar to that of Formula 1 cars. All of the Valkyrie's switchgear is located on its steering wheel along with an OLED screen displaying the most important data and signals for the driver. It also offers four-point harnesses, a center infotainment screen, and the ability for the steering wheel to detach to make it easier for the driver to get in and out of the vehicle. Those who have driven the Valkyrie have stated that the engine is so loud when riding in the vehicle that ear protection is needed when taking it for a spin.

Aston Martin will only produce roughly 150 Valkyries, with each one priced at around $3-3.5 million and already sold out. It is homologated for street use in other countries, but can be sold in the U.S. exclusively through NHTSA's Show and Display exemption, which limits vehicles under this restriction to 2500 miles a year. A more extreme Valkyrie is also offered from Aston Martin known as the Valkyrie AMR Pro, which gains a boost of power and additional weight-saving measures over the standard Valkyrie. In addition, the Valkyrie AMR Pro is limited to 40 units and only legal for track use. As may be the case with many folks in attendance there, this year's Exotics on Broadway in Monterey marked the first time I ever saw an Aston Martin Valkyrie in person. The Valkyrie was also one of a few limited-production Aston Martins on display at this year's Exotics on Broadway show that I saw up close for the first time; the others will be featured on this site soon. Overall, the Valkyrie is a Le Mans Prototype race car for the road and one of the absolute coolest and craziest Aston Martin models ever made. It is also in the top tier of cars that cement Exotics on Broadway as one of the greatest car shows on the planet.

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McLaren Solus GT

 

The Solus GT is one of McLaren's latest limited-edition track-only cars. It was first unveiled last year and made its way onto U.S. soil for the first time at this year's Monterey Car Week. Inspired by the 2017 McLaren Vision GT Concept from the Gran Turismo video game series, the Solus GT is a one-seater powered by a mid-engine 5.2-liter V10 with 829 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque that revs up to 10,000 rpm paired to a seven-speed sequential gearbox. Both of the Solus GT's engine and gearbox are derived from motorsport. It has an estimated 0-60 mph time of under 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. The Solus GT's top slides open to gain access to its single seat, and its design is primarily based around aerodynamics. Its body is made almost entirely of carbon fiber and features 3D-printed titanium components as well. Like practically every race car, the Solus GT's cockpit is spartan, featuring a racing yoke steering wheel housing most vehicle interior buttons, adjustable pedals, and a fixed racing seat with a six-point harness. It weighs in at 2205 pounds and produces 2645 pounds of downforce. In addition, the Solus GT contains an air intake on its roof that feeds air to and cools down its V10, especially at high speeds.

McLaren will only build 25 Solus GTs, and all of them have been accounted for, being sold for around a few million dollars a pop. This year's Exotics on Broadway marked my first time seeing the Solus GT in person, and the same can be said for many folks attending that show as well. Overall, the McLaren Solus GT is an absolutely incredible race car and one of the coolest and most impressive vehicles at this year's Exotics on Broadway that wasn't a Pagani, Koenigsegg, or Bugatti. McLaren has made a variety of different rare and special vehicles, and like many of them, the Solus GT truly and completely blew me away after seeing it in person for the first time.

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Bugatti Veyron

 

Besides the Chiron, the only other Bugatti that was showcased at this year’s Exotics on Broadway was the Veyron. It was introduced in 2005 and was the predecessor to the Chiron and the first production Bugatti model under Audi/Volkswagen ownership. This specific Veyron is a standard version from the 2006 model year and part of the Hamilton Collection based in Chicago, making this the primary focus of this post. Powering the Veyron is an 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 with 987 horsepower and 922 pound-feet of torque, sending power to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 253 mph. The Veyron in the Hamilton Collection is a two-tone black and white example with a brown leather interior. According to my further research, this Veyron was added to the Hamilton Collection back in July ahead of Exotics on Broadway in late August, replacing its Chiron that was on display at last year's Exotics on Broadway show in the process.

Bugatti produced a total of 450 Veyrons from 2005 to 2015, spanning all versions and special editions before replacing it with the Chiron in 2016. About half of those 450 examples were of the base 16.4 model, carrying a starting price of close to $1.5 million when new. Most Veyrons are currently valued north of $2 million and will continue to appreciate from here. From the late 2000s to mid 2010s, the Bugatti Veyron reigned supreme among all production vehicles as a top status symbol and in terms of performance, luxury, and exclusivity. With this specific example, I have now seen four Bugatti Veyrons in person throughout the course of my life. Although I prefer the Chiron and some other more recent hypercars, the Bugatti Veyron is absolutely amazing and one of the coolest and most impressive cars ever made. In addition, seeing a Veyron up close is an incredible and unreal experience, and anyone should be extremely lucky if they ever have the chance to do so.

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