The performance car segment is highly fluid, with a steady stream of entries and exits triggered by technological advancements, customer trends or government regulations. As a supercar is being phased out, it is not unusual for carmakers to commemorate the model’s legacy by releasing a special edition variant. These limited-run editions often showcase the best of the supercar’s design and engineering.
In many cases, they are highly sought after and end up becoming prized collector items in the future, providing a lasting reminder of the vehicle’s legacy.
Bugatti Veyron La Finale
The imperious Bugatti Veyron was an automotive masterpiece when it was first introduced in 2005. It completely redefined the performance boundaries and capabilities of a hypercar. Ten years and several world records later, Bugatti signed off on what is one of the greatest modern hypercars with a truly special creation – the Bugatti Veyron La Finale.
Based on the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, the 1-of-1 Veyron La Finale was the last of the 450 Veyrons built. It paid tribute to the first Veyron with an exterior black and red colour scheme. The interior is laid out with the finest leather upholstery in typical Bugatti tradition. A black-painted plaque with the lettering ‘450/450’ rests under a bronze elephant cast, adding yet another touch of exclusivity. The car was on display at the March 2015 Geneva Auto Show before being shipped to the lucky owner.
Audi R8 GT
The Audi R8 has been championing the case for naturally aspirated V10 supercars for well over a decade now. Now, its race is done, but Audi has no plans to let the car slip away quietly into the sunset. Enter the Audi R8 V10 GT RWD – the final iteration of the iconic R8 to feature the V10 powerplant.
The limited edition R8 is rear-wheel-drive only, has a Drift mode and packs a V10 engine with 602 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. It’s lighter, too, by about 44 lbs (20 kg), compared to the R8 performance V10 model. The German carmaker plans to make only 333 units, each priced at about $240,000. The first customer deliveries are set to commence sometime in 2023.
Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition
Twenty-five years is an impressively long production cycle for any performance car. That the Lotus Elise was able to hang around that long was a testament to its capabilities in a fiercely competitive segment. However, by 2021, it was clear that the Elise had reached the end of the road, and it was time for Lotus to focus on its upcoming projects.
The Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition was the last variant of the beloved British sports car. Design-wise, there were only minor tweaks compared to the preceding model. However, an ECU upgrade meant the Elise Sport 240 Final Edition boasted a 20 bhp power bump. Total output was rated at 243 hp, fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate
Aston Martin is retiring its DBS grand tourer and has set about doing it with some style. The carmaker is celebrating the end of the current-generation DBS with a special edition billed as its most powerful production car yet. It’s called the DBS 770 Ultimate, and under that exaggerated hood is a 5.2-litre V12 that makes 759 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque.
The power is fed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. It is enough to send the DBS hurtling to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds and on to a 211 mph top speed. Aston Martin is building only 499 units of the DBS 770 Ultimate, and they have all been reserved.
Ford GT Mk IV
The Ford Mk IV is a track-only special that costs about $1.7 million. According to the carmaker, it also happens to be the final iteration of the third-generation Ford GT. Highlights of the car include a lightweight carbon-fibre body, aggressive aero finished off by a gigantic wing and a race-tuned transmission.
Packed within the car’s frame is a specially engineered twin-turbocharged Ecoboost V6 engine that puts out more than 800 hp. There will only be 67 units of the Ford Mk IV, and Ford will hand-pick clients after going through a ‘client application’ process. The first deliveries are planned for late Spring 2023.
Hennessey Venom GT Final Edition
Hennessey Performance approached the design of the Venom GT hypercar with only one purpose: to see how fast it would go in a straight line. To the carmaker’s credit, they did manage to create a blistering road rocket. The Venom GT is a one-time record holder for the world’s fastest car in both coupe and convertible body types.
Production ended in 2017, and to celebrate the car’s accomplishments and reputation as a speed legend, Hennessey unveiled the Venom GT Final Edition. The Venom GT Final Edition was finished in a unique “glacier blue” paint contrasted with white stripes that run lengthwise down the top of the car. The powertrain is the same as with the ‘standard’ Venom GT model – a twin-turbocharged 7.0-litre V8 that generates up to 1,451 hp and 1,355 lb-ft of torque.
Acura NSX Type S
The first-generation Acura NSX was a game-changer. It changed the perception of a supercar as an unattainable, high-maintenance machine that could only be driven occasionally. In some ways, the high standards set by the first-gen NSX are responsible for the struggles of the second-gen model despite being a pretty impressive sports car package.
In August 2021, Acura announced the limited-series Acura NSX Type S as a swansong model for the second-gen NSX. Production was capped at 350 units, with each one costing about $172,000. It’s a price that gets you a cleverly engineered hybrid sports car with 600 hp on tap.
Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae
The Aventador was Lamborghini’s flagship model for 11 years. The supercar’s distinctive shape and formidable V12 powerplant kept it at the front of the performance car segment for much of that time. To mark the end of the Aventador’s run, Lamborghini unveiled a final edition dubbed the Aventador Ultimae.
The last Aventador variant is limited to a run of 350 coupes and 250 roadsters. Each unit gets the infamous 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, primed to produce 769 hp, 10 hp more than the Aventador SVJ. The Aventador Ultimae is also the last flagship from Lamborghini with a purely internal combustion engine, making it all the more special.
Jaguar F-Type 75 Final Edition
Jaguar trimmed its F-Type lineup to V8s only for the 2023 model year. The British carmaker soon followed that decision with an announcement that 2024 would be the last model year for the popular sports car. To send off the F-Type, Jaguar will be releasing the 75 Final Edition, available on both the P450 and P575 models.
The special edition cars stand out with unique wheel designs and ’75 Edition’ badges on the front fender, door sills and centre console. The interior is also tricked out with premium Windsor leather, Ebony suede headliner and Jaguar’s Performance Seat design.
Mercedes SLS AMG GT Final Edition
The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG brought back the iconic Benz gullwing doors to the modern era. More than its striking appearance, the SLS AMG boasted a visceral nature aided by a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that made up to 622 hp. It debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and by mid-2014, it was time to bid farewell to the SLS AMG.
To do that in proper style, the German carmaker unveiled the AMG GT Final Edition, available in the coupe and roadster body styles. Unique design elements included a front splitter, fixed rear wing, exclusive AMG forged light-alloy wheels, and plaque identifying each vehicle as ‘1 of 350.’
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