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High End Luxury Cars

24685 messages,  Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 4:40 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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.



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#18538 of 24685
Re: Ford to sell off Aston, possibly Jag? [blkhemi] by tagman
Aug 31, 2006 (5:57 pm)
Reply

Replying to: blkhemi (Aug 31, 2006 5:29 pm)

Jaguar, let's see: First off, take the X and S-Type's out back and put them out of their misery. DO NOT USE A FORD CLONE PRODUCT, as is the case with the X's Mondeo, and the S' Lincoln LS/Ford T-Bird. Build a sporty LPS that can fully compete with the 3 Series, A4, IS, G35, and TL seriously. The S-Type is a definete must do. Use one of those wonderful Euro chassis that we Americans can only dream of for the next S-Type.
 
Great ideas, for sure. Let me add one more. Freshen and modernize the beautiful XJ. Offer only the long wheelbase, and modernize and work off of the Portfolio styling, but slant the front end a little more to bring it up to speed with, say, Bentley styling. Freshen the rear light treatment and modernize the interior appointments. Stay with the aluminum body, add more standard power without the turbo. Let's say by the 2009 model year, in time for the Porsche Panamera.
 
TagMan
#18539 of 24685
Re: Ford to sell off Aston, possibly Jag? [blkhemi] by lexusguy
Aug 31, 2006 (6:00 pm)
Reply

Replying to: blkhemi (Aug 31, 2006 5:29 pm)

I got a brilliant idea for both. For Aston, the 4-door sedan MUST BE BUILT!! With even Porsche going 4-doors, there is absolutely no holding back now. Also expand the line-up, with only 3 cars, it's a major struggle. Altho the V8 Vantage is wonderful ride, it ain't no 911.
 
As far as I know, plans for the "Rapide" are still on, and it should hit the market before the Panamera does. I think the V8 Vantage's biggest problem is its engine. Its not special enough, and its not nearly powerful enough. Its a warmed over Jaguar AJ-V8, with less power(!) than the XKR. What was the point of that? To compete with the 911 Turbo and the next Maserati coupe, the V8 Vantage needs another hundred horses.
 
Jaguar, let's see: First off, take the X and S-Type's out back and put them out of their misery. DO NOT USE A FORD CLONE PRODUCT, as is the case with the X's Mondeo, and the S' Lincoln LS/Ford T-Bird. Build a sporty LPS that can fully compete with the 3 Series, A4, IS, G35, and TL seriously. The S-Type is a definete must do. Use one of those wonderful Euro chassis that we Americans can only dream of for the next S-Type.
 
Unfortunately for Jaguar, the S-type won't be replaced until '08, and the X-type will continue probably through '09, and then will be killed with no replacement. Jaguar can't compete with the 3 Series, A4, IS, G35, and TL. They can't be a volume luxury car maker, and they cant sell cars for $35K. It was that kind of thinking that created the X-type in the first place.
 
The next S-type had a chance to be a great car, when plans were to use a shortened version of the XJ\XK's aluminum structure. Instead, its going to continue on basically the same DEW98 platform as the current car. The S80\MKZ platform is not suitable (it would produce a $60K X-type). I dont think Ford has a wonderful Euro chassis to use.
#18540 of 24685
Re: Lexus [ctsang] by merc1
Aug 31, 2006 (8:19 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ctsang (Aug 31, 2006 8:19 am)

The new 300 will use the new E platform.
 
Wrong. Nothing has been officially decided or announced about a new 300 or a E-Class. Neither car is scheduled for a re-design until the 2009 model year. Also, the current 300 doesn't just simply use the old W210 E-Class chassis either. It uses bits and pieces from it, not the entire chassis in the way the Crossfire uses the old SLK chassis. The suspension design, seats, dashboard layout and other things are clearly W210 E-Class, but the rest isn't. The suspension for example is iron on the Chrysler whereas it was aluminum on the E-Class. There were thousands of little (read: cheaper) changes done to get the E-Class parts bin down the entry-level 300 prices.
 
M
#18541 of 24685
Re: Lexus [houdini1] by merc1
Aug 31, 2006 (8:23 pm)
Reply

Replying to: houdini1 (Aug 31, 2006 11:03 am)

I guess I just don't get your point about the Camry and the LS looking the same, or having a resemblance. Why do you care? Why does this bother you so much? Is the E Class diminished because Chysler now uses their platform? Not really. It is just good financial planning and trying to save money to make a better car. Please get over this.
 
Yeah obviously because it doesn't bother me, just an observation. Supposedly Lexus and Toyota have different design teams and facilities yet the cars still look a lot alike. Financial planning and saving money don't have squat to do with any of this because they aren't the same car, I'm talking about design. Some Toyota fans need to get over the standard response about financials, it doesn't apply to any and everything about an automobile!
 
M
#18542 of 24685
HELM engines by tagman
Aug 31, 2006 (8:23 pm)
Reply
This is something that might be interesting to this forum.
 
Some interesting information about the different marque's engines and their horsepower ratings, torque ratings, and average displacement ratings.
 
The results speak for themselves, and the methodology is explained, so no need for any spin here.
 
link title
 
TagMan
#18543 of 24685
Re: Lexus [tagman] by merc1
Aug 31, 2006 (8:25 pm)
Reply

Replying to: tagman (Aug 31, 2006 11:11 am)

However, the point is that Toyota is a DIFFERENT marque than Lexus, even if it is the same parent company, and whether or not platforms are shared, the styling and design similarities do not necessarily need to be so similar.
 
Bingo. Not a hard point to grasp.
 
M
#18544 of 24685
The future models of the major European marques by tagman
Aug 31, 2006 (8:29 pm)
Reply
This is fairly good look at the future model plans for major European marques . . . all in one handy chart.
 
link title
 
TagMan
#18545 of 24685
Re: HELM engines [tagman] by merc1
Aug 31, 2006 (8:31 pm)
Reply

Replying to: tagman (Aug 31, 2006 8:23 pm)

Interesting, Mercedes preference for torque is clear there.
 
I got the Oct issue of C&D today and their initial test put the LS460 at 6 seconds 0-60 mph. They said because the engine hits a flat spot and doesn't really give any real push until 3500 rpm. Different engine/tuning practices at work here between BMW, Lexus and Mercedes. I do expect that 6 sec time to improve though when they test the LS460 on U.S. soil.
 
M
#18546 of 24685
Re: HELM engines [merc1] by tagman
Aug 31, 2006 (8:41 pm)
Reply

Replying to: merc1 (Aug 31, 2006 8:31 pm)

I do expect that 6 sec time to improve though when they test the LS460 on U.S. soil.
 
The word is getting clear that it's about 5.4 or 5.5 seconds 0-60, but we'll see if it really does that.
 
The flat spot is unfortunate, however. Did they say if it's due to the way that tranny is so low geared in the first two gears and then has to ramp up from there? That would make sense to me.
 
TagMan
#18547 of 24685
AMG turns up the heat! by tagman
Aug 31, 2006 (8:48 pm)
Reply
For those interested in the Mercedes AMG performance variants, it looks like AMG is going to turn the performance dial up another notch.
 
link title
 
TagMan

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