Battle for the Throne (Veyron vs. Aventador, Agera R, Huayra, One-77)

I agree with everything you have said but for me the Bugatti represents the 'I am gonna do it my way no matter what, feck you" attitude that I find it very appealing.

I see some folks here are still at their most complimentary best. Gotta love ‘em...

I’ve been waiting eagerly for this poll and I’m happy with the options presented. High-end supercars, hypercars, call them what you will but these are the big contenders in this part of the ultra performance spectrum. I’ve been mulling over the choice for some time now, completely incapable of reaching a definitive conclusion. This is how I view the protagonists in this poll:

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
Call it whatever you want but there’s no denying that the Veyron SS doesn’t just occupy the top step of the performance car podium – it owns it. Unrestricted and unrestrained by the limits of tyre technology, the Veyron SS will run to a colossal 431 km/h. That’s a full 51 km/h faster than its nearest rival here: the Pagani Huarya’s claimed top end of 380 km/h. Even limited to 415 km/h, there just is nothing to touch the Veyron’s combination of sheer pace and pure opulence. It’s a remarkable feat for sure. The Veyron’s main problem is that it’s not the prettiest looking thing – it’s still a bit of a blob, though I’m told that in the flesh it’s got massive presence – and it is on the heavy side too.

Lamborghini LP700-4 Aventador
Surely one of the last supercars to eschew forced induction for a high-revving, naturally aspirated experience instead. The Aventador is the bargain hypercar in this company and whilst it’s as safe a progression that Lamborghini could’ve have realised in the next iteration of its iconic V12, mid-engined lineage, underneath it all is a machine of resolute intent and exotic construction. Don’t be mislead by the on-paper numbers; what the LP700 lacks in torque, relatively speaking, as a result of normally aspirated induction limits, it makes up for in producing maximum power a full 3000 rpm higher than the Huayra. This longer rev range can be exploited with torque-multiplying, shorter gear ratios for blistering acceleration and a manic, quintessential supercar experience. A third of the price of a Huayra it may be but by no means is it even half the car – it’s much closer than that. As paradoxical as it is, the Aventador is good value for money. Oh, and it gets off the mark to 100 km/h in 2.9 secs. Phew! Impressive for the cheapie wouldn’t you say?

Pagani Huayra
Resplendent in its new two-tone unpainted carbon fibre and red livery for Geneva, the Pagani Huayra is the world’s most exquisite supercar art form. Coupled with the more restrained black with red trim interior, the new colour scheme as shown does the Huayra’s controversial body shape much more justice than the gold paint scheme of the press reveal car. As ever, the quest for perfection extends to the minutest details and the level of the craftsmanship is just breathtaking. With its 730 hp, 1100 Nm V12 twin turbo, it’ll also be a very rapid machine and its capabilities will extend beyond straightline performance given Pagani’s experience with the Zonda R. My only reservation is the AMG M158 engine – not in the numbers, of course – but in character of the thing. I just can’t reconcile myself that the world’s most exotic supercar makes its maximum power at a low 5000 rpm from an old-fashioned 3-valve, SOHC turbo V12. Sure, it’s wrong to expect a big capacity turbo 12 to rev to nigh-on stratospheric levels but there will be a sense of occasion and emotion that I feel will be missed by Zonda owners. All the same, the Huayra is a monumental achievement all things considered.

Koenigsegg Agera
If I had all the money in the world, I wouldn’t buy a Koenigsegg. They leave me cold and uninspired in spite of the fact that they are amongst the very best performers in the supercar echelon. I don’t like the way it looks inside or out nor am I convinced that Koenigsegg has the heritage or credentials to compete with the other cars here because – dare I say it – it’s just not a particularly classy supercar. Its floating roof upon wrap-around windscreen looks like a crash helmet and the rear-end styling is bland. It sure is fast I’m certain but then nothing here is particularly docile either.

Aston Martin One-77
I hear they’re only going to make just 77 of these ultra-Astons. Good. I wouldn’t want one anyway. This is a brand-building halo car that sits on one end of a model range waiting to be joined on the opposite end by the CO2 average emissions reducing Cygnet. To me it’s a cynical, self-serving exercise (fair enough, what supercar project isn’t?) that is way over-priced relative to something like the Aventador. If the Lambo is good supercar value, the One-77 isn’t. It also lacks the one thing that Aston Martins are synonymous with: sheer, absolute, serene beauty.

--oo0oo--

So the time has come, I suppose, for me to stick my neck out and make a choice....

Hmmm... still thinking...

If it's a pig, it is the most powerful and glorious pig to ever exist on the planet.

I love it! Thanks Martin for the detailed post!

HoH's poll question is: Who deserves the throne?

In this context then, my choice is rather more simple (discarding any personal prejudices that might influence my thinking) and thus:

Bugatti Veyron.

It is the machine.