By Angus Frazer
This story originally appeared in the July/August 2017 issue of Elite Traveler.
From the timeless to the technologically fantastic, we have selected the very best in automobile innovation. Highlighting the classic cars that created a legend, alongside the latest offerings on the road that will turn heads, our rundown of top cars is sure to inspire those in the market for a new ride.
Ferrari
ITALY, 1947
This year Ferrari celebrates its 70th birthday. Company founder Enzo Ferrari took the first car to bear his name, the 125 S, for its maiden run on March 12, 1947. The former racing driver possessed tremendous self-belief, and lived his life by the motto, “Think as a winner and act as winner. You’ll be quite likely to achieve your goal.” Today Ferrari is once again a standalone company. With 16 F1 and 14 sports car manufacturers’ titles, and the creation of the most desirable cars the world has ever seen, Enzo Ferrari achieved his goal and much more. ferrari.com
250 GTO
CLASSIC
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Given all the sublime creations to have left the Maranello factory in northern Italy bearing the iconic Cavallino Rampante Prancing Horse symbol, where do you start with choosing one classic? For any child of the 1980s there’s an argument for the F40, with its outrageous spaceship looks and 201mph performance. But for purists it will always be the 250 GTO. The fact that just 39 examples were built between 1962 and 1964 adds to the allure of this stunningly beautiful creation. In 2014 one example sold at auction for over $38m, making it the most valuable car the world has ever seen.
812 Superfast
MODERN
If you have the audacity to call your new car the 812 Superfast, then it really had better be something truly special. Naturally, the latest Ferrari is just that. Aside from the ultra-limited edition LaFerrari and LaFerrari Aperta, this is the most powerful Ferrari yet. Launched in a special new color, Rosso Settanta, to mark Ferrari’s 70th anniversary, the 812 Superfast is powered by a 789hp V12 mounted engine under its oh-so elegant hood. It’s designed to deliver a second-to-none driving experience on the road — or on the track if you really want to make the most of it—yet still be sufficiently comfortable to use every day.
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THE 812 SUPERFAST IN NUMBERS
Engine 6.5-liter V12
Power 789hp
Weight 3,362lbs
0-62mph 2.9 sec
Maximum speed 211mph plus
