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The Top Luxury Car Makers In The World
- By Jacqueline Star
- Published 3 January 2012
- Automotive
- Unrated
There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get from driving a quality crafted luxury automobile. An old saying goes “Money Can’t Buy Happiness” but isn’t it hard not to grin just a teeny bit when driving a high performance luxury car with opulent leather seats and hearing the roar of a V8 (or V12!) engine, while other drivers look your way with envy? That has got to count for something! Here is a lineup of some of the top luxury car manufacturers in the world.
Mercedes Benz- Mercedes is the crème de la crème when it comes to luxury cars. It has been voted to be the highest quality and most prestigious brand by affluent consumers in numerous studies. The brand has pumped some new life into its lineup with a whole new appearance for the 2011 E Class which is now a lot bolder and edgier; gone are the trademark double headlights. A fascinating tidbit about Benz is that even though the brand is considered to be upscale in America, numerous dated C-class models are used as taxi cabs in Europe and in many third world countries. Part of the reason is due to the engine’s incredible durability; some of the engines on Benz taxi cabs have hit a few hundred thousand miles! Many of today’s most famous stars choose to drive a Mercedes Benz; Britney Spears has been often seen tearing up the streets in Hollywood in her white Mercedes SL65 while Lindsay Lohan has been involved in an infamous car crash in her black SL65. My favorite model is the SL65 AMG; the 2011 version sports a V12 engine and an incredible 604 HP with a hefty MRSP of approximately around $199k.
BMW- Their cars have been dubbed “The Ultimate Driving Machine” and rightfully so. BMW’s are are engineered to perform while Benz aims for a higher level of comfort. BMW’s generally come with a very robust engine and a stiff suspension. The brand is appealing to a younger share of the market while Mercedes has more appeal to more established professionals. The best selling line for the German brand is the 3-series line, which offers superior performance, handling and power at a competitive price in the entry-level market. The 335 model comes with an engine that puts out an immense 300 HP and 300 lb feet of torque. My personal favorite has to be the 7-series which oozes power and class; the 2010 model boasts a eight cylinder engine with 400 HP.
Aston Martin – This brand evokes a touch of sophisticated Old World British sophistication and I can totally picture a dapper James Bond emerging out of a sleek black V12 Vantage in a crisp Armani suit. Winners in the Aston Martin line include the Vantage V12 (which offers an impressive twelve cylinders for ultimate power!) and the new V8 Vantage N420 roadster which is a sleek and fluid convertible with beautiful curves, smooth fluid lines and a total of 420 horsepower.
Infiniti – Infiniti is Nissan’s flagship luxury brand. Infiniti is a relatively newcomer when compared with the traditional German players but it’s proven itself to be a manufacturer of stunning cars which emphasize performance, luxury and reliability. The manufacturer is noted for its high performance IPL line which is a more affordable alternative to Benz’s AMG line and the M3 series from BMW. The advantage of an Infiniti vehicle is that its service and repair costs tend to be typically more affordable than that of its German counterparts. My personal favorite is the powerful and sleek M56 which boasts a powerful eight cylinder engine and 420 HP. The starting cost for the AWD model is around $60k.
Mercedes Benz- Mercedes is the crème de la crème when it comes to luxury cars. It has been voted to be the highest quality and most prestigious brand by affluent consumers in numerous studies. The brand has pumped some new life into its lineup with a whole new appearance for the 2011 E Class which is now a lot bolder and edgier; gone are the trademark double headlights. A fascinating tidbit about Benz is that even though the brand is considered to be upscale in America, numerous dated C-class models are used as taxi cabs in Europe and in many third world countries. Part of the reason is due to the engine’s incredible durability; some of the engines on Benz taxi cabs have hit a few hundred thousand miles! Many of today’s most famous stars choose to drive a Mercedes Benz; Britney Spears has been often seen tearing up the streets in Hollywood in her white Mercedes SL65 while Lindsay Lohan has been involved in an infamous car crash in her black SL65. My favorite model is the SL65 AMG; the 2011 version sports a V12 engine and an incredible 604 HP with a hefty MRSP of approximately around $199k.
BMW- Their cars have been dubbed “The Ultimate Driving Machine” and rightfully so. BMW’s are are engineered to perform while Benz aims for a higher level of comfort. BMW’s generally come with a very robust engine and a stiff suspension. The brand is appealing to a younger share of the market while Mercedes has more appeal to more established professionals. The best selling line for the German brand is the 3-series line, which offers superior performance, handling and power at a competitive price in the entry-level market. The 335 model comes with an engine that puts out an immense 300 HP and 300 lb feet of torque. My personal favorite has to be the 7-series which oozes power and class; the 2010 model boasts a eight cylinder engine with 400 HP.
Aston Martin – This brand evokes a touch of sophisticated Old World British sophistication and I can totally picture a dapper James Bond emerging out of a sleek black V12 Vantage in a crisp Armani suit. Winners in the Aston Martin line include the Vantage V12 (which offers an impressive twelve cylinders for ultimate power!) and the new V8 Vantage N420 roadster which is a sleek and fluid convertible with beautiful curves, smooth fluid lines and a total of 420 horsepower.
Infiniti – Infiniti is Nissan’s flagship luxury brand. Infiniti is a relatively newcomer when compared with the traditional German players but it’s proven itself to be a manufacturer of stunning cars which emphasize performance, luxury and reliability. The manufacturer is noted for its high performance IPL line which is a more affordable alternative to Benz’s AMG line and the M3 series from BMW. The advantage of an Infiniti vehicle is that its service and repair costs tend to be typically more affordable than that of its German counterparts. My personal favorite is the powerful and sleek M56 which boasts a powerful eight cylinder engine and 420 HP. The starting cost for the AWD model is around $60k.
Jacqueline Star
Written by Jacqueline Star: West Covina Infiniti Dealer, Used Cars Florence, Luxury Cars Bay Area
View all articles by Jacqueline Star