Video: Best luxury car of 2015: Telegraph Cars YouTube channel

Luxury Car - Car manufacturers market specific models and makes that are directed at particular socio-economic classes, and so "social status had become associated more with a specific vehicle than possession of an automobile by itself."Therefore, automakers identify among their products in "collusion" with the car-buying open public.While a higher price is the most typical factor, it is "styling, executive, and even public view which cars had the lowest and highest status associated with them."Every age in automobile background has already established "several car marques and models which may have been expensive to get, because of the alleged superiority of the design and engineering".Aimed at wealthy buyers, such automobiles might be termed luxury automobiles generically.This term is also used for unique vehicles produced during "a time when luxury was individualistic consideration, and coachwork could be tailored to an owner just like a bespoke suit."Although there is substantial books about specific marques, there's a insufficient scholarly and organized work that "analyzes the blissful luxury car sensation itself."Luxury vehicle creators may either be stand-alone companies in their own right, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, or a department/subsidiary of an mass market automaker (e.g., Lexus is part of Toyota). Badge engineering can be used for cost savings, for example, the Lincoln vehicles that derive from Ford websites or Acura models produced from Honda.

[Luxury Car Market Segments]

Premium Compact SegmentThe Premium Compact Segment is relatively new,|The high grade small category is new relatively,} having been initiated by several Western european brands in the middle-2000s, and also have displaced their small executive autos to constitute the lowest priced offerings in their lineups. The classification ranges, for occasion Consumer Guide Automotive in the U.S. considers the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class within the premium compact section scheduled to similar size and MSRP, though they are known in European countries as a tiny family car and a concise exec car, respectively. Increasing some confusion, Basic Motors has placed Buick as a "premium" nameplate to contend with Lincoln (whereas it previously competed with Mercury) and front-wheel drive Acura and Lexus models, while Cadillac is targeted at the "luxury" section which generally includes the performance-oriented BMW and Mercedes-Benz marques.The premium small segment is directed at a distinct segment market of consumers who found the prevailing entry-level luxury offerings (typically consisting of small executive autos - see below) to be very costly.By supplying a smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient, and less costly vehicle, superior compacts introduces young buyers to the blissful luxury marque, hoping of keeping the desired customer loyalty. This consists of the Acura CSX, Audi A3, Buick Verano, BMW 2 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac ELR, Chrysler 200, Lexus CT, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Saab 9-2X, and the Volvo V40. High quality compacts contend with well-equipped midsize (non-luxury) autos, and with options they overlap much with small executive vehicles (entry-level luxury autos)

[Entry-Level Luxury/ Executive Cars]

This category is recognized as the compact professional car in Britain where it specifies both cost range and vehicle proportions. Within the U.S., there's a broader category called entry-level luxury, which include underneath vehicles in the line-up of luxury brands as well as the top-of-the-line types of some non-luxury brands.Dimensionally, small exec vehicles are smaller than Mid-size autos and even smaller than small/Small family automobiles sometimes. Mass market compact cars use the economical front wheel drive transverse engine layout typically, suitable to the inline-4 engine, which maximizes interior room also. Most compact executive cars are rear-wheel drive with longitudinal engines, for improved handling and stability, and to be able to accommodate the bigger size of higher-performance engines (straight-6, V6, rarely V8), with four-wheel drive being available. Compact executive cars also generally have more difficult independent suspensions, sportier transmissions, and high revolution engines that may necessitate premium gasoline. The more technical powertrain and mechanised layouts of small executive automobiles comes at increased expense and reduced interior traveler and trunk space.Small executive cars are the Acura ILX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Jaguar XE, Volvo S60, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q40, Saab 9-3, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class which especially point out sporty handling.The American and Canadian classification of entry-level luxury (previously dominated by high grade marques e.g. Buick, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Chrysler) is a wide category which include not only small executive autos, but also midsize to large autos and SUVs including the Lexus Sera, Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Lexus RX being similar in cost to the BMW 3 Mercedes-Benz and Series C-Class.However, the ES, TL, and LaCrosse do not are categorized as the European luxury classification of compact executive car nor are they bought from Europe. The TL and ES actually commenced as badge engineered versions of the mid-size Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, respectively, retaining leading steering wheel drive transverse engine unit structure, whereas Toyota's current Lexus IS will not share a program with mass market Toyota automobiles. The Ha sido and TL aren't considered executive automobiles either (that slot machine is loaded by the Lexus GS and Acura RL, respectively), despite similar measurements, since exec autos usually stress higher performance, being rear-wheel drive with longitudinal machines often.The present iterations of the ES and LaCrosse emphasize "comfortable, affordable luxury",as the TL has been directed at the entry-level luxury sport market because of its SH-AWD.Mid-Size Luxury/Executive CarsThe mid-size luxury portion is often known as professional autos in Britain, Obere Mittelklasse in German, and Grandes Routi?res in France.Types of models in this category include Acura TLX, Audi A6, Audi A7, Volvo S80, Volvo S90, Genesis G80, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Jaguar XF, Maserati Ghibli, Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKZ, Saab 9-5, Lexus Sera, Lexus GS, and Infiniti Q50. Although Maserati vehicles have been costed as ultra-luxury autos typically, the new Maserati Ghibli III is supposed to contend with high-spec executive autos, including the Audi S6/S7, BMW 550i and Mercedes-Benz E550/CLS550.Although having similar sizes to mid-size automobiles and large family vehicles, professional vehicles are designed and situated as top quality vehicles with better performance and technology amenities. You will find higher development and production costs also, as much well-known mid-luxury cars use the longitudinal (usually front engine rear wheel drive layout) engine mounting which affords space for powerful engines like a V8, rather than the less expensive transverse engine layout of mass market cars that are limited to inline-4 or V6. Professional automobiles will often have lower sales and creation quantities in comparison to mid-size autos, as foundation trims with less equipment and smaller motors are not bought from U.S. and Canadian market segments.[50] due to the challenge of steep depreciation Also, involving automobiles from less renowned brands especially, most professional vehicles are made by marques that focus on greater/more expensive vehicles. In america particularly, the mid-luxury segment is dominated by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as executive cars from lesser-known manufacturers such as Citro?n and Infiniti haven’t possessed much successHigh-End Luxury/Full-Size Luxury CarsAlso called full-size luxury automobiles, grand saloons, flagship car, or top quality large vehicles, while "Oberklasse" is employed in Germany. Several will be the marque's showcases for the most recent automotive technology.Several nameplates offer long-wheelbase versions offering additional rear legroom and amenities also.Full-size luxury cars bought from Canada and the U.S. have mid-displacement V8 motors typically, though just lately some marques have offered six cylinder powerplants but without much success.Vehicles in this category include a few of the models from the flagship lines of luxury car brands. In European countries, this consists of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Porsche Panamera, Volkswagen Phaeton, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Jaguar XJ. In Japan: Acura RLX, Lexus LS, and the Infiniti Q70. In Australia: HSV Grange / Holden Caprice. In South Korea:SsangYong Chairman, Hyundai Equus, Genesis G90, Kia K900, in america: Lincoln MKS, Chrysler 300, Tesla Model S, Cadillac XTS, and the Cadillac CT6. In america in 2004, the bestselling full-size luxury nameplates were the Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and BMW 7 Series