Luxury Cars

 

Mercedes-Benz - The oldest automobile line still in production, it was founded in 1871 by Karl Benz, then known as Benz & Cie. Its brand name, Mercedes-Benz, wasn't used until 1926, when Benz & Cie. merged with a rival company, DMG. Presently, the Mercedes-Benz name is a division of DaimlerChrysler AG. Mercedes' headquarters is in Stuttgart, Germany.

Lotus - Based in Norfolk, England, they have been producing race cars unofficialy since the 40's, and was finally collaborated into the Lotus Engineering Ltd. in 1952. The company started out creating Formula racing cars, and later branched off into luxury sports cars. The most known vehicles are the Lotus Elise and Esprit, the latter of which ended production on February 20, 2004.

Rolls-Royce - This luxury car marque has had a very diverse history since its founding in 1906 by Henry Royce and C.S. Rolls. During WWI, the company specialized in aeroplane motors and parts. After the war, they split into luxury motor cars and aeroplane engines. The company acquired their rival, Bentley, after they filed for bankruptcy during the Depression. In 1973, the company demerged into two branches: Rolls-Royce plc., who manufactured aeroplane engines, and Rolls-Royce Motors, who handled automobiles. In 1980, Rolls-Royce Motors was purchased by Vickers. By 1998, Vickers was ready to sell. Both Volkswagen and BMW bid on the company, but Volkswagen's price of ₤430 million outbid BMW's bid of ₤340 million. However, Rolls-Royce plc. decided to sell the company's trademarks not to Volkswagen, but to BMW. Therefore, BMW acquired the "Spirit of Ecstasy" mascot and the specialized Rolls-Royce radiator. Later, Volkswagen said that it only wanted the Bentley line in the first place, and sold the Rolls-Royce brand name to BMW in 2002.

Bentley - This luxury car manufacturer was established in 1919 by W.O. Bentley, already known for his rotary engines in aeroplanes in WWI. Specializing in racing cars, the company went under during the Depression, where it was bought by Rolls Royce Motors. The brand is currently owned by the Audi division of Volkswagen, where the Continental GT is the most poular car in the Bentley lineup.

Jaguar - Originally SS Cars Ltd., the company was changed to its present name in 1945. The well-known luxury saloon company merged with British Motor Corporation in 1966. During finacial crisis in the 70's, it was changed yet again to the British Leyland Ltd. In 1984, Jaguar seperated from the company, bringing the stylized Vanden Plas model name with it. Unfortunately, after declining sales and reputation, the company was taken over by Ford, who quickly turned the company around. Their most notable models are the Vanden Plas saloons throughout the 90's, and the classic 1950 Jaguar XK120.

Porsche-In racing, Porsche's main rival has traditionally been Ferrari, though traditionally their production vehicles appeal to quite different personalities, if similar demographics. Commercially, Ferrari sells far fewer cars at much higher prices than Porsche (for example, there are no Ferraris under $100,000, while several Porsches are priced below that figure). Porsche's rivalry with Ferrari is primarily because of both companies' storied racing heritage and the fact that some of their vehicles are of comparable performance, not because of direct competition between some models. Porsche has a reputation for offering equal or higher performing cars than the more expensive Ferrari models.

Maserati - This illustrious Italian car marque was founded in 1914 by the five Maserati brothers in Bologna. Mario, one of the brothers, designed the three-pronged trident logo that is still used today. After numerous successes at the Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500, the company was bought by the French manufacturer Citroën in 1968. This purchase greatly improved the cars, especially the special Citroën brake design. When Alessandro de Tomas, a famous Argentinian racer and became the managing director, the company was entering a golden age of productivity and production. When Fiat took over in the 90's, sales began to decline. Ferrari purchased 50% of the shares, then eventually bought the company out, making it the luxury division. This buyout brought the company back into the premiere luxury vehicle business. The most known models are the Spyder and Quattroporte.

Ferrari - Ferrari's first models were sports/racing cars quite different from the grand touring models that followed. See below for a complete list.Ferrari quickly moved into the Gran Turismo market, and the bulk of the company's sales remain in this area.The Dino was the first mid-engined Ferrari. This layout would go on to be used in most Ferraris of the 1980s and 1990s. V6 and V8 Ferrari models make up well over half of the marque's total production.

Bugatti - Founder Ettorre Bugatti was born in Italy, and the automobile company that bears his name was founded in Molsheim, a town in the Alsace region, which was then a part of the German Empire (Alsace was annexed by Germany in 1871 and restored to France in 1919). The company was known for the advanced engineering in its premium road cars and its success in early Grand Prix motor racing, winning the first ever Monaco Grand Prix. The company's success culminated with driver Jean-Pierre Wimille winning the 24 hours of Le Mans twice (in 1937 with Robert Benoist and 1939 with Pierre Veyron). Today, the company is most appealing to collectors, and car buffs. The most expensive cars in the world, the $15 million Bugatti Royale 41 Binder Coupe de Villes, were made mainly for European nobility and royalty. Only six were made; one was sold for 15$ million in 1990, the highest price ever paid for an automobile. The 22 ft., 7,000-pound sedans are the most rare cars in the world. nowadays, the company keeps up its expensive history, manufacturing the world's most expensive, fast, and powerful production car to date, the Bugattie Veyron 16.4. Its top speed, an astounding 253.2 mph., beat out the previous top speed set by the McClaren F1, which was 231.5 mph.

Vauxhall- Alexander Wilson founded the company in Vauxhall, London in 1857. Originally it was named Alex Wilson and Company, then Vauxhall Iron Works, the company built pumps and marine engines. In 1903, the company built its first car, a five-horsepower model steered using a tiller, with two forward gears and no reverse gear. This led to a better design which was made available for sale.To expand its production, the company moved the majority of its production to Luton in 1905. The company continued to trade under the name Vauxhall Iron Works until 1907, when the modern name of Vauxhall Motors was adapted. The company was characterised by its sporting models, but after World War I, designed more austere models.

Cadillac - In 1902, Henry Ford abandoned his partners in the Henry Ford Company. His partners decided that the automobile manufacturer needed a new name: Cadillac. Soon, the Cadillac brand was synonomous with luxury and quality. The company was the first to produce cars with fully enclosed cabs in 1910. General Motors purchased the company in 1909, and made Cadillac their luxury branch. In 1928, after a decade of prosperity, car stylist Harley Earl joined the team, and changed automobile design forever. In 1932, strife hit the division, but they prevailed, and the lowering sales margins bounced back up. In fact, Cadillac was the only manufacturer to survive the Depression. In 1948, Harley Earl introduced the ubiquitous tail fins. Sales skyrocketed throughout the fifties and sixties. During the 70's and 80's, Cadillac was associated with elderly drivers, and sales slumped. The marque was finally renowned for its luxury instead of geriatry when they introduced the ostentatious Escalade.

Dusenberg- Duesenberg was a United States -based luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937.In 1913, the Duesenberg Brothers, Fred and August, founded Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa, at 8th and Grand Ave, to build sports cars. Born in 1876 and 1879 in Germany, the two brothers were self-taught engineers and built many experimental cars. Duesenberg cars were considered some of the very best cars of the time, and were built entirely by hand. In 1914 Eddie Rickenbacker drove a "Duesy" to finish in 10th place at the Indianapolis 500, and a Duesenberg car won the race in 1924, 1925, and 1927. Unfortunately, the company was among the many American luxury car marques who foundered during the Depression.

Cord- Cord innovations include front wheel drive on the L-29 and retractable headlights on the 810.Front wheel drive became common only in the 1980s, though General Motors introduced front wheel drive in the Oldsmobile Tornado in 1966 and Cadillac Eldorado in 1967. (Buick Riviera remained rear-wheel-drive until 1979). As personal luxury cars, these three GM models, especially the Toronado, were undoubtedly influenced by Cord. Retractable headlamps did not become common as a standard feature until the 1960s (though DeSoto used them in 1942). The early Oldsmobile Tornados, whose GM stylists later stated they were trying to capture the "feel" of the Cord's design, also featured retractable headlights. The Depression hit the comapny hard, and the exclusive luxury car market collapsed, bringing the company with it. The company officially foundered in 1937.

Packard- Packard was a United States based brand of luxury automobile built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker- Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana. The first Packard automobiles were produced in 1899 and the brand went off the market in 1958. Packard automobiles are highly sought after by collectors today, and the marque enjoys an active collectors club system.

Auburn-Auburn was a brand name of United States automobiles from 1900 through 1936. It grew out of the Eckhart Carriage Company, founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1875by Charles Eckhart (1841–1915). Eckhart's sons, Frank and Morris, began making automobiles on an experimental basis before entering the business in earnest, absorbing two other local carmakers and moving into a larger plant in 1909. The enterprise was modestly successful until materials shortages during World War I forced the plant to close.The 1904 Auburn was a touring car model. Equipped with a tonneau, it could seat 2 or 4 passengers and sold for US$ 1000. The flat-mounted single-cylinder engine, situated at the center of the car, produced 10 hp (7.5 kW). A 2-speed planetary transmission was fitted. The angle-steel-framed car weighed 1500 lb (680 kg) and used half-elliptical springs.

BMW (Bayerswichen Moteren Works)- BMW was founded by Karl Friedrich Rapp-originally as an aircraft engine manufacturer, Bayerische Flugzuege-Werke. The Milbertshofen district of Munich was chosen, apparently because it was close to the Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik site. The blue-and-white roundel BMW still uses (illustrated above right) alludes to the white and blue checkered flag of Bavaria. It is often said to symbolize a spinning white propeller on a blue-sky background, although this interpretation developed after the logo was already in use.