Exotic Cars- the top supercars

Exotic cars are the hottest, fastest supercars and are very expensive. The best are here: Ascari KZ1, the amazing Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari Enzo and FXX, the terrific Ford GT, Maserati MC12, Koenigsegg CCR and Pagani Zonda F.

Exotic cars are the cream of sports cars and grand touring cars, and are simply fantastic performers, tailor-made to suit the owner. They are always rare - you will see very few on the roads. We define exotic cars as:

1. Very Expensive
These cars are expensive because few are made, the materials are expensive, and highly skilled labor is involved. They are also the result of extensive - and costly -

development. The price is over about $300,000, with insurance costs to match. This means that you need to be a multi-millionaire to buy one. That makes them exclusive, but that's not all.

2. Exclusive
Generally only a limited number are made, production won't go on for many years as it does with lesser cars. The Ferrari Enzo is a good example - less than 400 are being made. Only 25 or 50 of some others have been made. Each exotic car is usually tailored to suit the buyer.

3. Very fast
Exotic cars are very, very fast. A Rolls-Royce may be fast, and it may be expensive, but it's not fast enough to be a exotic car. We're talking a top speed of over 180 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of around 5 seconds or less. It is not enough for the supercar to be very fast to get in. A real exotic car has excellent roadholding, braking, steering, and is a treat to drive, demanding all the driver's skill.

4. Take skill to drive
Why do you need skills to drive most exotic cars? This is partly because they're very fast, so you need quick reactions. They all have excellent handling, but because they can corner very fast, things happen quickly. For example, it takes more skill and experience to know where to brake for a corner when you doing 150 mph than when you're doing 75 mph. That's where the skill and experience comes in.

5. Traffic stopping
Exotic cars must look and sound good enough to stop the traffic. Ours do.

All the cars we've included in this category meet these criteria. One or two may seem a bit marginal in one case, while you might think some other cars should be incuded - if so, let us know. You can't be precise when judging supercars and exotic cars, some will go into each category with ease, and others will take a bit of judgment.

There is another category of exotic cars - these are fantasies to their designers. The designers dream of producing a exotic car with a top speed of well over 200 mph, but don't have the resources to produce their fantasy. If you think of buying a exotic car, make sure the manufacturer has a track record.

Please select an exotic car to view or read about. The number of pictures of each car on this page is on the right. Prices are for guidance only.