Luxury car

A luxury car is very special.

It is built to be very comfy. These cars use very fine parts.

They often have new safety tools first. This helps keep the people inside safe. Some are fast sports cars. Others are big cars for families.

They can even have big engines. A luxury car is a very grand ride.

A luxury car is a special type of vehicle.

These cars focus on high levels of comfort. They use expensive materials and fine finishes. Makers often put new safety tools on luxury models first. This helps people stay safe before others get the tech.

Most luxury cars use a special suspension. A suspension is a system of parts that helps the car ride smoothly. These cars prioritize a soft ride over fast turns. Some are called sports luxury cars to balance both.

Many use a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. This setup lets them use very large engines. These engines can have many cylinders, like a V12. In the 1970s, some American cars switched to front-wheel drive to save fuel. Since 2003, many grand tourers use all-wheel drive.

Many brands make luxury cars. Some use their main name. Others make a new sub-brand, like Lexus. These cars can be sports cars, large saloons, or SUVs.

A luxury car is a special kind of passenger vehicle.

These cars focus on giving people superior comfort and high-quality features. Makers use expensive materials and fine finishes to build them. Buyers expect a very high level of build quality from these cars. Luxury cars can look many different ways. They can be fast sports cars or large saloons. They can even be sport utility vehicles or compact models.

How these cars work often depends on their design. Many luxury cars use a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. This setup allows the car to use very large engines. These engines might be a straight-six, a V8, or even a V12. Some cars use a special suspension system to prioritize a smooth ride. This means the car feels soft instead of focusing only on fast turns. Some models are called "sports luxury" to balance both smooth rides and good handling.

History shows that many different countries have made luxury cars. Before World War II, many European makers like Rolls-Royce and Bugatti built them. France was a leading maker of powerful luxury cars back then. In North America, the luxury car idea began with the early automobile industry. Wealthy people bought them to show their social prestige. Many famous makers like Cadillac and Lincoln were very successful in the United States. The Great Depression was a hard time that put many makers out of business.

Different places have different rules and names for these cars. In Australia, there is a luxury car tax for new vehicles. As of 2019, the price threshold was about AU$66,000 for standard cars. In Europe, they are called F-segment vehicles. In Italy, people call them "auto di lusso." Russia uses the term "representative class vehicle."

Many brands also create new names just for luxury. Toyota launched Lexus in 1989, and Hyundai launched Genesis in 2015.

Luxury cars connect to how the world changes over time. During the 1973 oil crisis, some American makers switched to front-wheel drive. They did this to be more economical with fuel. In the early 2000s, many of these makers went back to rear-wheel drive. Since 2003, the Bentley Continental GT helped make all-wheel drive popular for grand tourers.

Even during the 2008 financial crisis, people still showed interest in these vehicles. Many new luxury brands are now using electric engines to power them.

A luxury car is a passenger automobile designed for superior comfort and high-quality equipment.

These vehicles use more expensive materials and fine surface finishes than standard cars. Buyers expect a very high level of build quality from these brands. The term "luxury" is somewhat subjective and relative. It depends on both the actual qualities of the car and the image of the brand. Luxury cars come in many shapes, including sports cars, large saloons, and sport utility vehicles. Some even exist as compact models to fill specific niches.

To provide this comfort, manufacturers focus on specific mechanical layouts and systems. Many luxury cars traditionally use a front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR) layout. This configuration is more expensive to produce than other types. However, it allows the car to house much larger engines. These include straight-six, V8, and V12 engines.

The suspension system is also a key part of the experience. Most luxury cars tune their suspension to prioritize ride quality over handling. This means the car focuses on a smooth, soft feel. Some models are marketed as "sports luxury" to balance smooth rides with better handling.

Different regions use various classification systems to define luxury. In Europe, the European Commission classifies luxury cars as F-segment vehicles. Italy uses the term "auto di lusso," while France uses "voiture de luxe." In Germany, they are called "upper class" vehicles. Russia uses the term "representative class vehicle." Australia uses a tax system to identify them. Since 2000, a luxury car tax applies to new vehicles over a certain price. In 2019, the threshold was approximately AU$66,000 for standard cars. For fuel-efficient vehicles, the threshold was higher at AU$76,000.

History shows that luxury car manufacturing has changed significantly over time. In North America, the phenomenon began when wealthy people bought cars for social prestige. The 1920s and 1930s were the peak for very large luxury automobiles.

However, the Great Depression put many of these manufacturers out of business. In Europe, many producers like Rolls-Royce and Bugatti made luxury cars before World War II. After the war, Germany emerged as a powerhouse with brands like Mercedes-Benz. BMW also evolved into the luxury market and acquired Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 1998.

American luxury brands saw massive success in the mid-to-late 20th century. From 1946 until the late 1990s, Cadillac was the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S.

Lincoln held the second position during this era. Successful models included the Cadillac DeVille and the Lincoln Continental. In 1990, American luxury brands were very dominant. Cadillac sold over 250,000 cars that year. Lincoln had its best year ever in 1990 with 231,660 units. Later, the market shifted toward smaller, efficient imported brands from Japan and Germany.

Many manufacturers create specific sub-brands to target the luxury market. This allows them to separate high-end models from their standard lines. For example, Toyota launched Lexus in 1989. Nissan launched Infiniti in 1989, and Honda launched Acura in 1986. Hyundai later introduced Genesis in 2015.

In East Asia, manufacturers like Hongqi have produced luxury cars since 1958. Today, new brands are using electric powertrains to enter the market. This includes companies like Nio, Zeekr, and Yangwang.

Economic shifts often impact how luxury cars are designed and sold. The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo and the 1979 oil crisis changed American luxury cars. Many manufacturers switched from rear-wheel drive to more economical front-wheel drive layouts.

By the early 2000s, many American brands reverted to rear-wheel drive. The 2008 financial crisis also caused a major decline in sales. This was the first time the market suffered this much since the Great Depression. Many customers saw their net worth decline, leading to lower demand for high-end models. However, interest in luxury vehicles remained high in emerging markets like China and Russia.