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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 1942 of 2473

#19404 of 24723 New BMW 7 Series by dewey

Sep 29, 2006 (5:42 pm)

Here are the first shots of an authentic prototype of the future generation BMW 7 series.
 
These 7 series pictures look a lot like the 2009 5 series pictures I had previously posted here. Both 7 and 5 series pictures seem to share the same styling cues like the current e90 3 series.
 
I guess the only words that come to my mind when looking at these future BMW pictures are:
 
Bangle R.I.P.
Styling meant not to offend
Better safe than sorry
Being bold will only expose you to a scold
 
Apparently BMWs may end up being the most conservatively styled autos of the future.
 

#19405 of 24723 Re: tag, and merc [merc1] by reality2

Sep 29, 2006 (5:48 pm)

Replying to: merc1 (Sep 28, 2006 11:36 pm)
What I have read on Audi-specific enthusiast sites (and there are many) is that dealers will have to comply with very stringent requirements in order to receive the R8. This includes a special section of the showroom specifically devoted and delineated for the R8. Also, dealers will have to invest heavily in tooling and service facilities for the vehicle including special dedicated quality programs and such.

#19406 of 24723 Re: A Peugeot HEL-Sedan? [merc1] by dewey

Sep 29, 2006 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: merc1 (Sep 29, 2006 1:59 am)
This Peugeot 908RC is nothing more than an automotive version of a swanky Parisienne model walking along a runway during a Haute Couture fashion show clad in a transparent lace outfit with ostrich feathers.
 
In other words the car looks very sexy and provocative but not many would want to own it for the long-term.

#19407 of 24723 Re: tag, and merc [reality2] by tagman

Sep 29, 2006 (6:17 pm)

Replying to: reality2 (Sep 29, 2006 5:48 pm)
What I have read on Audi-specific enthusiast sites (and there are many) is that dealers will have to comply with very stringent requirements in order to receive the R8. This includes a special section of the showroom specifically devoted and delineated for the R8. Also, dealers will have to invest heavily in tooling and service facilities for the vehicle including special dedicated quality programs and such.
 
Interesting.
 
I tend to favor the requirements that result in greater service capabilities. The showroom stuff, however, is to raise the image bar. Important to corporate, perhaps, but less so to me. It's the service that matters most, IMO.
 
It's also comforting to learn that Audi will take the necessary steps to assure that its service can live up to the car.
 
TagMan

#19408 of 24723 Re: New BMW 7 Series [dewey] by tagman

Sep 29, 2006 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Sep 29, 2006 5:42 pm)
Apparently BMWs may end up being the most conservatively styled autos of the future.
 
You're not looking for that swanky model are ya'
 
Seriously, though, don't you and other Bimmer enthusiasts always say it's the drive that matters most? Don't we all know that the interior has already been very conservative?
 
This car isn't all that bad, IMO. Maybe less dramatic than you want? But, that seems to contradict the emphasis on driving . . . the wolf in sheep's clothes kind of thing.
 
BTW, take a very close zoom in on that rear trunk and you will see that it is still Bangled a little bit, so Chris is not dead, just taking a coffee break perhaps.
 
I admit it could use a little more flair, but it's certainly an attractive enough car that will likely perform so well that few will complain about it.
 
Just curious . . . do you think it looks better or worse than an LS460? . . . aside from the fact that the 7's performance should be quite a bit superior.
 
TagMan

#19409 of 24723 Candles in the dark by designman

Sep 30, 2006 (8:54 am)

Replying to: merc1 (Sep 29, 2006 1:59 am)
Peugeot 908 RC
 
For some reason I like this car. It has just right amount of outrageousness to it. I think if Maybach had come up with something this daring (but prettier) they would be selling a lot more cars today.
 
I like it too, particularly the way it crouches, scowls and conducts the wind. It wants to be minimal and appears this way at a distance but gets busy with some of the details which are more visible in some of the close-ups seen around the web, particularly the front end which has a Dodge and 350Z thing going. I’d like to see a simpler mug similar to the sketches presented in the link below which have cleanliness and sublimity not transposed into the actual model. Overall I think it’s a really good effort and yes I think Maybach would benefit with such an approach. By the way, those Z shards of light seem to be catching on.
 
http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2006/08/16-peugeot-908-rc-design-images/
 
Audi R8
 
Yep, this car pushes the right buttons. My only problem with the exterior is the overcooked louvers that subvert an otherwise spectacular design. They work nicely up front, especially how they downplay and integrate with the fish mouth, but rubber stamping them for the rear is a bit much. Regardless, there is a lot of harmony and the car moves while parked. It is sculpted, dug in and bad ass. The side blades which are available in three finishes are also perfect counterpoint.
 
Not as crazy about the retro interior but when I add it all up the R8 is still a bold piece, the runway model with a ‘tude, even if it is somewhat overembellished. If I didn’t know any better I’d say this is a concept that will never make it to production. In an age when automakers are desperate to be different and are willing to wear bad haircuts in lame attempts to do so, the R8 pulls it off. I just hope all of those louvers don’t wear me out. The good designs have to endure, grow on you, not wither on the vine—first impressions and visual fanfare are fleeting, not that we haven't seen its basic design before. I always found the slats on the Testarossa to be corny. But I have no doubt the R8 will be an achiever in spite of a slat-happy countenance. We’ll see how it settles into the future.
 
___
 
Both the Peugeot and R8 have one thing in common. They are both game-face mean. IMO mean is always a good thing. I don’t like cars that smile and beckon you to have a nice day. Of course with people it’s a different story.
 
Have a nice day now.
 

#19410 of 24723 Mercedes does an about face by tagman

Sep 30, 2006 (11:00 am)

Well, it seems that the smaller A & B Class cars that many were expecting from MB will NOT come to our shores afterall . . . for fear of diluting the brand, according to MB.
 
Strangely enough their release in Europe has not diluted the brand, so why should that happen here?
 
Mercedes won't sell small cars in U.S.
 
TagMan

#19411 of 24723 Re: Mercedes does an about face [tagman] by lexusguy

Sep 30, 2006 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: tagman (Sep 30, 2006 11:00 am)
Strangely enough their release in Europe has not diluted the brand, so why should that happen here?
 
Well, we don't get the Audi A2 here, either, and I don't think that 3 series hatch ever made it to our shores. If it did, it didn't stick around for long. If you're a "true" luxury brand, selling below $30K in the US market is a very iffy proposition. The C class hatch did not do well here.

#19412 of 24723 Re: Mercedes does an about face [lexusguy] by tagman

Sep 30, 2006 (3:32 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Sep 30, 2006 1:01 pm)
If you're a "true" luxury brand, selling below $30K in the US market is a very iffy proposition. The C class hatch did not do well here.
 
Maybe, but I'm not so sure of that. The C-Class hatch looked like an abomination . . . could be that's why it didn't sell. And when you stop and think about it . . . the rest of the C-Class is MB's largest seller. Go figure.
 
I tend to think that, if done well, MB could carve out a successful small car niche for themselves.
 
I'll bet a good chunk of green that BMW will be bringing in smaller "Series" vehicles in the near future, and that they will sell very well.
 
TagMan

#19413 of 24723 Re: Mercedes does an about face [tagman] by designman

Sep 30, 2006 (5:05 pm)

Replying to: tagman (Sep 30, 2006 3:32 pm)
The C-Class hatch looked like an abomination . . . could be that's why it didn't sell. And when you stop and think about it . . . the rest of the C-Class is MB's largest seller. Go figure.
 
Yeah that hatch thing looked pretty bad. On the other hand the C-sedans are mini Ss in appearance. I think that little brother image goes a long way. BMW can do anything small because sport goes with small... and they made their mark in the US with small in addition to its strong presence in the current small luxury class.

Messages Page 1942 of 2473

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