Motorlust: The Top 10 Exotic Cars of 2013

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Rare, exotic and alluring, some exotic cars can stir emotions in a way no other object can. These 10 represent some of the finest exotic cars ever conceived or constructed, and all ten were revealed in 2013. From a single-seater Lamborghini to a 250+ mph Bugatti and some bold steps into alternative fueling, these ten cars were the most exciting things to happen in the automotive world in 2013. Start your engines below…

Lamborghini Egoista Concept

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It doesn’t get much more exotic than a Lamborghini built for one. The Lamborghini Egoista Concept was revealed in 2013 as one of the most unique Lamborghinis ever envisioned, a supercar-class vehicle with a single seat in its cockpit. The Egoista is powered by a 600hp 5.2L V10 engine, which seems like overkill for a vehicle designed to transport one passenger. Overkill might be the whole point– its designed to provide the ultimate in Lamborghini performance for a single driver, like a batmobile for an Italian Bruce Wayne.

Lamborghini Egoista Concept | Gallery

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2014 BMW 328d

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Given how popular the BMW 3-series has been since its inception, can it truly be considered “exotic”? As one of two BMW entrants into our year-end list, the 2014 BMW 328d is truly special for its choice of fuel, not just its popular appeal. The BMW 328d uses a turbo-diesel engine to squeeze up to 45 miles out of a single gallon of diesel on highway driving. That’s a mark that beats most hybrid vehicles as one of the most fuel-efficient ICE vehicles on the market. We’re more than comfortable labeling that “exotic”, because it’s a prime example of efficiency and sustainability without sacrificing class or performance.

2014 BMW 328d | Gallery

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Ferrari LaFerrari

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Like a self-titled album by Italy’s greatest automotive artist, the Ferrari LaFerrari bears the best name twice. This new Ferrari replaces the Ferrari Enzo as the brand’s flagship vehicle, a gas-electric hybrid that combines for 949 horsepower. This hybrid isn’t built for fuel-sipping efficiency, however, it’s built to produce a performance factor a standard internal-combustion system can’t compete with. A 6.3-liter V12 engine and a 160-hp electric motor work in concert to push the LaFerrari past 62mph in under three seconds on its way to a 205 mph peak. Visually, it’s also one of Ferrari’s most distinguishable designs, featuring doors that swing out and up in a manner that has made other vehicles famous. It’s 2013’s greatest Ferrari, which makes it one of the greatest vehicles ever built.

Ferrari LaFerrari | Gallery

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W Motors Lykan Hypersport

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Never heard of W Motors before? You’re not alone, but this new boutique motorsports company is sure to make waves with exotic performance cars like the W Motors Lykan Hypersport. It’s one of several new supercars from small manufacturers that arrived in 2013, but that doesn’t makes its appeal any less rare or remarkable. It is powered by a RUF-sourced flat-six engine that is capable of 0-62 acceleration in 2.8 seconds, one of the fastest production vehicles available today. That places it in line with Bugatti’s, Lamborghinis and the rare Aston Martin One-77, but such power carries a hefty price tag. You’ll need about $3.4M to secure one of these, one of the most unusual, enticing high-performance vehicles in the world.

W Motors Lykan Hypersport | Gallery

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Spyker B6 Venator Concept

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Before W Motors and other 21st century coach builders arrived on the scene, the Dutch group Spyker was the hot new boutique of the moment. Having grown by leaps and bounds since its inception (and even an attempt to purchase Saab), Spyker revealed a new exotic car in 2013, the Spyker B6 Venator Concept. Inspired by aircraft mechanics and design, the Venator (latin for “hunter”) is a mid-engine two-seater performance car with luxury appointments inside. It is rare, it is beautiful, and it is fast– the three key elements to exotic appeal.

Spyker B6 Venator Concept | Gallery

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Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse

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When new boutique coachbuild companies like W Motors and Spyker arrive, they often set their competitive sights on the legends of motorsport. Bugatti is precisely this kind of legend, a venerable motorsport company that was founded over 100 years ago. The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is the latest from this legend, a convertible coupe capable of 254 mph on the top end. That’s the fastest top speed we saw from a production vehicle in 2013, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that it came from a Bugatti. What’s equally remarkable is the price– $2.4M for a Grand Sport Vitesse of your own.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse | Gallery

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VUHL 05 Performance Car

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Another brand-new arrival to the exotic car scene in 2013 was VUHL, a Mexican performance car builder. The VUHL 05 Performance Car is an open-cockpit two-seater that eschews the frills for no-nonsense, high-performance driving. It’s powered by a turbocharged Ford EcoBoost engine pushing 285 horsepower, which on its own doesn’t leap off the page. When you consider the light-as-a-feather build of this stripped down two-seater (just 1500 pounds without a driver), it puts up some seriously impressive numbers. It’ll hit 62mph from a standing start in just 3.7 seconds, and even when it’s stopped it looks like it’s speeding.

VUHL 05 Performance Car | Gallery

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Ferrari 458 Speciale

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While it doesn’t hold top-of-the-mark honors like the LaFerrari, the new Ferrari 458 Speciale is a dreamcar in its own right. Ferrari considers this one to be “the most aerodynamically efficient production car in Ferrari’s history”, which pays dividends in how it starts, stops and handles on the open road. In terms of cost, it’s more accessible than the LaFerrari, and it’s one you might see around town and at exotic car shows in your city. If one approaches, you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled, however, as it cracks 60 mph in 3 seconds.

Ferrari 458 Speciale | Gallery

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Exagon Motors Furtive eGT

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A lesser-known French boutique featured an exotic car of its own for 2013, the Exagon Motors Furtive eGT. One of two all-electric sports cars on this year’s top list, the Exagon Furtive eGT is powered by a pair of liquid-cooled electric motors. This electric drivetrain produces 405 horsepower, enough for a 3.5 second 0-62 acceleration and a top end of 155mph. Unlike the other electric sports cars from boutique builders in recent years, the Exagon Furtive eGT features its very own body design, not an outsourcing to Lotus or others. It’s one-of-a-kind from the ground up, an impressive exotic sports car from our friends in France.

Exagon Motors Furtive eGT | Gallery

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BMW i8 Plug-in Electric Sports Car

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For its design, its accessibility, its promise and its lineage, the BMW i8 Plug-in Electric Sports Car is our favorite exotic car of the year. It was first hinted at years ago as the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept, which slowly took flesh in the years that followed. It is now very real, arriving at dealerships soon for a starting price of around $130k. On electric power alone, it can be driven for 22 miles per charge and can “fill up” from a standard 110v line in just 90 minutes. It can take to the highways on longer trips using a smart ICE engine that sips fuel with its electric assist. It is one of the first forays of luxury car makers into the world of plug-in hybrids, and it is one we celebrate. Kudos to our friends at BMW for making 2013 (and the year ahead in 2014) an exciting year to be in love with the automobile.

BMW i8 Plug-in Electric Sports Car | Gallery

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What is your favorite exotic car of the year in 2013? There were plenty to choose from, but these ten stood out to us. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments, or hit us up on twitter or facebook for more.

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