David Wilkins has complited the list of 10 Best Luxury Cars saying that such interest might look like a sin in these straitened times but what we have to do if the life is going on like a show and loving perfect toys will never arouse any suspicion from the side real men. What about pictures you can find tem by yourself easily.
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Phaeton is a wonderful car but that hasn’t persuaded many people to buy it. Put a Volkswagen badge on a small runabout like the Polo and that will enhance its chances in the market; put it on a big luxury car such as the Phaeton and buyers turn their noses up at it. This car’s not very well-kept secret? It’s a sister-under-the-skin to to Bentley’s impressive, but much more expensive, Continental, which tells you everything you need to know about the power of brands and badges in the motor industry.
Mercedes S-Class
None of the other car manufacturers would care to admit it but the S-Class represents a sort of benchmark in the luxury bracket. A wide range of engine options means there’s an S-Class for everyone, if they’re rich enough, although the deeply impressive hybrid version doesn’t make it to the UK or other right-hand drive markets ? the batteries and other electrical bits get in the way of an RHD conversion.
BMW 7-Series
All the sevens ? the first 7-Series appeared back in ’77 and it’s gone head to head with the Mercedes S-Class ever since. The last ?7? met with a bit of resistance because of its challenging looks; that seems to have prompted BMW to be a bit less adventurous with this new version, which looks just a bit like a Lexus.
Jaguar XJ
This is the new one that goes on sale in a few months time. The outgoing model hadn’t moved on much in styling terms from the 1968 original, even though, with its clever weight-saving aluminium construction and a host of other technical advances, it was, under the skin, one of the most advanced cars you could buy. The new car’s dramatic look builds on the design direction Jaguar first set with the launch of the smaller XF last year.
Bentley Arnage
The Arnage isn’t much longer for this world ? it successor, the Mulsanne, is already waiting in the wings. This car has its roots in the period before Volkswagen’s takeover of Bentley in 1998, and was a sister model of the Rolls-Royce Seraph, although there have been lots of updates since the Germans moved into the driving seat. Under the bonnet, albeit in heavily-modified and turbocharged form, sits the venerable ? it dates back to the Fifties – and rather marvellous Rolls/Bentley V8. The Mulsanne is apparently pretty much a clean-sheet design, although that engine looks set to live on in the new car.
Rolls Royce Phantom
BMW bought the Rolls Royce name back in 1998 when it was split off from Bentley but had to start from scratch when it came to cars and factories; the Phantom, built in a new facility in Sussex is the result. If you can’t quite run to the Phantom, there’s always the forthcoming Ghost, Rolls-Royce’s new ?entry-level? model ? although even that’s got a price tag that’s well into six figures.
Porsche Panamera
Porsche’s history is full of designs for full four-seaters, and you can see many of the aborted prototypes at the company’s excellent new museum in Stuttgart. If you ignore the Cayenne SUV, this is the first one to make it into production. Only its slightly iffy looks may stand between the Panamera and ultimate greatness ? it will be interesting to see how it fares against Aston Martin’s Rapide four-seater, which promises to be its closest rival
Audi A8
The A8 is a cousin of the Volkswagen Phaeton. Audi’s a bit of a parvenu in the luxury market compared with Mercedes, BMW and Jaguar but the A8 is a highly convincing product that draws on the company’s legendary expertise in on-road four-wheel drive power-trains and other technologies. Like the Jaguar XJ, the A8 makes extensive use of aluminium bodywork
Lexus LS
A Lexus is a posh Toyota. The brand has struggled to establish itself in Europe, but has been wildly successful in North America where they probably care a bit less about the finer points of automotive pedigrees. Particular Lexus hallmarks are great quality and outstanding drive-train refinement. Go for the hybrid version if you want to wallow in luxury without feeling too guilty about it.
Maserati Quattroporte
The Italians do the sporty stuff very well, and their small cars are a delight, but their large saloons tend to be flops. Remember the Lancia Gamma, the Alfa Six and the Fiat 130? They were just three of the truly interesting big Italian cars that didn’t quite convince when they were put up against the best British and German luxury models. The Quattroporte, though, has always been an exception to the rule that the Italians can’t do big saloons, and the current model has won lots of friends, in particular because of its looks.
