Australia’s Top 10 most expensive new cars in 2022

The end of 2022 is fast approaching, so what better way to window shop than kicking the tyres on the most expensive cars in Australia this year?

While we previously compiled a list of the Top Five most expensive cars in February 2022, some positions have changed and new contenders have emerged – although one familiar name has retained its place in the top end of town.

Our list includes cars which were available to buy this year or are still on sale. Some prices have changed from our earlier story due to changes to the indexed Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold in July 2022.

It’s worth noting there are no double entries for two variants of one model, and all prices listed are understood to be correct as of 15 November, 2022.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom retains its place as Australia’s most expensive new car on sale today, and the only vehicle on this list to exceed $1 million before on-road costs.

While the “regular” Rolls-Royce Phantom is priced from $915,400 (plus on-road costs), the Extended Wheelbase variant commands an additional $150,000 for an extra 220mm of body length – or more than $6800 per centimetre.

With a weight of 2610kg, the Rolls-Royce Phantom is no sports car, but its 420kW/900Nm twin-turbo V12 means it's not too slow, accelerating from 0-100km/h in a respectable 5.4 seconds – about as quick as a Holden Commodore V8.

Its claimed fuel consumption of 13.9L/100km will start to add-up with fuel prices soaring beyond $2 per litre, but if you can afford this car presumably you can afford to fuel it.

From one of the least-sporty cars on this list to an icon of performance driving, the Ferrari SF90 Spider is the second most expensive car in Australia today.

For $929,888 plus on-road costs, you can enjoy open-air motoring in Ferrari’s flagship supercar with a turbocharged 4.0-litre hybrid V8.

The Ferrari SF90 is also the only plug-in hybrid on this list, with three electric motors contributing to its 735kW/800Nm outputs and relatively frugal claimed 6.1L/100km fuel economy rating – while it is also able to drive up to 25km in electric-only mode.

If being able to put the top down isn’t appealing to you, the fixed-roof Ferrari SF90 Stradale is available from $846,888 plus on-road costs – enough to place it within the top five in our list.

Rolls-Royce has bookended the Top Three podium with the Cullinan Black Badge – the only SUV to feature in the Top 10 most expensive new cars in Australia.

The Cullinan is the most popular Rolls-Royce by sales volume in Australia, with 31 examples reported as sold year-to-date – more than double the 13 delivered to local customers last year.

Powered by the Phantom’s 6.7-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, the Cullinan Black Badge develops an extra 21kW and delivers its power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Cullinan’s Black Badge grade starts from $791,900 plus on-road costs, but the same mechanical equipment is available in the “standard” variant which is priced from $692,150.

The Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae is the Italian car-maker’s flagship grade of its top-tier model – and it is priced accordingly.

With Aventador production soon to wrap-up in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, the Ultimae is a last hurrah for the supercar which launched in 2011.

Throughout its 11-year production run, Lamborghini produced eight variants of the Aventador, culminating in 11,465 examples being built.

The final Aventador Ultimae is expected to arrive in Australia next year, with its local owner likely paying more than the car’s $788,915 list price when options are included on the invoice.

While the Lamborghini Aventador’s successor will reportedly continue to be powered by a V12, the outgoing supercar is the last to use a non-electrified version of the iconic 6.5-litre engine.

Another position, another Rolls-Royce – this time the Ghost Black Badge.

Affectionately known as the ‘Baby Rolls’, the Ghost is slightly smaller and lighter than the Phantom but retains the larger sedan's V12, also shared with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost’s 441kW/900Nm outputs are identical to the SUV, while its design is more akin to the traditional Phantom.

Starting from $744,400 plus on-road costs in Extended Wheelbase guise and an additional $250 for the Black Badge, the Ghost costs $320,000 less than the Phantom – equivalent to about a dozen first class return flights from Sydney to Los Angeles.

The McLaren 765LT could have appeared twice on this list, had the coupe variant not sold out. Instead, only the convertible Spider makes the cut as one of Australia’s most expensive cars.

Priced from $684,900 plus on-road costs, the McLaren 765LT is about $160,000 more expensive than the 720S upon which it is based, although the limited-run model has a number of unique selling points.

Weighing just 1388kg, it is 80kg lighter than the 720S Spider – but its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 makes 33kW and 30Nm more than its convertible counterpart, developing 563kW/800Nm.

According to McLaren, its rear-wheel drive supercar can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 330km/h.

Production is limited to 765 examples worldwide. How many arrived in Australia is unclear.

Ferrari makes a second appearance on this list thanks to the 812 GTS grand tourer.

Ferrari’s 812 GTS is understood to be the last of its flagship front-engined "grand tourers" without an electrified engine, with the 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 tracing its lineage back to the 599 GTB.

Global orders for the Ferrari 812 GTS were suspended earlier this year. A spokesperson for Ferrari Australasia said there were no current plans to recommence orders at the time.

Keen buyers can still pick up a dealer-owned Ferrari 812 GTS, however prices exceed the $1 million mark.

The 911 Sport Classic is the most expensive variant of Porsche’s iconic sports car, incorporating elements of the model’s past with the most advanced technology available today.

Its exterior design is heavily influenced by the classic Porsche 911 Carrera RS of the 1970s, from its contrast stripes and door numbers to the ‘duck tail’ spoiler on the engine cover.

While the Sport Classic is based on the Porsche 911 Turbo, the 3.7-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine is matched to a seven-speed manual transmission which drives the rear wheels only, rather than the Turbo’s eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system.

Limited to 1250 examples globally, the Porsche 911 Sport Classic is priced from $598,300 plus on-road costs in Australia – almost $71,000 more than the Porsche 911 Turbo S convertible.

When it was launched in March 2021, Bentley described the Continental GT Speed as its “most capable and performance-focused model ever", putting its epic W12 engine back into service for one last run.

The 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 petrol engine had been fitted to the Continental GT before, however in the Speed variant it produces 484kW and 900Nm. 

Despite its luxurious interior, the Continental GT Speed was built to go fast – accelerating from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 335km/h, while carbon-ceramic brakes help to slow the 2273kg "grand tourer".

In Australia, the $597,700 Continental GT Speed convertible sits at the top of the model's local range – with Bentley charging customers almost $160,000 more than the ‘standard’ V8-powered Continental GT for the flagship variant.

A fixed-roof coupe version of the Bentley Continental GT Speed is also available from $543,400.

The Lamborghini Huracan STO V10 is the supercar’s second-last variant to be powered by a non-electrified engine – outlasting the Lamborghini Aventador V12’s production run.

While the rear-wheel drive Huracan Evo starts from $384,187 plus on-road costs, Lamborghini’s flagship Huracan STO adds more than $210,000 to the price of the donor vehicle.

The Huracan STO is not the last non-electrified Lamborghini – that honour will go to the high-riding Huracan Sterrato – however this is the final edition which has been designed with the track in mind.

Powered by a 470kW/565Nm 5.2-litre V10 engine, the Huracan STO is a road-legal track weapon which Lamborghini claims is just 2.5 seconds slower around the Daytona International Speedway circuit than the Huracan Evo GT3 race car.