Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Mercedes Benz- This is the first brand that pops into most people’s minds when they hear the term “luxury car”. Many studies have shown that this is the brand that most consumers equate with prestige and quality. For 2011, Benz has given its E-class trim a makeover with new sleek angular headlights and a more contemporary and sleek look. It is rather interesting to observe that many older C-class models are being utilized as taxi cabs in many European countries. This is testament to the durability of Mercedes engines; some of the engines on the taxi cabs have approached a few hundred thousand miles! Lots of young Hollywood stars opt for Mercedes; pop sensation Britney Spears has been often seen causing mayhem in the streets of L.A in her white Mercedes SL65 while actress Lindsay Lohan has been involved in an infamous car crash in her black SL65. The 2011 SL65 sports a V12 engine and an incredible 604 HP with a hefty MRSP of approximately around $199k. That’s a lot of power to outrun the paparazzi with!
BMW- Their sporty autos are known as “The Ultimate Driving Machine” and this is no exaggeration. The difference between BMW and Benz is that the first is engineered to be performance oriented while the latter is aimed towards driver and passenger comfort. BMW’s usually come with a stiff suspension and ample of hp. The best selling model by far is the 3-series, which offers quality performance, handling and power at a competitive price in the entry-level market. The 335 model comes with an engine that puts out an incredible 300 HP and 300 lb feet of torque. My personal favorite has to be the top of the line 7 Series, which oozes power and class; the 2010 model boasts a eight cylinder engine with 400 HP.
Aston Martin – Their cars are so chic and sophisticated that international man of style James Bond can be seen driving numerous Aston Martin’s in the Bond movies. Remarkable stand outs in the line include the Vantage V12 (which offers an impressive twelve cylinders for top power!) and the new V8 Vantage N420 roadster which is a fast and gorgeous convertible with beautiful curves, smooth fluid lines and a total of 420 horsepower.
Infiniti – Infiniti is the luxury spin-off line of Nissan. Infiniti is pretty new on the market when compared with the traditional German players but it’s already making a significant impact on the market due to its gorgeous and high performance cars. 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 much cheaper than its German Rivals. In general, Infiniti is also more competitively priced when compared with BMW and Benz. A stand out is the top of the line M56 which comes equipped with a mighty eight cylinder engine and 420 HP, with the AWD model starting at around $60k.