The first four-door Porsche sedan in Turbo guise can be considered the ultimate uber sports saloon. Not only is it wickedly fast, it is also a piece of superbly and wonderfully engineered machine. It is equally capable in a straight-line and also for attacking corners. It costs GBP100000, measures over 16ft long, weighs 2 tonnes and guzzles fuel at less than 8km/L. It is endowed with a 4.8L V8 twin-turbo engine which pumps out 493bhp and 700Nm of torque. The Panamera Turbo does 0 – 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, 0 – 160 km/h in 9 seconds and has a top speed of 300 km/h. However, some people may not agree with the way it looks.
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS
Many people consider the Maserati Quattroporte a sexy car. Being Italian it certainly oozes sex appeal from all angles except its rear end which to me is a bit boring. The Quattroporte Sport GTS feels like a four-door Ferrari with lots of Alcantara in its cabin and a lively and loud engine note from its 4.7L V8 engine. It produces 434 bhp and 490 Nm of torque. 0 – 100 km/h takes 5.1 seconds and its top speed is 283 km/h. If it drives as well as it looks, it would have been a great car. The Quattroporte Sports GTS costs GBP90000.
Aston Martin Rapide
The Aston Martin Rapide was unveiled in the Frankfurt Motor Show 09. The concept was first introduced in 2006 and it became a reality within 3 years. Aston Martin describes the marque’s first four door sedan as encapsulating the core values of power, beauty and soul. The Rapide features a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 470 bhp and 600 Nm peak torque at 5000 rpm. A specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission features as standard, allowing the driver to change gear automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles. It does 0 – 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and has an estimated top speed of 303 km/h. First deliveries of the Rapide is expected early 2010.
BMW 760Li
Many of you would be wondering why am I including a 7-series BMW in the comparison of Super Saloons. The BMW certainly does not have the same pedigree as the Porsche or Maserati, but the 760Li can show the pedigreed Panamera and Quattroporte a trick or two. For starters, the 760Li is equipped with the 6L V12 twin-turbo engine which pumps out an amazing 537bhp and 750 Nm of torque. It propels the 2100kg 7-series to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. Select Sport+ in the 760Li and the suspension firms up and the car transforms into a more aggressive animal. Not exactly a beast yet as this is still a 7-series mind you. The 760Li manages to keep up with the Panamera Turbo and certainly outshines the Quattroporte Sport GTS.
Bugatti Galibier
The Bugatti Galibier is currently still a concept. But it is expected to be launched by 2013 if there are enough rich people to afford it by then. Production of the Galibier is expected to start once the Veyron ceases in 2012. Bugatti technical boss Wolfgang Schreiber said that the idea of the Galibier is to be the “world’s fastest, most accelerative and powerful four-door car”. The Galibier is expected to be powered by the same W16 engine found in the Veyron with twin-superchargers pumping out around 800bhp. The price is expected to be approximately GBP900000! The Galibier is, in every way, a car of excesses but it would certainly be an exciting engineering feat.
Brabus CLS Rocket
The ex-record holder of the “world’s fastest street-legal sedan” (top speed: 365.7 km/h), the Brabus modified Mercedes CLS 500 definitely lives up to its namesake. Powering the Rocket is the revered 6233cc V12 twin turbo engine from Brabus (SV12 S) which is capable of 730 bhp and 1320 Nm of torque. The Rocket accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h in 10.5 seconds and 300 km/h in 29.5 seconds. Brabus extensively modified the CLS including the engine, drivetrain, suspension, brakes and aerodynamics. Priced at Euro420000, the limited edition Rocket is a very rare and special super saloon indeed. The Rocket’s top speed record was set in 2006 and held on until November 2008 when it was beaten by the G-Power modified Hurricane RS M5.
