The Ferrari Enzo is the greatest contemporary car that money can buy, according to an investigation by an independent panel of UK motoring experts. The Enzo won pride of place based upon performance, exclusivity, brand heritage and style status in the Zurich Iconic Car Index, developed for Zurich Private Clients. An expert panel of motor pundits conducted an in-depth analysis of all the cars currently available on the new car market retailing at over £50,000. The cars were judged on a range of criteria, including rarity, design, power, motoring heritage, marque and price.

To own a car at the top of Zurich’s Iconic Car Index, it pays to be seriously wealthy. The most expensive car, the Bugatti Veyron, driven by the likes of Hollywood A-lister, Tom Cruise, is priced at £840,000. The second most expensive is the Enzo at £425,000, with owners including Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The late Pope, John Paul II, even had one after he was given the 400th Ferrari to be manufactured by the prestigious factory. Those on a smaller budget can look instead to the Bentley Continental, at £115,000, or the Ferrari F599 at £157,000.

David Moxon, associate lecturer of psychology at Loughborough and Anglia Universities, said: "Cars and driving ‘tap into’ very primitive behaviours within human-beings. Unlike other types of engineering which are predominantly judged on their technological efficiency (very cognitive processes), cars possess other qualities that lie more within the realms of emotion for example aesthetics and image/status. Having the right look or badge is as vital as the right bhp or engine size. A good example of this is the Bugatti Veyron. It was only rated as sixth by the panel despite stupendous price and performance - yet it still didn’t have quite the right ‘emotional pull’ to elevate it into the top three."

As an insurer for high net worth individuals, Zurich said it has seen a change in the investment habits of millionaires over recent years with traditional high value purchases like art and sculpture now being joined by iconic cars. The insurance company has developed the Iconic Car Index to better understand what type of cars millionaires are putting at the top of their shopping list. The new car market is constantly evolving as technology, design and manufacturing processes continue to improve. But it is these iconic cars that are often supported by powerful brand heritage, which can help them hold their value and therefore present not only the drive of a lifetime but a good investment opportunity as well.

Head of Zurich Private Clients Nick Brabham said: “The Zurich Iconic Car Index provides a fascinating insight into what the world’s most affluent people may consider buying if they’re after the ultimate drive. The panel of independent motoring experts we spoke to concluded that a model from the Ferrari family is the best that we should aspire to own, with three places in the top 10. At Zurich Private Clients, we have seen an increase in the number of customers wanting to cover these sorts of vehicles, and we’ve responded to that change by providing the insurance cover and claims service they deserve to protect these valuable assets.”

David Moxon said: "As the nationality of a car is frequently part and parcel of its image, one can see why humans very quickly start accessing nationalistic stereotypes and applying them to the supercar league. At an irrational emotional level we find the aesthetically beautiful Italian supercars taking up five of the top ten spots. German engineering precision and reliability take up three and quintessential British ‘classiness’ takes up the remaining two."
 

The research was conducted in late 2006 by Motoring Research Ltd. The methodology, which was based upon worldwide contemporary cars costing over £50,000, used both quantitative and qualitative research - together creating a robust algorithm which enables the Index to be repeated on an annual basis. The algorithm was based upon a points system weighted against a range of factors. For each car that fell within the specified price bracket, 15 individual attributes were established as factors likely to affect the iconic car status. Objectively measured factors included: engine power, engine size and top speed. Other factors were subjective and it was for this part of the research that Motoring Research drew upon the opinion of a panel of 10 "opinion-forming" motoring journalists who ranked the cars according to their view; the journalists remain anonymous.

Zurich Iconic Car Index Top 10: 1. Ferrari Enzo £425,000; 2. Porsche Carrera GT £315,000; 3. Ferrari F599 £157,000; 4. Aston Martin Vanquish S £177,000; 5. Mercedes-Benz SLR £317,000; 6. Bugatti Veyron £840,000; 7. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti £175,000; 8. Lamborghini Murciélago £175,000; 9. Bentley Continental GT £115,00; 10. Pagani Zonda £380,000

1. Ferrari Enzo: The ultimate combination of top-notch heritage, amazing performance and rarity. Ferrari built only a few hundred Enzos, but had to keep upping the quota to keep loyal customers happy. Even at £425,000 you can’t buy a new one now, used cars fetch even more. “Looks, performance, heritage, sport, limited numbers, stratospheric awareness”; “As good as it gets”, “The ultimate iconic super-car” and “As iconic as they come, and still fabulous”, were some of the panel's comments.

3. Ferrari F599: The newest model in the top 10, and the very latest Ferrari, the 2006 F599 has received accolades from everyone who has driven it. Technically advanced, thrilling to drive, it goes to show that if the formula is right, a car doesn’t have to costs more than a quarter of a million nor be made in limited numbers. The panel said: “The most well known brand and sports car firm in the world bar none” and “The most coveted cars on earth”

7. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti: Get your tongue around the name and this four-seater Ferrari just grows and grows on you. It does everything right, just in a rather more subdued manner. It’s the most sensible Ferrari in the range, if there can be such a thing as a sensible Ferrari. The panel said: “The ultimate iconic supercar.”

8. Lamborghini Murciélago: Ferrari’s major Italian rival, you choose a Lamborghini for its exclusivity. You certainly don’t lose out on performance and the fact that Lamborghini is owned by Audi is rather more pleasing than Fiat owning Ferrari. The Murciélago is big, brutally fast and jaw-dropping in appearance. Perhaps too flash for some. The panel said: “Ferrari alternative - and arguably even brasher”; “The wild-child choice in the ultracar set”, “Great for Rod Stewart, but needs to match Ferrari with relevant cars”.

10. Pagani Zonda: The wild card here, the remarkable Italian Pagani Zonda proves that heritage isn’t quite everything when a car is simply so good in its own right. Alarmingly expensive but with its distinctive avant-garde design and luscious technical package, the Zonda has earned a place alongside the greats. The panel said: “Hugely expensive, hugely fast, hugely gorgeous”; “Tiny but among cognoscenti rising very fast”, “Plaything of rich Arabs, but held back a touch by obscurity of product”.