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High End Luxury Cars

24723 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ-Series, Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Volkswagen Phaeton, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, Sedan



Let's try to define this forum as being limited to luxury performance vehicles where the mainstream version in a typical configuration has an MSRP of at least $60k.

A luxury vehicle with a base price of $59k qualifies because it would typically be bought with some additional equipment, bringing the MSRP over $60k.

Vehicles like the E, 5, A6, M, or GS, even if available in certain versions over $60k, don't qualify because they are cars from companies that have higher end cars in their lineups.

Messages Page 1304 of 2473

#13030 of 24723 My 2006 predictions....in response to merc1 by scott1256

Jan 12, 2006 (8:55 am)

Replying to: merc1 (Jan 12, 2006 12:10 am)
BMW - Up but may not reach 300,000 sales.
  
Lexus - Up substantially in 2006. New LS should be a hit.
  
Mercedes-Benz - Flat. Up or down slightly (~2%) for 2006. New C and E needed for the next big sales jump.
  
Audi - Down for 2006. Not distinct enough to succeed against BMW and Mercedes.
  
Infiniti - Flat or down slightly for 06. A super Q (a la LS) is needed to come to the rescue! G is aging.
  
Jaguar - Another decline, not as steep in 2006. The XJ and XK lines aren't enough to put the brand up to 50,000+ units.
  
Cadillac - Double digit car sales increase of recent years is tough to maintain. The DTS, CTS, STS and 'V' models combined with the new Escalade may make it happen again.
  
Scott

#13031 of 24723 Who said Bangle was a Lousy Designer? by dewey

Jan 12, 2006 (9:36 am)

 
The following is a headline with just a few selected paragraphs from today's Wall Street Journal. Kudos for Infiniti for at least trying to be distinct in its design versus being a Bangle imitator like Toyota/Lexus.
 
BMW's Chief Designer
Enjoys Newfound Respect
 
"Suddenly, everyone is trying to do the kind of styling for which the auto journalists criticized the BMW group so loudly," BMW Chief Executive Helmut Panke crowed at a dinner with reporters here. "You look at the Camry rear end and you see another 7 Series. It is not the 'Bangle butt' anymore."
 
The new LS 460 from Toyota's Lexus brand also has a profile that almost exactly follows that of the 7 Series, while models from Nissan Motor Co.'s Inifiniti brand have moved to a modernist styling.
 
In an interview, Mr. Bangle said he is pleased BMW's work is being emulated, but, "I don't dwell on these issues," he said. "In this business, you don't spend a lot of time looking in the mirror. You try to figure out what curve is coming up."

#13032 of 24723 That Is Why by hpowders

Jan 12, 2006 (9:48 am)

the pretenders will never catch BMW.
They will always be one step ahead of the competition.
No time wasted looking in the mirror.
Funny how all the Bangle-bashing has turned into automotive plagiarism.

#13033 of 24723 Re: That Is Why [hpowders] by dewey

Jan 12, 2006 (9:59 am)

Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 9:48 am)
hpowders,
 
all greatness attracts criticism. The critics will only get louder as Bangle basks in worldwide glory !
 

#13034 of 24723 Re: Who said Bangle was a Lousy Designer? [dewey] by tagman

Jan 12, 2006 (10:12 am)

Replying to: dewey (Jan 12, 2006 9:36 am)
More evidence of what some of us have been willing to say.
 
Also, remember that I've also indicated a possibility for those S-Class wheel arches to have an impact on industry styling in the future, although I think it will be mild.
 
The latest approach to the 7's rear has really dialed in the styling concept, IMO, particularly due to the way the rear lenses carry over into the trunk. It's good.

#13035 of 24723 Re: A Shift in Gears.......... [merc1] by jrock65

Jan 12, 2006 (10:22 am)

Replying to: merc1 (Jan 12, 2006 12:10 am)
Lexus 2006 sales will be up, but I don't think it'll hit 350,000. I predict about 325,000, which is an increase of 7%. The IS will be by far the biggest gainer. I believe that the new ES will launch in spring 2006 and the new LS will launch in fall 2006.
 
2005 Sales:
 
ES: 67,577
IS: 15,789
GS: 33,457
LS: 26,043
SC: 8,360
 
RX: 108,775
GX: 34,339
LX: 8,555
 
Total: 302,895
 
2006 Sales (prediction):
 
ES: 71,000
IS: 48,000
GS: 36,000
LS: 25,000
SC: 7,000
 
RX: 103,000
GX: 28,000
LX: 7,000
 
Total: 325,000

#13036 of 24723 Re: That Is Why [dewey] by hpowders

Jan 12, 2006 (11:14 am)

Replying to: dewey (Jan 12, 2006 9:59 am)
Yes sir, dewey!
 
Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery.
Bangle should be collecting royalties from Toyota/Lexus.
 
Kind of dismaying how many Lexicans seem to be in complete denial over this.
But, the pretenders can superficially copy all they want.
Style has its limits.
What makes BMW's unique: the soul, the passion and exciting driving dynamics.
The pretenders will always come up a bit short.
 
Instead of bragging that its interiors are made of wood from the same tree, give me a vehicle that will steer with road feel and whose steering wheel is not made out of slippery wood. Give me a car that will corner without body lean instead of like a big, bloated barge.
 
Give me a Bangle BMW 7 series!

#13037 of 24723 Re: That Is Why [hpowders] by bdr127

Jan 12, 2006 (12:12 pm)

Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 9:48 am)
the pretenders will never catch BMW.
They will always be one step ahead of the competition.
No time wasted looking in the mirror.
Funny how all the Bangle-bashing has turned into automotive plagiarism.
 
Notice how many other luxury marques are doing the whole "joystick" thing?.... Funny how BMW takes the heat 3-4 years early, then everyone else follows along.
 
AUDI:

 
ACURA:

 
INFINITI:

#13038 of 24723 Sooner Or Later by hpowders

Jan 12, 2006 (12:43 pm)

Lexus will cave like the others with an iDrive copy.
It's almost inevitable despite what Lexus says.
These HELM's are getting so complex with electronic sophistication, I don't see how they can avoid it much longer.

#13039 of 24723 Beautiful overload, solved by VOICE COMMAND by tagman

Jan 12, 2006 (12:47 pm)

The gorgeous interiors are compelling and amazing in comparison to the interiors of earlier generation cars. Great technology, safety, and comfort all rolled together. The joystick is fine with me, but as I have said before, the number of buttons is getting ridiculous, and the only ultimate logical way to manage it all is with voice command. This allows all the technology to be user- friedly, and allows the driver to DRIVE instead of pushing buttons and touchscreens everywhere. Let's face it, the technology is going to come, like it or not, so I'm a big believer in voice command. One command and it's done!
TagMan

Messages Page 1304 of 2473

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