Let the Good Times Keep Rolling into 2024
With a new year looming on the horizon, it’s time for the Premier Financial Services’ annual Top-10 Leased Exotics list. Lamborghini earned three places, while Ferrari and Porsche each took two. One SUV joins a list of supercars and grand tourers.
Notably, a couple of mid-engine Ferraris have been creeping up the list in recent years, as more owners trade-up for the newer models. We always remind our clients that the market eventually becomes populated with these desirable exotics, often at a great discount from new and with great options and low miles. Of course, they can be conveniently acquired via leasing through Premier Financial Services.
Speaking of Ferrari, this was our most-often leased marque for 2023, pushing aside Porsche after the German automaker’s three consecutive years at the top.
Do you see a favorite on this year’s list?
#10 Maserati MC20
While Maserati has been making some metaphorical noise with its transition to EVs, rest assured there are years of roaring internal-combustion Maseratis left to come. The Maserati MC20 revives the spirit of the classic Bora with a modern mid-engine form using a carbon fiber body and underlying structure. A 3.0-liter, 621-horsepower, twin-turbo V6 engine teams with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. How does 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and an 11-second quarter mile at 131 mph sound to you? The 2024 coupe starts around $217,000. The Cielo (“sky”) is the convertible, expected to start at around $250,000. Car and Driver said: “The MC20 marks a return to glory for Maserati, delivering supercar performance, modern technology, and exotic styling in a lust-worthy package.”
#9 McLaren 720S
McLaren makes it easy to see the evolution of its models’ capability by advertising engine output right on the badge. The model number is the car’s engine output in “pferdestärke,” German for metric horsepower, or PS. For the 720S, that translates to 710 American horsepower. With that much oomph to motivate a svelte 3,140 pounds, it’s no wonder that the 720S won Motor Trend magazine’s pointless but fun Eighth Annual World’s Greatest Drag Race. The 720S swept the field of 12 cars with a blazing 10.1-second quarter mile at 141.5 mph down Vandenberg Air Force Base’s runway. Its superlative all-around road and track performance earned it the World Performance Car 2019 trophy. (The 750S has replaced the 720S.)
#8 Lamborghini Aventador
The hard-to-describe-with-words Lamborghini Aventador has finally left the building, replaced in late 2023 by the Revuelto hyper-hybrid. Lamborghini made more than 10,000 Aventadors over a 12-year period, so they’re out there in pretty good numbers. The performance numbers were astounding. The Aventador SVJ set a production car lap record on Germany’s Nürburgring at 6:44.97. That was a startling 15 seconds faster than the time set by the Lamborghini Aventador SV three years earlier. The final version, called Aventador 780-4 Ultimae, served up 770 horsepower through all-wheel drive. This was the final Lamborghini with a V12 alone providing the power. (The Revuelto combines the V12 with three electric motors.)
#7 Bentley Continental GT
If there’s a another reboot of “The Avengers” (the British TV show from the Sixties, that is), the John Steed character would surely drive a Bentley Continental GT. (A Lotus Evora for Mrs. Peel, perhaps?) The second-generation of the modern-day Continental model introduced for 2019 shared much of its engineering with Bentley’s Flying Spur sedan. The coupe offered versions with the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 or the fabulous 6.0-liter V12 that goes out of production this year. The W12 was offered in various versions, the most powerful being the 700-horsepower 2017 Supersports model.
#6 Ferrari 488 GTB
The Ferrari 488 series lands one spot above the 458 Italia series it replaced. While sharing some elements with the 458, the 488 introduced a smaller-displacement twin-turbo V8 that sent output soaring above its predecessor: 661 horsepower at 8000 rpm and 561 lb-ft. of torque at 3000 rpm, respectively. (This was Ferrari’s first production turbo engine since the F40.) The 488’s electronic chassis systems could help turn very good drivers into great drivers on the track. It was mighty quick: 0-60 in 3.0 seconds and, according to the manufacturer, 0-125 mph in 8.3 seconds. The rarer and more track-tuned 488 Pista and 488 Pista Spider, both with 50 more horses and 200 fewer pounds, were even more ferocious.
#5 Ferrari 458 Italia
The 2010-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia was the final naturally aspirated mid-engine V8 model from the marque, replaced first by the twin-turbo V8 in the 488 and F8 Tribute models, and today by the twin turbo V6 hybrid powertrain in the 296 series. Progress marches on, but purists can still delight in the wail from the 458’s 4.5-liter V8. The engine’s 597 horsepower at 9000 rpm and 398 lb-ft. of peak torque at 6,000 rpm are nothing to sneeze at today. Motor Trend summed up the model this way: “The 458 Italia surrounds you so completely with its talent, it almost feels an organic extension of your senses … this Ferrari turns mere mortals like you and me into driving gods.”
#4 Porsche 911 GT3
For the modern 911 family, the GT3 remains the model most connected with the marque’s racing efforts and history. The GT3 serves as a homologation special for the various Porsche Carrera Cup one-make series races held globally. The road-going 911 GT3 is a true lightweight road and track special, starting at 228 pounds lighter than a base 911 Carrera. This is the only 911 remaining with a naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) engine. The specially built 4.0-liter flat-six offers 502 horsepower, and Porsche still offers a choice between a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission in this model. The GT3 Touring offers a somewhat more civilized road experience and ditches the rear wing.
#3 Porsche 911 Turbo S
These days, Porsche slaps the “Turbo” badge on its electric cars (which have no engine, and therefore, no turbos), yet not on the turbocharged 911 models – which is all of them, except the GT3. In 1976, the first 911 Turbo did 0-60 in five seconds, which was mind-warping at the time. Today, the “Turbo” badge is reserved for the alpha dog of the 911 pack, yet there’s an even more alpha-ish car beyond that, the 911 Turbo S. The 2024 Turbo S, with 640 horsepower, can do 0-60 in 2.6 seconds and starts at just over $230,000 before adding all the wonderful options Porsche offers. Meanwhile, collectors seek the last of the air-cooled Turbo S versions from the 993 series, offered for 1995-1997.
#2 Lamborghini Urus
Lamborghini owners welcomed the Urus SUV with open checkbooks, and now it is the company’s best seller. The Urus shares its basic vehicle engineering with the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q8, and Bentley Bentayga. The Lambo SUV’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 641 horsepower and teams exclusively with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s a speed demon, clocking 0-60 in 3 seconds and blazing down the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 121 mph. Car and Driver said the Urus was the quickest SUV it has ever lapped at Virginia International Raceway. Want more? For 2023, Lamborghini added the Urus Performante with a 657-hp tune for the same engine, plus chassis tweaks.
#1 Lamborghini Huracán
We’re not surprised to see the Lamborghini Huracán take the #1 spot. For sheer excitement (and speed), this is a tough car to beat. It’s also been tough to beat in the showroom. The Huracán passed the 20,000 units-built mark in 2022 and is still rolling. In comparison, its predecessor, the Gallardo, topped out at a hair past 14,000. So, Huracáns are out there, and clearly, they’re popular with Premier’s clients. The naturally aspirated 602-horsepower 5.2-liter V10 makes magnificently raucous sounds while rocketing the all-wheel drive Huracán Evo from 0-60 in less than 3 seconds and hit 200 km/h (124) mph in 9 seconds. Want to take the fun off-pavement? The wonderfully crazy Huracán Sterrato offers you a chance to pretend you’re piloting a Lancia Stratos through the mud and snow in the 1970s World Rally Championships.
