Hamburg - As the credit crisis slices into global car sales, some of the world's most exclusive automobile manufacturers are weathering the storm with aplomb. Their customers are people so super-rich that the economic downtown dents neither their income or desire to own the most expensive luxury vehicles money can buy.
While former financial high-flyers struggle to offload their BMW and Mercedes-Benz limousines, elitist British maker Aston Martin based in rural Warwickshire reports a surge of interest in high-end models.
More than 100 well-heeled people have signed up for an example of what is billed as the most expensive road-going car of all time, the 1.2 million-pound (1.86 million-dollar) Aston Martin One-77. "The interest is incredible," chief designer Marek Reichmann told the Sun newspaper.
Tantalizing glimpses of the sportster were shown at the recent Paris car show. What little else is known amounts to a list of superlatives topped by a 700-horsepower V12 engine and bodywork hand- fashioned in aluminum on a carbon-fibre frame.
Aston Martin says the car will be supplied to a "strictly limited number of discerning customers". Buyers who want to take delivery next autumn are required to put down a deposit of 200,000 pounds.
Meanwhile Ferrari reports that its new California coupe is already spoken for - at least for the next few years. "It has been an incredible success. We have already sold all of the 2008 and 2009 production. You have to now wait until 2011 for one," said company head Luca di Montezemolo.
Lamborghini, owned by Germany's Volkswagen/Audi group, is confident of being able to announce a five per cent growth in deliveries this year despite ongoing turmoil in the banking sector. Hopes are pinned on the striking Estoque limousine, which Lamborghini chief executive Stephan Winkelmann sees as a worthy rival to the Audi A8 or the upcoming Porsche Panamera.
There is no word on a production date or price but the handsome supercar with the huge nostril-like air intakes should appeal to disappointed would-be buyers of the Reventon. This Lamborghini dream machine is named after a fighting bull and carries a price tag of more than one million Euros (1.27 million dollars). Only 20 of the tweaked version of the Murcielago sportster are being built and naturally it is sold out too.
Spyker, the Dutch supercar company, whose share of the rarified top end of the market is growing, has just announced production of a mega-SUV with a list price of around 290,000 dollars to match. The car was first aired three years ago
The high specification Spyker D12 Peking to Paris is one of the most ostentatious sports utility vehicles on the planet and the firm has set up a new dedicated production line at its plant in Zeewolde, citing "unabated demand." The car was first aired three years ago.
McLaren is also enthusiastic about prospects for selling supercars despite the credit squeeze , which must explain why it has no qualms about introducing a mid-engined P11 supercar priced at a competitive 160,000 pounds (204,000 dollars). According to Britain's Autocar magazine, prototypes are being tested with a view to introduction in 2010. Between then and 2015 it intends to build 1500 examples.
McLaren Automotive has been catering for the super-rich for 16 years and its products have proved to be a sound investment at times when even banks are not beyond suspicion. At a recent auction in London a pristine 1997 F1 with hardly any mileage on the clock sold for 4 million dollars - nearly twice its estimated value.
Bugatti is pressing ahead with plans to release the convertible version of its Veyron supercar, the 16.4 Grand Sport which is expected to retail at around 2.2 million dollars. The first 50 are already reserved, leaving another 100 for last-minute millionaire buyers. Previous limited edition Bugattis such as the Veyron Pur Sang, Sang Noir and Hermes have all sold out, despite astronomical prices.
The final word must go to Rolls-Royce, a byword for bespoke luxury cars which has survived a few recessions down the years. The first 200 examples of the sporty Phantom Coupe, which cost around 575,000 dollars each, were allocated to customers even before the wraps came off the car this year in Geneva.
According to chief executive Tom Purves, Rolls-Royce delivered 827 cars to customers from January through to September this year, a gain of more than 40 per cent over the same period in 2007. "We have had a very good year. Nobody's immune, and we certainly don't think we are immune, but we do think we have a certain degree of insulation," said Purves.
China, where several hundred Rolls-Royces are already on the road, is proving to be a lucrative market, Purves told the China Daily newspaper. The carmaker opened its sixth showroom on the mainland last month.
