LIST: The 5 most expensive, customs-paid luxury cars you can buy

Last week, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) asked the public for help locating two extremely expensive supercars that were reportedly imported into the country without paying the proper customs duties.

The vehicles in question were 2 examples of the Bugatti Chiron hyper car, valued at ₱165M each. With a total value of ₱330M, the BOC has offered a 20% reward (₱66M) for any tips leading to the location and owners of the vehicles.

One owner (of the red vehicle) has already voluntarily surrendered the vehicle to the BOC. Upon its confiscation, BOC officers discovered that, despite not having a conduction sticker (that indicates a vehicle has been legally imported, inspected, and has paid custom duties), the vehicle was registered, and even bears a plate number. Authorities are still attempting to locate the second (blue) vehicle.

Made for the 0.1%

The Bugatti Chiron is easily one of the most exclusive super cars a wealthy individual can buy. The Chiron is actually the successor to the Bugatti Veyron, the first hypercar capable of producing over 1,000 horsepower in stock form.

The Chiron is a two-seater hypercar powered by a massive 8.0-liter, 16-cylinder engine. Thanks to the use of four turbochargers, it can produce 1,479-hp. It requires specially-built wheels from Michelin to deliver all that power through all four wheels. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 2.4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 420-km/h.

The vehicle is priced anywhere from US$2.4 – 2.9 million, depending on the options availed. Its base value may be ₱165 M, however, if Philippine taxes and duties were properly paid, the price could easily double to ₱330 M for just one vehicle.

Local tax and customs-paid options

So what is a recent lotto winner or Filipino tycoon to roll in without drawing the ire of the Bureau of Customs? Thankfully, there are quite a number of expensive luxury and performance vehicles that can be bought locally, with taxes and duties fully paid. All of the vehicles listed below are legally imported by authorized distributors of these brands and are guaranteed to get the approval of the BIR, BOC, and LTO.  Their listed prices already include Philippine taxes and duties. They’re even offered with warranties, service packages, and insurance packages.

5. Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 (₱25-30M)

First on the list is a vehicle you may have already seen on Tiktok videos. This is the vehicle that features a “bounce” mode designed to get out of sand, but usually used to show off. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS is easily the most luxurious model offered by Mercedes-Benz, distributed in the Philippines by Inchcape. The Maybach line of vehicles is several notches more opulent than a standard Mercedes, and this GLS is no exception. Built upon the standard GLS, the Maybach GLS is strictly a four-seater. 

The best seats in the house are in the rear, designed to emulate an airline’s 1^st class passenger seat with several ways to recline. They also include built-in massagers. Each seat gets its own HD screen and the entertainment system is made up of a 28-speaker Burmeister 3D surround sound system. Optional extras include a refrigerated compartment with silver-plated champagne flutes.

4. Aston Martin DBX 707 (₱33.5-35M)

If James Bond ever drove an SUV, this would be it. The DBX 707 is one of the fastest SUVs in world, boasting of almost 700 horsepower. This is the high-performance version of the regular DBX SUV and can be purchased from DBPhils Motors. Powered by a 4.0-liter twin turbo V8, the DBX 707 can accelerate to 100km/h in just 3.1 seconds and on to a top speed of over 300 km/h. Because it’s a performance vehicle, this vehicle is best enjoyed when driving rather than being driven. The sports suspension may not provide as supple a ride as one expects, but it’s a small price to pay for easily keeping up with any other Aston Martin sports car, Porsche, or Ferrari in a vehicle that can seat 4 and their weekend luggage. 

3. Ferrari Purosangue (₱46-55M)

Yet another sporty SUV one can buy is from one of the most renowned sports car makers in the world, Ferrari. Though Ferrari refuses to call the Purosangue (pure blood) an SUV, based on its form, it’s quite evident what it is. This vehicle is a four-seater powered by a 6.5-liter V-12 engine that produces 715-horsepower. It can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of over 300 km/h. It may not look impressive in pictures but this vehicle is best appreciated in person. That’s where one will truly appreciate the carbon fiber inner shell hidden by sheet metal and only revealed in the wheel haunches. 

Inside the cockpit is designed to look and function like any other Ferrari sports car and boasts of a glass roof to let more light in. It features electronically adjustable suspension that can return a comfortable or sporty ride whenever desired. This goes without saying, but its entertainment system is also Apple Carplay compatible. The Purosangue can be purchased from Velocita Motors, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corp.

2. Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge (₱60-70M)

It should come as no surprise that near the top is a Rolls-Royce. The Cullinan, named after one of the world’s largest diamonds, offers the same unparalleled luxury one has come to expect from a Rolls-Royce but now in SUV form. The Black Badge edition darkens all the chrome and brightwork to give it a more imposing look. Each one comes with a hand-painted pinstripe across the body and bold red calipers on its wheels. The Rolls-Royce boasts of unrivalled legroom and pampers with its trademark Magic Carpet Ride that smoothens out all the imperfections on the road. 

In the cabin, customers can opt for the Starlight Headliner that duplicates the night sky from as seen from their home with pinlight LED lights. The rear suicide doors also come with built-in umbrellas for the occasional rainy day. Though equipped with only the finest Carbon Tech Fiber and leather, the interior can also be customized to the client’s desire. A refrigerator can be fit to store wine, champagne or any preferred refreshments along with matching glasses. In the trunk hide viewing chairs that sit on swivels that can fold out for the owners to have a quaint conversation while admiring their estate. The Cullinan Black Badge can be ordered from its exclusive importer, Autohub.

1. Pagani Utopia (₱200-300M)

In case the Rolls-Royce is still quite plebeian for your tastes, you can check out one of Autohub’s other brands, Pagani. The hypercar brand was founded by a former Lamborghini Engineer who now makes vehicles that put his former employer to shame. The Pagani Utopia is the successor to the Huayra and Zonda hypercars. This unique vehicle is limited to just 99 examples. It’s powered by a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 engine developed by Mercedes-AMG that produces 851 horsepower. It can be ordered with either a seven-speed manual or an automated single-clutch transmission. 

The Utopia is part hypercar and part sculpture as nearly every part of the vehicle is meticulously crafted, from the gooseneck wing mirrors to the exposed stickshift (if you opt for the manual). Underneath, the vehicle is built with a unique carbon-titanium core structure to make it incredibly light but still quite strong. We regret to inform you that all 99 examples have already been sold, but if you’re in the market for a Pagani Utopia Roadster or an even faster Utopia R (both of which will be even more expensive), Autohub will gladly fly you to Pagani’s headquarters in San Cesario sul Panaro in the province of Modena, Italy to personally select every shade of paint, leather, and accessory to be fitted in your vehicle. Bear in mind that it may take up to two years for your vehicle to be built and delivered.

These vehicles all come with hefty price tags, but you can rest assured that they also include all the proper taxes and duties. Once bought, you don't need to worry about the BOC putting up photos of your vehicle and asking for your whereabouts. Many of these are obviously more expensive than if they were bought in other countries, but that's just the way our taxes, duties, and customs are structured.