BUYING GUIDE to New Ultra-Luxury Cars

Overview

When price is not a concern and the occasional state gas guzzler tax is not something you worry about, it’s time to look into the ultra-luxury class. Often the flagships of their manufacturer’s luxury lineups, these vehicles offer every amenity possible from massive horsepower to walnut wood interiors. Manufacturers in this class feature cutting edge technology in performance, design, and automobile innovation. If it’s the latest and greatest thing you want, the ultra-luxury class is the place where you’ll find it.

Price Range: $61,000-$181,500

The Audi A8 is the largest and most luxurious sedan in their lineup. Options include massage, heating and ventilation features for the front seats, four-zone automatic climate control with individual rear-seat settings and a wood steering wheel. The current Jaguar XJ has better performance than its previous generations. According to Edmunds.com, "an all-aluminum body and high-tech air suspension transform this former fat cat into a friskier flagship."

BMW’s 650 continues the high performance tradition BMWs are known for as NewCarTestDrive says, "The BMW 6 Series delivers stellar performance, brilliant handling, and that arrow-like stability that marks this marque." For 2007 in the BMW 7-series, the 760i gets discontinued but the 750i, 750iL and 760iL models continue. BMW also offers the 7-series a new package including a unique interior trim, Merino leather, and special 20" wheels. The Lexus LS 460 is redesigned this year and does a great job at providing competition to Mercedes and BMW. Comparable in design, power, handling, and promising a hybrid version in 2008, the LS 460 should cause concern amongst German automakers. The Mercedes S-class was redesigned in 2006 and remains dominant in the ultra-luxury class. NewCarTestDrive says the S600 has "Virtually every convenience imaginable, from massaging front seats to electric door-close assists, and the most sophisticated passenger-car safety technology money can buy."

Ultra-Luxury Performance

For some, having simply a luxurious car that drives well is not enough. As driving enthusiasts in addition to car lovers, they want a luxury car that also has the characteristics of a race car. To satisfy these consumers who want just a little more icing on their cake and to showcase some of their company’s racing developments, many manufacturers have created special edition models. While much more expensive than many cars in the ultra-luxury class, they are based off of the car models in this category.

The Audi S8 is based off the ultra-luxury A8 and has a 450 HP 5.2L V-10 engine. The same engine as the S6, but the horsepower increase allows it to sprint to 60mph in less than 5 seconds. There are no changes to the Cadillac XLR-V in 2008, but it carries on a 443hp Supercharged 4.4L Northstar V8 starting at $97,460. The BMW M6, a performance tuned 6-series, now comes available in a convertible so you can have a better view as you’re blasting down the road. Mercedes has versions of their S-class, SL-class, and SLK-class badged as AMG performance tuned vehicles. The smaller SLK55 AMG is a mean roadster with its 355hp 5.8L V8 engine. It comes with a seven speed automatic and manual paddle shifters. The Mercedes S65 AMG has a 604hp 6.0L V12 engine and is the flagship of the large Mercedes sedans. The $128,800 Mercedes SL55 AMG increases in engine power to a 510hp 5.4L V-8 and the $186,000 Mercedes SL65 AMG offers a 604hp 6.0L V12. On the SL65 AMG, Edmunds.com says, "With 604 horsepower and torque measuring an asphalt-wrinkling 738 pound-feet emanating from its twin-turbo V12, this drop top can hang with Ferraris as easily as it will go for a top-down Sunday drive."

Ultra-Luxury Roadsters

In the ultra-luxury class, the Lexus SC 430 starts at $65,455, and Edmunds.com calls it a roadster with "one of the best interior designs you'll find anywhere." For 2008, the Cadillac XLR comes in a new trim, "ultra-luxury Platinum," that adds a chrome grille, 15-spoke 18" polished wheels, Platinum exterior badging, unique door sill plates, and wood/metal accents in the interior. The Porsche 911 Targa that the Los Angeles Times calls "a hard, stiff [performance] car, with an icy competence about it" is known around the world for its unmistakable body design. The new Jaguar XK convertible was introduced this year with all-aluminum construction and a 4.2L 300hp V8 engine. Cars.com says that the XK is "the most technically advanced Jaguar production car ever built." Starting at $132,000, the Mercedes SL600 is roadstering at its most expensive. With over 510hp on tap from its thirsty 5.5L V12 engine, the SL600 can go from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds. On the other hand, the SL600 only gets 13/19mpg, but who’s counting?

Ultra-Luxury Car Safety Guide

As you might expect, ultra-luxury cars feature a ton of gizmos and widgets, many of which enhance safety. In addition to front and side airbags, antilock brakes and traction control, most ultra-luxury cars come with an electronic stability system and head airbags. Additionally, some ultra-luxury cars offer a heads up display, which projects the dashboard instruments onto the inside of the windshield, closer to eye level. A few automakers, such as Cadillac, even offer night vision, which uses infrared technology to help the driver "see" beyond the headlights. Many ultra-luxury cars also come equipped with a back-up sensing system, which tells the driver if there are people or objects hidden in his blind spots.