10 Awesome Exotic Cars From the Geneva Motor Show

Each year, dozens of exotic car manufacturers flock to Switzerland for the Geneva Motor Show, and 2014 was no different.

Last year saw the world premieres of the Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Lamborghini Veneno. Could this year’s lineup of debuts compete? Browse our gallery and judge for yourself.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Geneva Motor Show Coverage

In simpler times, owning an Aston Martin was prestigious enough, but nowadays a factory standard exotic just doesn’t cut it. The British automaker is well aware of all the customized cars leaving the factories of other luxury automakers and has decided the time is right with its own “Q” bespoke service. To show off the possibilities with the tailored approach in making an Aston Martin truly yours, the company brought out its V12 Vantage S by Q at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Sporting a bold paint scheme with track-inspired vibrant Orange accents to contrast the Stratus White paint and Jet Black roof, the V12 Vantage S by Q also received a vibrant mix of leathers inside the exotic to create a one-of-a-kind look. Subtle details that really set the car apart from its factory counterpart include orange brake calipers, satin finish carbon fiber details and chrome and white enamel Q by Aston Martin badging.

“Q by Aston Martin is really all about freedom,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Design Director. “The freedom to work with us here at our Gaydon headquarters to create something really special. Something that uniquely demonstrates a customer’s attitude, their personality and their taste.”

As part of the Bugatti Legends Edition Veyron models, the Rembrandt Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is a mouthful, but it’s also a stunningly classy exotic. Honoring Rembrandt Bugatti, the brother of company founder Ettore Bugatti, the latest addition to the Legends family costs a cool $3 million and sports a bronze-colored carbon that pays homage to Rembrandt Bugatti’s favored material.

You see, while Ettore Bugatti is known for developing some of the world’s fastest and finest exotics, his brother Rembrandt was one of the most important sculptors of the early 20th century. One of his most significant works is the sculpture of a dancing elephant, a symbol that has become quite famous to the Bugatti brand. Contrasting the upper half of the special edition Veyron is an elegant light brown shade called Noix while the wheels have been finished in a dark “Firefinch” shade.

The color theme continues onto the interior with light brown Cognac and Rembrandt Bugatti’s famous elephant cast in bronze on the cover in the rear center box between the seats.

While the Ferrari 458 Speciale isn’t exactly new to the scene – it debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show – it’s still a special exotic making its presence known at the Geneva Motor Show this year. The most powerful version of the 458 to date delivers 605 hp, adding 35 more compared to the standard 4.5-liter V8 engine. According to the Italian automaker, its 135 hp per liter makes it the most horsepower per liter of any road going, naturally aspirated engine ever made.

But it’s not just tweaking the engine’s performance that makes the Ferrari 458 Speciale so outstanding. Aerodynamic improvements, new tires and Ferrari’s Side Slip angle Control system (SSC) helps make the 458 achieve the highest lateral acceleration set by a Ferrari at 1.33 g. Oh yeah, it’s also 200 lbs lighter, making it very ideal for track use. And just how popular is the Ferrari 458 Speciale? Last year’s allotment sold out in just a matter of months.

And while the Ferrari 458 Speciale is cool and all, there’s no valid reason for the Ferrari California T to not make it onto our list of 10 awesome exotic cars from this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t be excited about a drop-top turbocharged Ferrari model? Sporting a turbocharged 3.8-liter engine with 552 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque, the California T is the first Ferrari to use forced induction on a production model since the F40.

Though it provides 62 hp more than the former California, the updated turbocharged model is said to be 15 percent more fuel efficient in everyday driving conditions. Equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the Ferrari California T accelerates to 62 mph from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds and features a top speed of 196 mph.

If that’s not awesome, we’re not quite sure what is.

While Koenigsegg isn’t as well known in other parts of the world as Ferrari and Lamborghini, the Swedish automaker was out to make a statement at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The Agera One:1 gets its unique name from its power-to-weight ratio, which is literally 1:1. Meaning that car churns out a menacing 1,340 hp while weighing in at a scant 1,340 kgs. It also has 740 lb-ft of torque to boot.

Powering the Koenigsegg Agera One:1 is a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and thanks to plenty of lightweight materials used on the body such as carbon fiber, Koenigsegg has its eyes set on toppling some records and hoping to become the fastest car in the world, which means it’s capable of going faster than 273 mph. Unfortunately for all the automotive enthusiasts in the world, chances of catching this eye-blistering sports car in person will be tough. The company is building four, and apparently they’re all already spoken for.

It’s not quite the Veneno shocker that Lamborghini dropped on the automotive world at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, but the Huracan is still one awesome exotic. It has some big shoes to fill, acting as the replacement for the popular Gallardo, but one look and we’re confident it should have no problems doing so. The “entry-level” vehicle in Lamborghini’s lineup sports a high-revving V10 engine with 610 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque and will launch with all-wheel drive only. It is unlikely however that the Huracan will go through its life without a rear-wheel-drive variant.

And what a life it should live, considering the Gallardo wasn’t replaced for over a decade. The Italian automaker hasn’t announced pricing yet for the Huracan, but we wouldn’t be one bit surprised if it trumps the Gallardo’s 14,000 units sold over the last 10 years.

Previewing its next-generation GranTurismo model and the design direction Maserati is heading, the Alfieri concept is stunningly beautiful and proves the brand is heading in the proper direction. In concept form, the Alfieri sports a 2+2 design and was built to celebrate the company’s centenary. Maserati did confirm that the Alfieri concept “could well be a door to the future of the Trident Marque,” and we’re hoping that door stays open.

The exotic concept was developed at the Maserati Centro Stile in Turin and sports a pair of stylish and aggressively designed headlights. The long, low nose and front grille has been divided vertically into two concave sections, giving the front end depth and appeal we have yet to seen in other Maserati models. The concept’s design was inspired by classic Maserati models and is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine with 460 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque.

It’s hard to follow up on a supercar like the McLaren P1, but the British automaker did its best by rolling out the 650S and 650S Spider at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Based on the MP4-12C, the 650S will be slotted in the lineup above the 12C and below the P1, while sporting a design that mixes and mingles with both offerings. At one glance it’s easy to tell that the 650S has its front end heavily inspired by the P1 exotic, while sporting 25 hp more than the standard 12C – giving it 650 hp and its name. Like all the other McLaren cars, it’s powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine.

Along with the new front end, the 650S has brand-new LED headlights, a more integrated front splitter designed to increase downforce, while new door blades aid in directing air around the exotic.

While this isn’t quite a Top 10 list – the exotics are ordered alphabetically – we wouldn’t complain if you considered the Pagani Zonda Revolucion the most awesome exotic at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Just one glance at its stunning design and carbon-fiber clad body and you know that this is one serious performance machine. Powered by a Mercedes-sourced 6.0-liter V12 engine, the Revolucion strikes the pavement with 800 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque.

Sure it’s not the 1,340-hp monster that the Koenigsegg One:1 is, but the Revolucion’s style doesn’t shy away from its supercar status. Instead, it literally screams race car considering it weighs just 2,359 lbs. That’s right, this supercar is lighter than a Honda Fit. Doing all the math, the Pagani Zonda Revolucion blitzes to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds and everything about the exotic is built around performance. Oh yeah, it’ll also run you around $3 million, but who can put a price on happiness?

Lastly, there’s the Zenvo ST1, a high-performance hypercar from Denmark. Yes, Denmark!

It’s not the lightest exotic out there at 3,721 lbs, but it does sport a hand-built 6.8-liter V8 engine with 1,104 hp and 1,055 lb-ft of torque thanks to a supercharger and turbocharger. Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes place in three seconds flat and has its power brought to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle shifters. The Zenvo ST1 made its world premiere at the Dubai International Motor Show last year, raising eyebrows among show goers and the media. At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, it was presented to Europe for the first time and we can’t help but wonder if we’ll ever see it on North American soil.

It’s understandable if you’ve never heard of the brand Zenvo. Founded in 2007, the company built its first prototype in 2008 and unveiled it in 2009 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers parade.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Cars of the Geneva Motor Show