A certain breed of car enthusiast will spend a lifetime poring over the minutia of the perfect spec: paint finishes, cloth patterns, performance options to boost the horsepower by a fraction. The configuration process has evolved into a world with limitless possibilities, allowing owners to design their dream car exactly as they’ve always envisioned it.
Advancements in the industry have allowed buyers to get exactly what they want, but that comes at a cost. Whether through Porsche’s Special Wishes program or Ferrari’s Tailor Made division, clients are spending an equal amount on the car as they are on the additional options to create one-of-a-kind examples that differentiate themselves from other models on the road.
Paint choice seems to be a trending topic in the realm of high-end cars, and Porsche is one of the best in the game at offering customers an extensive list of colors through its Paint-to-Sample program. Venturing outside the traditional list of paint options for an additional fee, one owner chose to have their Porsche 911 GT2 RS painted in a $100,000 Urban Bamboo Chromaflair shade, setting a record as the highest MSRP 991-generation GT2 RS.
Sticking to the exterior, more desirable, lightweight wheel designs are making it harder to decline the upgrade when given the chance. In the case of the Ferrari Daytona SP3, the choice to go with the 20-inch forged diamond wheels will set you back an extra $8,099. As you venture into the upper echelon of the automotive world and cope with the costs, it’s more than the right decision to have something truly unique to you.
Interiors have transformed from traditional cabins that favor functionality into driver-centric cockpits with luxurious amenities to match. If you’re the type of person who enjoys a sky view from the comfort of your multimillion-dollar hypercar, Bugatti will add its Sky View roof option to any Chiron for an additional $62,000. And if sleek and subtle is more your style, Rolls-Royce features one of the largest selections of interior offerings with a bespoke service akin to designing the interior of a mansion. The Phantom EWB (Extended Wheel Base) stands out as the pinnacle of luxury, where comfort comes standard. Tailored upgrades to transform the rear with amenities that belong in a five-star hotel will set you back about $50,000.
Often, one of the last things buyers consider when buying a hypercar or ultra-luxury vehicle are performance upgrades, either because it comes with plenty of power from the factory or doesn’t fall in the performance category. But when it comes to Koenigsegg and its lineup of seven-figure hypercars, Christian Von Koenigsegg presents a couple of options for customers configuring their new Gemera. While the Mega-GT comes packed with a 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged I3 and an electric motor that generates 1,400 horsepower, the option for a 5.0-liter V8 and 2,300 horsepower has become available at a premium of $400,000. While cost is an undeniable factor, so too is the fear of missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
So whether we are comparing apples to apples, or Bugatti roofs to Ferrari sports wheels, the decision to take advantage of exclusive manufacturer upgrades lies in the hands of the owner. One thing that we can all agree on is, that when the day finally comes, we will most definitely remember the moment that we made a dream car become a reality.
This article appeared in our April 2024 Issue.
