Luxury cars | Exotic Sport cars | Cars cost over $100,000

Audi A8
Bentley Arnage
Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley Continental GT
BMW 7-Series
Jaguar XJ Series
Maserati Quattroporte
Maybach Maybach
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Rolls-Royce Phantom

High-End Luxury Vehicles

This elegant Bentley Flying Spur is the latest luxury sedan from the prestigious marque, employing a powerful 550-horsepower engine and all-wheel drive.

Luxury automobiles priced above $100,000.
Rear-seat passengers in the Maybach 62 enjoy first-class seating in what the automaker calls its "business jet on wheels."

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is the first product to wear the Rolls-Royce brand since BMW took ownership of the name on January 1, 2003. Audi joins the $100,000-plus crowd with the luxurious A8 L W12.

Aston Martin DB9
Audi A8
Bentley Arnage
Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley Continental GT
BMW 7-Series
Jaguar XJ Series
Maserati Quattroporte
Maybach Maybach
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Rolls-Royce Phantom

One of the most powerful production convertibles in the world, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 has more than 600 horsepower.

Jaguar's newest entry in this ultra-luxury market is this limited-edition Super V8 Portfolio sedan.

Economically speaking, these ultra-luxury vehicles are usually out of reach for most consumers, with base retail prices starting around $100,000 and increasing from there. So is there really a market for these fantasy-drivers? Even in these times of worldwide economic uncertainty, the answer is a resounding "yes."
According to R.L. Polk and Co., the "super luxury" segment (cars costing more than $100,000) is one of only two to show market growth over the last five years. R.L. Polk and Company is a global automotive information and marketing firm that provides solutions to automotive and related industries.

"The popularity of super luxury sedans among affluent American consumers has opened the door for automakers to roll out a whole new generation of innovative, amenity-laden models," said Eric Papacek, analytic consultant for Polk. "New models and concepts recently announced by Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Cadillac are clear signs that the uber car has returned to the American auto scene."

Ultra-Luxury Cars

Highlights of the Ultra-Luxury Lineup
At the top of the luxury car market are two models that arrived on American shores in the last few years—the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Maybach 57/62.

Five years ago BMW AG became the owner of the prestigious Rolls-Royce name, and in January 2003 the new owners showed off a new car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Phantom has a design instantly recognizable as a Rolls-Royce, with only the finest materials used throughout the vehicle. As many as 16 hides of leather go into each Phantom, and the automaker claims it to be the softest in the industry. Base price for a new Phantom: around $330,000.

Not to be outdone, Mercedes-Benz has brought back the Maybach name and put it on a set of ultra-luxury sedans. Named the 57 and 62 (based on vehicle length: 5.7 meters and 6.2 meters, respectively), the Maybach is quite different from the Rolls. Styling is more modern and the interior feels more high-tech. The 57 is considered a driver's car, while the 62 would likely be chauffeur-driven, referred to by the automaker as a "business jet on wheels." Featuring power-closing rear doors, a 600-watt audio system and reclining rear seats with power footrests, the Maybach 62 goes for around $375,000.

The Bentley brand stakes a time-honored claim in the ultra-luxury class. The sleek Continental GT is one of the fastest 4-seat coupes available in the world, boasting a 552 horsepower twin-turbo W12 engine that powers all four wheels. Not only is it the first all-wheel-drive Bentley, the Continental GT also is the least expensive, with a starting price at a mere $159,900. Joining the Continental GT coupe last year was the 4-door Flying Spur. The Flying Spur shares styling with its coupe sibling, as well as the powerful W12 engine and all-wheel drive.

The ultra-luxury sedan from Bentley—the Arnage—received a freshened look and a number of enhancements last year. The front fascia now features round headlights and revised hoodlines, both of which bring the sedan's looks in line with the new Continental GT. Inside, the Arnage gets a new dashboard top, fresh instruments and a new DVD satellite navigation unit. The already outstanding ride quality and handling have been enhanced with a revised rear suspension. The 2005 Arnage is available in R and T trims, as well as the long-wheelbase RL.

Aston Martin rides high with the all-new DB9. The two-plus-two sports car offered in both Coupe and Volante (convertible) versions replaced the DB7 for the 2004 model year. The hand-built DB9's 450-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 engine is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Aston Martin is also considering a sleek 4-door sedan based on the DB9. A concept 4-door called the Rapide was shown at January's North American International Auto Show.

Mercedes-Benz and BMW both offer high-end sedans and convertibles that break the $100,000 barrier.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, CL-Class coupe and SL-Class roadster are all lavishly equipped, but it's their powerplants that distinguish them from their lesser-priced siblings. The S55, CL55 and SL55 all sport supercharged V8 engines producing an impressive 493 horsepower. The S600, CL600 and SL600 get the same power output from a twin-turbo V12 under the hood. Look for details of an all-new S-Class coming soon.

BMW recently joined this elite group with its 760 luxury sedan. The top-end of the 7-series lineup, the 760 (and long-wheelbase 760Li) offers an expansive rear seating area, impressive handling and excellent performance from its 438-horsepower V12 engine.

Audi now brings an entry to this list with the A8 L W12. This extended-wheelbase version of the A8 sports a 450-horsepower W12 engine teamed with the automaker's legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Jaguar has also moved up into the $100,000-plus arena with the all-new Super V8 Portfolio sedan. This limited-edition XJ Sedan features a sporting style, with sculpted aluminum power vents in the front wings, a distinctive mesh grille and polished 20-inch alloy wheels. Inside are such amenities as a DVD system with twin rear display-screens, four-zone air conditioning and an Alpine Dolby Prologic II surround-sound audio. Under the hood is the latest version of Jaguar's supercharged 4.2-liter V8 putting out 400 horsepower.

Maserati also steps up to this elite group with the introduction of the new Quattroporte. Priced just below $100,000, the Quattroporte features a shape and styling cues, as well as the famous trident badge, that identifiy it as a Maserati. Rosewood, briarwood and mahogany are standard interior treatments; however, buyers can personalize the cabin, even specifying a titanium finish if they wish. The new Maserati sedan boasts a compact 4.2-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower. It gives this luxury sedan the performance expected of a Maserati: 0-62 mph comes up in just 5.3 seconds.

Volkswagen currently offers the high-end Phaeton—the first vehicle to break the $100,000 mark wearing the VW brand. However, the automaker has announced that it will no longer sell this vehicle in America due to slow sales.

A number of other vehicles sell for well above the $100,000 mark but wouldn't necessarily be categorized as luxury automobiles. Many of these are ultra-high performance cars from brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche. Details about these can be found in our overview of the Magnificent Exotics.

In the market for a new car? MSN Autos is pleased to provide you with information and services designed to save you time, money and hassle. Click to research prices and specifications on any new car on the market or click to get a free price quote through MSN Autos' New-Car Buying Service.

New IIHS Side Crash Tests of Large luxury Cars - Video Enhanced Story

ARLINGTON, VA — Three of six large car models earn the top rating of good, but one is marginal in side impact crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Results show a range of performance in how well large cars are designed to protect people in serious side crashes.

Ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor are based on a crash test in which a barrier designed to replicate the front end of a typical SUV or pickup truck strikes the tested vehicle in the side at 31 mph.

The best performers are the Acura RL, Kia Amanti, and Volvo S80, all 2007 models. The S80 also earns the Institute's 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior overall crash protection. The S80 qualifies because it's rated good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and has electronic stability control as standard equipment. The 2007 Cadillac STS and Mercedes E class earn acceptable ratings in the latest round of side tests. The worst performer is the 2008 BMW 5 series, which earns the second lowest rating of marginal for side impact protection. All 6 cars are equipped with standard side airbags that protect the heads of people in front and rear seats.

Side impacts are the second most common fatal crash type after frontal crashes. About 9,200 people in passenger vehicles were killed in side impacts in 2005. In crashes with other passenger vehicles during 2004-05, 49 percent of driver deaths in 1-3-year-old cars and minivans occurred in side impacts, up from 31 percent in 1980-81. During the same time, the proportion of driver deaths in frontal crashes declined from 61 to 46 percent.

"These changes are attributable to two effects," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "There have been significant improvements in frontal crash protection — standard airbags, improved structural designs, and increased use of safety belts, for example. At the same time, growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side."

High price doesn't always predict safety performance: The lowest priced vehicle in the group the Institute recently tested, the Amanti, was one of the best performers. One of the most expensive models, the 5 series, was the worst.

"The Amanti shows that you don't have to buy an expensive car to get good protection in crashes with SUVs and pickup trucks," Lund points out. The side structure of the Amanti allowed more intrusion than in the other cars in this group, but all of the injury measures recorded on the dummies were low. The standard head curtain airbags for front- and back-seat occupants kept the dummies' heads from hitting any hard structures including the intruding crash test barrier.

The head-protecting airbags in the BMW 5 series are tubular structures that differ from the curtain airbags in the Amanti but also are effective. However, torso protection is rated poor for the driver dummy in the 5 series, even though it has separate airbags designed to protect the chests and abdomens of front-seat occupants. Measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate that rib fractures and internal organ injuries would be likely to occur in a real-world crash of this severity. A pelvic fracture also would be possible.

Changes are made to improve occupant protection in side impacts: The Mercedes E class was re-engineered for 2007 with an emphasis on improving occupant protection in side crashes. When the Institute tested an early production model in 2007, the car earned an acceptable rating mainly because of high forces recorded on the driver dummy's torso. Mercedes changed the front door trim panels on cars built after May 2007 to try to fix the problem and asked the Institute to test the revised car. The result was a slight improvement but not enough to change this car's rating. The test of the revised design still showed high forces on the driver dummy that could result in rib and pelvic fractures in a real-world crash of similar severity.

"The E class earns the Institute's top rating of good for front and rear crash protection. If this manufacturer can improve side impact protection, this car will earn TOP SAFETY PICK," Lund says.

General Motors made changes to the Cadillac STS including reinforcing the B-pillars, changing front door trim panels, and modifying the side torso airbags. The car with these changes earns the second highest rating of acceptable.

The side impact test is only one aspect used to evaluate vehicle crashworthiness. The Institute also conducts 40 mph frontal offset crash tests and evaluates vehicles' seat/head restraint designs for protection in rear crashes. Nearly every passenger vehicle, including all of the cars in this group, now earns the highest rating of good for frontal crash protection. However, side and rear evaluations vary widely. Consumers shopping for safety need to be aware of these differences and choose vehicles that offer the best overall protection in crashes. For comparative evaluations of hundreds of passenger vehicles, go to www.iihs.org/ratings. 

How side tests are conducted: A vehicle's side evaluation is based on performance in a crash test in which the side of the vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Overall ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the test. Injury measures obtained from the two dummies, one in the driver seat and the other in the back seat behind the driver, are used to determine the likelihood that a driver and/or passenger in a real-world crash would sustain serious injury to various body regions. The movements and contacts of the dummies' heads during the test also are evaluated. Structural performance is based on measurements indicating the amount of B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment.

Like Luxury Cars? Hope You Can Afford Luxury Insurance

Sure, it's nice to ogle cars in the 200 mph club, or even the 150 mph club, for that matter. But have you ever considered the costs of insuring such prized possessions?

Forbes has done a little study on the subject for us, and while we're not surprised to find that the pricier the vehicle, the pricier the insurance, we're shocked to see how much it really costs to insure these beasts. Check it out:

That Mercedes S-class you've been hot for? Try in excess of $22,500 per year, and this with just $500 deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage, $100,000 each for personal and property coverage and $25,000 each for medical and uninsured coverage, according to Forbes. Considering the likely owner of the car will have assets far beyond what's listed there, we're talking a huge chunk of change.

According to Forbes, 20% of the price of luxury cars is a good rule of thumb. That means, however, that someone paying a low lease payment on a car like the Mercedes S-class will likely end up paying more to cover it than the actual monthly payment itself.

Other surprising numbers:

BMW M5 and M6: $18,548 Mercedes G-Class: $17,784 Jaguar XK: $16,154 Land Rover Range Rover: $16,042

The moral of the story? Check with your insurer before committing to buy a lease a car to be sure on overall costs.

[Source: Forbes]

30 years of the BMW 7 Series 28 July 2007

30 years ago, BMW's "large class" spawned a successor that was to become a byword for luxury, elegance and innovation: the BMW 7 Series. Drawing on technology based on the large 6 Series Coupé launched in 1976 and styling that bore the signature of BMW's chief designer Paul Bracq, BMW succeeded in creating a car that was larger than its predecessor yet managed to retain the hallmark dynamics associated with the brand.

The ingeniously tailored, understated bodywork borrowed its main styling cues from the BMW 6 Series Coupés. The gently sloping bonnet and boot, short overhangs and low beltline granted occupants excellent visibility, helped by a glass area that was 11 percent larger than its predecessor's. The BMW engineers had also carried out modifications in the chassis technology and on the safety front. New features included front-wheel suspension with double-joint spring struts, a reduced steering offset and anti-dive, as well as a closed-shell rear axle subframe that offered far greater rigidity and improved corrosion protection. Like the other cars in the BMW portfolio, the 7 Series models also came with a centre rollover bar. In conjunction with all-round roof reinforcements and strong loadbearing pillars, this created a very large integrated safety structure to secure the survival space of occupants even in extreme impacts.

With the newly launched BMW 7 Series joining the 3, 5 and 6 Series ranges, BMW now had a complete model family whose various members were instantly recognisable as being "related" thanks to their similar, yet distinctive, designs. "Visual and technical unity is now assured across all the model series," is how Hans-Erdmann Schönbeck, the sales director of the time, put it. "The BMW models are now indisputably a 'family' once more with many shared features."

Initially customers could choose from three models: the 2.8-litre, 3.0-litre and 3.2-litre with 170, 184 and 197 hp respectively. Base prices were DM 29,300 for the BMW 728 and DM 33,600 for the 730, while an extra DM 5,000 would buy the top-of-the range 733i.

Even the BMW 728 boasted standard specifications that included speed-sensitive power steering, a diagonal-split dual-circuit brake system, inner-vented front brake discs together with a newly developed hydraulic brake servo, a laminated front windscreen, adjustable steering column and seat height, and an electrically adjustable exterior mirror. The BMW 730 ushered in the Check/Control system, an electronic monitoring unit that checked the level of the engine oil, brake fluid, coolant and windscreen washer fluid, as well as the functioning of the brake lights and rear lights, and the thickness of the brake linings. Beyond this, the top-ranging 733i featured not only a Bosch L-Jetronic injection system, but also boasted a contactless transistorised ignition, central locking, heat-insulating glass and a leather steering wheel.

In addition, customers could order from a long list of optional extras to equip their BMW 7 Series to personal taste. These included automatic transmission, a steel slide/tilt roof, headlamp washer and wiper, air conditioning, electric window lifts, self-levelling rear suspension, metallic paintwork, leather upholstery and separate electrically adjustable seats in the rear. The range of special equipment was augmented by "sporty extras" such as a limited slip differential, alloy wheels and a leather sports steering wheel.

The BMW 7 Series enjoyed an extremely successful market launch. At the Annual General Meeting of 7 July 1977, BMW's Chairman of the Board Eberhard von Kuenheim announced: "The volume of orders is so unexpectedly high that the Dingolfing plant can barely keep up with production." Company turnover had risen by 32 percent the year before and BMW was turning out 24 percent more cars and 10 percent more motorcycles. The upward trend continued in the first half of 1977, which meant that the workforce again had to put in several extra shifts to keep up with the surging demand. To ensure that international customers could also buy the flagship car from the start, right-hand-drive versions were offered at an early stage. In July the first CKD kits were shipped out to the BMW plant in South Africa. December also saw the production start-up of a special version of the 733i targeted at the highly important North American market. In 1977 production figures for the BMW 7 Series ran to almost 20,000, a figure that would rise to 35,745 cars in the first full year of production and still exceed 35,000 units in the subsequent two years. The bottom line was that the BMW 7 Series was more successful than any previous BMW model series in its class.

The early years of the 7 Series already saw the regular addition of further optional extras. In 1978 BMW began offering its Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). To make driving BMW's top-of-the-line model even safer and more comfortable, it also launched features such as an anti-theft warning system, driver's vanity mirror and heated door locks, heated seats, onboard computer, cruise control, sunblinds for the rear windscreen and automatic air conditioning. For business people who spent a lot of time on the road, telephone preparation was also available.

From late August 1979 the large BMW six-cylinders were offered exclusively with fuel-efficient injection engines. The BMW 728i with an output of 184 hp replaced the 728, and the previous 733i was renamed the 732i. While displacement and output remained unchanged, enhancements included the newly developed digital engine electronics, incorporated for the first time in a BMW production model. This system used a microcomputer to calculate the precise ignition angle and quantity of fuel to be injected in any operating conditions. A newcomer to the range was the BMW 735i with the 3.5-litre 218 hp engine familiar from the 635CSi.

Ready for delivery in early summer of 1980, the new top-of-the-range model of the first-generation 7 Series - the BMW 745i featuring a 252 hp six-cylinder engine with exhaust turbocharger and 3-speed automatic transmission as standard - was handed over to the first customer. The model designation derived from the conventional formula applied to turbo models in motor sport at the time: engine size multiplied by a factor of 1.4 gave you the displacement class in which the turbo cars were deployed on the race track. For the BMW 7 Series with its 3210 cc displacement, the calculation produced the figure 4494. The 3.2-litre turbocharged six-cylinder delivered driving performance that was hard to match in the saloon sector.

Outside the official product range, and therefore unnoticed by the public, BMW produced a 725i model powered by the 150 hp engine taken from the BMW 525i and designed for use by public authorities, whose cars were frequently restricted to an engine size of 2.5 litres. To ensure that these potential customers still had the option of choosing a 7 Series model, BMW decided to install the tried and tested engine from the 5 Series. By the time production was phased out in April 1986, a total of 921 examples of this special model had been built. Similarly targeted primarily at public bodies, BMW introduced a reinforced version of the 7 Series as a security vehicle in 1981.

In September 1982 a number of technical and visual changes began to be phased in as part of a model revision. On the outside the hallmark BMW kidney grille was slightly flatter, the air intake in the radiator grille was smaller and the panel under the bumper had been modified. The top-of-the-range 745i now had a 3.4-litre engine under its bonnet, though output remained unchanged, as well as a 4-speed automatic transmission. The BMW 735i and 745i also came with the option of Executive leather upholstery at an extra cost of DM 3,390. Model year 1984 brought the option of a 4-speed automatic transmission with electric-hydraulic control and three shift modes. In the autumn, the BMW 7 Series range was augmented by two more luxury models: the BMW 735i Highline and the 745i Highline with high-luxury specifications.

By the time this series was discontinued in June 1986, production figures had hit 285,029. The most popular model was the 728i, which sold 70,360 times, followed by the 735i with sales of 60,818. A total of 16,848 BMW 7 Series alone went to South Africa as CKD kits. It was here, too, that the most powerful of the BMW 7 Series found a market. Early 1984, practically unobserved by the European public, saw the launch of a special version of the 745i powered by the four-valve-per-cylinder, naturally aspirated M88/3 engine from the BMW M1. Thanks to its L-Jetronic fuel injection system, output was boosted to 290 hp, while power was managed by either a 5-speed sports gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission with electronic-hydraulic control and three shift modes. BBS Mahle provided the alloy wheels and Pirelli supplied the proven P7 tyres in 205/55 or 225/50 spec. Its technology and interior equipment were adopted by the European BMW 7 Series Executive models. On the outside, this 745i was identifiable by hubcaps bearing the old BMW Motorsport logo, while inside the car only the speedometer featuring the letter M and the Motorsport stripes indicated that the engine nestling underneath the bonnet was anything out of the ordinary. Boasting a top speed of 241 km/h, the South African BMW 745i was only marginally slower than the almost 300 kg lighter BMW M5. By May 1986, only 192 models of this rare breed had left the factory.

The US market also offered a special variant of the BMW 7 Series, known as the L7. Even among BMW connoisseurs, this model designation is generally only familiar from the third-generation 7 Series, when the car was offered to the Arab and Asian markets with a longer wheelbase and an inserted centre section. However, in autumn of 1985 an L7 model appeared on the American market in which the L stood for "luxury". This model corresponded in almost every respect to the European BMW 735i Highline, although it offered a range of additional standard equipment such as a driver airbag, electric sliding roof, air conditioning and heated seats.

But the BMW 7 Series not only stood for dynamism and luxury; it was always a byword for innovation, too. The early 1980s, for example, saw the inception of a pioneering experiment: in collaboration with the German Test and Research Institute for Aviation and Space Flight (DFVLR), a BMW 735i and 745i were converted to so-called bivalent operation on either liquid hydrogen or petrol. By then BMW had already recognised the environmental credentials of hydrogen and the fact that, as a secondary energy source, it offered virtually unlimited long-term availability. The systematic pursuit of this path would lead, after almost 25 years of development work, to the launch of the first hydrogen-powered production model in late 2006: the BMW Hydrogen 7.

Demand for pre-owned luxury cars drives new business

Three Houston entrepreneurs have formed a business to address increasing demand for pre-owned luxury automobiles.

Well-known Houston automotive and business consultants Wayne Wickman, Charles Wickman and Kenny Wright have founded Texas Luxury Cars.

Charles Wickman said the trio started the company to provide an efficient and cost-effective method of buying and selling high-line automobiles.

"Given the rapid depreciation of most new cars and the high price of fuel, high-line car buyers are looking for opportunities to trim automotive expenses," he said.

Co-founder Wayne Wickman said the company sold 30 cars in its first 30 days of operation.

TLC also encourages consumers to use the Internet to search its inventory on its Web site, www.texasluxurycars.net,  where shoppers can see as many as 100 photographs of each vehicle accompanied by descriptions.

The Texas Luxury Cars showroom is located at 9727 Consuela, near the corner of Southwest Freeway at Bissonnet. The showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.

Five-Star Amenities for Luxury Cars

By Kelli B. Grant
Now when it comes to extras, the options are seemingly endless — and more readily accessible. You can buy a 2007 Mini Cooper loaded with GPS navigation, heated leather seats, Sirius Satellite Radio and parking assist features, which makes a beeping sound if you come close to hitting anything, for a fairly reasonable $25,000.

As the playing field gets leveled, luxury-car makers — long the pioneers of the latest and greatest in auto gadgets — have been forced to get a lot more creative, or at the very least, more grandiose. "You'll still hear about horsepower, leather seats, blah, blah, blah," says Brian Cooley, editor at large for electronics review site www.CNET.com1,  "But car makers are increasingly leaning on technology to differentiate their vehicles."

With that in mind, here's a tour of the cutting-edge gizmos that are being included in some of the sweetest of the sweet rides:

Night Vision Cars: 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL600 ($144,200, standard with night vision) and 2007 BMW 7 Series ($78,900, plus $2,200 for night vision option).

It sounds like something out of a spy flick: As your car races through the darkness, the press of a button activates a dashboard screen. Thermal imaging reveals people, animals and other heat-infused objects, while image enhancement brings the landscape beyond reach of your headlights into clearer view. Sure, manufacturers introduced night-vision technology to aid driver visibility, but small screens make it more fun than functional, says Scott Oldham, editor for Inside Line, the online auto magazine of www.Edmunds.com.   "Use it and you have to drive by looking at the dashboard," he says. "It's really a toy."

Broadcast TV Cars: 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom ($385,500, standard with broadcast TV).

With built-in DVD systems and viewing screens showing up in midlevel cars like the 2008 Mazda CX-9 ($33,355), how's a luxury auto manufacturer to differentiate? Rolls-Royce added broadcast TV to its list of standard features. An inconspicuous antenna picks up the dozen or so local channels. That's in addition to the six-DVD changer, of course. Bonus: You'll watch your favorite shows on 12-inch rear-seat screens (which, incidentally, fold neatly into the back of the front seats when not in use). "They're stunningly large," says Cooley. "Nothing else out there comes close."

Brand-Name Sound Systems Cars: 2007 Lexus LS 460 ($61,000, plus $5,645 to $6,345 for the Mark Levinson system option), 2007 Audi A8 ($72,900, plus $6,300 for the Bang & Olufsen system option) and 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano ($264,000, standard with Bose system).

"How many more speakers can you put in a car? How many more watts?" asks Jack Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book3. "There's a point where it just adds to your ability to deafen yourself and make every other car near you vibrate."

With that quality-trumps-quantity adage in mind, luxury auto makers are outsourcing their sound systems to pros known for crafting high-end home audio components. The 2007 Audi A8, for example, contains an optional $6,300 Bang & Olufsen system with a subwoofer, 14 speakers and 1,110 watts of amplifier power. Lincoln has taken a different approach, installing factory systems that are THX-certified — meaning they could pass muster at the movie theater down the street. The result in both cases: clear, distortion-free sound.

Spa Seating Cars: 2008 Lexus 600h L ($104,000, plus $12,570 for Executive Class Seating option) and 2008 Cadillac STS-V ($76,555, standard with heated/cooled seating).

Sitting in traffic just got a lot more fun. Manufacturers are upping the luxe factor on already-supple leather seats with comfort-inducing gadgets. "The car has become quite a comfortable place," says Cooley. "Now nobody wants to drive." Climate-controlled seats in the 2008 Cadillac STS-V, for example, use channels beneath perforated leather to move chilled air — no more burning, sticky seats on a hot summer day. (Of course, on cold winter mornings, you can opt for multilevel heat.) Backseat passengers have it best in the 2008 Lexus 600h L. Its Executive Class Seating Package enables the right seat to recline. Pop up the footrest, and program the seat's multifunction shiatsu massager to go to work on that traffic-induced stress.

HD Radio Cars: 2008 Jaguar XJ8 ($63,835, plus $2,800 for HD radio/navigation option), 2008 BMW M5 ($82,900, plus $500 for HD radio option).

If only the local rock station sounded as good on your car's high-tech stereo system as your favorite CDs. Not a problem if your car is equipped with a hybrid digital — a.k.a. HD — radio tuner, explains Marty Padgett, editor of auto enthusiast site The Car Connection4. More than 1,400 stations nationwide use this new technology, which adds digital signals to reduce the static and distortion of typical analog broadcasts. The built-in car tuner offered by luxury car makers automatically picks up these signals whenever available. "Suddenly your local radio station sounds as crisp and clear as Sirius or XM," he says.

Smart Warning Systems Cars: 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 ($95,300, plus $2,200 for Adaptive Cruise Control option), 2008 Cadillac DTS ($46,845, plus $295 for Lane Departure Warning option), and 2007 Lexus SC 430 ($65,455 with standard Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management).

Safety innovations are the quickest technology to move from luxury automobiles to mass-market cars, says Oldham. Such features are also the priciest to develop, which is why auto makers install them first in high-end vehicles. The latest safety gadgetry is a complex system of sensors inside and outside of the car that monitor your driving patterns and the environment around you. Relaying messages to a dashboard computer, the car can automatically take steps to keep you safe. Here are some of the latest features:

Lane-departure warning systems. A loud pinging noise and warning lights (Cadillac) or vibrating steering wheel (BMW) alerts you if you allow the car to begin drifting. Adaptive cruise control. Sensors prevent you from cruising right into the slower-moving car ahead of you. "It'll 'see' the car ahead of you and keep a safe following distance," says Oldham. Blind-spot warning devices. Yellow lights on the car mirrors (Lexus) notify you if a vehicle is in your blind spots. Collision-warning systems. When the system senses a problem — say, you go into a skid, drift into another lane or suddenly slam on your brakes — the car coordinates to help you stay in control. "It will react faster because it realizes you need a faster response," says Oldham. That might mean it widens your steering radius, applies the breaks or decreases engine power. "It'll tighten your seatbelt, essentially brace [itself and you] for impact," he says.

Cerberus Interested In Buying Jaguar, Land Rover

After losing $12.7 billion last year, Ford is facing financial problems which have led to the sale of the ultra-luxury brand Aston Martin. The European car brand was sold by the Dearborn-based car manufacturer earlier this year to give its financial status a boost. Lately though, the company is still posting reduced sale. This has led the company to put Jaguar and Land Rover in the auction block.

One of the potential buyers for the British brands is the same equity firm that has taken the money-loosing Chrysler from the hands of DaimlerChrysler AG. Cerberus, the private equity firm, is currently ironing out the purchase of 80 percent of the Chrysler Group.

Aside from acquiring Chrysler, Cerberus is reported to be interested in the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. It is reported that the firm has approached Ford concerning the sale of the two British brands. The talks though between the car manufacturer and the private equity firm have not resulted to Cerberus offering to buy the two brands.

Ford has already hired the services of financial firms to come up with a price for the Jaguar and the Land Rover. Merrill Lynch estimated that Ford could bring in as much as $1.5 billion from the sale of the two brands. Other firms and analysts have estimated that Ford can get as much as $8 billion for the British brands.

If Ford would indeed sell the two British brands for $1.5 billion, they will be losing a lot of money in the process. FoMoCo bought the two brands for more than $8 billion and they have already invested a lot in the brands. The losses incurred by both brands in the past years will also haunt Ford if they will sell the two for as low as $1.5 billion.

It is important that Jaguar should be sold alongside Land Rover since both brands are developed by Ford to become interdependent with each other apparently not expecting that they would have to sell them. Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles are even manufactured in the same assembly facility - similar to the way Ford manufactures its vehicles’ auto parts. The company manufactures components such as Ford window motors on assembly facilities which also produce Mazda components.

Another issue being looked into the possible sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Cerberus is how it will complement the Chrysler Group which is already in Cerberus’ portfolio. One suggestion is that Land Rover and Jeep vehicles can share the same platform thus reducing production cost. As for Jaguar, it is hard to place it in the Chrysler mix. One possibility though is that Jaguar vehicles can be equipped with the legendary Hemi engines which would surely make waves in the auto performance enthusiasts circle.

Once Jaguar and Land Rover is sold, the Premiere Automotive Group (PAG) will only have Volvo. While the Swedish brand is considered as premium, it is not a luxury car brand. This means that Ford will only be left with Lincoln to compete at the highly profitable luxury car market. The brand is currently being dominated by other luxury brands such as Cadillac, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. Ford will have to come up with a way to revitalize Lincoln so that it can be a strong contender in the luxury car market. As for Cerberus, taking on car brands which are performing poorly will truly be a challenge.

Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time. Please visit Ford window motors for more information

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