Maybach Landaulet
For the discerning driver turned off by the sight of that all too commonplace Mercedes-Benz S class, Maybach delivers its ultra-exclusive Landaulet. This super limo is hurried on by a twin-turbocharged V12 engine, specially developed with the assistance of AMG's engine specialist. It produces 463 kW between 4 800 and 5 100 RPM, as well as 1 000 Nm of torque between 2 000 and 4 000 RPM. This sees the car reaching 100 km/h in five seconds onto a very stately limited top-end of 250 km/h.
Smokers will appreciate the automatic four-zone aircon system that sports an activated charcoal filter with smog sensor to clean your air faster than a jailed politician can spontaneously develop a life-threatening illness in prison. Stateside it goes for the equivalent of R11.9 million.
Range Rover Vogue SE V8
CEOs and investment bankers in need of a vehicle that can match the on road prowess of an BMW 7 Series with the off-the-beaten-path fun factor of a Land Rover, do not have to look any further than the new Range Rover Vogue SE. Powered by a supercharged V8 engine, this off-roader accelerates to 100 km/h in just over five seconds on to a maximum speed of 250 km/h.
These brisk performance figures will cost you at the petrol pump though, given the Rover's thirsty (13.8 litre per 100 km) combined fuel usage figure. Techies will love the 8" dual view enabled touch-screen, allowing the front passenger to watch a movie, whilst the driver uses the car's GPS on the same display. The new Range Rover only launches locally in 2013, but Stateside pricing starts at more than R725 800.
Gibbs Quadski amphibious quad bike
The adventurous at heart need to travel on land and sea, but why fork out cash for a boat and quad bike when you can get both in a Gibbs Quadski? This Amphiquad (amphibious quad bike) is powered by BMW's K1300 motorcycle engine, allowing it to reach speeds in excess of 70 km/h on land. On water, the Quadski's wheels fold up at the push of a button, transforming it from quadbike to jetski within four seconds.
Its 1 300 cc four-cylinder 16 valve DOHC BMW engine will then operate in conjunction with Gibbs' water jet propulsion system to enable the vehicle to reach the same speed on a lake that it does on land. Available Stateside for around R346 000, launching worldwide in 2014.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive
The best looking car in this comparison is Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive, which happens to be the most powerful AMG production car yet. Four electric motors produce a grand total of 552 kW of power and enough torque (1 000 Nm) to tenderise an elephant. These motors drive all four wheels, delivering torque to the wheels with the most grip. Drivers will notice the absence of the glorious V8 exhaust note of the conventionally powered SLS 63 AMG, replaced by an eery silence of this car's electric motors.
This eco-powered Merc gallops to 100 km/h in less than four seconds, onto an electronically limited top-end of 250 km/h. The SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive goes on sale in Germany next year for the equivalent of R4.4 million.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport
Stats are normally not the most exciting way to convey info, but for every rule there is an exception and the performance figures for the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport are certainly exceptional. Powering the fastest production supercar on the planet is a King Kong-sized quad turbocharged 7 993 cc sixteen cylinder engine, producing an astonishing 880 kW and enough torque (1500 Nm) to turn Table Mountain into Table Molehill. This supercar rockets from standstill to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds, reaches 200 km/h in under seven (6.7) seconds, and can go on to a terminal velocity of 431 km/h. To make its specially developed tires last a tad longer, Bugatti decided to limit the top speed to a mere 415 km/h.
The price you pay for this level of performance (other than the low-low R20.7 million RRP of course) is a terrible combined fuel economy figure of 23 liters per 100 km (nearly four times that of a BMW 320i). Additionally, this car produces an equally bad carbon emission figure (539 g per km) that will put you on both Santa and Greenpeace's naughty list [HD].