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The current luxury car market includes sedans, coupes and convertibles—most of them offered by traditional luxury brands. Some rank as flagship models with the latest in automotive technology, power and luxury. Others are lower-priced vehicles that include a comfortable number of amenities.
Shoppers find that today's luxury cars provide premium automotive comfort and image while maintaining a typical car appearance and stance. If you do not a find a specific luxury model here, you may want to check MSN Auto's Crème de la Crème category as well as the Near-Luxury category.

Lexus Leads in Total Sales
Lexus has become the top luxury brand in the U.S. and offers five luxury car nameplates. The revamped, third-generation GS—a 2006 model that went on sale early in calendar 2005—became the first Lexus car offered with all-wheel drive. Also noteworthy are the sleeker styling, increased safety features and a new 245-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. Come calendar 2006, Lexus promises to offer a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the GS called the GS 450h. It will be the world's first luxury hybrid sedan.

Lexus is the only luxury marque that offers two nameplates in the lower-priced luxury car segment, with its front-wheel-drive ES 330 and rear-wheel-drive IS 300. Both cars have starting MSRPs around $29,000. The ES 330 is the top-selling Lexus auto. Meantime, in the 2006 model year the IS will debut as a new-generation larger family of sedans offering rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive models starting in fall of 2005.

The large flagship Lexus LS 430 sedan ranks second in the brand's car sales and includes an impressive list of features including a climate control system that monitors sunlight intensity on each side of the car. It automatically delivers more cool air to the sunny side for more efficient cooling. Meantime, Lexus' convertible, the two-seat SC 430, has a power-operated retractable hardtop.

BMW Ranks Second in U.S. Sales
In recent years, BMW has been adding new models to its stable of luxury cars. Besides the flagship 7-Series sedan, the German automaker sells a 6-Series coupe and convertible that have 2+2 seating.

The lowest priced BMW in the U.S. market, the 3-Series arrives in the States about mid-year as a new-generation 2006 model with new 6-cylinder inline engines, new 5-link rear suspension and high-tech features such as Brake Standby and Start Off Assistant. The former can detect when a driver lets off the accelerator pedal abruptly, thereby indicating a likely cornering maneuver or sudden stop. The system automatically applies enough pressure in the brake system to snug the brake pads closer to the rotors for immediate slowing and stopping power. Meantime, Start Off Assistant helps a driver move smoothly into a startup when the car is stopped on a hill. By the fourth quarter of this year, BMW's all-wheel-drive 3-Series versions will begin to arrive in showrooms.

Not to be missed on several BMW models, including the 5- and 6-Series: the high-tech active steering that senses, based on the car's speed, turning input and automatically adjusts the steering ratio for quick response.

Cadillac Gets to Top Three
Cadillac bested Mercedes-Benz in the past year and is the only U.S.-based brand to rank in the top three luxury makes.

Cadillac offers four luxury car nameplates. The entry-level CTS was the first car to wear Cadillac's "new edge" styling and has been adding sportier handling and engine offerings over the years. For example, the high-performance CTS-V model is powered by a 400-horse V8 and includes performance-tuned shock absorbers, springs and stabilizer bars.

Cadillac introduced a new flagship sedan for 2005. The STS is a 5-passenger, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan with styling similar to the CTS's. The STS has two engine choices: a 255-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and a 320-horsepower 4.6-liter Northstar V8.

Cadillac's largest car, the DeVille, is a full-size sedan with V8 and more than 43 inches of legroom in the back seat. A new-generation DeVille, to be called the DTS, is coming as a 2006 model and will be in showrooms in fall 2005. It has new styling, inside and out, and a trunk with 18.8 cubic feet of space. The 2006 DTS is a front-wheel-drive car, like its predecessor. There's a choice of Northstar V8s: a 290-horsepower L37 version and a 275-horse LD8. Television's top businessman, Donald Trump, was on the list early to receive an executive limousine version of the new DTS.

Cadillac's highest priced car is the two-seat convertible XLR, which starts at more than $75,000. The sleek model has a retractable hardtop, sophisticated suspension management and 4.6-liter Northstar V8 with 320 horsepower. In the 2006 model year, a performance version arrives as the XLR-V. Its power plant is a 440-horsepower 4.4-liter supercharged Northstar V8.

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.

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.

Domestic Luxury Brands
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.

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.

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.