Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Luxury Vehicle shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Luxury Vehicle offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Luxury Vehicle at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Luxury Vehicle? Wrong! If the Luxury Vehicle is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Luxury Vehicle then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Luxury Vehicle? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Luxury Vehicle and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Luxury Vehicle wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Luxury Vehicle then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Luxury Vehicle site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Luxury Vehicle, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Luxury Vehicle, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

, an example of the "traditional" luxury car design. J 350 Willoughby on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix, a classic luxury car.

A luxury vehicle is a relatively expensive vehicle that includes additional features designed to increase the comfort of the driver and passengers. Luxury vehicles usually place more emphasis on comfort, appearance, and amenities such as technological upgrades and higher quality materials than on performance, economy, or utility. Luxury vehicles are often built in smaller numbers than more affordable mass-market vehicles. Luxury vehicles are historically 5 or 6-passenger four-door sedans. Recently the term "luxury" has been stapled onto other vehicles, including coupés, hatchbacks, station wagons, roadsters, and even trucks, such as light pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles.

General definition (American market) While defining what constitutes a "luxury car" is somewhat subjective, guidelines such as price, design, comfort, and prestige that can be used to help define the term. Luxury cars also offer a higher degree of comfort than their mainstream counterparts as well as a highly sumptuous interior with a strong emphasis on design and beauty. Features such as interior leather and polished "woodgrain-look" dashboards are common amenities. High-End and Mid-level Luxury Definition Luxury cars typically carry prestige, which means the allure that the car carries. Some automakers develop luxury or halo vehicle from their Production vehicle models by product differentiation, effective marketing mix modifications (particularly by charging a higher price for relatively minor changes and use of more up-market advertising), and buyer driven market segmentation through product placement. As a result, "luxury" is sometimes only in the perception of the consumers.http://www.mubs.mdx.ac.uk/Research/Discussion_Papers/Marketing/dpap_mkt_no1.pdf Consumer Behaviour of Luxury Automobiles:A Comparative Study between Thai and UK Customers’ Perceptions, retrieved on: September 3 2007.

In the 2000s, defining "luxury car" is more difficult, because many vehicles such as the GMC Yukon or the Chevrolet Suburban are moderately expensive, yet they do not have many of the amenities of other luxury vehicles. As well, there are vehicles with luxury car-like prestige and/or pricing that do not offer the degree of comfort required for them to actually be considered luxury vehicles, such as the Hummer H1, the Chevrolet Corvette and the Dodge Viper. All three vehicles have base MSRPs of above $36,000 and the Hummer H1 is made by a company whose entire lineup, with exception of the Hummer H3, features base MSRPs in excess of $50,000. Yet all three lack the comfort needed to make them luxury vehicles.

Many high priced prestige vehicles, such as the Porsche 911, Alfa Romeo GTV, most Ferraris and many Lamborghinis are classed as luxury vehicles, when they lack many of the amenities of typical luxury vehicles and are better fitted to be called exotic (with the exception of the Porsche). Other vehicles, such as the Mercury Grand Marquis, are not considered to be luxury vehicles due to their relatively low suggested retail prices (MSRPs), despite their numerous in-cabin comfort features.

European definition In the European Union, different classifications are sometimes used than in the United States. While most luxury cars are considered luxury cars in both Europe and the U.S., the entry-level segment is not. Classification within "luxury cars" is more precise when considering the vehicle's size.

Manufacturers Manufacturers are classified in many groups, but they do not have specific names. Car fans argue on whether a certain brand can be compared with another one or not, even in the same country or region.

Jaguar (car), Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are the traditional luxury manufacturers, but manufacturers such as Saab, and Volvo are now considered by many to fall into this category. Lexus has met with limited but growing success across Europe even though it is a top selling luxury carmaker in the United States. At the top end of the spectrum, Bentley, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are generally considered more prestigious than any other luxury car brands

Sports car manufacturers are usually considered apart (and distinguished by their exclusivity, mainly by their production numbers), although some of them produce luxury sports cars (mainly grand tourers), such as Aston Martin, Porsche, and Maserati). Such sports cars are also known as "performance cars" that are designed to emphasize performance before luxury.

Kaiser Jeep created the luxury four-wheel drive category in 1966 Jeep Wagoneer (first SUV to offer a V8 engine, automatic transmission, as well as all the luxury features and appointments) continuing through the segment leading Wagoneer Limited models.

Segments Current compact executive cars (Mittelklasse in German) are cars between 4.50 and 4.65 m long, and equivalent of entry-level luxury cars in the United States. Generally speaking, the lower price range is approximately € 25,000 up to € 45,000. This includes vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Acura TL,Alfa Romeo 159, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Jaguar X-Type, Lexus IS, Volvo S40, Infiniti G35 and Saab 9-3.

Executive cars (German: Obere Mittelklasse; French: Grandes Routières) are usually between 4.75 and 4.90 m long, with prices between € 40,000 and € 60,000. They are similar to the mid-level luxury cars in the United States; examples are the Alfa Romeo 166, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Citroën C6, Jaguar S-Type, Lancia Thesis, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Saab 9-5, Volvo S60, and Volvo S80. Some 4x4s which would fit this category are the Land Rover Discovery (predecessor to the Land Rover LR3).

Cars above 5.00 m are simply called luxury cars in the United Kingdom, or "Oberklasse" in Germany, and have a price above starting in the € 70,000 range as well as a length commonly exceeding five meters. Luxury cars include the Audi A8, Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005), BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS. Similarly prized 4x4s are the Land Rover Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne. In the U.S. the Lincoln Town Car, Infiniti Q45 and SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Audi Q7, Lexus RX and Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and the Lincoln Navigator are also included in this category.

Luxury market segments (for American cars) Note that the following classifications of cars does not include certain packages that come with the car that might raise the car into a higher level. For example, the average BMW 3 Series sells in the "entry level" category. But the M3 is certainly part of the mid-level category. Also, vehicles such as the Lincoln Town Car features an interior as plush and luxurious as those of the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, or Mercedes-Benz S-Class yet is classified as mid-luxury due to it relatively medium MSPs.
{| class="toccolours" align="center"|align="center" colspan="81"|Luxury Car Segments, according to MSRP|-|align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#F0F0F0|Price|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$15k — $20k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$20k — $30k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$30k — $40k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$40k — $50k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$50k — $60k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$60k — $70k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$70k — $80k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$80k — $90k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$90k — $100k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$100k or more|- bgcolor=#F0F0F0|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||$29k|||||||||||||||||$38k|||||$40k||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||$60k||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||$100k||- align=center|bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Luxury car manufacturers|colspan=19 bgcolor=#C0C0C0||colspan=11 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Entry-level|colspan=20 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Mid-level|colspan=40 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| High-end|colspan=1 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Ultra|- align=center|bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Non-luxury car manufacturers|colspan=27 bgcolor=#C0C0C0||colspan=3 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Entry-level|colspan=20 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Mid-level|colspan=40 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| High-end|colspan=1 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 | Ultra|}

Entry-level luxury

The entry-level luxury forms the beginning classification of the luxury vehicles; competition in this segment is typically fierce. It features vehicles with an MSRP approximately between $26,000 and $36,000 (though with options, particularly on the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, they can creep well into the $40,000 to $60,000 range), a relatively high degree of comfort is manufactured by luxury brand. If the vehicle is manufactured by a non-luxury marque its base MSRP should exceed approximately $36k and it must place an emphasis on comfort. The equivalent classification in Britain is compact executive car.

This segment mostly includes the bottom vehicles in the line-up of luxury brands as well as the top-of-the-line models of some non-luxury brands. Vehicles in this segment include the Acura TSX, Acura TL, Alfa Romeo 159, Buick Lucerne, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS, Lexus ES, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Infiniti G35, Lincoln MKZ,Volvo S60, Volvo S40, Volvo V50, Saab 9-3, and the Jaguar X-Type.

Mid-luxury segment ]In order to be considered part of the middle-luxury segment, a vehicle should feature a base MSP between approximately $36k and $60k High-End and Mid-level Luxury Definition, have a very high degree of comfort, and should have the latest or near latest technological and safety innovations. Customers in this segment also yield some priority to performance. Therefore, many car manufacturers produce these cars with V8 engines and some highly sophisticated 6-cylinder engines. In Britain, these models are commonly referred to as executive cars.Vehicles in this segment include the mid-range models of several luxury car manufacturers such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Holden Caprice, Holden Statesman, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Saab 9-5, Lexus GS, and Jaguar S-Type. There are also some flagship vehicles in this segment. The Citroën C6, Alfa Romeo 166, Cadillac DTS, Chrysler 300, Lincoln Town Car, Peugeot 607, Renault Vel Satis, Infiniti M, and Acura RL are all considered to be part of the mid-luxury segment due to their relatively low base MSRPs despite their rank as a "flagship sedan" and high-end like interiors.

This market is operated under western nameplates with some Japanese representation. It is mainly controlled by Germans (47%), Americans (30%) and Japanese (23%).

High-end luxury segment ]

This category includes many flagship vehicles of luxury brands such as the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or Lexus LS. Currently, all vehicles priced between the range of $60k and $100k are a part of this exclusive club. The vehicles in this segment offer extremely high levels of quality and latest technological developments, as well as degrees of comfort at least equal to those found in mid-level luxury vehicles. There is no precise term in the United Kingdom; such a car would be simply called a luxury car.

Vehicles in this category include some of the models from the flagship lines of luxury car brands. Vehicles in this segment include the Lincoln Town Car L Series, Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, and the Jaguar XJ. Mercedes' E-Class based Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is also in this segment.The Volkswagen Phaeton is the only high-end luxury vehicle that is not sold under a luxury nameplate. The Phaeton is no longer sold in the United States due to low consumer demand, as many consumers were unwilling to spend upwards of USD70,000 for a non-luxury nameplate.

This segment is operated under various German, British and Japanese nameplates, with some limited American nameplates.

Ultra-luxury segment image:SC06 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom.jpg, an ultra-luxury automobile.

Currently, all cars in the ultra-luxury segment are priced at approximately $100k or higher, however the category also contains lower-level luxury cars with optional engine choices. Ultra Luxury Definition They may or may not be better in quality and refinement than some of the more affordable luxury cars, but due to their high MSP, they guarantee exclusivity and help to get their owners noticed. This segment includes the entire lineup of Rolls-Royce car, Bentley Motors Limited, Maserati, Aston Martin and Maybach. Many "flagship sedans" from car companies whose average car sells in a lower class are actually in this category. For example, vehicles such as the Lincoln Town Car BPS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, (SUV), Lexus LS#LS 600h / LS 600h L, Volkswagen Phaeton or the Audi S8 can be included in this category.

This category is operated mostly by European nameplates and controlled mainly by Germans (70%).

Luxury SUVs

A luxury SUV much like a luxury car is a relatively expensive vehicle that features a higher emphasis on comfort and quality than its mainstream counterparts. Even though luxury SUVs do not necessarily feature more comfort or a higher quality than sedans, they tend to be more expensive than luxury sedans. The top-of-the-line SUVs of American and Japanese luxury car makers can out price their flagship sedans. The flagship SUV Lincoln Navigator, for example, has a base MSP of approximately $46,850, versus $$45,915 for the flagship Lincoln Town Car. This scenario, however, does not hold true for European automakers, where the flagship sedans are still priced above the top-of-the-line SUV.

Luxury SUV can be classified into similar segment as luxury cars.

Luxury crossover SUVs Crossover luxury vehicles are between 60–70 inches in height and generally more affordable than traditional luxury SUVs (70 inches and over in height) and feature a base MSP from approximately $30k to $42k. Since they are crossover vehicles, they tend to be smaller than SUVs and feature sedan-like design features. Vehicles in this category include the Lexus RX, Lincoln MKX, Volvo XC90 BMW X5, Audi Q7, Infiniti FX, and the Mercedes-Benz R-Class.

Luxury pickup trucks In the early 2000s, the two main American luxury manufacturers, Lincoln and Cadillac, started the luxury pickup truck segment. The first luxury pickup to enter the scene was the Lincoln Blackwood, first announced in 1999 and put into production in 2002. Less than 4,000 Lincoln Blackwoods were sold, and even those that were sold were sold mainly with the help of heavy incentives. As of 2007, several luxury pickup trucks are on the market, like the Lincoln Mark LT.

Canadian definition The canadian market follows the American models of luxury segments. However, the price segments can differ from US counterparts.

For vehicles such as smart fortwo, although the base model costs more than the 4/5-door subcompact or compact cars (in some cases, even compact cars loaded with factory options) for the same market, and was sold through luxury brand dealers, are not commonly regarded as luxury vehicles.

Entry-level luxury The low end record for this segment is held by the 2007 Acura CSX, which has the base MSRP of Canadian_dollar $26,990.

Luxury car manufacturers Using the same American definition outlined above, if a car manufacturer's average MSP of all vehicles sold is greater than $36,000, then it is a luxury car manufacturer. While this definition is based on American market MSPs, it can be used globally to identify luxury marques. Vehicle manufactures can also be deemed luxury by the luxurious qualities of their cars and not just the price (as in with Chrysler, whose goal is to "provide luxury cars at affordable prices"). Luxury cars emphasize comfort, technology, and features. Performance cars, though generally are categorized as luxury due to their prices, emphasize performance and speed.

Current luxury car manufacturers These are luxury car manufacturers whose models are currently on the market.

Past luxury car manufacturers These are luxury car brands that used to exist but have since been either bought up or disappeared from the market due to bankruptcy.

References See also

, an example of the "traditional" luxury car design. J 350 Willoughby on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix, a classic luxury car.

A luxury vehicle is a relatively expensive vehicle that includes additional features designed to increase the comfort of the driver and passengers. Luxury vehicles usually place more emphasis on comfort, appearance, and amenities such as technological upgrades and higher quality materials than on performance, economy, or utility. Luxury vehicles are often built in smaller numbers than more affordable mass-market vehicles. Luxury vehicles are historically 5 or 6-passenger four-door sedans. Recently the term "luxury" has been stapled onto other vehicles, including coupés, hatchbacks, station wagons, roadsters, and even trucks, such as light pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles.

General definition (American market) While defining what constitutes a "luxury car" is somewhat subjective, guidelines such as price, design, comfort, and prestige that can be used to help define the term. Luxury cars also offer a higher degree of comfort than their mainstream counterparts as well as a highly sumptuous interior with a strong emphasis on design and beauty. Features such as interior leather and polished "woodgrain-look" dashboards are common amenities. High-End and Mid-level Luxury Definition Luxury cars typically carry prestige, which means the allure that the car carries. Some automakers develop luxury or halo vehicle from their Production vehicle models by product differentiation, effective marketing mix modifications (particularly by charging a higher price for relatively minor changes and use of more up-market advertising), and buyer driven market segmentation through product placement. As a result, "luxury" is sometimes only in the perception of the consumers.http://www.mubs.mdx.ac.uk/Research/Discussion_Papers/Marketing/dpap_mkt_no1.pdf Consumer Behaviour of Luxury Automobiles:A Comparative Study between Thai and UK Customers’ Perceptions, retrieved on: September 3 2007.

In the 2000s, defining "luxury car" is more difficult, because many vehicles such as the GMC Yukon or the Chevrolet Suburban are moderately expensive, yet they do not have many of the amenities of other luxury vehicles. As well, there are vehicles with luxury car-like prestige and/or pricing that do not offer the degree of comfort required for them to actually be considered luxury vehicles, such as the Hummer H1, the Chevrolet Corvette and the Dodge Viper. All three vehicles have base MSRPs of above $36,000 and the Hummer H1 is made by a company whose entire lineup, with exception of the Hummer H3, features base MSRPs in excess of $50,000. Yet all three lack the comfort needed to make them luxury vehicles.

Many high priced prestige vehicles, such as the Porsche 911, Alfa Romeo GTV, most Ferraris and many Lamborghinis are classed as luxury vehicles, when they lack many of the amenities of typical luxury vehicles and are better fitted to be called exotic (with the exception of the Porsche). Other vehicles, such as the Mercury Grand Marquis, are not considered to be luxury vehicles due to their relatively low suggested retail prices (MSRPs), despite their numerous in-cabin comfort features.

European definition In the European Union, different classifications are sometimes used than in the United States. While most luxury cars are considered luxury cars in both Europe and the U.S., the entry-level segment is not. Classification within "luxury cars" is more precise when considering the vehicle's size.

Manufacturers Manufacturers are classified in many groups, but they do not have specific names. Car fans argue on whether a certain brand can be compared with another one or not, even in the same country or region.

Jaguar (car), Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are the traditional luxury manufacturers, but manufacturers such as Saab, and Volvo are now considered by many to fall into this category. Lexus has met with limited but growing success across Europe even though it is a top selling luxury carmaker in the United States. At the top end of the spectrum, Bentley, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are generally considered more prestigious than any other luxury car brands

Sports car manufacturers are usually considered apart (and distinguished by their exclusivity, mainly by their production numbers), although some of them produce luxury sports cars (mainly grand tourers), such as Aston Martin, Porsche, and Maserati). Such sports cars are also known as "performance cars" that are designed to emphasize performance before luxury.

Kaiser Jeep created the luxury four-wheel drive category in 1966 Jeep Wagoneer (first SUV to offer a V8 engine, automatic transmission, as well as all the luxury features and appointments) continuing through the segment leading Wagoneer Limited models.

Segments Current compact executive cars (Mittelklasse in German) are cars between 4.50 and 4.65 m long, and equivalent of entry-level luxury cars in the United States. Generally speaking, the lower price range is approximately € 25,000 up to € 45,000. This includes vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Acura TL,Alfa Romeo 159, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Jaguar X-Type, Lexus IS, Volvo S40, Infiniti G35 and Saab 9-3.

Executive cars (German: Obere Mittelklasse; French: Grandes Routières) are usually between 4.75 and 4.90 m long, with prices between € 40,000 and € 60,000. They are similar to the mid-level luxury cars in the United States; examples are the Alfa Romeo 166, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Citroën C6, Jaguar S-Type, Lancia Thesis, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Saab 9-5, Volvo S60, and Volvo S80. Some 4x4s which would fit this category are the Land Rover Discovery (predecessor to the Land Rover LR3).

Cars above 5.00 m are simply called luxury cars in the United Kingdom, or "Oberklasse" in Germany, and have a price above starting in the € 70,000 range as well as a length commonly exceeding five meters. Luxury cars include the Audi A8, Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005), BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS. Similarly prized 4x4s are the Land Rover Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne. In the U.S. the Lincoln Town Car, Infiniti Q45 and SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Audi Q7, Lexus RX and Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and the Lincoln Navigator are also included in this category.

Luxury market segments (for American cars) Note that the following classifications of cars does not include certain packages that come with the car that might raise the car into a higher level. For example, the average BMW 3 Series sells in the "entry level" category. But the M3 is certainly part of the mid-level category. Also, vehicles such as the Lincoln Town Car features an interior as plush and luxurious as those of the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, or Mercedes-Benz S-Class yet is classified as mid-luxury due to it relatively medium MSPs.
{| class="toccolours" align="center"|align="center" colspan="81"|Luxury Car Segments, according to MSRP|-|align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#F0F0F0|Price|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$15k — $20k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$20k — $30k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$30k — $40k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$40k — $50k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$50k — $60k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$60k — $70k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$70k — $80k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$80k — $90k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$90k — $100k|align=center colspan=10 width=10% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|$100k or more|- bgcolor=#F0F0F0|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||$29k|||||||||||||||||$38k|||||$40k||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||$60k||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||$100k||- align=center|bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Luxury car manufacturers|colspan=19 bgcolor=#C0C0C0||colspan=11 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Entry-level|colspan=20 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Mid-level|colspan=40 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| High-end|colspan=1 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Ultra|- align=center|bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Non-luxury car manufacturers|colspan=27 bgcolor=#C0C0C0||colspan=3 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Entry-level|colspan=20 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Mid-level|colspan=40 bgcolor=#C0C0C0| High-end|colspan=1 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 | Ultra|}

Entry-level luxury

The entry-level luxury forms the beginning classification of the luxury vehicles; competition in this segment is typically fierce. It features vehicles with an MSRP approximately between $26,000 and $36,000 (though with options, particularly on the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, they can creep well into the $40,000 to $60,000 range), a relatively high degree of comfort is manufactured by luxury brand. If the vehicle is manufactured by a non-luxury marque its base MSRP should exceed approximately $36k and it must place an emphasis on comfort. The equivalent classification in Britain is compact executive car.

This segment mostly includes the bottom vehicles in the line-up of luxury brands as well as the top-of-the-line models of some non-luxury brands. Vehicles in this segment include the Acura TSX, Acura TL, Alfa Romeo 159, Buick Lucerne, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS, Lexus ES, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Infiniti G35, Lincoln MKZ,Volvo S60, Volvo S40, Volvo V50, Saab 9-3, and the Jaguar X-Type.

Mid-luxury segment ]In order to be considered part of the middle-luxury segment, a vehicle should feature a base MSP between approximately $36k and $60k High-End and Mid-level Luxury Definition, have a very high degree of comfort, and should have the latest or near latest technological and safety innovations. Customers in this segment also yield some priority to performance. Therefore, many car manufacturers produce these cars with V8 engines and some highly sophisticated 6-cylinder engines. In Britain, these models are commonly referred to as executive cars.Vehicles in this segment include the mid-range models of several luxury car manufacturers such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Holden Caprice, Holden Statesman, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Saab 9-5, Lexus GS, and Jaguar S-Type. There are also some flagship vehicles in this segment. The Citroën C6, Alfa Romeo 166, Cadillac DTS, Chrysler 300, Lincoln Town Car, Peugeot 607, Renault Vel Satis, Infiniti M, and Acura RL are all considered to be part of the mid-luxury segment due to their relatively low base MSRPs despite their rank as a "flagship sedan" and high-end like interiors.

This market is operated under western nameplates with some Japanese representation. It is mainly controlled by Germans (47%), Americans (30%) and Japanese (23%).

High-end luxury segment ]

This category includes many flagship vehicles of luxury brands such as the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or Lexus LS. Currently, all vehicles priced between the range of $60k and $100k are a part of this exclusive club. The vehicles in this segment offer extremely high levels of quality and latest technological developments, as well as degrees of comfort at least equal to those found in mid-level luxury vehicles. There is no precise term in the United Kingdom; such a car would be simply called a luxury car.

Vehicles in this category include some of the models from the flagship lines of luxury car brands. Vehicles in this segment include the Lincoln Town Car L Series, Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, and the Jaguar XJ. Mercedes' E-Class based Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is also in this segment.The Volkswagen Phaeton is the only high-end luxury vehicle that is not sold under a luxury nameplate. The Phaeton is no longer sold in the United States due to low consumer demand, as many consumers were unwilling to spend upwards of USD70,000 for a non-luxury nameplate.

This segment is operated under various German, British and Japanese nameplates, with some limited American nameplates.

Ultra-luxury segment image:SC06 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom.jpg, an ultra-luxury automobile.

Currently, all cars in the ultra-luxury segment are priced at approximately $100k or higher, however the category also contains lower-level luxury cars with optional engine choices. Ultra Luxury Definition They may or may not be better in quality and refinement than some of the more affordable luxury cars, but due to their high MSP, they guarantee exclusivity and help to get their owners noticed. This segment includes the entire lineup of Rolls-Royce car, Bentley Motors Limited, Maserati, Aston Martin and Maybach. Many "flagship sedans" from car companies whose average car sells in a lower class are actually in this category. For example, vehicles such as the Lincoln Town Car BPS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, (SUV), Lexus LS#LS 600h / LS 600h L, Volkswagen Phaeton or the Audi S8 can be included in this category.

This category is operated mostly by European nameplates and controlled mainly by Germans (70%).

Luxury SUVs

A luxury SUV much like a luxury car is a relatively expensive vehicle that features a higher emphasis on comfort and quality than its mainstream counterparts. Even though luxury SUVs do not necessarily feature more comfort or a higher quality than sedans, they tend to be more expensive than luxury sedans. The top-of-the-line SUVs of American and Japanese luxury car makers can out price their flagship sedans. The flagship SUV Lincoln Navigator, for example, has a base MSP of approximately $46,850, versus $$45,915 for the flagship Lincoln Town Car. This scenario, however, does not hold true for European automakers, where the flagship sedans are still priced above the top-of-the-line SUV.

Luxury SUV can be classified into similar segment as luxury cars.

Luxury crossover SUVs Crossover luxury vehicles are between 60–70 inches in height and generally more affordable than traditional luxury SUVs (70 inches and over in height) and feature a base MSP from approximately $30k to $42k. Since they are crossover vehicles, they tend to be smaller than SUVs and feature sedan-like design features. Vehicles in this category include the Lexus RX, Lincoln MKX, Volvo XC90 BMW X5, Audi Q7, Infiniti FX, and the Mercedes-Benz R-Class.

Luxury pickup trucks In the early 2000s, the two main American luxury manufacturers, Lincoln and Cadillac, started the luxury pickup truck segment. The first luxury pickup to enter the scene was the Lincoln Blackwood, first announced in 1999 and put into production in 2002. Less than 4,000 Lincoln Blackwoods were sold, and even those that were sold were sold mainly with the help of heavy incentives. As of 2007, several luxury pickup trucks are on the market, like the Lincoln Mark LT.

Canadian definition The canadian market follows the American models of luxury segments. However, the price segments can differ from US counterparts.

For vehicles such as smart fortwo, although the base model costs more than the 4/5-door subcompact or compact cars (in some cases, even compact cars loaded with factory options) for the same market, and was sold through luxury brand dealers, are not commonly regarded as luxury vehicles.

Entry-level luxury The low end record for this segment is held by the 2007 Acura CSX, which has the base MSRP of Canadian_dollar $26,990.

Luxury car manufacturers Using the same American definition outlined above, if a car manufacturer's average MSP of all vehicles sold is greater than $36,000, then it is a luxury car manufacturer. While this definition is based on American market MSPs, it can be used globally to identify luxury marques. Vehicle manufactures can also be deemed luxury by the luxurious qualities of their cars and not just the price (as in with Chrysler, whose goal is to "provide luxury cars at affordable prices"). Luxury cars emphasize comfort, technology, and features. Performance cars, though generally are categorized as luxury due to their prices, emphasize performance and speed.

Current luxury car manufacturers These are luxury car manufacturers whose models are currently on the market.

Past luxury car manufacturers These are luxury car brands that used to exist but have since been either bought up or disappeared from the market due to bankruptcy.

References See also



Luxury vehicle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury — that which is beyond strict necessity — in exchange for increased cost to the buyer.

Luxury Vehicle Dealerships, Cars & Motoring in Andalucia southern ...
Information about motoring, auto parts and car dealers in Andalucía, Southern Spain. ... Choosing a Luxury Vehicle Dealership. The region of Andalucia has a very high number of ...

BBC NEWS | Africa | Kenya rapped for luxury vehicles
Top Kenyan lobby groups criticise the government for its "extravagant" spending on luxury cars, when 4m need food aid.

Our luxury chauffeur driven vehicles available for hire
We have a selection of luxury vehicles including the Meredes Benz E-Class, S-Class, BMW 7-series and Volvo S80

Classic car hire Scotland and England - tours, accommodation and ...
We can arrange your custom self-drive tour of Scotland with a classic car or luxury vehicle. See mountains, castles & distilleries and stay in country mansions.

Fractional Luxury Vehicles | from Fractional Life
Fractional Life is an exciting new concept based on fractional ownership and asset-sharing giving you the choice of the best of everything at a fraction of the cost

cars.com: Buying Guides | New Luxury Vehicle Prices
Research and Best Bets for new luxury vehicles: Acura TSX, Audi A4, Saab 9-3, BMW 325, BMW 330, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti FX35, Infiniti G35, Lexus RX 330, Acura RL, BMW 645, BMW 745 ...

Cadillac Luxury Cars, SUVs, Crossover, and Trucks - 2008 New Models
View Cadillac vehicles including new Cadillac cars, trucks, crossover, and SUVs. Get new car prices and details on all 2008 Cadillac models on Cadillac.com.

Europaluxury
Europaluxury.com, the european luxury portal. Discover the main ressource for the finest luxury goods and services.

Car Finance : Car Loans : Luxury Vehicle Car Finance - Car Loans by ...
HSL provide Car finance and Car loans - Business Asset Finance - Personal Contract Hire loans & leasing & Caravan and Motorhome finance

 

Luxury Vehicle



 
Copyright © 2008 Hintcenter.com - All rights reserved.
Home | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
All Trademarks belong to their repective owners. Many aspects of this page are used under
commercial commons license from Yahoo!