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Sedans High End Luxury Cars
24697 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 3:09 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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.
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Lexus - Lexus had two LS460s on display, one short and one long. The long wheelbase car looks a little unbalanced to my eye. The room and features are first rate in the LS460L. Forget about the 7-Series comparisons, it doesn't look like a 7-Series. It looks like an upsized IS350 if anything. A little slab sided and lacking any detailing just like the IS, but the overall shape is inoffensive and still conservative to me. Very plain, but sleek and a big improvement over the LS430 in every way. This will be the most successful LS in the model's history. The interest was sky high and there seemed to be talk of a smaller engined LS model for 2008 along with the LS600h. I didn't get the feeling this particular rep knew what she was talking about. I don't see a less powerful LS model being produced. No sitting in the LS, just like the S-class. Who decides this stuff? Anyway, I really like the GS until I have to look at the styling. I like the tight interior, but that whale look kills the car for me. The IS350 is the Lexus for me if I had to get one. I still find the SC430 to be interesting car. The GS450h sat at the back of the Lexus section with little or no attention. I honestly don't see the point of the GS450h since it isn't AWD and won't have more hp than the GS460 (provided the GS460 gets the full 380hp). Huge crowds at Lexus, mainly for the LS460. Infiniti - The Coupe Concept was a letdown. I expected a new car. The concept is nothing more than a current G35 Coupe with a new interior and nose. The rear is nearly the same as before. The G35 sedan is dated. I remain a fan of the M45 Sport and FX45. None of the Infiniti reps knew anything about a Q45 replacement. Jaguar - Unfortunately I have mixed feeling about their star of the show, the new XK. The car is gorgeous from the rear and side, but that nose isn't so hot. They didn't have a Super V8 Portfolio there either! "It was being used for the L.A. show" was the reason I got for this. Bentley - The Bentley rep told me that the Continental GT is selling so well that they didn't feel they needed to display one this year. It and the Continental Flying Spur (brick, IMO) are nothing to look at and Bentley are supposed to be gorgeous. They did have the new convertible Azure there, pure old-school Bentley. My favorite Bentley, the Arnage was there either. Boo! Maserati - Is it me or do the Italians have an unmatched sense of style? Their display was just the most tasteful setup and the cars aren't bad either. The Quattroporte has only one 4-door rival from a styling and interior point of view. This car was shown in two forms, the Sport GT and Executive GT. I like the Executive version better. The paint (dark blue) and interior (deeper than life tan leather and dark wood) were very sheek looking. As much as a like the Spider, it is time for a replacement, though it looks as gorgeous as ever in Gransport trim. Ferrari - The favorite Ferrari is the F430 Spider. On hand and stunning. The 612 Scagletti is too long and looks unbalanced. To bad the recently announced 575M replacement - the 599 GTB won't be shown in public until March/Geneva. unlike last years, there wasn't any F1 news to be found anywhere and for good reason. Maybach - A surprise with the 57S. Another brand using L.A. as an excuse as to why they didn't have more cars on display. The Maybach 57S looks so much better than the standard versions with its black paint and whitish leather. I'll take one of these over the Rolls Phantom any day. cont... |
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Rolls-Royce - Two Phantoms on display. One short, one long. The LWB model is a big as a Peterbuilt. I'm still not a fan of this car, but its presence is undeniable. I guess beauty and grace aren't part of the Rolls-Royce theme anymore because the Phantom is neither. Why the better looking (at least in photos) 100EX (future Corniche) hasn't been shown outside of L.A. yet is beyond me. Land-Rover - A winning lineup of SUVs. The best luxury SUVs going IMO. My favorite is the Range Rover Sport of course. Ford had Land Rover and Jaguar next to each other and they compliment each other nicely. Nothing new here, but a few people seemed to be shocked at the nearly 100K sticker on the Range Rover Supercharged. Acura - Acura has long since been replaced by Infiniti as my favorite of the Japanese luxury three. There is nothing exciting to look at when it comes to Acura. Just nice, reliable, vehicles...no spice. The TSX and TL are nice cars, as is the RL, but they simply don't excite any way style wise. The RDX I'm sure will be a hit. Now bring on that new NSX and we'll have something to talk about here. Notes, Trends and Details: BMW, Maserati and Bentley all had their sedans in Dark Blue with either cream or tan leather. This just happens to be my favorite color combination for big luxury 4-doors. Some type of dark Blue or Green are my favs on these type of cars. Everyone has a Black or Silver MB/BMW etc. My favorite concepts this year: 1. Chevy Camaro - without a doubt the best concept of the show and the best one GM has ever shown. They finally had a concept to rival the Concept Car King - Chrysler. The Camaro manages to pay tribute to the past while brining the classic ponycar theme into the future. It isn't a complete duplicate of the past like the Mustang and Challenger. That puts it ahead of those two with me. 2. Mazda Kabura - small, light, sleek and shaped just right. Built on the Miata chassis and very doable. There is something about the side profile and stance of this car that makes it a winner with me. 3. Dodge Challenger - Retro taken to far? Unlike the Camaro, the Challenger is a exact duplicate of the original. Still stunning, but not as much so in person after seeing the futuristic Camaro. 4. Chrysler Imperial - This car had folks mesmerized. Heavy, big, large, etc. etc. The sentiment seemed to be that since the 300 is seen as a knockoff Bentley, why not build this as a knockoff Rolls. I agree. Priced right (40-50K) this would be a hit for Chrysler. Make the 340hp Hemi standard and the 425hp version standard on the top line version. 5. Mini Concept - A natural follow up to the current hit. Mini should offer a hybrid IMO. That would go real well with their imagine and marketing slant on small cars. 6. Volvo C30 - Very Golf-like. I doubt if we'll see it here, but it will undoubtedly do well in Europe. The crowds for Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston-Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati were as thick as ever. These cars draw attention no matter what they have on display. Overall you get the sense the GM and Ford are really trying. Ford seems to be serious about giving Lincoln some actual cars to sell besides the age/livery cast Town Car. The MKS seems like a step in the right direction as is the MKX crossover. While Ford seems to be concentrating on more mainstream products with the Ford and Lincoln brands, GM seems to still be concentrating in niche products like the Camaro and Solstice GXP. These products won't save them. The need a mainstream hit like the Chrysler 300. Don't think for a minute that the Dodge Challenger won't be in a showroom near you in summer 2007 as a 2008 model. I'd even wager that the Imperial will be built also. Now the one GM concept that I saw that held the most promise (besides the Camaro) is the Buick Enclave. This is what GM needs, a good looking, modern mainstream product, not niche vehicles. Some disappointments were the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Infiniti Coupe Concept, the Chevy Tahoe's interior material quality. I expected more with all three of these considering how they each have been represented in pictures. Pics to follow in a few days. There you have it, the "Merc1" 2006 NAIAS report! M |
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 19, 2006 12:03 am) |
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 19, 2006 12:03 am) |
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we owe you. Thanks for the first person report. I too wonder why the delay on the 100EX (Corniche). It is a stunner in pictures. Concur on the Imperial: a huge seller if DC builds it. Glad the S class looks better in the metal than in pics. What color were the S classes on display? What was it about the GL interior you didn't like? On interiors: the Brits and Italians do interiors so much better than the Germans, Japanese and Americans. I concur: cream/ivory interiors look great. Challenger and Camaro: best sellers in the making. Time for a new CTS. Sales increased again last year: get the new model on the fast track to keep it moving. I also think the Escalade trio will bring Cadillac SUV sales back to life. You mention a sense that Cadillac is missing a model. Obviously it is the Sixteen - Caddy should build it!
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Replying to: scott1256 (Jan 19, 2006 5:01 am) Yes the British and Italians do interior better imo. They have a way of working the wood and leather in a way that the rest of the world hasn't figured out. Only Audi gets close the same "way" of doing it. Just think if Chrysler can score a hit with the Challenger, Imperial and the next generation mid-size sedans! Their new found success will definitely be sustainable. Yeah I want to see a true flagship car from Cadillac. The DTS ain't it. M |
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 18, 2006 11:23 pm) The Audi Q7 has really piqued my interest. Should be a big hit in the $50-60K luxury SUV category. |
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I'm glad you all enjoyed it. HD - The Q7 is a nice vehicle for sure. Now if gas prices don't spike to high the spring/summer Audi, Mercedes and Cadillac should all find plenty of buyers for their new SUVs. A few other things: Bugatti wasn't there. I was looking foward to seeing this million dollar, 16-cylinder car in person. Of course it was being shown in L.A. which will likely be its biggest market. I can understand that I guess. VW has two displays, one on the upper level and one on the lower level. The Phaeton was on the lower level and locked up tight. It is a goodbye for this car for sure though people seemed interested in it. OMG Geely, the Chinese brand! I predict utter failure for this venture. I wouldn't be so sure the Chinese brand that come over after Geely will fail however. I think they'll know better than to bring over such a dated, forgettable car. M |
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Replying to: rayng (Jan 18, 2006 6:08 pm) The S8 and S65 are nice cars, but not collector cars. They certainly arent something you should buy as an investment. I also shudder to think how expensive it would be to try and maintain a 30 or 40 year old Audi MMI or Mercedes COMAND system. |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 19, 2006 6:32 am) I suppose that won't happen.
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