The Fabulous Most Expensive Cars in the World

10. While the Maybach brand was initially founded in 1909, it was reintroduced by Daimler Chrysler in 2002 to compete with Rolls Royce and Bentley. Six years later, the “Luxury Brand Status Index” voted the Maybach as the #1 luxury car– ahead of both Bentley and Rolls. If price is any indicator, the Maybach 62 runs at $390,000, a good $50k higher than a Rolls Royce Phantom and $200k higher than a Bentley Continental GTC. What does that extra scratch get you? The ultimate in luxury, powered by a 5.5L twin-turbo V12 engine pushing 612 horses.

BMW's Vision Efficient Dynamic Design concept for Frankfurt

BMW has revealed a radical vision for its future performance-oriented models in a spectacularly styled concept car whose combination of M3-rivaling acceleration and Mini Cooper-beating fuel economy will likely make it one of the stars of this year's Frankfurt motor show.

At the heart of the concept car is an advanced diesel-electric hybrid system, based on a compact turbocharged 1.5-liter, three-cylinder common-rail diesel engine that will first appear in the second-generation 1-series due in 2011.The front-mounted engine features a gutsy 163 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful than the latest and most-economical version of BMW's existing turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It channels drive to the rear wheels via a version of the Getrag-developed six-speed dual-clutch gearbox introduced on the M3.

The diesel engine is supported by a pair of electric motors mounted at the front of the gearbox, one supplying drive to the rear wheels, the other to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission.