Automakers look forward to showcasing the best in the luxury vehicle segment. Hence, every year, they bare their most precious luxurious masterpieces to compete with other car makers. Earlier, ForbesAutos.com set forth the most extreme luxury sedans on the road. These sedans brag about their outrageous power and exquisitely laid lavishness.
Five years ago, the trend includes luxury sedans that produce 400 horsepower. Now, automakers like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are introducing luxury sedans that have engine units which can produce as much as 600 units of horsepower.
"These are Ferraris with four doors and a trunk," said a former automotive financial analyst, Joseph Phillippi. "The appeal is the exclusivity they offer, the 'I'm rich enough to afford one' statement the car makes, albeit quietly. Clearly these cars are putting more horsepower to the ground than one would ever think was normal for a luxury sedan." These state-of-the-art and costly super sedans are inspired by popular models that bear sophisticated engine, suspension and transmission technology.
Gone are the days when so-so amenities, typical accessories, , rotors, brakes and other auto parts and car systems could storm around the industry. The trend now is probing the needs and demands of consumers and then applying expertise to pave way for a desirable car. Style, performance and price are now delivered with the customers first in mind. "I'm sure there are buyers who are clueless, simply spending money because they have a lot of it," Phillippi said. "But most of the people who buy these know all about the car - maybe even know how to drive it well."
Most luxurious luxury sedans keep away from the looks of some gaudy sports cars with large wings, distasteful scoops and noisy exhaust systems. The supercharged V12 badge, lowered stance, flashier wheels and discreet tires make a well accented difference.
"You're not looking to impress Joe Six-Pack," said automotive publicist and consultant Martyn Schorr. "It's the aficionados who are impressed - and valets. Valets are used to seeing luxury cars, but they're impressed when they see a Mercedes AMG or BMW M logo." The difference between ordinary and superlative sedans is often subtle that an average driver could not easily distinguish. A typical A4 is almost similar to the hot-rod RS 4; the equally-captivating Jaguar XJ8 could not be easily distinguished from the ferocious XJR. "The sedans are stealthy, so you can be a performance loony and not look bad in your neighborhood," Phillippi said.
Schorr added, "These sedans work as everyday family vehicles yet deliver performance that was, until recently, reserved for truly high-performance sports cars. And you can go anywhere and park one. It's just a sedan. It doesn't attract the attention a Ferrari does. They're invisible to all but knowledgeable people."
Analysts said that the plus factor of super sedans is the fact that they ask no compromise. They feature extra trunk space, comfy seats, and ideal handling and drive. It set of snow tires could make it a fascinating year-round cars. These and more are the reasons why the market for extreme luxury sedans is booming.
Other reasons for the super sedan fanaticism include the fact that they are arguably safer, high-performing, and tend to be bought by more responsible drivers. According to Schorr, people who already own one or more sports cars or those who truly appreciate high performance and feel they can't be without it in their daily driver, are the usual purchasers of super sedans. "The people who own these cars don't go nuts with them," Schorr said. "It doesn't matter that they have 500 hp. They're responsible individuals, they paid a lot of money for them, they transport families and business associates, they're more likely to stay out of trouble than are people who get behind the wheel of something red with two seats and very high horsepower."
"More and more people have the money," Schorr added. "The difference in price between it and the conventional model doesn't mean much to them. These people also tend to be fickle. Before the car is one or at most two years old, it's sold and they buy another one, so there's a constant, evolving market for them."
