Showcasing the newest and most pioneering motors in the world, selected by the editors at Robb Report Monaco & Côte d’Azur.
GRAND TOURER: ASTON MARTIN DB12
Aston doesn’t just build cars; it creates categories. On its quest to reassert its sports credentials, this year the British luxury marque birthed a new heir to one of automotive’s most storied dynasties, proclaiming the new offspring as the “World’s First Super Tourer”.
The rear-wheel-drive DB12 doesn’t just parade superior genetics over its predecessor, on the road it behaves like a different model altogether, as if the nameplate’s very DNA has been re-coded. And that’s because it virtually has. The hallowed principles of elegance and supreme comfort remain intact, but the refinement is now supplemented with genuine supercar fireworks, positioning the DB12 in a seldom-visited sweet spot between GT and sports car.
Switch the driving mode to Sport+ and the vehicle enters a new realm of restrained brutality, evoking its traditionally more aggressive labelmates, like the Vantage. And all this from a dramatically smaller, but more powerful, engine than before, suggesting that Aston is a maker of magic as well as niches.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE: ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE
If any marque was pre-ordained to excel in electrification, it’s Rolls-Royce, old-world masters in the art of building machines of supreme silence and technological trickery—to the point where they appear to be exploiting some supernatural force to propel themselves forward. As such, it’s with not an iota of hyperbole that we proclaim the Spectre as one of the greatest electric cars built thus far, a product that will stand as a testament to human endeavour when the first chapters of electrification’s story are eventually written.
To move a vehicle weighing almost three tonnes without the aid of combustion is one thing, doing it with such on-brand elegance and assurance is otherworldly. And that’s the thing about this Spectre (and most other Rolls-Royces you care to mention), it transports passengers to another universe, whether via its lavish cocoon of a cabin, or just in the noiseless, imperious way it seems to float over road surfaces. You’ll never want to return to this mortal plane.
BEST HYPERCAR: PININFARINA BATTISTA NINO EDITION
It was inevitable. There would, alas, finally come a day when doubters would yank their collective heads from the sand and concede that electricity can outwit combustion in the high-stakes auto industry poker game of performance.
That moment can be traced back to July 13th last year, when the Battista Edizione Nino Farina made its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, wriggling away from the line under the hands of Hillclimb champion Nick Heidfeld, announcing that the era of the electric hypercar had truly arrived. With a greasy track, conditions that morning were not ideal for driving theatrics, but for the adrenaline junkies in attendance, no amount of slippery surfaces—not even an oil-lathered icerink— could hide the brooding potential.
From the get-go, Pininfarina has drawn attention to the fact that its prodigy is faster than a Formula 1 car, and the numbers certainly tell their own thrilling narrative: 1,400 kW, 2,340 Nm, 0-100 km/h in under two seconds, onto 200 km/h in 4.75 seconds—almost identical figures to the standard Battista model (which shares its platform with the Rimac Nevera). The all-important zest is generated by the vehicle’s 120 kWh T-shaped battery pack via four electric motors.
The Battista Edizione Nino Farina may well be on the bleeding edge of performance technology but aesthetically—notwithstanding the modern 10-spoke forged-aluminium alloy wheels and seductive contours —it has not abandoned its heritage: the deep, rich red body colour pays homage to the vehicles piloted by the company founder’s nephew, Giuseppe Antonio “Nino” Farina, who won the first ever Formula 1 race at Britain’s Silverstone Circuit in 1950. Only five examples of this Battista will be built, each honouring a milestone in Nino Farina’s life. Track ready? This car is track born, more like.
SUV: RANGE ROVER SV
Viewed through the prism of its sleek body colours, sophisticated aesthetics and minimalist cabin, it would be easy to assume that Range Rover’s flagship Sport model has lost its signature bold, brutish edge—re-arranged in the company kitchens to present as a more palatable dish on buyers’ plates. Far from it. Stealth is the name of the game for this newly sharpened weapon, a car that in one breath, thanks to transformative driving dynamics, is capable of blazing trails around racing circuits, and in the next, will happily jump into off-road terrain, handling any environment that dares to cross its path.
Belying the progressive veneer, the SV—which replaces the unselfconsciously brash SVR—keeps faith with the ancient art of combustion: a hulking 4.4-litre V8 spits out 467 kW, with 750 Nm of shove on tap. When it’s time to douse the fire, luxury abounds in the form of plush interior materials and, memorably, a seat massaging system that vibrates in time to the music playing in the cabin. So stand down, thrillseekers: the SV’s reputation as an audacious, multidimensional classic remains intact.
SUPERCAR: LAMBORGHINI REVUELTO
The hybrid successor to the Aventador is one of the wildest Raging Bulls we’ve driven. Wisely, Lamborghini gifted the Revuelto the Aventador’s raging heart —a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12—as there’s simply no substitute for that growing roar as the tach climbs. With a trio of electric motors, output is a whopping 746 kw (1,001 hp in old money), allowing the Revuelto to cover zero to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 349 km/h. Under hard acceleration, it’s a delightful assault on the senses.
But immense power is nothing without poise. The model’s unflappable aplomb is thanks to better weight distribution and increased downforce compared with the Aventador, plus software that enables the electric motors either to fill torque gaps or enhance traction control, depending on what’s needed. Then there’s the super processor, constantly sending chassiscontrol corrections in order to enable cornering speeds that hardly seem feasible for a mere mortal to handle behind the wheel—but the Revuelto finds the grip (despite underwhelming Bridgestone tyres—consider swapping out the rubber) and makes its performance envelope more approachable for a wider swathe of drivers.
SPORTS CAR: PORSCHE 911 DAKAR
in the harsh, alien-like desertscape of the Sahara, only the most robust specimens survive. Forty years ago, Porsche’s 911 Carrera Paris-Dakar went to Africa instilled with sand-conquering resilience, winning the world’s toughest long-distance race. Its road-going successor picks up the baton from that Eighties legend, bolting high performance and rugged technology (six-point seatbelts, steel roll bars, lift system for more ground clearance, etc) onto the classic silhouette; a show-pony, this is not.
Those with a soft spot for heritage will no doubt be seduced by the retro Rallye Design Package, offering a cool, two-tone paint finish and the possibility of customers choosing their own “starting number” on the car’s flank. If that feels too lairy for a night at the opera, more standard “everyday” styling is available. But really, whatever paint the 911 Dakar wears, every drive promises adventure—whether tackling Alpine passes or cresting African dunes.
