Most expensive cars 2022
It’s not about the money, money, money… forget about the price tag. Sorry, Jessie J, but not many of us can forget about the price when it features six or even seven digits.
Far away from budget city cars and cheap superminis, there’s a world of luxury SUVs and lavish saloons. Showrooms for the rich and famous, where cars are lined up on floors shinier than the salesperson’s suit. If you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it, etc.
Still, you’re here, which means you’re looking for expensive cars. Maybe you’re expecting a big lottery win or you’re about to inherit some cash from an aunt you have never met. Alternatively, you could be thinking about the catastrophic depreciation (loss in value over time), which will make these cars a bargain in years to come.
Whatever the reason, here are 10 of the most expensive new cars in the UK. We’ve selected one per manufacturer and have avoided ludicrously expensive supercars and hypercars.
Most expensive cars
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Rolls-Royce Phantom
The average price of a house in the south east of England is around £367,000, which is roughly the same as a new Rolls-Royce Phantom – and that’s before you explore the options list. In fairness, the Phantom is more opulent and luxurious than the vast majority of houses, with Rolls-Royce using only the finest materials and the most meticulous craftsmanship. The company will walk potential ‘patrons’ (they’re not called customers) through an array of bespoke options, including lavish accessories and artworks from the Boutique catalogue. Is this the best car in the world? Almost certainly.
Range Rover
The all-new Range Rover is pushing further upmarket, with even the ‘basic’ version costing around £95,000. In fairness, it’s larger and more lavish than before, with claims that it’s 50 percent more rigid and 24 percent quieter than the outgoing model. Scroll through the price list and you’ll discover the flagship long-wheelbase Range Rover SV costs a cool £167,000, but at least a plug-in hybrid powertrain should keep running costs to a minimum. Standard features include three-zone climate control, a 13.1-inch touchscreen display, a panoramic sunroof, electronic air suspension and 20-way heated electric front seats.
Mercedes-Maybach First Class
Buy a Mercedes-Maybach First Class and you won’t get much change from £180,000. It is to the ‘standard’ Mercedes-Benz S-Class what a penthouse suite is to a ‘standard’ five-star boutique hotel room. Highlights include 21-inch alloy wheels, a pair of champagne flutes, temperature controlled cup holders, a fridge, luxury individual rear seats, the finest Nappa leather and a Burmester surround-sound audio system. It also features a massage function and entertainment screens for those in the back and, if you choose the right model, a fabulous 6.0-litre V12 engine.
Bentley Flying Spur
While the cheapest Bentley Flying Spur will set you back around £156,000, you’ll be knocking on the door of £220,000 if you fancy the 6.0-litre W12 engine in First Edition spec. Highlights include 22-inch wheels designed by Mulliner, a panoramic sunroof, mood lighting and two-tone interior trim. Central to the car’s appeal is the magnificent W12 engine, which is powerful enough to propel this luxury behemoth to a top speed of 207mph, hitting 62mph in 3.8 seconds along the way. You can expect similar high prices from the Bentayga SUV.
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BMW M8 Competition Coupe
As daft as it might sound, even at £129,000, the BMW M8 Competition Coupe is a bit of a steal. It feels significantly more upmarket than rival coupes, with enough opulence to make it a genuine alternative to cars with an Aston Martin or Bentley badge. Of course, the highlight is the 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which produces a mighty 625PS. It turns the 8 Series into something akin to a BMW M5 in a luxury grand tourer suit. You won’t look out of place parked alongside more expensive vehicles in the hotel car park – and you’ll have more fun on the way home, too.
Audi R8 V10 Performance quattro Edition
In an era of luxury SUVs and tech-laden electric vehicles, it’s almost reassuring to discover the R8 supercar is Audi’s most expensive vehicle. The flagship R8 Spyder Performance quattro Edition weighs in with a price tag of £165,000. All versions get an electrohydraulic roof that folds away in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 30mph. And talking of speed, the 5.2-litre engine will propel the R8 Spyder to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds. With the roof down, you’ll also be able to experience the howling majesty of that V10. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet
At £175,000, the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is twice the price of the entry-level Porsche 911 Carrera. In other words, you could buy two Carreras for the price of a Turbo S Cabriolet. The thing is, the entry-level 911 doesn’t feature a six-cylinder engine producing 650PS. It won’t accelerate to 62mph in 2.8 seconds before hitting a top speed of 205mph. Oh, and you can’t lower the roof to enjoy the wind in your hair. This is a Porsche 911 with the performance and capability to take on the world’s best supercars, which makes the asking price a bit of a bargain.
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Lexus LS
The understated LS is Lexus’ flagship saloon, built to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8. In ‘basic’ trim, the Lexus costs around £79,000, but you’ll require the best part of £113,000 if you fancy the most lavish Takumi model. Highlights include 20-inch alloy wheels, four-zone climate control, fully automated parking, a digital rear-view camera and a 24-inch colour head-up display. The LS 500h is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrain, which could return 35mpg, or 30mpg if you opt for the all-wheel-drive version. It’s a left-field choice, but an appealing one.
Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo
The Maserati Quattroporte range kicks off with the £90,000 GT model, which draws power from a 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 350PS. At the opposite end of the spectrum you’ll find the Quattroporte Trofeo and its fantastic 3.8-litre V8. This rear-wheel-drive, four-door saloon (Quattroporte is Italian for ‘four doors’) will hit a top speed of 203mph. The 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds is only eclipsed by the rapid rate of depreciation. On the plus side, the Quattroporte is a cool and compelling alternative to German luxury saloons.
Aston Martin DBS Volante
This is Aston Martin’s flagship production car. Available as both a coupe and Volante convertible, the DBS is powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Volante guise, it boasts the same 211mph top speed as the Coupe, but the 0-62mph time is slightly slower at 3.6 seconds. We think you’ll be able to cope with the 0.2-second disadvantage, though, not least because you’ll be able to enjoy the bellowing soundtrack without a roof getting in the way. Pure automotive decadence for £225,000 (and more).
What is the most expensive new car in the world?
The most expensive new car is the one-off £20 million Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, rumoured to be owned by Jay-Z and Beyonce. It features a total of 1,813 exclusive parts and took four years to create. Highlights include a parasol that extends from the rear deck, a ‘hosting suite’, two full fridges and a bespoke entertainment system. Power is sourced from the Phantom’s 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine.
What’s the most expensive version of Britain’s cheapest new car?
At a little over £11,000, the Dacia Sandero Essential is Britain’s cheapest new car. Even in Comfort trim with the TCe 90 petrol engine and an automatic transmission, though, the Sandero still costs a bargain £15,000 – and that price includes metallic paint and a spare wheel. You could buy around 30 Dacia Sanderos for the price of a Rolls-Royce Phantom, although you might need to extend your driveway first.
What’s the most expensive car sold at auction?
In 2018, a Ferrari 250 GTO – chassis number 3413 GT – sold at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey, USA, for a cool $48,405,000 (£35,581,000). This beat the previous record, also held by a 250 GTO, by around $10 million (£7.4 million), making this Ferrari the most valuable classic car in the world. Of the top 10 most expensive cars ever sold at auction, seven wear the Ferrari prancing horse badge.
