Supercars- The cars of 2006/7

The supercar world is a fast-moving one in all senses of the term; no sooner than one manufacturer sets a performance benchmark, their peers begin piling their time and cash into trumping it. This constant model development and the, sometimes misguided, notion that newest is best means that many people are always looking to experience (and be seen experiencing!) the latest supercar thrills.

In the past, speculating by getting your name down first on the order books used to damn near guarantee you a profit, even after a few months of enjoying the car, but now, such a return is by no means certain, something which those who banked on the Bentley GTC being in short supply in the secondary market shortly after its launch will no doubt attest to. Although bad news for some, this is good news for those involved in asset-sharing car programmes, as members will get to sample the most recent offerings from the greatest names in motoring without the possibility of having to pay a premium and/or take a big depreciation hit when the next 'must-have' catches their eye.

So what are the cars to be seen in this year? The nominees are, in no particular order...

Porsche 911 Turbo (997): This must be the quickest point-to-point car I have ever had the pleasure of driving. Four-wheel-drive, 480bhp, twin-turbos and a huge grin free with every prod of the loud pedal make this a great all-rounder, with enough luggage space for a weekend away. Although don't worry about booking a fancy hotel, as you'll be out driving most of the time; just get a spot somewhere cheap with decent roads nearby and save the rest for plenty of super unleaded. Perhaps not as flash as some of its contemporaries, but if you want bling, why not take a look at the...

Bentley Continental GTC: You may get the impression from the office know-it-all that the Bentley marque has been diluted since the introduction of the GT, but then, it is doubtful that he has driven one. Perhaps it is a touch on the brash side, especially in this new convertible incarnation, but there is no arguing that it still oozes opulence and serious road presence and the W12 twin-turbo is an absolute stormer. One for when the sun is shining and you're heading to the coast. Or maybe one for the June pilgrimage to Le Mans...?

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder: The standard Gallardo is a stunningly accomplished car, but possibly too much so, until you catch the sight of your reflection in a shop window or the road opens up and allows you to exploit the potential of the V10 that is. Well, now Lambo have made it a little bit more special; press a button and the roof disappears in a scant 20 seconds, meaning that you can now enjoy that engine note even more.

Porsche 911 GT3: Our second Porsche in the list, but although the GT3 may share the distinctive 911 silhouette, it is an altogether different beast. 415 normally aspirated horses and rear-wheel-drive means that it is spiritually closer to the Porsches of old, but with the benefit of all those years of chassis development. To coin a cliché, it embodies man and machine as one and is a truly superb drive for those who like their cars with added involvement. Seek out the GT3 RS for an even more hardcore experience.

Audi R8: Much has been said about the R8 but, unfortunately, not by me, as I'm not due to get my hands on one for another month or so. This is Audi tossing its hat into the supercar ring and it is probably fair to say that this is one of the most hotly anticipated cars of 2007. With its chassis and layout based on the Gallardo, we know that it is going to be good, but just how good? If the styling is anything to go by, then the answer will be 'very.'

Aston Martin DB9 Volante: The gentleman's choice. Although Italian supercars may chase headline figures with their F1 technology and high-revving engines, the DB9 goes about its business in a more restrained fashion. 450bhp may not sound like much in today's automotive world, but it can still knock on the door of 190mph, accompanied by a soundtrack guaranteed to stir your soul. All of these things could be said of the coupe version, but now there is no pesky roof to stand between you and the aural nirvana provided by its 6-litre V12 power plant.

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano: This is Ferrari's flagship GT model, but although 'GT' may conjure up images of softly sprung but powerful cruisers, the 599 is as taut and accomplished as we have come to expect from the boys and girls in Maranello. It is probably best to let the figures do the talking on this one; the Enzo-derived 5999cc (hence the name) V12 produces a neck-brace-manufacturer-pleasing 611bhp and the claimed 0-62mph sprint is over in 3.7 seconds. And if you are feeling brave (and you have a very long driveway as we wouldn't condone this on the public road), you will be doing over 120mph just 7 seconds later. Bellissimo.

BMW M5 Touring: A list of the most exciting cars of the year and we have a BMW? Well, BMW's Motorsport range has consistently come up with some supercar-baiting versions of their more run-of-the-mill fare over the decades and now they have sprinkled their M-dust on the latest 5-series. Old news? Nope. This is the Touring iteration (don't call it an 'estate,' as it upsets the Bavarian boys), which means that you can make the fastest ever round trip to Ikea thanks to the same 507bhp V10 that powers the saloon.

Aston Martin Vantage Volante: If the DB9 is the more mature yet more powerful member of the AM family, then the Vantage is it's tenacious younger brother. True to Aston form, it has a fabulous engine note, although now it's a rich V8 burble at tickover that grows to a snarl under part throttle and a glorious wail at full chat. With the roof down and a tank full of the finest super unleaded, there are few more life-affirming ways to while away a day or two. Oh, and we won't tell anyone if you want to be a bit geeky and record the exhaust note as your mobile phone ring tone. Promise.

Lamborghini Murcielago: Although it remains a current model, the Murcielago is, perhaps, a bit long in the tooth in the company of the rest of these young upstarts, but is, nevertheless, worthy of a mention just because of the sheer occasion it brings to every trip. If stepping out of a Lambo with the trademark scissor doors (reserved only for the top-of-the-line V12 models, such as the Murcielago) wasn't enough, then you get to drive it in between getting in and out! Providing proper old-school thrills and true 200+mph performance, your supercar year just wouldn't be complete without it.

So, that's it. Our current top 10, which is subject to change as soon as I finish this sentence. There is no out and out winner apart from you, the consumer, because for as much as it costs for a set of tyres and a new clutch for just one of them, you could sample them all for a few days. Check out the full listing of supercar clubs here to get specific details of which clubs offer specific cars and their terms and conditions. You can also get access to our top 25 questions to ask your supercar club before signing on the dotted line by registering with Fractional Life here. It only takes a few seconds and could save you £££s.

Articles

Any:
An Introduction to Fractionals

Art:
Fractional art donations prove charity starts at home

Handbags:
25 questions to ask about fractional handbag clubs

Boats & Yachts:
25 questions to ask a fractional boat operator
Fractional Boats in New Zealand
Pushing the (fractional) boat out
Boats & yachts- what's on offer?
Fractionalize This

Classic Cars:
25 questions to ask a fractional car club
Why opt for a 'fractional' classic car?
Classic Car Club Feature
Getting the most out of your fractional ownership experience
Why Not Rent?
You've Always Loved Cars?
Fractional Life hits Le Mans

Destination Clubs:
Lifestyle Asset Group: the best of both worlds
Relationship Selling to Todays Affluent Fractional Clientele
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
Focus on the Registry Collection
DCs- Variety is the spice of (fractional) life
Fractional Property Glossary
Aspirational vs. Inspirational Media
Member Strategies For Lean Times
Brand Maintenance During An Implosion
What Goes Up Must Come Down...
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions
Destination Clubs- an alternative?
Fractional Ownership Heads to Europe
Private Residence Club Perspective Part 1
Quintess
Ultimate Resort
Calistoga Ranch
The Weybridge Collection
The Villas at The Grand del Mar
The Solstice Collection
Vacation Visions: Exceptional Exterior and Interior Designs of Residence and Destination Clubs 
Why the Boomers will change second home ownership in the US
Middle East Leisure Real Estate Market Booming
Bear Mountain Resort - A View from Paradise
New Association For Fractional Ownership
The New Vacation: A Time to Retune Re-Connect

Consultancy:
Profit Opportunities in Luxury Fractionals - A Summary

Exchange:
The Golden Rules of Fractionals

Racehorses:
A Horse by The Name of Fractional Life
Running Down a Dream

Corporate Hospitality:
So Long to the Suite Life

Aircraft & Jets:
25 questions to ask a fractional jet operator
Top tips for fractional jet travel
Jet Republic pilot applications reach new heights
Focus on Fractional Jet Europe
A closer look at fractional aviation
CoGoJets introduces jetpooling
Joining the jet set
Fly for a fraction of the cost
Flying without Wings
Can't afford that jet? Rent it
How Private Aviation Works

Legal Services:
Fractional ownership: is it timeshare in disguise?

Private Clubs:
A tale of two cities - Private residence clubs in San Francisco and London
The Italian Job: interview with Byrne Murphy of Palazzo Tornabuoni
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
PRCs with added benefits
Northstars 'stay and play ' option
Private Residence Club Perspective
Fractional Property Glossary
What are the ingredients for the ideal Private Residence Club?
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions

Real estate:
Fractional Life in Ireland: For peat's sake!
Fractional Summit USA 2010- Speaker biographies
25 questions to ask about fractional property ownership
Fractional Summit Speaker Biographies
Fractional Property - The New Normal
Gay Community Embraces Fractional Property
Fractional Real Estate Investment Or Lifestyle Purchase?
Fractional Sales: Square Pegs In Round Holes?
Fractional Real Estate Commissions
Urban Fractionals
European Mixed-Use Resort Development in 2009
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
Property- the legal issues
Fractional Holiday Getaways
Fractionals-Recession beaters?
State of fractionals
Fractional Property Glossary
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions
Fractional Property- the legal issues
Fractional Property Regulation
Fractional Ownership? We'll have a piece
Keep The Door Open
Why Fractional Property?
The Benefits of Fractional Ownership in Private Residence Clubs
Middle East Leisure Real Estate Market Booming
New Association For Fractional Ownership
Saving Homes, Homeowners and Banks Through Fractional Ownership?

Lifestyle:
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Convergence in the Fractional marketplace
The stock market for songwriters

Supercars:
25+ questions to ask a fractional car club
Live The High Life In A Fractional Supercar
Why Individuals Should Join A Supercar Club
Why opt for a 'fractional' supercar?
Focus on Marque II
Eco-road-warriors- How will the supercar club line-up of the future change?
Fresh metal- What's new on the supercar front?
So Why Not Buy?
You've Always Loved Cars?
Supercars- The cars of 2006/7
Let's Take The Lamborghini
Fractional Life hits Le Mans
Ascari Racing Festival Weekend
Fractional Supercars at the MPH Show
GROUP20 The SuperCar Club announce their 2007 Road Show in aid of Children In Need
New supercar club with green credentials

Luxury Motorhomes:
Denver RV show ready to roll

Wine & Spirits:
Wine