The fact that the business of luxury is less affected by a slow down is all too evident at this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show.
Super luxury and super performance sports cars have come to the rescue of the 83rd edition of this annual event, which is clearly weighed down by the general lack of premieres in the mass market segment.
The big premieres were all from the top brands in the super luxury car business, with the most prominent being the LaFerrari, Rolls-Royce Wraith, the Lamborghini Veneno, the Porsche 911 GT3 and the McLaren P1.
At least two of these car makers are celebrating their 50th anniversaries and using that milestone to debut new super cars. Lamborghini, always up to speed with a high-profile launch at Geneva pulled the wraps off the Veneno, to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Only three unique units of the Lamborghini Veneno will be built and sold. Its design is focused on optimum aerodynamics and cornering stability, giving the Veneno the real dynamic experience of a racing prototype, yet it is fully homologated for the road.
With a maximum output of 750 HP, the Veneno accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in just 2.8 seconds and the top speed for this street-legal racing car stands at 355 kmph. It is priced at €3 million plus tax and all three have already been sold!
With over 820,000 units built, the 911 is the world’s most successful sports car ever and Porsche is marking the 50th anniversary of this iconic sports car by launching the new 911 GT3.
The model will take the pole position among the manufacturer’s thoroughbred sports cars featuring naturally aspirated engines. The Boxer engine and transmission as well as body and chassis are new and mark a further development of the 911 GT3 concept with a performance leap.
GT3's power - 475 HP, power to weight ratio is 3.0 kg per HP and acceleration from zero to 100 kmph takes just 3.5 seconds. Its top speed is 315 kmph.
Roll-Royce Motor Cars unveiled the new Wraith, which follows the Fastback design theme. Rolls-Royce calls it the ultimate gentlemen's Gran Tourismo (GT). It is said to be the most powerful and most dynamic Rolls-Royce ever built. It sports a V12 engine that delivers 624 HP of peak power and the 0 to 100 kmph sprint can be done in 4.4 seconds.
The future
The stars of the Geneva Motor Show 2013 and what seems like the pointers to direction that future super performance sports cars have to take were the LaFerrari and the McLaren P1.
Both represent the pinnacle of road-legal super cars and are both hybrids.
The LaFerrari is the first car in Ferrari's history to be powered by the HY-KERS system, a hybrid version of the performance system used in F1 cars.
The engine is a 6262cc V12 that punches out 800 CV. The engine is coupled with a 120-Kw (163 CV) electric motor, giving it a combined power output of 963 CV. Total torque generated is in excess of 900 Nm.
The McLaren P1 also uses and IPAS petrol-electris powertrain and manages to offer a peak performance ability in excess of 903HP and 0-100 kmph acceleration in less than three seconds.
At least a few of these cars will be available in India by the end of the year.
Rolls-Royce Wraith will be available for viewing and pre-orders by October and deliveries will begin by December, according to the company's CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos.