Most Coveted Cars

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 supercar can go from zero to 60 in less than 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 253 miles per hour. And by most accounts it ranks as the world's most expensive production vehicle.

But with a planned worldwide run of 300, even the most deep-pocketed will not likely see one, ever. That's because in addition to dropping $1.4 million, buyers will have to wait in line about 10 months for the 80 to 90 models rolling off the assembly line this year.

But that's nothing compared to the Koenigsegg CCX. The all-new, exotic Swedish supercar performs like the Bugatti at about half the price. Yet with fewer than 20 cars available annually in the U.S., some say it's destined to be more even more coveted than the Bugatti because it's within reach of a much larger pool of the rich and famous.

Ben Nef, who sells the CCX at its sole U.S. dealership, Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, says that as soon as the first deliveries begin this month, the waiting list — now at just over a year — may double.

In Pictures: Most Coveted Cars

That makes sense, according to Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, a market research firm. He says people who can afford the most exclusive cars see them as status symbols. Such cars rank them with oil sheiks, tech moguls and captains of industry, or, if nothing else, allow them to be regarded as movers and shakers in their own city.

"These cars exert influence … they say who you are in the hierarchy and can be a power base for business deals," Pedraza says. "And how long you've been on the waiting list for a particular vehicle says how long you've been a power broker."

Car Cliques

Quite simply, the more exclusive a vehicle, the more likely it is to be coveted by those who can afford it. Lack of supply builds demand, yet these automakers don't increase supply because they see the long-term value for their brands in exclusivity.

But striking that delicate balance can be challenging for automakers. Stoking demand with truly special products and producing enough cars to turn a profit, yet holding back enough so that not everyone who wants and can afford one can get it, is the strategy that makes brands like Ferrari so successful.

For years, Ferrari has masterfully managed its waiting lists, always making sure demand exceeds supply, as Ferrari ownership is something that is sought out by those with the means. There's now a typical wait time of two years on any of its models, and the company and its dealers follow a centralized system in which repeat customers are placed higher on the waiting list. Aston Martin and Bentley use a similar system in the U.S.

In general, the most successful luxury and sports car companies don't compromise the exclusivity of the brand to appease newcomers, Pedraza says. They include Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

Bob Cann, who has sold exotic sports cars and prestige luxury cars for 30 years through his MotorCars International and Lamborghini Houston dealerships, compares these most coveted cars to high-end real estate, where location is everything.

"Lamborghini and Ferrari have found that if they build cars in a limited number, it really drives the market," Cann says, "and price almost becomes secondary to other factors like 'How soon can I get it?' or 'How many are there?'"

But also among the most in-demand models are several from larger automakers that manage to stay highly regarded by the elite crowd as image-building, limited-volume cars.

In these cases, the rules for waiting may allow a bit more line-jumping, depending on who you are. Mercedes-Benz, for instance, sells some pretty exclusive, distinctive models in its AMG line. But, like most full-line automakers, Mercedes leaves it up to its dealerships to divvy up those precious slots on the rare models waiting list.

"We trust our dealerships to treat our customers well," says Larkin Hill, a spokesman for Mercedes-Benz. Hill says if dealerships want to grant preference to loyal longtime customers, that's fine. "It allows the dealership to reward their best customers," he says. (See the 10 luxury car companies with the best dealerships here.)

Priority status is another solution employed by some of the industry's smaller automakers to help spur positive cash flow. For instance, Silicon Valley's Tesla Motors has a two-tiered reservation system. A deposit of $30,000 merely puts you on the list, while a larger deposit of $50,000 allows you rush status and delivery a few months earlier than usual.

The Methodology

To compile our list, we queried a wide range of automakers, and in many cases their dealerships, for the time from deposit to delivery for a new customer. We then pared our list down to 15 and ordered them by current estimated wait times.

In Pictures: Most Coveted Cars