Every year, the car industry creates vehicles that turn heads and make minds boggle. Despite all the challenges of 2020, manufacturers have still managed to produce some of these creations. Which means that there's plenty for petrolheads to drool over.
The following 11 crazy cars all release in 2020 or early 2021 (with a few exceptions) and are bonkers for one reason or another. Which is why most of us would be very lucky to drive just one of these, let alone actually owning any of them...
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Aston Martin Valkyrie
Top Speed: 250 mph BHP: 1,160 from a V12 Cosworth engine 0-62 mph: 2.5 seconds Price Tag: £2 - 3 million
Those numbers alone easily make the Valkyrie a crazy car. But it's so much more than just straight-line speed.
The Valkyrie injects the best of F1 into a road legal car to create a monstrous hyper car fit for the Gods. And that you can drive to the supermarket. You wouldn't expect much else with Adrian Newey (Chief Technical Officer for Red Bull Racing and one of the most successful F1 designers ever) as one of the head designers.
As a result, the Valkyrie has loads of F1 equipment onboard, such as the KERS energy recovery system. This stops the energy generated under braking going to waste, making the engine more efficient.
It looks like an F1 car. It feels like an F1 car. And it's likely to go like an F1 car as well.
The only downside is the ungainly driving position - but we can look past that. Unfortunately, even if you did have £3 million to spend, Aston have already sold all 150 Valkyries. And there are no plans to make any more, even with a postponed release date of early 2021.
Bugatti Chiron Noire
Top Speed: Limited to 261 mph BHP: 1,600 from an 8-litre, W-16 engine 0-62 mph: 2.4 seconds, 0-124 in 6.5 Price Tag: £2.5 million ($3.3 million)
Ever since Volkswagen bought Bugatti in the early 2000s and released the Veyron (which was bonkers), they've become known for their crazy cars.
It's not often that a car is LIMITED to 261 mph, after all.
The matte black Chiron Noire is an ultra-special edition which pays tribute to 'La Voiture Noire', which is an ultra-rare car in itself. Bugatti only ever built 4 models in the 1930s - and all 4 are missing.
So, naturally, Bugatti thought the best way to honour this lost model was by making 20 super fast, super expensive replacements.
The Chiron Noire is very similar to the standard Chiron, but the matte black finish turns this snarling beast into a nightmarish monster. With that remarkable engine growling under the bonnet, there's no road that can trouble this hyper car. It released in the second quarter of 2020 and, like the Valkyrie, it's completely sold out.
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Top Speed: 211 mph BHP: 986 from a 4 litre, twin-turbo V8 and three electric motors 0-62 mph: 2.5 seconds Price Tag: £375,000
When Ferrari released the limited edition 'LaFerrari' in 2013, they said they weren't interested in producing another hybrid.
Fast-forward 7 years and they've changed their tune.
The SF90 Stradale is the Italian giants' first attempt at a mass-produced PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) and they've hit the mark straight away. The list of standard equipment includes power-adjustable seats, Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry and ignition and rear parking sensors amongst other things. In other words, the Stradale completely blows 'LaFerrari' out of the water.
Throw in the fact that it's all-wheel drive and reasonably affordable (as far as this list is concerned) and the Stradale is pretty much the full package.
Oh, and its electric motors offer 18 miles of range on their own. Ferrari call this crazy car an "(encapsulation of) the true significance of all that has been achieved in terms of performance".
Simply put, "it's the best we've ever done. End of." If you ever needed an example of the merciless march of innovation, this is it. And you can still buy one - if you have a spare £375,000 lying around!
Ferrari 812 GTS
Top Speed: 211 mph BHP: 780 from a 6.5 litre, V12 engine 0-62 mph: less than 3 seconds Price Tag: around £300,000 (unconfirmed)
We wanted to showcase 10 different models from 10 different companies on this list, but we couldn't choose between the 2 Ferraris - so we included both! Considering this is the most powerful production convertible on the market and a redesign of a 50 year old classic, it seemed too significant to ignore.
Oh, and it's Ferrari's last V12 Spider model. And bold, brash and crazy in its own right.
Yes, the 812 GTS is a fine example of a brutal convertible. Ferrari redesigned the exhaust system so it roars at every opportunity. Stamp down on the accelerator and you hear the spinetingling noise echo through 96 million miles of headroom.
On top of all that, you get power, performance and sheer driving pleasure in an elegant and classy shell. While it's good to see Ferrari looking toward the future, it's nice to know that they're still looking out for the petrolheads of today as well.
And, because it's a Ferrari at heart, it still brings the aggressive Italian flair we're all used to. So you can control a drift in the 812 GTS and look chic doing so.
Ginetta Akula
Top Speed: 200 mph BHP: 600 from a 6 litre V8 0-62 mph: Sub 3 seconds (unconfirmed) Price Tag: £340,000
If you haven't heard of Ginetta, you're not alone. They're a small British business who stormed into the limelight when they unexpectedly announced the Akula in 2019.
Not exactly a household name.
The Akula is an absolute masterpiece though. It's quick and it's here to rival most Ferraris. As it should with a £300,000+ price tag! The Akula combines racetrack aggression with the mundane to create an everyday supercar. Ginetta created the Akula using their experience in endurance racing and the Ginetta Juniors on Touring Car race days (which is where current F1 driver Landon Norris started out).
That performance is nice, but the Akula also offers enough headroom and boot space to carry the weekly shop or help on the school run. It's a practical supercar - and you can't always say that about a Ferrari. And, while the Akula isn't the prettiest to look at, it's a big boost to the British car industry as it's built in Leeds.
Koenigsegg Jesko
Top Speed: 300 mph (unconfirmed) BHP: 1,280 (petrol), 1,600 (E85 biofuel) 0-62 mph: 2.5 seconds Price Tag: £2.3 million ($3 million)
Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
Koenigsegg have always made crazy cars but the Jesko is on a whole new level.
Quite simply, it's a ruthless speed machine. It succeeds the Agera, which is a bonkers car in its own right.
Currently the world's fastest production car with a top speed of 277.9 mph, it isn't fast enough apparently. The Jesko aims to grind the Agera's record into the dirt with a predicted top speed of over 300 mph!
However, the Jesko isn't a one-trick pony. It produces over 100kg of downforce so it corners incredibly well and it comes with a few luxury goodies in the cabin too! It's road legal and production begins in late 2020 - although, they're already sold out. Just in case anyone was interested. Oh, and if all that speed wasn't enough, there's an even faster model called the Absolut.
Yes, the fastest car in the world needs a high-speed version as well...
Lamborghini Sian FKP 37
Top Speed: 217 mph BHP: 808 from a V12 engine and e-motor 0-62 mph: 2.8 seconds Price Tag: £2.8 million ($3.6 million), unconfirmed
Photo by Justus Menke on Unsplash
Lamborghini are known for their crazy cars, and the Sian is no exception. For starters, it's a V12 hybrid and the most powerful road car Lamborghini have ever made.
On top of that, it's highly intelligent. At low speeds, the electric motor takes complete control. Instead of having to harness that V12 in a car park, you get a much more manageable power source to park.
But what a power source that V12 is.
The Sian will scream its way down any road with the familiar Lambo aggression. It also looks as beautiful as a high-performance Italian supercar should. It's inspired by the sleek lines and jaw-dropping curves of the Countash, one of the most iconic Lamborghinis of them all. If this is the future, then we're very excited about how much better it's going to get.
Unfortunately, Lamborghini have already sold all 63 Sian's, so we won't be getting behind the wheel of one any time soon.
Lotus Evija
Top Speed: 200 mph BHP: 2,000 from a 70 kwh lithium-ion battery 0-62 mph: Under 3 seconds Price Tag: £2.3 million ($3 million)
It's no understatement to say that the Evija changes the game for both electric vehicles and super cars. It's a high-speed, all-electric hyper car that's designed with the driver in mind.
The Evija has undergone a huge weight-shedding diet - but that doesn't mean it's barren inside. Lotus have provided their version of 'lightweight luxury', which means you still get a host of benefits alongside the immense speed. Plus, the fast charging capabilities mean a full charge takes just 18 minutes, with 0 - 80% only taking 12!
Unfortunately, Lotus are only making 130 Evija's and, despite an estimated range of 215 miles, it isn't road legal at all.
It releases in 2021 and serves more as a fantasy than any sort of realistic ambition.
Lotus may just be exploring what is possible with the Evija, but we're interested to see what comes next. They usually make mid-engine track cars, so this crazy car is a truly remarkable new direction. Maybe it's a sign of what's to come...
McLaren Elva
Top Speed: 200 mph+ BHP: 804 from a 4 litre, twin turbocharged V8 0-62 mph: Under 3 seconds, 0-124 mph in 6.7 seconds Price Tag: £1.3 million ($1.7 million)
Another of our crazy cars that's heavily inspired by F1. The Elva is an open-top monster which prides itself on its cornering ability. Even without a roof, it produces ruthless amounts of downforce to glue the car to the road and force it around corners as quickly as possible.
The Elva is a supercharged tribute to the open-top roadsters Bruce McLaren drove in the 1960s. If all the speed, comfort and aggressive handling weren't enough, the Elva also comes with DRS (Drag Reduction System) to boost power and acceleration. It's exactly what you'd expect for over £1 million pounds.
Ultra rich and ultra chic, McLaren will begin delivery of the classy yet brutal Elva in late 2020. And we're ultra jealous of anyone who can afford it!
Pininfarina Battista
Top Speed: 217 mph BHP: 1,874 from a 120 kwh battery 0-62 MPH: 1.9 seconds, 0-186 in 11.8 seconds Price Tag: £1.5 - £2 million
Blink and you'll miss this frightening speedster. The Battista is another electric monster. It accelerates faster than both a fighter jet and an F1 car. That's truly impressive.
Not only does the Battista go fast, it's kind of practical as well. If you drive sensibly, it has a predicted range of 280 miles, which is about the same as a Tesla. Although, you'll probably have to go without luggage.
Like most hyper cars, the Battista isn't big on practicality. And, with all that power and acceleration to play with, why would you not look to use it all as much as possible? After all, the Battista's main focus is imitating a tracer bullet.
Bonkers, brilliant and just a little bit terrifying, is this the electric future? We sure hope so!
Tesla Roadster
Top Speed: 250+ (unconfirmed) BHP: Unknown 0-62 MPH: 1.9 seconds, 0-100 in 4.2 Price Tag: £150,000 with a £38,000 base reservation
Elon Musk loves his crazy cars and the Roadster also isn't very sensible either! While it has four seats and plenty of luggage space, it's not your normal family run-around.
It claims to be the fastest electric production car ever, so it's able to cope with the most hectic family life. And, while it may be a little cramped in the back, you don't have to worry about waiting around!
All that plus an estimated 620 miles of range for just £150,000. Which is still steep for a family car, but a far cry from many of the other crazy cars on this list.
Sleek, stylish and utterly ruthless in a straight line, this beast technically doesn't go on sale until 2022 after Musk delayed production this year, but you can secure your reservation now. Will it be worth all the hype? We certainly hope so!
