G Automotive: News in the Auto World

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The 7-Series was the first BMW to include the automaker's iDrive system, which consolidates communication, climate, navigation and entertainment controls into a single knob on the car's center console.

The Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI is the only diesel-powered luxury car on the market. It's not sold in five states because of diesel pollution regulations, but it's available in limited numbers in the other 45 states.

Mercedes Is Fourth in U.S. Sales
German carmaker Mercedes-Benz offers the only diesel-powered luxury car in the market, the E320 CDI. This four-door sedan with 3.2-liter, inline 6-cylinder, common rail diesel engine is the first Mercedes diesel car offering in the U.S. in five years. It not only offers more torque—369 lb-ft between 1800 and 2600 rpm—than the regular 6-cylinder gasoline E-Class sedan, it has the best fuel economy rating of any similar-sized luxury car, or 27 miles a gallon in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway. Starting MSRP is more than $50,000.

Mercedes has a long history of luxury and innovation that includes development of airbags. Indeed, today's Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, for example, has safety features that include dual-stage front airbags, head and thorax side airbags, and a driver's knee airbag as well as pop-up roll bar and electronic braking system.

Sponsor: home equity loan: The Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan includes a PreSafe system that automatically positions seats and pretensions seat belts just before a collision occurs. In addition, Mercedes offers its 4Matic all-wheel-drive system on a variety of models.

As for performance, the choices are varied. For example, the Mercedes S600 has a twin-turbo V12 with 493 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, while the S55 AMG is powered by a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 with 493 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque.

The S55 AMG isn't the only performance model to wear the AMG badge. The midsize Mercedes-Benz E-Class comes in an E55 AMG version with 469-horsepower 5.5-liter supercharged V8, and there are AMG versions of the C-Class, Mercedes-Benz CLK, Mercedes-Benz SL and Mercedes-Benz SLK, too. AMG models are limited production cars from Mercedes' motorsports and performance group.

Ford Motor Co.'s luxury brand, Lincoln, typically slots in fifth or sixth spot among luxury brand sales in the U.S. It continues with its large, flagship Town Car sedan, now available with optional THX-certified premium audio system. THX is used for great sound in commercial theaters and multimedia productions. Lincoln also updated its smaller LS sedan, adding curtain airbags and rear park assist as options on all trim levels and improving transmission shifts.

Sleekly styled, the 2006 Lexus GS has standard leather seats, seat heaters and Smart Key Access among the amenities. The V6 version offers all-wheel drive—the first Lexus car with this feature.

For the first time in its history, Volkswagen enters the U.S. luxury car segment with the Phaeton sedan. This new VW offers two engines: a 335-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 and a 420-horsepower 6.0-liter W12.

European Luxury Makes
Not surprisingly, many European carmakers who sell vehicles in the United States are in the luxury market.

Swedish carmaker Volvo offers the well-appointed S80 sedan that starts at more than $35,000. It's powered by zippy, five-cylinder engines. Another Swedish company, Saab, sells the 9-5, a midsize sedan powered by turbocharged, 4-cylinder engines.

German automaker Audi has a number of luxury models, including the A6, A8 and S4. The A6 is newly revamped for 2005 with new styling, new power and amenities. It has won numerous awards, including World Car of the Year.

Another German make, Volkswagen, entered the luxury car ranks in 2003 with its Phaeton sedan. A four- or five-passenger large sedan—nearly 204 inches long, in fact—the Phaeton has the quiet, unfettered ride, standard all-wheel drive as well as the amenities, like leather seats and wood grain trim, expected in a luxury car. There are two engines: a 335-horsepower 4.2-liter V8, and a 420-horsepower 6.0-liter W12.

Priced at more than $66,000, the Phaeton is the most expensive VW-badged vehicle ever sold in the U.S.

Available as Convertibles
Several luxury models are available as open-air cruisers. Already mentioned are the Cadillac XLR, Mercedes SL-Class and Lexus SC 430—all of which have power retractable hardtops with boots (or rear covers) that come down and position themselves automatically.

Other convertibles in this class are the Mercedes SLK, Ford Thunderbird, and Jaguar XK Series. But note that 2005 is the final model year of the Thunderbird—at least for a while. Ford is retiring the model because of slow sales.

Other Luxury Car News
Acura, which is Honda's luxury brand, has two entries in the luxury car market. The Acura TL distinguishes itself from competitors with its high-tech audio system—not found as factory equipment in any other vehicle— and standard Bluetooth communications. For 2005, Acura revamped its flagship RL sedan, incorporating its own version of all-wheel drive as well as a 300-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 that's more powerful than the engine in Acura's NSX exotic two-seater. The RL's starting price is up, too, to more than $48,000. link and link

Nissan's luxury brand, Infiniti, introduced its rear-drive 2006 M cars early in calendar 2005. Offered as roomy, luxury-appointed sedans that can seat five, the M cars are priced between the flagship Infiniti Q45 and the smaller G35 cars. Specifically, the M cars start around $40,000.

The M35 comes with a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, while the M45 has the 4.5-liter V8 that's in the Q45. In the M45, the engine develops 335 horsepower.

The M cars have rosewood-trimmed dashboards whose design is inspired by a piano. The sedans include high-tech features such as electronic rev-matching in the five-speed automatic transmission during shifts for smooth gear changing. There's also an optional lane departure warning safety system.