Luxury is in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to the luxury lifestyle, we like to think that we know a thing or two.
Long before the likes of Porsche and Aston Martin got into making four-door sedans with the soul of a sportscar, Maserati was making the Quattroporte. The Modenese automaker is now on its sixth-generation luxury sedan, powered by a new family of twin-turbocharged engines with as much as 523 horsepower. Maserati even offers the new QP with a diesel or with all-wheel drive, ensuring that those looking for the height of luxury and refinement blended with Italian flair will be left with no excuse.
The Porsche Panamera is a sedan with the heart of a sports car that palpitates throughout every inch of this super luxury sedan. Five-hundred horsepower gives it a top speed of 188 mph and a zero-to-60-mph time of four seconds. A seven-speed transmission and lightweight construction make it highly efficient and low on fuel consumption. The car's adaptive air suspension keeps it level and smooth riding. Did anyone imagine that luggage space sufficient for four adults plus a roof transport system would be key features on a Porsche?
Aston Martin has already upgraded its sole four-door model into the Rapide S. It's powered by an upgraded version of Aston's signature 6.0-liter V12 engine now producing 550 horsepower and installed behind a more muscular grille, but the Rapide's sporty elegance has not changed. Arguably more than any of its rivals, the Aston Martin Rapide S is more a four-door sports car than a sports sedan, but that rakish profile comes at a cost: there's not much room in the back, so while it may not offer as much space as a conventional luxury sedan, it makes up for it with style and speed.
Bentley really put their design muscle to the test with their new Flying Spur, which boasts incredible speeds and unrestrained luxury. With the aluminum exterior and an interior full of hand-crafted veneers and hides, the Flying Spur shows off Bentley's expert craftsmanship seamlessly. Boasting a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 engine that gives 590 lb-ft of torque, this car can jump from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 mph. It even has 17 standard and 100 optional exterior color options, as well as many customization choices included in the Mulliner Driving Specification, ensuring that you get your Flying Spur exactly the way you want it.
The Ghost may be smaller than the Phantom on which Rolls-Royce rebuilt its business under BMW's patronage over a decade ago, but it's still bigger and more stately than just about any other luxury sedan on the road. Stretching over ten feet long in standard guise and over eighteen with the extended wheelbase, the Rolls-Royce Ghost offers a commodious interior whether you're behind the wheel or being chauffeured around town with its 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine providing more motivation than you could ever need. For 2014, Rolls-Royce has upgraded the Ghost with the Series II, offering better equipment, but what hasn't changed is the unparalleled experience which only a Rolls can offer.
For many drivers and buyers around the world, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the very quintessence of the luxury sedan. And with good reason. Not only is it the flagship sedan from one of the best-known luxury automakers in the world, it's also consistently one of the most technologically advanced. This time Mercedes has gone back to the drawing board and come back with the new benchmark, offering more refinement, a more handsome design and all the latest bells and whistles you could expect from the flagship Benz. The S-Class is offered with engines ranging from six cylinders to twelve, with diesels and with hybrids, and the top of the line is the S65 AMG with 621 horsepower and enough torque to pull a jumbo jet. But whichever model you choose, you'll get one of the most luxurious, prestigious, advanced and secure modes of transportation money can buy.
Following its sleek 2012 remodel, the XFR-S sedan is matching performance to its sporty appearance. Getting Jaguar?s R-S treatment, the sports sedan is Jaguar?s most powerful to date. A new 5.0 liter V-8 engine produces 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, and together with a ZF eight-speed transmission with Quickshift technology, provides acceleration from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and a top-speed of 186 mph. Drivers can choose from manual, sport, or automatic mode, and in addition to a louder, crackling exhaust ? with some of its sound piped into the interior ? the suspension and braking systems have been updated. Its aerodynamic exterior features enlarged air intakes, carbon fiber diffusers on the rear bumper and two rear wings. Only 100 models will be released in the U.S.
The luxurious BMW Gran Coupe series blends the practicality of a 4-door sedan with the style of a coupe. Its first ever 4-door coupe features performance enhancements such as an adjustable chassis with multiple settings, ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission, engine stop/start system and steering-wheel paddle shifters. The 640i features a 3.0-liter N55 inline six-cylinder engine with 315 hp while the rear (or all-wheel-drive) 650i has a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8. The interior boasts a sweeping dashboard, supportive seats and more legroom than the 5 series. Dynamic Damper Control is standard, while premium options include Roll Stabilization and Active Steering, side and top view cameras, 4-zone climate control, power rear sunshade, aerodynamic kit, heated steering wheel, merino leather, adaptive LED lights, night vision with pedestrian detection, and interior trims. The M Sport package gives wheel upgrades, special paint options, and a re-sculpted front and rear fascia. All this makes for the most expensive 6-cylinder BMW to date.
The masterfully built and wonderfully appointed Audi A8 is both progressive and classic throughout. With four different engine options, you can have plenty of horsepower and torque to choose from. There's the 3.0-liter V8 engine that will give you 333 hp at 5,500 rpm, 325 lb-ft of torque and get you from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds; the 4.0-liter V8 bumps up to 420 hp at 5,000 rpm, 444 lb-ft of torque, and takes 4.7 seconds to reach 0-60; the W12 provides 500 hp at 6,200 rpm, 463 lb-ft torque, and accelerates from 0-60 in just 4.4 seconds. Aesthetically, the A8's cabin is filled with creature comforts that range from state-of-the-art entertainment and communication systems to 22-way adjustable front seats with passenger memory. Audi engineering ensures that the benefit of owning an Audi is its inherent safety features. The Audi A8 is a well-balanced choice for its overall excellence.
The name Cadillac still stands for the height of luxury, even after years of lagging behind the imported competition. But Cadillac seriously upped its game with the introduction of the first CTS in 2003, moved even further forward with the second-generation CTS in 2008 and looks poised to pose a serious threat to the Germans and Japanese with the all-new third-gen CTS. Based on new architecture, the latest CTS is even more angular and more refined than its predecessors. Buyers will be able to choose between a turbocharged inline-four, a V6, or a turbocharged V6, offering a range of powertrain options for different budgets and tastes. No wonder it's already been named North American Car of the Year and Motor Trend Car of the Year.
Newcomers are few and far between in the automotive industry, but Tesla is a name that is electrifying the market, both literally and figuratively. After hitting the scene with the Lotus-based electric Roadster in 2006, Lotus launched the Model S in 2012, offering all the comfort and amenities of a full-size luxury sedan - and the performance of a sports sedan - on pure electric power. It'll run to 60 in just 4.2 seconds and can accommodate seven in its innovative, roomy and refreshingly modern cabin. It'll set you back nearly $100,000 to put one in your driveway, but that didn't stop the Model S from outselling every full-size, conventionally-powered luxury sedan in America last year, including the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and Lexus LS.
Being the first vehicle to combine a V8 engine with an electric motor, the Lexus LS 600h is an innovative Luxury sedan that is both powerful and eco friendly. The history-making six-figure hybrid is a pioneering automobile in a class of its own, being as stylish as it is practical. Nineteen-inch wheels and a 19-speaker sound system are only the beginning in assembling this car's perks and plusses list. The groundbreaking AWD Lexus LS 600h is a trendsetter.
