The Kings Battle! (A8,S,7,LS,XJ,...etc)

[Merc1]

And that is what Lexus is tailored for, the American market. The marque is hardly Japanese in any sense, which is why it has achieved great success in the US. It's brought to life using a highly scientific manner as it their cars are office chairs, by which more functions will make their cars better. European customers work differently though and prefer products by which they have associations with, that is why personality-less products like the Lexus LS don't fare too well. That is why the "over night"-success phenomenon doesn't happen too often in Europe as consumers aren't too quick to jump the trigger.

I only know one person who has owned a Lexus, and he had lived in the US. other than that, no one in my circle of friends ever mention Lexus at all.

Yep. The original LS400 was the same price as 190E 2.6 in 1990! Could you imagine a Lexus LS priced like a C350 today? Actually such a RWD-V8 luxury sedan does exist today, but this time it comes from Korea.


M

 

[Sayyaaf]

the S class is there to rule this segment, I can't choose another car.

I have a mixed feelings about the remaining though.

7er is nice but Maserati is beautiful and sportier. Porsche is the sportiest but weird from the rear.

LS: No way.
XJ: Not my taste.
Audi A8: very old now
Bentely or RR: no one can refuse such cars.

Regards

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Same vid Merc posted from Autocar...

This car is truly starting to grow on me. The front is so powerful looking and the rear is creative.

On the other hand I just drove an MB dealership and saw a pre-facelift S65 AMG.....There are a lot of good choices in this segment.

 

[hannaz]

1. Mercedes S
2. BMW 7
3. Jaguar XJ
4. Audi A8
5. Lexus LS
6. Maserati Quattroporte
7. Porsche Panamera

 

[Tarek]

S65 AMG



Panamera Turbo

QP GTS Sport

760LI

A8 W12

XJ Supercharged

..hell with LS.

 

[Centurion]

1. Panamera
2. S-Class
3. Audi A8
4. Jaguar XJ
5. 7-Series
6. Lexus LS

 

[CarGuy]

Better Pictures which will give all brands some beauty justice.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I'm loving that Jaguar interior. So glad they didn't do the exact same interior as the XF, which is what I though was going to happen.

 

[kp1234]

1. S-Class

2. Quattroporte

3. 7 series

4. XJ
5. Panamera
6. Audi S8
7. LS

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Looks like the S-class is crush it's competition according to the poll. I thought the LS would have had at least 1 vote by now.

 

[ree]

Looks like the S-class is crush it's competition according to the poll. I thought the LS would have had at least 1 vote by now.

It's still the leader in its class…nevertheless BMW 7-series isn't bad at all and also the new Jag XJ will be great - and also important for me: more exclusive…

…and by seeing the poll, Audi definitely has to launch the new A8!

 

[HighestOfHigh]

^ This is true. I am shocked to see how Maserati and Porsche are doing. I thought Porsche would have won over some of the voters.

I wonder what is taking Audi so long as well. I hear they are backing the New A8 out of Frankfurt....

 

[ree]

^ This is true. I am shocked to see how Maserati and Porsche are doing. I thought Porsche would have won over some of the voters.

I wonder what is taking Audi so long as well. I hear they are backing the New A8 out of Frankfurt....

Yep…votes for the Panamera are way of shocking! Didn't notice before! Thought that there will be more votes, since this car got some very good "ratings" in this forum. But it looks, like it isn't really accepted as luxury sedan, but more as sporty alternative to the two seater Porsche or generally to sporty for a comparison with 7-series and S-Class…

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Yep…votes for the Panamera are way of shocking! Didn't notice before! Thought that there will be more votes, since this car got some very good "ratings" in this forum. But it looks, like it isn't really accepted as luxury sedan, but more as sporty alternative to the two seater Porsche or generally to sporty for a comparison with 7-series and S-Class…

Yea, it is interesting concerning Porsche. The again we will probably see another competitor around frankfurt....



I wonder how many sales Porsche and Aston will compete for compared with the rest of the models. On the other hand I think Porsche is losing out on some votes because of the hatchback look, which the Aston will no suffer from.

 

[martinbo]

^ That Rapide rocks my world. So impossibly sleek. And for a saloon at that!

 

[VroomVroom]

^ That Rapide rocks my world. So impossibly sleek. And for a saloon at that!

Yes, the Rapid looks very tasty

Competition is really heating up, especially with the up coming of the A8 and A7

 

[HighestOfHigh]

^ That Rapide rocks my world. So impossibly sleek. And for a saloon at that!

Do you think it will hurt Porsche or Mercedes/BMW/Audi?

 

[Centurion]

Yea, it is interesting concerning Porsche. The again we will probably see another competitor around frankfurt....



I wonder how many sales Porsche and Aston will compete for compared with the rest of the models. On the other hand I think Porsche is losing out on some votes because of the hatchback look, which the Aston will no suffer from.

There is no contest. The Panamera will sell way more cars than the Rapide. It's a better car than the Rapide with is about as interesting as a re-heated loaf that's been frozen for 6 months. Not only does the Panamera have a more intriguing appearance but everything about it will be light years ahead of the Rapide. A test drive of both will easily favour the Porsche.

Bare-in mind that the Panamera is only an inch taller than the CLS and from what I have read, it has a very low and wide stance and does not look at tall and does not resembles a hatchback in any sense. Besides that, looks have never stifled Porsche performance in sales. Many people label the 911 as boring, the Boxster as a chick car and the Cayenne as an ugly car. Regardless of that, there are equally as many people who love the cars.

My guess is that Panamera sales will be very comparable to those of the 911.

 

[Giannis]

I wanted the last days to right a proper report on this topic, but I only sat down today with some time on my hands. So here is my take on this topic of very high import!

First of all I need to state that it was a very tough choise. Please read


Jaguar XJ: It's been here only for one week, and I among most member here was stanned by it's very bold design both inside out. But when you are looking for a king of its class you don't need something very extravagand or as bold as the new XJ. You are looking for an understatment, a car that doesn't scream, yet it delivers you what you ask, and then more. Sadly the XJ doesn't qualify. Great design, but not as original and as elegant as I wanted it to be, especially the interior. I like the XK interior a million times more. And technollogically wise, it's a few steps behind the S. As every other car of this list.


Mercedes S-Class: If you are looking for a leaders, here it is! A luxury car that it won't catch your eye at the first time. Not shouty, nor extreme. Very elegant and classic/classy MB design language, superb interior. All the electric gizmos and safety features are lightyears ahead of everything else and supreme comfort. But this is a car that you rather be driven into, and not drive it, unless in AMG treatment. And AMG in such a huge car doesn't really make sense to me. So S600 chauffer driven? No... I prefer to drive my car, rather that sit on my sofa and be transported in tons of luxury from point A to B. I want driving joy! But for everything else, S-Class is the KING!


Maserati Quattroporte: Is it the "Italian Regina"? In my world, no! And this is because it tries to hard to be a GrandTurismo, but it really fails. As I see it, the Maserati guys tried to make it drive like a sportscar, but as we know here at GCF no huge 2ton sedan can be a sportscar, no matter the badge it wears! It HAS a hell of a beautiful looks, inside out, but somehow, this is not what I imagine as a King. No cutting edge-technology and no luxury approach. Sadly, because it looks great..

BMW 7series: It's supposed to challenge the King-S face to face, but can it really beat it? In my book, no. Sure it has superb looks and it's a great drivers car, as is the Quattroporte, but when it comes to luxury, technology and prestige, then it simply can't beat the S. It tries to be somewhere in the middle, but it still lacks something to be the King of the Class. PS. It has my favourite interior here, but it's not enough. But then again, if it was more comfort oriented it should be an S, and if an S wanted to be more sporty, it should be a 7er. Damn those germans...I need something more...


Lexus LS: I want to be as objective as I can so I will care to comment about the LS. What really really bothers me about this car, is that it is not built by mechanics, but it's made by marketing guys with the average american consumer in mind. I am a european, I like to drive my car, I want suppreme built and materials quality, I want unique design, I want passion behind the car (even though I drive a bloody Volvo). Oh, and I want a proper gearbox So it's totally out of the question.


Porsche Panamera: I will get to it later on, because it's my choise


Audi A8: It's very sad that it's an old car, because it's a great car. But it is not my choise. Sadly all it's rivals are new to the market and already some steps ahead. But I will reconsider my choise, when the new A8 is here. And that will not take too long.


Flying Spur/ RR Ghost: Now these two cars are of a totally different world. They are not in the same class, so they don't compare directly with the above cars. But if I had the extra money (and it's a lot of money) I would get a Ghost. But it costs much much much more than eg a 7er.


Porsche Panamera: Yup, this is my choise. It has unique design, yet not as bold and shouty as a 2010 XJ. It has a great interior with tons of luxury and sporty characteristics as well! It is a great drivers car, but it's very comfortable as well. It can be great in the track as in the highway. It just has everything, that no other car of this class can have at the same time. It's a 7er and a S together, with a nice design ala Quattroporte, yet much more 911-ish. And it's got tons of prestige! It's THE car. It's the King of the Class!

 

[CarGuy]

The Panamera would be my choice also!