Some cars are just meant to be gawked at. The 2009 Maybach Landaulet is just such a spectacle. It sports 20-inch wheels, a top-of-the-line V12 engine, and a pimped out top that rolls back to let in the sun. Oh, did we mention that it also costs $1.35 million dollars?
So what the heck is a landaulet? It’s a feature of the classic cars of yesteryear where only the chauffeur’s area is closed (you didn’t think you were going to drive the Maybach yourself did you?). The pampered passengers in the rear control an extra-large folding roof that leaves nothing between them and the blue sky above.
The Maybach Landaulet is so high-end, it’s not even called a car – it’s a “luxury chauffeured saloon”, according to the manufacturer. So unless you happen to be a billionaire, say hello (and goodbye) to the most awesome, pimped out car you will never own.
Do you love Aston Martins but don’t have $150,000 to blow on the luxury car? Now Aston Martin – the favored automobile of James Bond – will a car you can actually afford: the Cygnet. It might not look like a classy sportscar, but at least you can tell your friends that, yes, you drive a genuine Aston Martin.
The Aston Martin Cygnet is being marketed as a “luxury commuter concept car” and is expected to be available for less than $32,000. The upscale carmaker is working on the Cygnet to cope with a sharp fall in demand for its top-of-the-line sports cars due to the global recession.
The Cygnet will be manufactured by Toyota – the first time the Japanese carmaker will be producing a car for another automaker. Between 4,000 and 5,000 Cygnets are expected to be produced each year. No word yet on when the Cygnet will hit the market.
Unfortunately, reports are that Aston Martin will only offer the Cygnet to customers already owning either a DB9, DBS or Vantage.
According to Aston Martin, the Cygnet will retain the hallmarks of the carmaker’s “design philosophy” but will be inexpensive to operate, environmentally friendly, and safe. That may be all well and good, but will we see James Bond driving one anytime in the near future? Doubtful.
The amazing looking Citroen GT was originally conceived to tie into the Gran Turismo 5 Playstation video game. But now the French car company has decided to actually produce 6 of these GT supercars at a whopping price of $1.8 million. And yes, that’s just for one car, not all six.
The enormous price tag makes the Citroen GT one of the most expensive production cars sold today. Company officials say the GT will be powered by either be a Ford or GM V8, with at least 500bhp, and possibly a paddle-shift manual gearbox.
The Citroen GT will have carbon-fiber construction and some odd touches like copper trim. The final version is expected to launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September. But here’s a sneak peak of the GT on the streets of London:
If you can get over the carmaker’s name, Hyundai has the luxury car for you. Long synonymous with bargain basement vehicles, Hyundai is now competing with the likes of Mercedes and BMW with its new Genesis coupe and sedan.
The Genesis comes in at $36,000 and includes a 368-horsepower V-8 engine and the same sound system found in a Rolls-Royce Phantom. There’s also a base-level Genesis with a V-6 that starts at $30,000.
Hyundai has toned toned its branding on the Genesis. The company’s “flying H” logo appears on the trunk, but not on the hood. So if you squint real hard and view the car from across the street, you might just be fooled into thinking it’s not a Hyundai.
The Hyundai Genesis could be a great deal for those who care about value more than snob appeal. This comparable to a $60,000 sedan, but for half the price. Bargain hunters, your car is here.
