Jaguar Hybrid Joins Ranks of World's Most Expensive Cars

This month, Jaguar introduced the latest entrant into the world of ultra-luxury supercars — a hybrid vehicle, the C-X75.

The car, powered by two electric motors and lithium ion batteries, will have a top speed in excess of 200 mph and go from zero to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, CNN reported. The C-X75 is expected to become an instant collector’s item -- only 250 will be built. Its starting price? A cool $1 million.

Jaguar C-X75

The C-X75 will take its place in the ranks of the world’s most expensive automobiles — though it’s nowhere near the most expensive set of wheels ever sold. That honor goes to the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe, which was sold for $8.7 million in 1987, according to car-enthusiast website TheSuperCars.org.

Supercars on the road today don’t come close to the Bugatti’s pricetag, but they certainly don’t come cheap. Here are the five most-expensive cars in production:

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.Price: $2.88 million.

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Like the C-X75, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento has a top speed of more than 200 mph. The Sesto Elemento, which goes from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds, has a 5.2-litre V10 engine and weighs less than a ton. Unfortunately, buyers won’t be able to take the vehicles for a spin out on the road. The makers took unusual measures to engineer such power -- so much so that the vehicle is not street legal in the U.S., leaving it a “millionaire’s track toy,” according to the U.K.’s Daily Record.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.Price: $2.6 million.

Bugatti Veyron Super SportWhen the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport was launched in 2003, it immediately became the world’s most expensive new car and the most powerful at almost 1,000 horsepower. It was also the fastest, with a top speed of 253 mph. The Bugatti Veyron has an 8-liter V16 engine, with a total of 10 radiators, a dual-clutch gearbox, all-wheel-drive and run flat tires. Last month, Bugatti introduced two new versions of the Veyron at the Shanghai Auto Show. The car remains the most expensive street legal car on the market.

The Pagani Zonda Cinque Coupe.Price: $1.738 million.

Pagani Zonda Cinque Coupe Though not the most expensive supercar, the Pagani Zonda Cinque Coupe is among the most rare -- only five were made. The Cinque has a 678-horsepower V12 engine that can go up to 217 mph. The sporty looking car is made of a carbon-titanium fiber, which is stronger and lighter than traditional carbon fiber, and can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

The Lamborghini Reventón.Price: $1.5 million.

Lamborghini Reventón

Reportedly inspired by the the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, the Lamborghini Reventón was the most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built, before the Sesto Elemento stole its thunder. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph, and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Like the Pagani Zonda Cinque Coupe, its rarity contributed to its high pricetag -- only 20 were produced, with one additional made just for the Lamborghini Museum.

The Maybach Landaulet.

Price: $1.38 million.

Maybach Landaulet

Daimler’s Maybach Landaulet comes with a 604-horsepower biturbo V12 engine, but what’s really surprising is its fuel efficiency: the car gets 10 miles per gallon in city, and 16 mpg highway. Not bad for a hyper-luxury auto designed to burn up the road. The Landaulet takes the term “convertible” to a whole new level, with its large open-air back seat. Owners can also enjoy their privacy -- the glass partition between the front and back is made up of a liquid crystal membrane, turning opaque at the flick of a switch.