Extraordinary exotics

If a buying a Bentley is too obvious and a Ferrari too cliché, well, you're either certifiably crazy or one incredibly lucky individual. The automakers and tuning houses in this list of outrageous vehicles are probably hoping it's a bit of both. After all, what is a person to do when keeping up with the neighbors means one-upping a Lamborghini Gallardo, or a 1200-bhp Bugatti Veyron? You either move to a much less swanky neighborhood, or you buy something totally out of the ordinary.

Like any automobile purchase, some real-world considerations have to be taken into account...even at this stratospheric level of pricing and performance. Sourcing a dealership, and finding someone who can fix the car if something goes wrong, can be a challenge. And with so many choices out there, it's smart to make absolutely certain the car is safe and fully certified for legal road use.

Companies such as Pagani, Ruf, Koenigsegg and Spyker might not have the name recognition of bigger sports and luxury automakers; yet their vehicles stand up against the world's finest supercars. And who really cares if the valet knows exactly what it is you just pulled up in? Punch the gas pedal in a Gumpert Apollo or HKS Nissan GTR, and the last thing you'll be concerned about is brand cachet.

SSC Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo

A car must be pretty special if it has "ultimate" in its name. The SSC (Shelby Supercars) Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo is built in the U.S. and, at various times, has been ranked as the fastest car in the world. With a Guinness-certified top speed of 256.18 mph, this is about the only vehicle on the planet that can go gunning for Bugatti Veyrons. Powered by a twin-turbocharged V-8, the latest spec of Ultimate Aero has more than 1200 bhp and carries a price tag of approximately $650,000. Perhaps the craziest part is that SSC is working on a leaner and faster "Next Generation" model.

Pagani Huayra

Horacio Pagani has been building some of Italy's quickest and most jaw-dropping supercars for more than a decade. Built out of lightweight carbon fiber and motivated by a highly tuned Mercedes-Benz engine, a Pagani is the kind of car you drew in your notebook during algebra class. The brand-new Huayra sticks with the company's reputation for exquisite detailing — check out the jewel-like cabin and central-exit quad exhaust — and adds a new twin-turbo Mercedes V-12 right behind the cockpit. According to Pagani, this handcrafted masterpiece can reach a top speed of 230 mph. Pagani has also promised that the Huayra will be U.S.-certified. The only catch: You'll need $1.4 million to buy one.

Koenigsegg Agera

Compared to some of the other boutique sports car manufacturers, the Koenigsegg Agera approaches the art of going fast with business-like precision. Engine-turned dashboards and exposed gearlevers are nice, but Koenigsegg foregoes most of these fripperies. Simple and cleanly styled, the Agera is powered by a 910-bhp twin-turbocharged V-8 engine which, according to Koenigsegg, pushes the car to a top speed of at least 245 mph. The Swedish sports car company has also vied for the title of the 'world's fastest car' and, not long ago, shocked the auto world by nearly purchasing Saab from General Motors. It's good to see the company back to doing what it knows best — building elegant and fearsomely fast supercars.

Spyker C8 Aileron

True, the Spyker C8 Aileron supercar isn't the quickest car amongst this esteemed company. But when exactly did a top speed of 187 mph become slow? Any Spyker is as much a work of art as it is a sports car. Rivets on the bodywork and an exposed shift linkage are only two of a Spyker's extravagant design details. The brand, which is over 100 years old, was resuscitated about a decade ago by Dutch businessman, Victor Muller, Spyker Cars has unveiled a dizzying array of models (including one very awkward-looking SUV). The company also recently purchased Saab from General Motors. At the heart of C8 Aileron is an Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V-8 engine. We enjoyed the "brute power" of this $214,990 sports car, but remarked: "if you're careless, the Aileron will bite you like any 400-bhp 3142-lb. mid-engine supercar."

HKS Nissan GTR R35

The Nissan GT-R is a potent performance weapon even in stock form. Thanks to its fantastic all-wheel-drive system and twin-turbo 3.8-liter engine, the GT-R accelerates and grips the road better than cars costing double (or triple) its $89,950 base price. The tuning wizards at HKS have made a good thing even better with the HKS Nissan GT-R R35. Engine modifications include a racing center pipe, intercooler pipe kit, electronic boost controller, blow-off valve kit, and reinforced turbo actuators. During our time with the car, we noted that "the revived GT-R sticks to the pavement like epoxy, exhibiting flawless balance through most corners." Other cars might go faster in a straight line, yet almost nothing will out-corner the HKS-tuned Nissan GT-R.